Are All-Inclusives in Guanacaste, Costa Rica Worth It For Families?

Are all-inclusives in Guanacaste, Costa Rica worth it for families, or are you better off with a regular hotel?

This question is bound to come up when planning your trip to Costa Rica, so it’s a good idea to fully evaluate the differences between the two, so you can make an informed decision.

In this guide, we’re going to break down those differences and analyze how your decision will affect the total cost of your trip.

By the end of this, you’ll have a clear understanding of which one makes the most sense for your trip.

Plus, you’ll learn why, after years of us visiting, we’ve changed our minds about all-inclusives.

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Comparing All-Inclusive and Standard Resorts

If you’ve never stayed at an all inclusive resort you might be wondering how it differs from a standard hotel.

We’ve stayed at our fair share of both, so we can definitely give you some insight into both. Keep in mind that inclusions can vary by resort so you should always check directly with the hotel you’re thinking of booking to get the most accurate information.

With that said, let’s take a closer look at the differences between standard and all-inclusive hotels!

What to Expect at a Standard Resort

Things That Are Usually Included at Standard Resorts

Standard hotels in Costa Rica are like most hotels. They typically offer a la carte pricing for only the services you use and the food and drinks you consume.

Here’s a quick look at some of the inclusions and amenities you might find when staying at a standard hotel:

→ Choice of accommodations: Most standard hotels offer a wide range of accommodation options from standard rooms with garden views up to ocean view suites.

→ Club Rooms: Some standard hotels offer upgraded club rooms which include additional amenities such as a dedicated lounge, free drinks, continental breakfasts, hors d’oeuvres, and exclusive restaurants.

→ On-Site Restaurants: The majority of standard resorts offer at least one on-site restaurants. Larger hotels tend to offer multiple dining options, but some smaller ones might only have 1 or 2 restaurants.

→ Breakfast: Some standard hotels may include breakfast, but many times the cost is rolled into the nightly room rate. If rates are offered with or without breakfast, be sure to compare them to see if including it makes sense.

→ Recreational Amenities: Standard hotels include access to the on-site amenities such as swimming pools and fitness centers. However, some may charge for the use of the fitness center so check directly with the hotel to be sure.

→ On-Site Parking: Most standard hotels offer on-site parking, however, you should check directly with the hotel to see if there’s a fee for this.

→ Recreational Programs: Some standard resorts include fun activities for guests such as water aerobics and trivia games.

→ Kid’s Club: Some standard hotels offer a complimentary kid’s club but this varies from one hotel to another.

Things That Are Usually Not Included at Standard Resorts

Standard hotels usually offer the bare minimum when it comes to inclusions, so you’ll need to consider this when budgeting your visit.

Here’s a look at some of the things that aren’t typically included.

→ Most Meals: With the exception of possibly breakfast, standard hotels don’t include the majority of meals.

→ Drinks: Drinks are usually not included with standard hotels. There may be a couple of exceptions to this such as a welcome cocktail or coffee, teas, and juices with included breakfasts.

→ Valet Parking: Most standard hotels charge a fee for valet parking. This can vary , so you should double check directly with the hotel.

→ Gratuities: Standard hotels don’t include gratuities for servers, valet, bellman, housekeeping, or bartenders, so you’ll need to figure this into your total trip cost.

→ Spa Services: Spa services are typically pay-as-you-go at standard hotels.

→ Excursions: Day trips outside the hotels are not included with your stay, but you can book them separately.

→ Transportation: If you’re not renting a car, you can often arrange for transportation directly with your hotel, but it’s usually a separate cost.

Thinking of renting a car in Costa Rica? Read our full guide about what to expect:
→ Driving in Costa Rica: 15 Things to Know Before You Rent a Car

What to Expect at a All-Inclusive Resorts

What All-Inclusive Resorts Typically Include

All-inclusive resorts typically offer a good value for the money since accommodations, meals, and drinks are built into one price. These are three things account for a good majority of typical vacation costs.

Let’s take a closer look at what all-inclusives typically include.  

→ Choice of Accommodations: Similar to standard resorts, all-inclusives offer a wide range of accommodations from standard rooms to family suites.

→ Club Rooms: Some all-inclusive resorts also offer upgraded club rooms which give you access to special amenities like lounge access and complimentary drinks and snacks.

