Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort, Costa Rica

Beautiful resort, great views, large rooms. We were having a great time until we were sprayed by a skunk while sitting on the first floor balcony at 9pm. I'd recommend moving the cushions off the sofa because I think it was hiding under there. There was almost no help from the resort. I called the front desk and waited for someone to arrive. I finally gave up and ran to the lobby to ask for another room. I understand why no one wanted to enter our stinky room but it would have been nice to have help moving our items. One employee did arrive after we were almost done, and carried one item up the 2 floors to our new room. The rest we did ourselves, and then another hour until the roll away arrived for my daughter. We were in a hurry to get out of the room before our personal items starting smelling like skunk. The hotel did offer to do a load of laundry, but we threw out the clothes and shoes we were wearing. 2 hours after we were sprayed, we were able to settle into our new room and go to sleep. I did share my frustration when we checked out. It has the potential to be a great resort, but I cannot understand this collapse in service. There is wildlife everywhere and we cannot be the first family to have a bad encounter.

My husband and I had a lovely 2-night getaway at Andaz and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Our room was spacious and very well designed. We especially loved the privacy of our balcony over-looking the bay, and the shower which opened onto the balcony and felt like a completely private outdoor shower. The views were truly spectacular. The accommodations are built into the side of a hill in such a way that each room has privacy even though they are side-by-side. The gorgeous gardens make you feel like you are in a jungle oasis. We especially enjoyed the beautiful beach at Casa de Playa, the fantastic food at Ostra restaurant (fresh and tasty) and the yoga class led by Yari. She tailored the class to suit the full range of participants and was very encouraging and kind. We highly recommend this place and hope to return.

We had an amazing stay at the Andaz. The resort is beautiful and surrounded by nature, we even saw monkeys around the property, which made it feel like being in the middle of the jungle. The pools were fantastic and the beach club was great for relaxing. We also did the cabana experience one day and it was definitely worth it. Food and drinks were very good, especially dinner at Ostra. The resort feels very family-friendly, although there is quite a bit of walking and stairs around the property. During our stay we explored some incredible places in Guanacaste. One of the highlights was visiting Playa Conchal, one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica, and spending time in Tamarindo walking around the town, enjoying the beach atmosphere and doing some shopping. Another unforgettable experience was hiking to La Leona Waterfall, a unique adventure through a canyon and river to reach a hidden waterfall. We rented a car, but Nomad Tours Costa Rica helped organize our entire itinerary. It was actually our first time doing this self-drive style adventure and everything worked perfectly. Gabriel recommended the best places to visit and arranged everything so we could simply drive to each destination where local guides were already waiting for us. It made the whole experience easy, safe, and very enjoyable. This self-drive option is perfect for travelers who rent a car but still want expert recommendations and well-organized tours. They also offer tours with transportation included if you prefer not to drive. Highly recommend exploring Guanacaste this way.

We had a wonderful time at the Andaz. From the greeting at the hotel to the check out process, everything was seamless. The staff was accommodating in every way in being prompt to resolve any issues or booking of excursions to dinner reservations. The room was very clean and had amazing view. The buffet breakfast was delicious and better than most buffet breakfasts I have had. I would definitely consider returning.

Beautiful hotel with great food and drinks. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The use of Whatsapp to communicate with the hotel is very helpful. David Villagra was the best and most attentive server. He remembered our names during the entire stay which really makes a guest feel special.