Tabacon Thermal Resort and Spa (Costa Rica)
Apr 18, 22, 7:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: WOH - Globalist, HHonors - Gold, Marriott - Gold
Posts: 216
Tabacon Thermal Resort and Spa (Costa Rica)
Has anyone stayed at Tabacon Resort? Looks like a really nice option close to Arenal. We are planning a few nights there followed by a few more at the Andaz - curious if anyone has any recommendations or advice for the resort or the area.
May 9, 22, 10:43 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 273
The free continental breakfast was actually a buffet with an omelet station (reservations required). The springs open at 8am for hotel guests and at 10am for day passes. Arenal Observatory Lodge has some nice trails and they sell a day pass for $10.
May 10, 22, 3:19 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,714
we liked el castillo area south with some activities there.. hanging bridges park close to lost iguana resort was fun even in driving rain.. plenty of ziplining rafting etc places..
overall food is likely to be much cheaper and tastier than what you find around andaz
overall food is likely to be much cheaper and tastier than what you find around andaz
Jun 17, 22, 8:00 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: WOH - Globalist, HHonors - Gold, Marriott - Gold
Posts: 216
Wrapping up a 6 night stay at Tabacon and thought I would write a mini-review.
Booked the stay on points (17k a night), and consider that a steal. When booking with Hyatt points, only the King room is available, however the property didn't have any issues blocking a two queen room for the four of us (including two kids). No further upgrade, but the room we got was wonderful.
Our room was on the top floor of the 300 building with a direct and mostly unobstructed view of the volcano. This is the best location at the resort for the view and convenience to the restaurant and pool. The standard rooms are large and have a somewhat separate small seating area in addition to the sleeping area. Large shower and double sinks in the bathroom. Hot water comes directly from the hot springs.
View from the room
The resort is split into two separate areas - hotel and hot springs down the hill and across the road. There's a steep paved path between the two as well as a shuttle that keeps circling all the time.
The hotel portion has the Los Tucanes restaurant (breakfast and fancy dinner), and a lobby bar. The casual restaurant and more bars (including a swim-up bar) is at the hot springs. Food is probably the only complaint about this resort - it's grossly overpriced and very underwhelming. Having said that, they have proper room service with real plates, cutlery and even a vase with flowers. It's been quite some time since we had real room service.
The hot springs are amazing - we spent hours and hours here. Just something to note - there is only one small cold pool - all other pools, including one in the hotel section are hot water pools.
Service here is absolutely impeccable - this is truly a 5 star resort property, and overall has been absolutely wonderful. Highly recommended (especially without children!)
A few other notes: a rental car is a must given the sad food situation at the resort. The town is 15 min away by car and has a ton of restaurants with very reasonable prices (a third of hotel prices). There's also a restaurant just past the resort that potentially can be walked to, but with no sidewalks and narrow winding road I would not recommend it.
Pura Vida!
Booked the stay on points (17k a night), and consider that a steal. When booking with Hyatt points, only the King room is available, however the property didn't have any issues blocking a two queen room for the four of us (including two kids). No further upgrade, but the room we got was wonderful.
Our room was on the top floor of the 300 building with a direct and mostly unobstructed view of the volcano. This is the best location at the resort for the view and convenience to the restaurant and pool. The standard rooms are large and have a somewhat separate small seating area in addition to the sleeping area. Large shower and double sinks in the bathroom. Hot water comes directly from the hot springs.
View from the room
The resort is split into two separate areas - hotel and hot springs down the hill and across the road. There's a steep paved path between the two as well as a shuttle that keeps circling all the time.
The hotel portion has the Los Tucanes restaurant (breakfast and fancy dinner), and a lobby bar. The casual restaurant and more bars (including a swim-up bar) is at the hot springs. Food is probably the only complaint about this resort - it's grossly overpriced and very underwhelming. Having said that, they have proper room service with real plates, cutlery and even a vase with flowers. It's been quite some time since we had real room service.
The hot springs are amazing - we spent hours and hours here. Just something to note - there is only one small cold pool - all other pools, including one in the hotel section are hot water pools.
Service here is absolutely impeccable - this is truly a 5 star resort property, and overall has been absolutely wonderful. Highly recommended (especially without children!)
A few other notes: a rental car is a must given the sad food situation at the resort. The town is 15 min away by car and has a ton of restaurants with very reasonable prices (a third of hotel prices). There's also a restaurant just past the resort that potentially can be walked to, but with no sidewalks and narrow winding road I would not recommend it.
Pura Vida!
Jul 21, 22, 8:51 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: CX, DL, BA Avios, AMEX Plat
Posts: 463
Originally Posted by sch_flyer
Wrapping up a 6 night stay at Tabacon and thought I would write a mini-review.
Pura Vida!
