Check-in from 03:00 PM. Check-out by 12:00 PM. Early check-in and late checkout may be available upon request.
Cancellation
Cancellation terms vary by rate. Flexible rates allow free cancellation up to 24–48 hours before arrival. Non-refundable rates cannot be canceled or modified.
Payment
Prices include the taxes and fees paid when you book. Some hotels charge a resort, city or service fee on arrival; where they do, the amount is shown with each room and at checkout. A valid credit card is required at check-in.
Important Information
When booking 5 rooms or more, different policies and additional supplements may apply. The property will charge the full amount of the stay for guests with an early departureGuests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply. In the event of an early departure, the property will charge you the full amount for your stay. A deposit may be required at the property.
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Guest Reviews
What Guests Say
8.4
Excellent
961 reviews
Highlights
+Friendly staff
+Convenient location
Could Improve
–Cleanliness issues
–Limited food options
Cleanliness7.6
Described issues with cleanliness that detracted from the experience.
Service9.1
The service was friendly and accommodating.
Location8.6
The location was convenient and well-situated.
Room Quality8.6
Rooms were comfortable and well-maintained.
Amenities8.6
Good range of amenities available.
Value for Money8.1
Prices were fair for the quality offered.
Food and Beverage8.1
Dining options were enjoyable but had room for improvement.
Overall Experience8.5
Overall a pleasant stay with some areas needing attention.
katiebI1518GR
Family · Aug 2026
2
Disappointing Experience at Riu Palace Guanacastle
Liked:We booked an eight-night family vacation at Riu Palace Costa Rica expecting the quality and service associated with a RIU Palace property. Unfortunately, our experience was so disappointing that we left after two nights and moved to another resort.
From the moment we entered our room, there was an overwhelming mildew/mold odor. We reported the issue and asked to be moved, but we were told another room was not available. The refrigerator in our room also did not work, and we encountered non-functioning ice machines on multiple floors.
We did not simply decide to leave because we didn’t like the hotel. We couldn’t find another resort that could accommodate our family immediately, so despite reporting the odor and requesting another room, we had to stay in the same room for a second night. We spent part of what should have been our family vacation searching for alternative accommodations.
As soon as we found availability, we packed everything and relocated to another resort at our own expense. During those first days, our son also developed headaches, congestion, and a fever, which added to our concerns and significantly affected our vacation.
RIU did refund the six unused nights after we left, and I appreciate that. However, after going through their formal Guest Relations process, RIU refused to refund the two nights we spent in the room because we had “occupied” the room and used the hotel facilities. They offered 1,500 RIU Class points as a goodwill gesture.
That response was especially disappointing. We didn’t stay those two nights because the room was acceptable—we stayed because RIU couldn’t provide another room and we couldn’t secure another hotel immediately.
A family vacation is more than the number of nights you sleep in a hotel. Our first two days were spent dealing with room problems, speaking with staff, trying to find somewhere else to stay, packing again, and relocating our family. Those are vacation days we can’t get back.
I understand that problems can happen at any resort. What matters to me is how a company responds when they do. Unfortunately, after giving RIU multiple opportunities to address our experience, their final resolution did not feel proportionate to what our family went through.
I hope RIU takes concerns about mildew odors and room conditions seriously and reconsiders how situations like this are handled when a guest reports a problem but the resort has no alternative room available.
Based on our experience, I would not return to Riu Palace Costa Rica.
via tripadvisor
jonet839
Family · Jul 2026
10
Great Service,Beautiful Resort and nice outdoor activities!!!
Liked:Me and my friends were a group of six people, and we stayed for a few days at the Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica. Everything went smoothly from the beginning. We immediately felt welcome, and our room was clean, spacious, peaceful, and very comfortable, with a beautiful view.
The food was excellent, and even though we stayed at an all-inclusive resort, every part of the experience exceeded our expectations.
We also took time to find a reliable company for our transportation and tours, and we found nexttripcr.com Without a doubt, they provided the best experience. We booked a sloth watching tour, and everything was absolutely amazing.
Thank you, RIU Palace, for such an unforgettable experience in Costa Rica.
via tripadvisor
Flyer51032209769
Family · Jul 2026
4
Experience at RIU palace in Costa Rico
Liked:I am writing this review while still staying at RIU Palace Costa Rica, on our last evening. My goal is not to be overly critical, but to provide an honest account so future travelers can make an informed decision.
