Riu Guanacaste - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

10663 reviews

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  Good and affordable all you can eat hotel.

  A really nice hotel, this month the hotel was renew and their new interior design is astonishing, it is worth the visit to see how beautiful the place has become. I recommend going to the hotel and have a nice time with your family and/or friends. In regards to the food, it was ok. Not bad at all but not memorable. In terms of variety, it have way too many options which were great and it was amazing but the flavors sometimes were not at point but not complaints about bad food. I enjoyed for the price of the stay (All you can eat style). Drinks in the pool bars were also ok, not very memorable and they does not seem to add a lot of alcohol unless you ask them. The staff was great, all of them were very nice and welcoming. I saw that some of them did not know a lot of the details of the Hotel like building locations or events, but I suppose it is because they were pretty new at their job. The more experience ones have more information at hand. In term of entertainment, they had a lot of events and a lot of staff members that did their best to include as many people as possible. Staff members from Rio Fit or the other departments were great, I loved joining the AquaFun or Pilates with the staff. In addition to this, the night events were great, they had kids shows in the early evening and after that every day they had a show with dance and other talents. Every night was different and the only thing missing is the visitors to be more joyful and have more participation of the events but that is not due to the Staff. Overall, I had a great time and I hope more local (Costa Rican) people get to enjoy the Hotel. I recommend the visit.

  Oct 16, 2025
• 

  What a great 50th birthday!

  BOOKED DIRECTLY THROUGH RIU We recently stayed at this RIU resort as a family of six to celebrate my husband’s 50th birthday — and we had a fabulous time. I've been to other RIU's before and didn't think they could get any better, but this was the best vacation! FOOD & DINING - So much food! One of the absolute highlights of this resort is the abundance and quality of the food. There are so many places to eat — from themed restaurants to buffets and casual snack spots — and each one had something different and delicious to offer. My kids can be notoriously picky eaters, but they absolutely thrived here. Whether it was fresh fruit, made-to-order omelets, flavorful pastas, grilled meats, or decadent desserts, they ate like champs and kept going back for more. Having more then 1 place to eat and little food stations by the various pools was a hit for us. The buffet was always well-stocked and fresh, with rotating options that never felt repetitive. We also tried a few of the à la carte restaurants, and each one delivered top-notch service and cuisine. STAFF – The Heart of the RIU Experience The staff here deserve a standing ovation. Every single person we encountered was pleasant, professional, and genuinely seemed to enjoy their work. They were always happy to help, whether it was answering questions, bringing extra towels, or just sharing a friendly smile in the hallway. What really blew us away was how special they made my husband feel on his birthday. Not only did they surprise him with a cake and sing to him (which absolutely delighted our kids!), but several staff members made a point to wish him a happy birthday throughout dinner. That kind of attention to detail and personal touch meant the world to us. ️ ROOMS, POOLS, & BEACH Our rooms were clean, spacious, and very comfortable. The housekeeping team did an amazing job keeping them spotless and well-stocked every single day. We had everything we needed — from cold drinks in the mini fridge to fresh towels and a cozy bed to crash in after a long day in the sun. The pools were beautiful, with plenty of loungers and shaded areas. There was always music, good vibes, and activities happening without it feeling overcrowded. The beach was just steps away and absolutely stunning — soft white sand, clear turquoise water, and plenty of room to spread out and relax. Truly a postcard-perfect setting. ️ Resort Layout & Renovations – Exciting Changes Ahead This resort currently has both an older section and a newer one, and while everything was still in great shape, we learned that the older section will be closing for renovations soon. Honestly, even before the updates, the entire resort already feels fresh, clean, and well-maintained — so we are extremely excited to come back and see how they improve it even more! ️ FINAL THOUGHTS – The best 50th Birthday ever RIU might be categorized as a “budget” resort by some, but in our experience, it delivers a five-star experience through and through. From food and service to amenities and atmosphere, every aspect of our trip felt special. We’ve now stayed at two RIU properties in a matter of months, and both times have left us beyond impressed. We are all still talking about this trip and how great it was, the best vacation we have had so far.

