Jaco Beach Hotel Accommodations: Marriott Los Sueños Ocean & Golf Resort

Location: North of Playa De Jaco beach
Room Information: 211 units
Rates: $205-$295 double; $600-$950 suite; $1,500-$1,800 presidential suite. Rates lower in the off season
Credit Cards: AE, MC, V
Amenities: 4 restaurants; 2 bars; large pool; golf course; 4 tennis courts; health club and spa

This is the closest large-scale resort to San Jose and is one of the nicest in Costa Rica. The hotel is a massive, four-story horseshoe facing this great surfing beach. The whole thing is done in a Spanish colonial style, with stucco walls, heavy wooden doors, and red-clay roof tiles.

The rooms are all spacious and tastefully done. They come with one king-size or two queen-size beds, a large armoire, a desk, and a sitting chair with an ottoman. The bathrooms are large and have plenty of counter space. Every room has a balcony, but all are not created equal. Most have only small Juliet-style balconies. Those facing the ocean are clearly superior, and a few of the ocean-facing rooms even have large, comfortable balconies with tables and chairs. (You'll have to specifically request these.

The expansive lobby area opens out onto a large terrace and the Puesta del Sol bar, with its panoramic views of the beach and the bluffs bordering Playa Herradura. The pool is a vast, intricate maze built to imitate the canals of Venice (in miniature), with private nooks and grottos; kids love exploring it. The beach here is calm and good for swimming, although it's one of the least attractive beaches on this Pacific coast, with a mix of rocks and hard-packed, dark-brown sand.

The Ted Robinson-designed 18-hole Costa Rica golf course winds through some of the neighboring forest and is an excellent, if not particularly challenging, resort course. The Stellaris casino is the largest and most comfortable I've found at a beach resort in Costa Rica.

Facilities: 4 restaurants; coffee shop; 2 bars; lounge; large pool; golf course and pro shop; 4 tennis courts; health club and spa; watersports equipment rentals; children's program; game room; concierge; Costa Rica adventure tours; car-rental desk; salon; 24-hr. room service; in-room massage; babysitting; laundry service; nonsmoking rooms.

Contact: sales@explorecostarica.com  

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