There are certainly positives. The staff members we encountered were generally friendly and hardworking, the grounds are beautiful, and Costa Rica itself is an amazing destination. However, the resort experience has fallen well below what I expected from a property carrying the “Palace” name.
The condition of the rooms is subpar. We booked two separate rooms, and both had a strong foul odor that resembled sewage. This was noticeable from the beginning of our stay and significantly impacted our comfort.
We also experienced repeated problems with room keys. I visited the front desk daily, including twice on two days,because the keys repeatedly stopped working. While the resort uses a system where the room key must be inserted into a slot to activate the room’s electricity, our bathroom light never functioned properly. As a result, we often used our cell phone flashlights to navigate the bathroom in the dark. We always kept our room keys in the paper card sleeve, along with ensuring it remained free of contact with our cell phones, etc. I previously read of other reviews about this being a problem.
The property itself is in serious need of updating. Both the interior and exterior areas show signs of age and deferred maintenance. Throughout the resort there are unnecessary eyesores, such as broken and inoperable equipment left in guest areas. One example was a broken basketball hoop stand sitting next to lounge chairs by the pool recreation area. An elevator in the most prevalent area of need remains closed and under full construction. I read about this on another post approximately 2 months ago. It remains under construction. Multiple areas of chipped and defective tile/steps involving severe safety risks.
The buffet experience at Arenal was another disappointment. During meal times it becomes extremely crowded and chaotic. Guests are constantly bumping into one another while trying to navigate the food stations, and the staff appears unable to replenish food quickly enough to keep up with demand. Rather than being a relaxing dining experience, meals often felt stressful and overcrowded.
The most frustrating aspect of our stay has been the specialty restaurant process. Unlike many resorts that allow guests to make reservations, RIU Palace Costa Rica operates on a first-come, first-served system. At check-in, we were advised to arrive around 5:30 p.m. because availability is limited. One evening, I arrived at the Japanese restaurant line at 5:20 p.m. After waiting approximately 45 minutes, I finally reached the host stand around 6:05 p.m. and was informed that no dinner times remained for the rest of the evening.
As I write this review, tomorrow is my daughter’s birthday and our final night is tomorrow, at the resort. To improve our chances of getting a table, I got in line at 4:30 p.m.—more than an hour before the restaurant even opens. In my opinion, asking guests to spend a significant portion of their vacation standing in line simply to obtain a dinner reservation is unreasonable and unnecessary. Upon being seated, I went to get in line at 4:30pm to secure our table. Upon seating, I ordered a lemon cello spritzer and was told for over 45 minutes multiple times by our server, “One more minute.” I ended up going to the hotel main bar location to attain this drink, and came back to my table, with no drink ever being provided by the serving staff during the length of our meal. Very strange, dysfunctional, and unorganized.
The current dining system creates large crowds of guests gathering around restaurant entrances, patrons using chairs due to extreme long waits in lines, blocking walkways and main building access points as everyone competes for limited seating. It feels disorganized and inefficient, and it is surprising that a resort of this size does not utilize a reservation system, which has become standard practice throughout much of the hospitality industry.
Would I return? No.
While Costa Rica is absolutely worth visiting, I believe travelers considering this resort should understand that the accommodations, maintenance, dining logistics, and overall guest experience may not align with expectations of a higher-end all-inclusive resort. There are likely better options available for travelers seeking a more polished and relaxing vacation experience.
via tripadvisor
AndrewHumber
Family · Jul 2026
6
Nice hotel. Restaurant system a total joke.
Liked:This place has the most ridiculous policies for restaurants. No reservations are allowed, you must stand in a line at 5:30 everyday to stand a chance of getting sat anytime between then and 6:30. If you come back at 6:30, you may possibly get a seat for the second sitting, but the restaurants close at 8:00 p.m.. 8:00 p.m. is absolutely ridiculous when the hotel is fully booked. We actually wanted to enjoy our late afternoon in the pool so we did not go and stand in a line and instead went nack to one restaurant at 7:20 p.m. when it was half empty, and they wouldn't seat us because it was closing in 40 minutes. I'm literally sitting in the buffet right now, watching endless lines of people all trying to eat at the few restaurants that they have. What a joke. Forcing the entire hotel to eat in a 2 hour window. Never seen this at any resort I have ever stayed at and unless they change the policy, which absolutely nobody I spoke to thought was a good idea, I will never come back.
