On Location: JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa

January 30, 2016 by Javi the Frog

Family having fun with breathtaking sunset at JW Marriott Guanacaste

I’m one spoiled Costa Rican frog; my job requires me to hop to the most luxurious hotels in the country so that I can give you my reviews. Most recently, I was able to check in to the JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa in Hacienda Pinilla, so that I could try out all of their food, amenities, and of course, their rooms. I’ve heard many rumors about this location and its beautiful sunsets, and I figured it was about time to see it for myself. This hotel is a great place for newlyweds, families, travel groups, and business travelers to stay. Based on the luxury of the hotel and the personalized guest services, I would say that newlyweds or those on a romantic anniversary trip or couple’s getaway would be the most pleased with the JW Marriott in Guanacaste. But here are all the details I collected during my stay. I hope they help you decide if this is the right hotel for your trip!

Relax area at JW Marriott Guanacaste Spa

1. Health and Relaxation

Many people that are traveling like to indulge in some tranquil spa services while they are away from home. If this is you, then the JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa won’t disappoint. You can get a single or couple’s massage, a variety of body and face treatments, waxing services, or manicures and pedicures. If you are looking to soak or steam to rejuvenate your body after long days exploring my beautiful country, you can take a therapy bath or head into the steam rooms. The spa also offers fitness classes and fitness counseling. If you are looking for more intense physical activities, you can tap into the hotel’s fitness offerings. They can help you arrange activities like jogging and hiking, along with a variety of family-friendly activities like kayaking, volleyball, and table tennis.

Bussines Center for JW Marriott Guanacaste clients

2. Business Guests

I’m hoping that the next Go Visit Costa Rica team meeting can be held at the JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa so that I have an excuse to come back to this great place! There would be plenty of room for us, too, since there is an available 7,200 square feet of indoor space at the hotel that can be used for meetings, conferences, and other business affairs. I could even display a slideshow of all the photos that I have taken during my travels, since there is audiovisual equipment available on site for use. They even have staff that could help me figure out how to use all that state-of-theart equipment! The hotel offers a staff of caterers, so planning a meeting here is an allin- one package deal. My favorite part about their business meeting and event accommodations are that they also offer outdoor space that can be used to eat meals or to have happy hour type networking parties. In Costa Rica, you want to be outdoors as much as possible, so this is a great offering.

Special event celebrated at JW Marriott Guanacaste

Guanacaste Escape Adventure Tour

7 Days / 6 Nights

Starting at $779 per person

See Itinerary

3. Special Events

During my stay at the hotel, I saw a stunning young couple get married, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how the JW Marriott is a dream location for a wedding. If you are considering a destination wedding, you definitely want to consider getting married beachfront in Costa Rica at the JW Marriott. I have to admit that I crashed the wedding a little, and from start to finish it was beautiful. The hotel has a chapel on site that is available for weddings – or even for those that want to renew their vows! – and it was the perfect spot to say “I do.” I saw the hotel’s wedding planner at the event, using her walkie-talkie to make sure that all the details were in order for the bride and groom. Everyone looked stress-free and happy! The hotel will allow you to reserve guest rooms in advance, and when the guests arrive they will have plenty to do exploring Tamarindo (at just 5km away)while they wait for the wedding day. If they have a few days in the area, they can go surfing, scuba diving, or fishing. There is also a national park close by where they can hike and go zip lining.

Luxury classic bedroom at JW Marriott Guanacaste

4. Rooms

Guests at the JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa can book a room that is specific to their needs. There are guest rooms with single beds or multiple beds, in double or king sizes, with a choice of a garden, pool, or ocean view. There are rooms with balconies, and rooms that are oceanfront. This hotel is a great location for those that love to be near the ocean, and the sunsets that I saw here are simply some of the best that I’ve seen in the country! Rooms include luxury bathtubs, feather-beds with dreamy pillow-top mattresses, televisions, and a coffee machine in the room. When staying at the hotel, you get access to high-speed Internet (so that you can post all your amazing Costa Rica adventures to your social media accounts), free bottled water, and air conditioning to help you cool down.

Sabanero Restaurant Chef at JW Marriott

5. Dining

And now, for my favorite part of my review: the dining! The JW Marriott has six restaurants on location, to satisfy whatever craving you are having! They also have American style, continental style, or buffet style breakfast. One of my favorite food spots at the hotel is the Azul Pool Bar. This poolside bar is great for a quick lunch when you are out relaxing by the hotel’s enormous and crystal clear pool. Be sure to try one of their cocktails too! Other lunch options include the Azul Grill and the Mansita Restaurant. Both offer a casual atmosphere near the ocean, and some delicious menu items! The Azul Grill serves Italian cuisine while the Mansita Restaurant gives you some international choices, all with a little taste of Costa Rica too, of course. Both of these restaurants are open for dinner too. Other dinner choices, all casual dining experiences, include a pub atmosphere at the Nao Lobby Bar, some classic beef at the Sabanero Steak House, and an Asianfusion menu at Tamarine. If you want to get off the hotel property for a meal or two, there are tons of local restaurants too! You can indulge in Mediterranean, Japanese, Italian, or seafood.