Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique

We just returned from a wonderful four-night stay at Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, and we already cannot wait to go back. From the moment we arrived, everything felt special. Even with a few rainy days, the beauty of the property, the peaceful atmosphere, and the exceptional service made our stay unforgettable. The resort is absolutely stunning, beautifully maintained, and incredibly clean. Every detail was thoughtful, from the nightly turndown service to the warm smiles we received throughout the property. What truly made this stay so memorable was the people. Every single team member we encountered was exceptional—kind, professional, friendly, and genuinely happy to help. You can truly see happiness on their faces and feel the warmth in the way they treat every guest. Everyone went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed, spoiled, and completely taken care of. While everyone was outstanding, there are a few wonderful people we especially remember and would love to recognize. A very special thank-you to Mauricio from concierge for his kindness and assistance; Randall, who gave us a wonderful golf cart tour of the property upon arrival; Julio, who was always so polite and willing to help with rides around the resort, and who even searched for and recovered my lost cell phone and quickly returned it to us; Daniel at Peacock Bar, a hardworking young man who went above and beyond with kindness, professionalism, and grace; Edward at La Finca Restaurant for his excellent service, recommendations, and professionalism; and Renny, our breakfast server several times during our stay, who was incredibly kind, attentive, and made us feel truly spoiled every morning. The food was fantastic, the amenities were amazing, and the entire experience felt luxurious yet welcoming. As a Hilton Diamond member, we booked our stay with rewards points and were graciously upgraded to an Ocean View King Suite with a plunge pool, which was truly the cherry on top. The suite was spacious and beautiful, with a huge balcony and breathtaking ocean views. It was the perfect place to relax, enjoy the rain, and simply take in the incredible scenery. After experiencing this resort firsthand, I would encourage anyone reading negative reviews to take them with a grain of salt. Our experience was nothing short of exceptional, and every part of our stay exceeded expectations. Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique is a true paradise, not only because of the views and luxury, but because of the incredible people who make the experience so memorable. We left feeling grateful, relaxed, spoiled, and already dreaming of our next visit.

My experience at the Waldorf was nothing short but amazing. I stayed for 5 days with my wife and we had the time of our lives. The hotel is modern, high end, the food is delicious, the spa is great. Best of all was our concierge Freddy. He made sure everything was taken care of for us at all time, would reach out multiple times a day to make sure we had no needs , had housekeeping come to our room several times per day to clean up and make everything feel tidy. I cannot thank him enough for making our vacation amazing. He is one of the best concierge we have ever had. The staff at the hospital is really friendly and will make sure you feel at home. We will definitely be coming back! Make sure you don’t miss the sunset at the lobby deck!

The stay itself was great. The problem for us started when we left and were reviewing our bill. We were double charged for a jet ski rental. We checked out March 17th. I emailed them on the 21st of March with copies of the invoices and the credit card charge. i received a reply from Andres (Front Office Manager Assist/Dir) indicated that they reviewed the case, agreed with me, and initiated the refund process. I emailed them again on May 11th asking for an update and apparently Andres is no longer employed there and didn't process the refund. I got a reply from Alessandro apologizing and saying he was processing the refund and saying "...you have my word that this is going to be taken care of." It's now a month after that email and I still haven't seen a refund. I emailed them again a week ago and have received no response so far. Overall the service on property was great and we really enjoyed the stay. With that said, I am very, very disappointed with the back office staff and the willingness to help solve billing issues after the stay is complete. It's unfortunate we are having to deal with this issue 3 months after we left

