Gaia Hotel & Reserve

For people like me who like to know the details before they travel – this one’s for you! What a holiday. Gaia exceeded every expectation I tried so hard not to have. After a long, soggy drive from San Jose, Oscar greeted us with such kindness that even my travel day grumpiness evaporated. Check in was quick. (Parking was easy, and a spot was saved for us by the security staff whenever we came and went.) We have travelled extensively across the world but this was our first time in Costa Rica. I’ll leave a trip review on the Manuel Antonio forum for my fellow Brits, and keep this just about Gaia. The room: The room was air conditioned on arrival and our bags were delivered two minutes after we had kicked off our shoes. We had no chance to explore as we were too knackered. Having stayed in many five star resorts, our room wasn’t five star fancy in its finish, but it was spotless, enormous, and the view was the real luxury. Waking up to jungle, sea, macaws, and a toucan made any quibbles irrelevant. The balcony became our favourite spot, and the storage could house a small family. The bathroom was huge, clean, and mercifully insect free, which is vital for someone with my particular phobia. We were given toiletries, and bottled water was replenished daily. You can slide the window open and shower with a view, privately without causing a scene (although I didn’t ask the monkeys if they’d been traumatised…) There is a large mini-fridge left empty to be stocked on request, or as we did, with wine from the supermarket. The coffee machine is a pod machine, coffee and tea was provided (no milk for our British compatriots! Buy a bottle in town and store it in the fridge – it’s better milk than most foreign destinations, and the tea bags weren’t bad at all!) The bed is also HUGE and extremely comfortable. Robe and slippers provided. Umbrellas too. Not that we needed them once. Concierge service: We were allocated Jose, but didn’t use him at all and indeed never even met him! But he kept us informed of our excursions through WhatsApp. As we’d already booked them through the hotel website, we didn’t need much. We’re quite independent and made our own restaurant bookings, so really didn’t miss out on much. Excursions: I cannot stress enough to book your trips through the hotel. Clarence, who guided our National Park and macaw tours, is an absolute gem. Ziplining and the mangrove trip were also brilliant and run by people who genuinely care about conservation. The shuttle into Manuel Antonio is also really convenient and easy. Despite having a car, we found this super easy. The driver will also direct you to the perfect spot (and the happy friendly gentleman) to purchase your chairs and umbrellas from for a day at the beach. The resort: We are fit and able bodied humans. But it is true that Gaia is very hilly, even for two people who walk Dartmoor for fun, but the golf cart is always there if you need it. Walking up and down during twilight though is fab – you will encounter monkeys and iguanas on your route! The pool is a lot of fun across lots of levels, but it is very small. Clean as anything, and the loungers are well spaced to give privacy and peace. We liked the uppermost pool section best as it was near the bar, and had the most shade. It was also always very quiet. It was not a problem to get a lounger, no need to be on guard at 5am. The food: Breakfast was my favourite part of the day. The views! It was so peaceful and a magical start to our day. The food is wonderful – I love that it is entirely a la carte so no faffing at a buffet. The selection is plentiful. I am gluten intolerant, and while it was a bit iffy about whether or not I was 100% without any gluten, it was close enough for me. Celiacs may have to be more rigid. But I found that with the eggs, fruit, and other options I was very looked after. The husband (who can’t survive without tea) even managed to get a proper cuppa every morning, while I swam happily in buckets of Costa Rican coffee. We had dinner at La Luna twice – it’s very good. The fresh fish, the sushi, the pineapple dessert…all fantastic. We gorged on tuna because to do so at home would have meant taking out a second mortgage. And finally, the staff: I doubted they could be as good as the reviews claimed, but they were even better. Warm, thoughtful, never intrusive, and somehow always there at the exact moment you need something. Huge thanks to Tony, Oscar, and the wonderful Clarence for making our stay unforgettable.

The best hotel on our trip, a wonderful restaurant and a big clean modern room with a wonderful view at sunset. We were out on trips all the time and the hotel is up a steep hill but you get transfers up and down in the golf cart. Food and wine amazing, you can preorder breakfast if you have an early trip. Staff wonderful. Gym and pool available but we didnt have time for that, nor the hotel walk around the grounds. Would have loved to have been able to stay for longer, but had to get back to the airport.

What a find!! We began our world travels back when you relied on Fodor's, Frommers and Conde Nast magazine, long before phones and apps, and have been fortunate to have stayed at some world class hotels/resorts. Gaia took us by surprise; what a wonderful resort hotel! It is now one of the top three properties that we've experienced. It is a tremendous value and their service and attention to detail are impeccable. For us, this is what sets them apart. Once we turned into the entrance, their welcoming, professional, and efficient team took action. From guidance into a parking space and a swift golf cart ride up to reception, to cold towels and fresh fruit juice as we were comfortably checked in and oriented. This level of authentic customer service is rare, yet was abundant throughout our stay. It appears to be a part of their company culture. The restaurant is excellent. The included daily breakfast offers a wide variety of choices, both quality and presentation exceeding expectations (not to mention the beautiful open air ocean views). Lunch and dinners were also excellent and included the same consistent attention to detail and authentic customer service. Same for our evenings at the sunset bar. There were so many other experiences and small details that are too numerous to include.  Our tradition is to purchase a logo item when we find a rare gem like this. We still have them from stays at Hayman Island and Mauna Lani. At checkout I asked about the availability of this type of item, but they don't exist. We were a little disappointed, but this may indicate their strong focus on maintaining this authenticity and zero pretentiousness. The memory of this incredible stay will be our momento. Thank you Gaia Hotel and Reserve team!

I tend to agree with another reviewer, the hotel now over 20years old is becoming dated and needs some updating! The air conditioning units are old and cranky and the sound proofing is pretty non existent. Our room was spacious though without a window in the bedroom, just into the living area, it feels strange and slightly claustrophobic. The bathroom is quirky though could definitely do with updating. The golf carts and complimentary bus service are delightfully efficient, could the bus back from the beach not be a little later than 4pm? The restaurant was good and the staff are top notch and couldn’t be more pleasant and helpful, though we were lucky and found that in every hotel we stayed in Costa Rica.

I cannot overstate the superior quality and service at this 5 star luxury resort. I can honestly say that the Gaia deserves an 11/10 ! The hotel itself is tucked away in the midst of a nature reserve and its panoramic views, along with the exquisite decor in every corner of this property, is astounding. True quality runs throughout the complete Gaia experience. First and foremost, the personal and professional service, from the owner who is ever present on site, to all of the staff - is at the highest level you can expect. The rooms are large, well furnished with all amenities, the bed super-comfortable and the power-shower a blessing ! We enjoyed the Luna restaurant for breakfast and dinner all 4 nights of our stay - a first for us! The cuisine was simply outstanding in choice, quality and presentation - we didn’t want to try any other restaurant in the area. The praise and accolades are well-deserved and anyone looking for over-and-above 5-star quality in Manuel Antonio, should look no further than the Gaia.