The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal

Great resort with a lot of beautiful amenities for guests. Multiple pools to enjoy and fun adventures to explore.

We had a truly exceptional time at The Springs Resort and we are already thinking about when we can go back. Where to begin... as others have mentioned, the staff was consistently exceptional, the grounds are beautiful, the food was great, and the pools were one of a kind. The free breakfast was especially notable - we started every morning with a really nice breakfast of fruit, juices, coffee, an omelette station (the omelette station guy whose name I cannot recall was a real hero). Special shout out to Tony and Byron - they went out of their way to learn our names and made sure we were taken care of throughout our stay. We were with my two in-laws who were traveling to Costa Rica for the first time. Tony and Byron made them feel at home. The rooms were spacious and clean. The cleaning staff was ever-present, making sure turn down service was on time and they left fun animals made out of towels for the kids. Cannot say enough good things about our trip and, again, we can't wait to go back.

Review of The Springs Resort & Spa in Costa Rica I recently had the opportunity to experience The Springs Resort & Spa in Costa Rica, and I have A LOT to say! First, let's talk about getting there because this is something I think travelers really need to consider. The journey is long. After the long flight, you have approximately a 3-hour drive to the resort. If you have issues with motion sickness, this is something I would definitely keep in mind. The roads are winding, and it is a long ride. Several of the drivers told us that they have guests who have to stop multiple times. Transportation - We took a van to the resort and flew back on a very small 4-seater aircraft. I'm going to be completely honest—I would not do the small plane again. 😂 We arrived at what appeared to be a small building with a takeoff/landing area. There was a lady inside and then two men greeted us. They were our pilots. We’ve done it before in Belize and had no issues, but I believe due to the winds, the mountains, and weather conditions, we were in for a ride, and not the kind I wanted. The flight started off smoothly, but once we got going, we were up and down and, at times, flying what felt like half sideways. It honestly felt like a roller coaster at certain points. I’m not a roller coaster fan. If you're accustomed to small aircraft or you're a thrill seeker, you may love it. Me? Not my idea of fun! I prayed a LOT on that short flight. We made it, but I will NOT do that again. I have had clients use Sansa airlines and no complaints there. In the future, because their planes are a bit larger, I would be willing to try that route. The Springs...WOW. The Resort & Rooms - The resort is absolutely beautiful. We were greeted upon arrival and were fortunate enough to be upgraded one category, which put us on a higher level with absolutely incredible views. And the room? OMG. Incredible! The rooms are spacious, beautifully appointed and have an amazing private balcony overlooking Arenal Volcano. The view literally changes throughout the day, and I could have sat there for hours just watching it. It was mesmerizing. There is a mini bar in the room, but everything in it is an additional charge, so just be aware of that. The bathroom was large and very nicely done, with a great shower and a HUGE bathtub. I never used the tub, but if you're someone who enjoys a nice soak, you'd definitely appreciate it. Shampoo, conditioner and shower gel are provided. Breakfast Our breakfast was included, and there was SO much to choose from. Choices are bacon, sausage, eggs, hash browns, made-to-order omelets, incredible fresh fruit, cereal, milk, juices, rice and beans, potato hash...the list goes on. I cannot forget the coffee. This was some of the best coffee I’ve had since visiting Hawaii. It was amazing. If breakfast isn't included with your rate, I believe it is around $29.99 per person, plus tax and gratuity. One thing I want to point out: a small gratuity is already included on food purchases. It didn't bother us at all, but I honestly didn't notice it until the second day, so I did ask about it. The Springs Now let's talk about what you're really there for—the springs! I'm not even sure where to begin. There are springs everywhere, and they are absolutely beautiful. Hidden around the resort between all of the lush gardens, you walk and see even more beauty. There are multiple pools and varying temperatures, so if you find one that's too hot—or too crowded—just keep walking! There are plenty of options. Some are cooler, while others are around 104 degrees. And the hot tub? Definitely my favorite! They also have a spring with a slide for the kids. And speaking of kids... I had previously sent other clients to The Springs who told me there were very few children. That was NOT our experience. There were a LOT of kids during our stay, and I was actually surprised by the number of families, especially considering this is not an inexpensive resort. I was just thinking to myself. I HOPE these kids appreciate where their parents are taking them!! I can’t imagine being 6 yrs old and splashing around that area!! That said, everyone seemed to be having a great time. The kids were enjoying themselves, and so were the adults. So if you're looking for an adults-only experience, this isn't it. Club Rio & Animal Sanctuary You can take the resort bus over to Club Rio, and we had an animal sanctuary tour included with our stay. The sanctuary tour was very nice, and I actually appreciated that it wasn't a super-long excursion, but something fun to experience while you are there. The bus ride to Club Rio is another winding one. We did have one moment that made me a little nervous. Our driver actually had to back up about a 1/2 mile to pick up some other guests....still not quite sure why they didn't just wait for the next bus. Anyway, after he stopped, he sat us on a VERY steep hill. I knew the air brakes were on, but I couldn't help thinking, "Please don't roll!" I don't think that was a very smart move to leave the bus unattended. But again, different rules in different countries. Club Rio gives you another area to spread out and offers rafting, tubing, kayaking, horseback riding and lawn games like cornhole. There's also a restaurant and bar. We didn't eat there, but we stopped for a cocktail before heading back, and it was a nice place to relax. This is probably one of the biggest things I want people to know. The Springs obviously is VERY hilly given you are right near the volcano. I would not recommend this resort for anyone with mobility issues. We were on the second floor and there was an elevator, but we never used it. Even with the elevator, you're still dealing with stairs and pathways that go uphill and downhill. At one point, I actually tracked my steps from our room to breakfast...About 750 steps! I had clients indicate there were golf carts to take you around, but perhaps it was because it wasn't as busy then. We wouldn't have done that anyway, but they said it was an option when they were there. It definitely didn't seem an option when we visited. The resort is built into the terrain, so there is quite a bit of walking up and down. If you're active and don't mind walking, it's completely manageable. But if you're looking for a resort where everything is flat and easy to get around, this isn't the one. My Overall Take I absolutely loved that there are so many different temperatures and areas within the springs. You can find a quieter spot, relax, move to another pool, explore the property or simply sit and enjoy the scenery. I was genuinely impressed with how well-maintained everything was. The resort is lush, beautiful and feels very safe and secure. The people were friendly, and we felt very comfortable throughout our stay. Because breakfast was so good, we normally just ate a late lunch, and then we were good for the day. That also likely helped with the cost. The dining menu was priced reasonably (I thought), and the food was all very good that we experienced. Who is The Springs best for? Adventurous travelers People who enjoy being active Couples looking for a mix of adventure and downtime Families who want lots of activities Travelers who want something beyond a traditional beach vacation Who might NOT love it? Someone looking specifically for an adults-only resort Someone wanting a traditional all-inclusive experience Anyone with significant mobility concerns Someone who doesn't do well with winding roads or small aircraft and has motion sickness issues As mentioned, this is not an all-inclusive resort. The pricing is also considerably higher than many of the all-inclusive resorts we typically visit. But for us? It was absolutely worth it. It was the perfect, romantic, anniversary getaway that we were looking for. We normally gravitate toward beach resorts, but we wanted to try something completely different this time, and The Springs really delivered. It's not inexpensive, and it isn't the right fit for everyone. But if you're looking for a beautiful, unique Costa Rican experience with incredible views, hot springs, activities, wildlife, adventure and plenty of opportunities to relax...I would highly recommend The Springs. And as always, this is my honest review based on MY experience. Every traveler has different priorities, so what I loved or didn't love may be completely different for you!