Jul 23, 22, 10:39 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Plat Pro; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 7,404
Originally Posted by sch_flyer
Wrapping up a 6 night stay at Tabacon and thought I would write a mini-review.
Booked the stay on points (17k a night), and consider that a steal. When booking with Hyatt points, only the King room is available, however the property didn't have any issues blocking a two queen room for the four of us (including two kids). No further upgrade, but the room we got was wonderful.
Our room was on the top floor of the 300 building with a direct and mostly unobstructed view of the volcano. This is the best location at the resort for the view and convenience to the restaurant and pool. The standard rooms are large and have a somewhat separate small seating area in addition to the sleeping area. Large shower and double sinks in the bathroom. Hot water comes directly from the hot springs.
View from the room
The resort is split into two separate areas - hotel and hot springs down the hill and across the road. There's a steep paved path between the two as well as a shuttle that keeps circling all the time.
The hotel portion has the Los Tucanes restaurant (breakfast and fancy dinner), and a lobby bar. The casual restaurant and more bars (including a swim-up bar) is at the hot springs. Food is probably the only complaint about this resort - it's grossly overpriced and very underwhelming. Having said that, they have proper room service with real plates, cutlery and even a vase with flowers. It's been quite some time since we had real room service.
The hot springs are amazing - we spent hours and hours here. Just something to note - there is only one small cold pool - all other pools, including one in the hotel section are hot water pools.
Service here is absolutely impeccable - this is truly a 5 star resort property, and overall has been absolutely wonderful. Highly recommended (especially without children!)
A few other notes: a rental car is a must given the sad food situation at the resort. The town is 15 min away by car and has a ton of restaurants with very reasonable prices (a third of hotel prices). There's also a restaurant just past the resort that potentially can be walked to, but with no sidewalks and narrow winding road I would not recommend it.
Pura Vida!
Booked the stay on points (17k a night), and consider that a steal. When booking with Hyatt points, only the King room is available, however the property didn't have any issues blocking a two queen room for the four of us (including two kids). No further upgrade, but the room we got was wonderful.
Our room was on the top floor of the 300 building with a direct and mostly unobstructed view of the volcano. This is the best location at the resort for the view and convenience to the restaurant and pool. The standard rooms are large and have a somewhat separate small seating area in addition to the sleeping area. Large shower and double sinks in the bathroom. Hot water comes directly from the hot springs.
View from the room
The resort is split into two separate areas - hotel and hot springs down the hill and across the road. There's a steep paved path between the two as well as a shuttle that keeps circling all the time.
The hotel portion has the Los Tucanes restaurant (breakfast and fancy dinner), and a lobby bar. The casual restaurant and more bars (including a swim-up bar) is at the hot springs. Food is probably the only complaint about this resort - it's grossly overpriced and very underwhelming. Having said that, they have proper room service with real plates, cutlery and even a vase with flowers. It's been quite some time since we had real room service.
The hot springs are amazing - we spent hours and hours here. Just something to note - there is only one small cold pool - all other pools, including one in the hotel section are hot water pools.
Service here is absolutely impeccable - this is truly a 5 star resort property, and overall has been absolutely wonderful. Highly recommended (especially without children!)
A few other notes: a rental car is a must given the sad food situation at the resort. The town is 15 min away by car and has a ton of restaurants with very reasonable prices (a third of hotel prices). There's also a restaurant just past the resort that potentially can be walked to, but with no sidewalks and narrow winding road I would not recommend it.
Pura Vida!
Jan 20, 23, 8:40 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 94
This is great to hear that they switched you to a 2 Queen Bedroom to accommodate your kids. I'm in the same position for an upcoming trip and emailed the resort to see if they could do that for us on an award reservation. I really don't want to have to book two rooms, especially given how young our kids are. When I chatted with WOH they were not helpful at all. Hoping the hotel directly can help with this request!
Jan 24, 23, 11:53 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: WOH - Globalist, HHonors - Gold, Marriott - Gold
Posts: 216
Originally Posted by msfrugalista
This is great to hear that they switched you to a 2 Queen Bedroom to accommodate your kids. I'm in the same position for an upcoming trip and emailed the resort to see if they could do that for us on an award reservation. I really don't want to have to book two rooms, especially given how young our kids are. When I chatted with WOH they were not helpful at all. Hoping the hotel directly can help with this request!
Jan 24, 23, 12:07 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 94
Originally Posted by sch_flyer
As long as there's availability and the rates are the same, they should be able to do that - just call the property directly, it may be faster/easier than emailing. They treat Hyatt bookings as any other 3rd party, and since all guests get breakfast, there are no upcharges for the kids. We are still reminiscing about that stay - the only thing that would make it better is leaving kids at home!
. Thanks again for your trip report along with the responses.