  Oct 08, 2025
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  WORST EXPERIENCE EVER- DO NOT BOOK

  WORST EXPERIENCE EVER I felt totally ripped off by this hotel. Long story short, after a mix- up with Hotels.com and Booking.com, I ended up with two identical separate reservations at this property ($4,000 value each) . I was not awear of this until check in. Upon explaining the situation the front desk made me pick which reservation I want to use and said that they will cancel the other.I immediately called Hotels.com to request a refund for the unused reservation ( because I stayed using the reservation with Booking.com). Hoels.com said that they will issue a refund as soon as the hotels confirms that I did not use the reservation. Unfortunately, they were unable to reach the hotel for 5 days which I was still there . Upon check-out I asked for a confirmation ( a printout of there system) that the reservation was canceled> The managers acted very shady and said that they couldn't give me anything. Upon pressing further I was able to get a screenshot of the system showing that they marked me as a "no-show" and charged me full value. SO SHADY!!! I have tryed to reach Riu Complaints department to work with the hotel and confirm that I did not use the reservation. Hotels.com is unable to issue a refund until they hotel confirms with them. which they are refusing to do, I have never come across such dishonesty and short- sighted view. They have lost not only out family as a customer but all of our frequent travelers friends as well. I have never experienced worst customer service. For 6 months now I have tried to reach them in different ways and they are not responding. Overall, they charged me $8500 for 4 nights ( I didn't even get $800 value out of this place) It is unfortunate that this beautiful property with so much potential is so poorly managed- everything from housekeeping, to restaurants operations and food quality to the front desk staff and upper management, Someone should flag Riu Corporate so they can fix this property before it ruins the reputation of their total brand. I am never staying at another RIU Hotel. Mistakes happen and how you handle them can make of break a business. This business is so broken.

  Sep 24, 2025
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  Beautiful Resort, But a Disappointing and Stressful Wedding Experience

  RIU Guanacaste is a beautiful resort on the surface, but my experience — especially as a bride planning a destination wedding — was extremely disappointing. After being asked to arrive two days early to finalize wedding details, the planner I had been working with was unavailable, and I was largely ignored by staff. I received conflicting information before my arrival (such as being told I could bring extra decorations or make changes to the wedding package), only to be told the opposite once I got there. No one had contacted me to go over final details by the morning of the wedding, which caused unnecessary stress on a day that should have been joyful. The onsite coordinator, Jordi, even threatened multiple times to cancel our wedding, despite the thousands we had spent and the group of guests we brought with us. On top of the wedding issues, the rooms themselves need serious attention. While the grounds and views are gorgeous, the rooms felt damp and musty. I returned home with all of my clothes smelling like mildew, which was really disappointing after what was supposed to be a celebratory trip. I wouldn’t recommend RIU Guanacaste for a destination wedding. The setting may be beautiful, but the lack of professionalism, poor communication, and room quality make it hard to justify.

  Aug 11, 2025
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  Extremely Disappointing Stay – Avoid if Possible

  This was one of the worst all-inclusive hotel experiences we’ve ever had. Despite being advertised as a brand-new resort, everything felt old, worn down, and poorly maintained. Our room had a strong, unpleasant odor and showed significant signs of wear and tear. The food was another major letdown — bland, repetitive, and of very poor quality. There were no specialty dining options available, and the main restaurant was chaotic. The staff appeared disinterested and untrained; service was slow and inattentive. One of the key amenities, the water park, was located at a completely different property. Getting there involved a long walk — nearly a mile — and required crossing another hotel. Incredibly, no towels were provided at the water park, so we had to carry everything ourselves. Overall, this hotel fell far below expectations and did not meet the basic standards of an all-inclusive resort. I strongly recommend looking elsewhere

  Jul 31, 2025