Historic Hotels in Costa Rica from NT$1,686

"We traveled as a party of 6 and had a wonderful week. Because we booked through Expedia, the resort seemed to place special significance on our reservation — we received Expedia wristbands & door hangers, which made us feel oddly VIP (maybe damage control given mixed reviews, but we felt well cared for). Don’t believe the haters — they truly aim to please. Do the pre-check-in if possible. The app didn’t work for me, and the in-person process is long when you just want to start vacationing. Had a hiccup at check in. Noella came over as we sorted it out and turned things around. She gave us her direct number, checked in frequently, comped us a cabana, and got us into every restaurant as desired. She is truly an angel and made sure a small glitch didn't turn into a big deal. Restaurant food was excellent; buffet was hit or miss but had surprises — especially made-to-order items. Pro tip: bacon is only available by asking the omelet cooks. Dinner at the restaurants is the way to go, every meal our group ordered was delicious. At the time of writing, this is the only resort in the bay, so the beach is not crowded. Kayaks and paddleboards require reservations and they have only 2 of each total. Beach vendors were friendly, conversational, and respectful — never pushy. Lovely people. Love the Tico spirit. Shout out to Emu for having those tequila shots always at the ready! Great resort for day drinkers: fun daytime party vibe, quieter nights. DJs were meh. Pura Vida! "

"This resort exceeded our expectations. It was quiet, smaller than other resorts we’ve stayed at, had plenty of activities, walkable to the nearby marina and shops, and the service was amazing. We walked to other restaurants in the area, which were fantastic. The swim-up bar was a huge bonus as we spent so many hours in the pool. The beach was pristine and gorgeous. The most beautiful beach and picturesque sunset I’ve ever seen. The beach vendors were kind and did not bother. Food at the restaurants was good but not great. Traveling with a small child, we weren’t looking for the highest quality food anyway. We utilized the in room childcare - Alejandra was so sweet and kind. The massage and facial we received at the spa were relaxing and just what we needed. Service at the restaurants was good, but it was very slow at 5 o’clock somewhere during lunchtime. The only real complaint I had was the pillows were lumpy and uncomfortable. The bedding in general seemed not to fit the mattress as it kept coming off. Other than that, we had an excellent stay and plan to return again in the summer. "

"Clean room, quick check-in & check-out process. Great breakfast with local food options too."

"Clean rooms, variety of pools thermal and regular, and good breakfast. Conveniently located between the town of La Fortuna and Arenal park."

"Gorgeous resort, maintained spotlessly, an amazing beach and some of the best all inclusive food I’ve ever had. The water park next door was so fun for adults and kids alike. And the best are the people - incredibly friendly and always smiling. We loved our stay. Thank you to the amazing staff at the Riu Palace! "

"Staff made it extra special "

"Everything was perfect , friendly staff , Carlos was very good giving us instructions , we loved the hot springs and the food was yummy in the restaurant in the pool ,from our room 124 we had a nice view to the volcano also have a extra jacussi with the volcano view , we would love to go back "

"Great choice for a one-night stay at SJO before heading to La Fortuna. The airport shuttle was very convenient, making check-in and check-out seamless. Breakfast was fantastic, and our server shared plenty of local tips that were really helpful. Comfortable, convenient, and highly recommended for travelers with early flights."