Xandari Resort & Spa

Do not let yourself be underwhelmed by the tiny and dull complementary breakfast and gallo pinto. Xandari's kitchen staff know their craft: great desserts, ceviche and mushrooms! Lush gardens carefully kept, cute colorful rooms, and beautiful surroundings help build a cozy and pleasant environment. The staff is super friendly and polite (kudos to Tracy, one of the nicest, most helpful and knowledgeable guides we've met). Dont miss the jacuzzi with herbal treatment... simply unbeatable! I highly recommend this hotel to small groups looking for peace, quiet and healthy food. Just a suggestion: since the owners run hotels in Kerala (and being that region so close to my heart) why not adding a small Kerala garden?

The gardens at Xandari Resort are spectacular (they have 10 gardeners on staff) and as I walked through the main area I felt like I could be walking through the world during the time of the dinosaurs. This was our last stop before returning home and it was truly the relaxing experience I was hoping for. The casita was so appealing esthetically that it was really a joy to stay at this facility. I enjoyed both dinner and breakfast and loved the fact that the rains cooperated and stopped in time for dinner each night and the sky completely cleared so we could dine overlooking the city lights of the central valley.

We arrived after an 11 hour flight from London. The hotel is only 20 minutes from the airport but seems a world away in large grounds. Large rooms, big balconies with great views. Restaurant had a good menu and a view over the valley. The grounds had some interesting walking trails. Regretted only spending a night but a great choice after a long flight as opposed to trekking into San Jose.

Alas we only had one night at this beautiful hotel. I am not a fan of resort hotels but this is unlike any other resort I have seen. There are three swimming pools, so each attracts only a small number of guests, the ground are enormous and beautifully maintained and the rooms are large colorful and comfortable. We loved the bright colours used everywhere that gave such an exotic joyful feel plus the view from our room was astounding especially at night displaying the lights of San Jose with tiny aircraft landing and taking off from the airport in the distance. The staff were excellent (with the exception of one waiter who was not happy to bring our lunch poolside) and the food was some of the best we had in Costa Rica. We would not hesitate to return.

We have been been going to Costa Rica every year since 1999 and, while we have stayed in many places throughout the country, we have always stayed at Xandari. The staff is super friendly and they bend over backwards to ensure your stay is comfortable and enjoyable. We always stay at Xandari for our first and last nights in the country. They will arrange transport for you for a reasonable sum. The company they use is very reliable. If you've ever gone to Costa Rica, there is nothing more enjoyable than having a car waiting for you once you leave the airport to quickly escape the onslaught of people screaming "TAXI" at you. Also, because Xandari has been around for a long time and is very respected, some rental car places (Toyota, Adobe, Mapache) will deliver and pick up the rental car at the hotel. Again, a HUGE convenience! The rooms are super comfy and the location is very pleasant. All rooms have a coffee maker and mini fridge. Smokers take note: You can smoke on the patios of the villas. That is a big deal as most hotels have become militant about not smoking on the premises. The food is very good. It's not very vegetarian-friendly, but there are a few things to eat if you are vegetarian, and they can make some dishes vegetarian if you ask. The staff all speak English, so if you don't speak Spanish, you are ok here. Lastly, the hotel has some very nice trails with waterfalls. They have spa-related stuff as well. We've never used it, so I can't speak to it. If you have stayed there before, but it's been a while (over 3 years), take note..... The original owners sold the hotel to a company a few years ago. The hotel is mostly the same, but there are some minor "changes" that were made that you may notice. The food portions seem smaller than before. Also, bottled water is no longer readily available in the rooms as it used to be. I am not sure if you can't just request it. I didn't ask, so I don't know. Lastly, there used to be dogs and cats that were "pets" of the hotel. We didn't see any dogs or cats this time or last year. We always enjoyed the dogs and cats being there, so their absence was noticed. There may be other hotels in the area that do all the things mentioned, but none that we've used have consistently delivered excellent service, convenience, and professionalism.