W Costa Rica Review: Luxury Escape in a Nature Reserve

Nestled in the lush landscapes of the Guanacaste region, W Costa Rica is a luxurious escape that combines the beauty of the tropics with the modern flair of the W brand. From perfect views of the Pacific Ocean to the surroundings of lush rainforest, this eco-chic designed hotel is worth a visit. Lets dive into my W Costa Rica review to find out why this is an ideal choice for your Costa Rican getaway.

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W Costa Rica is about an hour and a half from Liberia International Airport. I highly recommend renting a car as you have the freedom to come and go and get to activities easier. 

If you don’t want to drive, or are worried about renting a car in Costa Rica there are plenty of shuttles. One example is Liberia Airport Shuttle, they offer shuttle to many properties throughout the Guanacaste region. They have private options, but if you are looking to save some money then there is a group option. 

As far as taking public transportation to this property it would be very difficult, with a lot of changes so I would try to avoid that if possible.

W Costa Rica does not come cheap. Base rooms can start around $600 USD during low season and during peak season reach over $1,000 USD a night. Not to mention there is also a 35 USD nightly resort fee. While this was out of my price range, I was able to book my room using Marriott Bonvoy points for 50,000 points a night.

During my booking process I decided to use my Nightly Upgrade Award from hitting titanium status this year. The hope was that I would be able to get myself a suite at this property. While I had little hope for my two day stay, I selected the Sunset Tree House Suite for my upgrade.

I had spent most of my day in Guanacaste National Park before my arrival, so I ended up not arriving at W Costa Rica until about 6:00 PM. When I arrived at where the GPS was taking me there was a guard checking all the cars that came in. I simply just showed the guard my reservation and they opened the gate. It was about a 5 minute drive from the entrance gate to reach the lobby of the W Costa Rica. 

The valet was quick to assist as I pulled in as valet is complimentary at the W Costa Rica. I was then shown to the check-in area which was a beautiful open concept overlooking the pool and the ocean. I was provided a welcome drink (delicious) as they were collecting my passport and other essential items.

While it didn’t show in my Marriott app before, I got lucky and was upgraded to the suite I had requested. The check in process was quite fast and within about 10 minutes the layout of the property was described to me, as well as downloading a specific app for the property. This app allows you to book reservations for dinner, and activities that they offer throughout the property.

I was quickly guided to my room from the check in desk. While some of the rooms are in towers, the suite I was staying in was a villa. The towers are accessible by golf carts driven around by staff, while the villa requires walking to. It is a bit awkward because you have to walk through the outdoor seating of the restaurant or the pool to reach the villas.

Upon walking into the Sunset Tree House Suite I will have to say I was blown away by how gorgeous it is. Stepping into this 1300 sq ft. room is a living room filled with a funky looking couch and a foosball table, which also serves as a dining table. 

Right outside the window is a plunge pool that overlooks the ocean. The entry through the pool is through the window right beside it. The temperature was cool, but felt good after a long sunny day.

Attached to the living room is a small half bath, as well as a stocked minibar. The minibar was a standard selection that you would find at a hotel. There was also a coffee maker in the room, but I found the restaurant to offer much fresher coffee. 

Into the bedroom the bed sprawled out in the middle of the room. A walk-in closet was behind it and a gorgeous view out of the windows. A TV was hanging on the wall with an arm that allowed it to move freely around. The TV did have only a few channels, but was a smart TV so allowed Netflix and other streaming services.

The bathroom was probably by far the favorite part of this suite.

With just a few steps into the room the his and hers vanity was brightly illuminated. On one side was a small room with the toilet. While on the other side was a shower with a rainfall option. The window is from floor to ceiling and is wide open. Do be a bit cautious though as there is not as much privacy as you might think.

At W Costa Rica there are a total of 5 restaurants and bars, as well as in room dining. WET deck, the Living Room and Zona Azul Beach Club serve more finger type foods, rather than whole meals. All day dining can be found at Cocina de Mercado, and there is also a fine dining restaurant Latitud 10 Norte. 

Being a titanium member with Marriott Bonvoy each brand of hotel has different options you can choose as a welcome amenity. For me I was able to choose free breakfast for myself plus a guest. Breakfast at the W Costa Rica was a large inviting buffett with an egg station and fresh squeezed juices. I will say between the two days I was there the options didn’t change very much but it does have a large variety. 

The only small issue I had in my opinion was that they recommend reservations for dinner. This is done through the W Costa Rica app. However, upon my arrival that evening everything was already booked and it wasn’t possible to make any reservations. I was still able to get a table at  Cocina de Mercado, but I never had the opportunity to try the fine dining restaurant.

The Westin Reserva Conchal is also on the same reserve as W Costa Rica and they do offer to shuttle guests to their restaurants as well. It does look like it is even possible to room charge at the Westin to the W. 

There isn’t a whole lot right outside the property either, I did stop at Big Momma’s Kitchen on the day of departure, which was pretty good. It is also about a 30 minute drive to Tamarindo. A lot of restaurants can also be found here.

There are two pools on the W Costa Rica property. One is up near the reception area, while the other is down by the beach. The pool near reception is an adult only pool with a bar built into the pool side. It is a great place to just hang out and relax. 

The pool down by the beach is for kids and adults. To get there you can either walk, catch a ride on a golf cart, or if your adventurous zipline. Sadly, the zipline is closed during the low season and I was not able to try it, but that has to be the coolest way ever to get to a pool.

Speaking of the beach it is pristine and is where I spent a large portion of my vacation.

While all beaches are public in Costa Rica this didn’t really make the beach any less relaxing. There were a few people trying to sell things, but they were very respectful when I declined. I think the property is also located far enough out that it is kind of a hassle to get there so many vendors don’t try. There is also a little eco-station where you can bring a bucket to help clean up trash that might wash up on the beach. 

While I never got the chance to use the spa, it was connected to the gym which I did use a lot. Spa services at the time were only on-demand, so it seems that it might not be as popular. The gym had decent equipment, but seemed a bit dated. No major complaints, still had everything that I needed.

Honestly, with the vibrant style of the W it seems that it is usually a city and nightlife hotel. I am so glad that W Costa Rica exists because it has the perfect style to fit this nature reserve. Returning to this property is not even a question. Next time I am in Costa Rica looking to just hang out and relax, I know where I am heading. I hope this W Costa Review makes you decide to stay at this lovely property and if you have already stayed there before let me know what you think.