We recently stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica after booking the most basic room using Hilton points during a promotion. Check-in was smooth, and the concierge was proactive before our arrival. This was our first trip traveling with our newborn, so we had hoped for some recognition as Hilton Diamond members. Prior to arrival, I saw multiple upgraded room categories available in the Hilton app. Given what appeared to be relatively low occupancy during the off-season and the fact that other guests had publicly shared experiences of receiving suite upgrades at this property, I genuinely hoped the hotel would consider our circumstances. Our standard room quickly became cramped with luggage, a crib, and everything that comes with traveling with an infant. Throughout our stay, I explained to multiple team members that our goal wasn’t simply to obtain a more expensive room. We were hoping for additional space and, ideally, a suite with a private pool that would allow us to comfortably enjoy the afternoons with our baby during the hottest part of the day. At check-in, I was quoted $1,300 per night to upgrade to a suite. Later, I was told the cost would actually be $2,800 per night, despite the Hilton app showing the same suite for approximately $2,044. After I questioned the discrepancy, I was told they would match the Hilton price. I was also informed that the General Manager did not permit suite upgrades because the property was new, which conflicted with multiple reviews I had already read from guests who had received them. The following day, Front Desk Manager Alan apologized for the inconsistent information and later offered to move us into a Bahia room with a plunge pool. While I appreciated the gesture, the room itself was essentially the same size as the one we already occupied and did not address our primary concern of having additional space for our family. I explained that what we were really hoping for was an ocean-view suite with a full-sized pool. By that point, it had become clear that a complimentary upgrade was unlikely, and I was prepared to pay a reasonable amount for the room that best suited our needs. The difference in price between the plunge pool option and the pool suite appeared to be relatively modest, yet that option was never presented to us. Despite several conversations and our willingness to find a practical compromise, we were left feeling that there was little flexibility or consideration given to our circumstances. Ultimately, this wasn’t about expecting something for free. It was about hoping that our loyalty status, the apparent availability, the fact that we were traveling with our newborn, and our willingness to work toward a reasonable solution would be met with genuine hospitality. Unfortunately, despite multiple discussions throughout our stay, that feeling of being valued as Hilton Diamond guests never materialized. Breakfast was another disappointment. One of the highlights frequently mentioned in reviews was the breakfast buffet, but on the day we arrived, the resort had just transitioned away from that format. It seemed as though the staff was still adjusting to the new system. We were given a menu and, while the complimentary bread basket was a nice touch, there was constant emphasis on what was and was not included. Throughout the meal, there were repeated reminders that certain items carried additional charges while others were covered under the Diamond benefit. Unfortunately, that feeling extended beyond breakfast. Throughout our stay, there was a constant sense of being nickel-and-dimed. Complimentary bottled water was not readily available beyond tap water. At the pool, one day we would receive a bottle of water without issue, while another day the experience would be entirely different. The bottled water was often served without ice, becoming warm almost immediately in the Costa Rican heat. Even small requests came with surprisingly high charges. On one occasion, I asked for a simple banana for our baby and was billed $9 for a single banana. While luxury resorts naturally command premium prices, the repeated emphasis on additional charges for even the most basic requests detracted from the feeling of hospitality and generosity one expects from a property of this caliber. More concerning was the repeated disregard for our dietary restrictions. Before our arrival, we were asked whether we had any dietary requirements, and every morning at breakfast we were again asked to confirm them. We consistently stated that we do not eat pork products. On our very first breakfast, we were told that chicken sausage was available. When our food arrived, we assumed that was what had been served, but because there was bacon on our baby’s plate, we decided to double-check. We specifically asked whether the sausage was chicken, and the server assured us that it was. Moments later, our primary server rushed over and informed us that a mistake had been made and that the sausage was actually pork. Everything had to be taken back and replaced. Unfortunately, the same situation happened again later during our stay. While mistakes can happen anywhere, this was a resort that had proactively asked about our dietary restrictions before arrival and then reconfirmed them every single morning. We had been there for a week, the resort did not appear particularly busy, and our preferences were well known by that point. Having the same mistake occur twice demonstrated a concerning lack of attention to detail and consistency, particularly at a property operating under the Waldorf Astoria name. The Do Not Disturb feature was also repeatedly ignored. Whether we activated the privacy setting electronically or used the privacy indicator on the door, staff continued knocking and ringing the doorbell. On one occasion, a staff member opened the door when there was no response while my wife was putting our baby down for a nap. We also experienced a lengthy loss of air conditioning. After returning to our room one afternoon, we discovered it wasn’t working. I contacted the front desk and was told maintenance would come. After waiting approximately 30 minutes with no update, I called again and was informed that the entire property had lost air conditioning. We were advised to go to the coffee shop because it had air conditioning, only for that area to lose power and cooling as well. The outage lasted from approximately noon until shortly after 4:00 p.m. What stood out most was the lack of communication. Guests received no notification, updates, or explanation during the outage. I also asked whether there was a backup power system in place but never received an answer. To be fair, there were positives. The property itself is beautiful. The pools were enjoyable, and much of the restaurant staff was warm, attentive, and genuinely friendly. Many employees worked hard and did their best to provide excellent service. However, for the rates this resort commands, the expectations associated with the Waldorf Astoria name, and the recognition one expects as a Hilton Diamond member, this stay fell short of a true five-star experience. Too often, questions were met with inconsistent answers, and interactions felt more transactional than hospitality-driven. Having stayed at other Waldorf Astoria properties as well as Ritz-Carlton Reserve resorts, this simply did not meet the standard we have come to expect. The final impression at checkout unfortunately reinforced that feeling. The interaction was cold and impersonal. We paid our bill, received our receipt, and were never asked how our stay had been or even thanked for choosing the property. Overall, while the resort is undeniably beautiful and many individual staff members were excellent, the inconsistent service, lack of communication, disregard for guest preferences, repeated failures surrounding dietary restrictions, and minimal recognition of loyalty status mean that we would not return or recommend this property. Unfortunately, this was not the Waldorf Astoria experience we expected.

Our stay at the Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique exceeded all our expectations. The staff's warmth, professionalism, and attention to detail made our stay truly special. The concierge team was especially helpful, always ready with great recommendations and assistance. One of our favorite experiences during the trip was a Rainforest, Sloth Watching Tour, Zipline Adventure we booked through NextTripcr.com after another guest highly recommended it. Seeing sloths, colorful birds, and other wildlife in their natural habitat was simply amazing and became one of our favorite memories in Costa Rica. The resort is stunning, peaceful, and beautifully designed. Our room offered breathtaking views, and the breakfast was fresh, delicious, and varied every day. Combined with its fantastic location, this made for an exceptional Costa Rican getaway.