Westin Playa Conchal

We went for a 50th birthday, and I won’t stay here again. We paid a lot for the adults-only side without knowing that meant access to an adults-only pool and premium liquor. Because we didn’t book through the website, we were charged an extra $40+ per person for round-trip airport transportation, while family members who booked on the site paid nothing extra. We had an email confirming transportation was complimentary, but were told otherwise when we arrived. For a “5 star” resort, that’s unacceptable, especially with the email correspondence. Service was inconsistent. The servers at the bars, golf carts, and restaurants were amazing, but management wasn’t. The resort felt more relaxing than entertaining. There were raccoons, iguanas, and howlers monkeys roaming freely; they weren’t very aggressive, but could be carrying disease. The nearby beach wasn’t private, it was public and full of hagglers. The bar and restaurant staff were the best part, but the amount we paid didn’t match the overall service.

Staff we dealt with were kind and professional, but the stay felt like a 3-star experience at a 5-star price. We chose the property expecting the quality usually associated with The Westin brand. At booking, no one clearly explained that we’d be in the Family Club category. We found out on arrival that this restricted access to more than half the resort’s restaurants. The category itself wasn’t the problem, but the lack of transparency cut down our dining options. Several of the restaurants we could use required reservations. We asked at check-in and never got confirmation. When we checked again the next day, we were told everything was full, though there might be space the following day or later. It took several follow-ups, including my husband going back to the Family check-in desk on day three, to get a reservation. Dining shouldn’t take that much effort at a resort of this caliber. The room had ants, so we had to put trash cans outside every night. Several windows had visible cracks that let warm air and insects, including geckos, inside. Air leaked into the bathroom, which stayed hot and had a persistent smell suggesting it hadn’t been thoroughly cleaned. Our first dinner was disorganized and disappointing. Several wines listed on the menu were unavailable, but we only found out after trying to order. My husband couldn’t get a Moscow Mule because they were out of ginger beer. My medium steak came extremely rare and tough, and was inedible. The grounds’ cleanliness was concerning too. Around 7:00 AM one morning, the pool area still had the previous day’s lemon and lime wedges, dirt, trash, and several large dead cockroaches. It was still being cleaned when we got back from breakfast, making it hard for our children to swim. The staff were polite and helpful when approached, and we appreciate their efforts, but the stay didn’t meet what we expect from a Westin at this price.

We loved the peaceful atmosphere, pools, beach access, wildlife, and all the lovely areas around the resort. The rooms were comfortable, clean, and relaxing, and the staff made us feel welcome. The setting is stunning, surrounded by tropical nature and one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful beaches. Our stay at The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort & Spa was beautiful and unforgettable. It’s a lovely tropical escape for families, couples, or anyone on vacation, with a relaxing feel and amazing service. Highly recommend visiting if you’re traveling around Guanacaste, Playa Conchal, or Tamarindo.

The staff at the Westin work hard to make you happy and are wonderful, and there are plenty of resort restaurants to choose from. For activities away from the property, go see ERIK GARCIA, in the blue shirt with GOOGLE on the front. He’s amazing and caters to your needs. He booked two excursions for us and both were amazing. We’ll definitely see him again for our final execution.