Mixed experience. Great accommodations, dining and staff. Pros: 1. Staff - beyond friendly and enjoyed chatting with them. 2. Food - delicious and plentiful. Breakfast was amazing each day. 3. Club Rio - great activities and wonderful staff. Cons: 1. Cleanliness - during our entire week long stay there was a discarded bandaid in the middle of the pool deck. Never picked up. 2. Pool service - at the main pool, however no servers circling the hot springs so you have to go to the pool bar to get a beverage. This also makes cups/dishes/trash stack up by the pools/hot tubs throughout the day so by 5p it looks like Cancun at Spring Break. 3. Day passes. You may spend $1,200/night to stay here or you can buy a day pass. All the day passers congregate around the main pool and camp out. Where do the hotel guests get food/drinks ? The main pool. So you have to wade through all the day passers, their bags, strollers, etc to stand in line and wait behind people who aren’t staying at the resort. 4. Our room was missing drawer pulls and house cleaning/turn down was inconsistent. The deadbolt did not work. 5. Service. A few mornings I was brought a bill before I was even asked if I wanted a coffee refill. Overall a good experience but not 5 stars. I would only return if the hotel no longer offered day passes. Otherwise I will find more affordable accommodations and I’ll be a day passer.

What an amazing resort! We tried several of the hot springs around La Fortuna during our trip, and The Springs was hands-down our favorite. We had a blast on the water slide, loved exploring the many hot spring pools, and enjoyed every restaurant. Las Ventanas was definitely a splurge, but it was absolutely worth it for one of the best meals of our trip. We stayed in a Vista Grande room, which had an incredible view of Arenal Volcano and plenty of space for our family of four. We also booked tubing through the Adventure Center, which was a lot of fun. While most activities have an additional fee, the prices were very reasonable. One tip: even if you're not planning to book an activity, make sure you visit the Adventure Center. There are additional hot springs there that are quieter, along with a beautiful hiking trail that's well worth exploring. The best part of our stay, though, was the staff. Every single person we encountered—from the front desk to the restaurant teams and everyone around the resort—was genuinely warm, friendly, and eager to help. Their hospitality made an already incredible resort even more memorable. We would absolutely stay here again!