Originally Posted by
ryoung08
I am reaching out to all of my FlyerTalk friends to see if anyone would suggest one of the three hotels as being much nicer than the other two. All three rate well on Trip Advisor. I am looking to travel to Costa Rica next year after I cash in 330 to 360k Marriott points for one the Travel Packages (Hotel & Air) which will give me a week hotel stay at a category 7 or 8 hotel. I am looking at;
#1 JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa
#2 Hotel Punta Islita, Autograph CollectionŽ
#3 Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort
I am not a golfer, so a gold course doesn't do anything for me. I would like to kayak, zip line, snorkel / scuba dive, hike and be lazy by a nice pool. The wife is all about shopping and laying by the pool. I would also be looking for a hotel that has off hotel restaurants. I can't see paying hotel prices for meals when local places offer better food at a lower cost.
I cannot speak to 2 or 3, but I can tell you we stayed at the JW (2 adults 3 kids under 10) for 8 nights over Christmas last year and loved it. Absolutely beautiful hotel. Beach is small, but literally 5 minute walk around a small bluff to a huge and empty beach out of some kind of post card. The only thing on this beach is a small beach club (which you can use for free if you're staying at the JW), but they run surf lessons from there which our kids loved.
The JW pool is fantastic.
One negative is the food prices. Very expensive. But not unexpected.