→ All Meals: The biggest draw for all-inclusives is that they usually include all meals and snacks which is ideal for families.

→ Drinks: All-inclusives include all alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks which can provide a considerable cost savings.

→ Non-Motorized Water Sports: You typically have use of non-motorized water sport equipment at all-inclusive resorts. This can include snorkeling equipment, boogie boards, and paddle boards.

→ Gratuities: Many all-inclusives include the gratuities for the bell staff and restaurant servers. However, it may not be included for bartenders, so you should check directly with your chosen hotel to see exactly what’s included.

→ Daily Programs: All-inclusive hotels usually have a daily schedule of included activities which is great for families.

→ Nightly Entertainment: You’ll find that many all-inclusives include a wide array of entertainment options at night. This can include live music, DJs, themed events, and cultural shows.

→ Kid’s Club: Most all-inclusives offer a free kid’s club. This is great option for families with younger children.

Things That May Not Be Included at All-Inclusive Resorts

There are some things that may not be included in the price of an all-inclusive resort.

→ Motorized Water Sports: If you want to rent jet skis or other motorized water equipment, this is usually an additional cost at all-inclusives.

→ Premium Liquor: All-inclusive packages usually include house liquor. If you want to upgrade to top shelf liquor, there’s usually a surcharge for this.

→ Babysitting Services: You can usually arrange for babysitting services outside kid’s club hours, however, there’s usually an additional charge.

→ Transportation: Unless you purchase a special package, arrival and departure transfers aren’t usually included at all-inclusives.

→ Excursions: Day trips usually need to be booked separately when staying at an all-inclusive resort. However, sometimes they include on-site activities such as horseback riding.

→ Spa Services: Like standard hotels, spa services are an additional cost.

→ Some Specialty Restaurants: There are some all-inclusives that limit access to some restaurants to guests staying in certain room categories or adult-only sections of the resort.

When All-Inclusives Make Sense & When They Don’t

All-inclusive resorts offer a lot of value for the money. The question is whether these are considerations for your trip.

When All-Inclusives Make Sense

You Want Predictability

With all-inclusives, you know exactly what most of your costs are going to be up-front. There’s no need to budget for everything separately. If you want transparency, an all-inclusive is the way to go.

You Value Convenience More Than Flexibility

Things can sometimes get a little chaotic when traveling with kids. All-inclusives take a lot of the day-to-day decision making off you plate. If you’d prefer to relax and enjoy your vacation a little more, an all-inclusive might be ideal for your vacation.

You Plan to Spend Most of Your Time at the Resort

If you’re looking more for a beach vacation than a sightseeing vacation, an all-inclusive might make more sense for you. All-inclusives are designed to have everything you need in one spot.

If You’re Not Renting a Car

Getting from the resorts in Guanacaste to some of the beach towns can sometimes take 30 to 45 minutes each way and can be a bit of a hassle if you aren’t renting a car. If this is the case, you might be better off with an all-inclusive.

You’re Only There For a Few Days

If you’ll only be at the resort for a short time, an all-inclusive might make sense for your family. This will take away the need to figure out logistics and dining.

You’d Like Your Kids to Have a Sense of Independence

Our kids always liked all-inclusives because they could participate in an activity or get something to eat without having to ask permission first since it’s all included. If you have older kids, an all-inclusive is a great way to give them a little bit of independence without having to worry about where they are.

When All-Inclusives Might Not Be Worth It for Families

While all-inclusives are a great option for many families, there are some instances where they may not be ideal.

You Want More Control Over Dining Options

One of the reasons we had stopped going to all-inclusives was because getting reservations at the on-site restaurants was becoming increasingly difficult.

If you would prefer to have more control over when and where you eat, an all-inclusive might not be the best option.

You Plan to Spend A Lot of Time Outside the Resort

One of the best things to do in Costa Rica is to explore all the different beaches and nearby towns. If you plan to spend most of your time off-site, you might be better off staying at a standard hotel.

You Want Better Food

We’ve always found the food at all-inclusive resorts to be mediocre at best, not particularly bad but not particularly memorable either.

If you’d rather try more local cuisine or you’d prefer better quality food, an all-inclusive probably isn’t the way to go.

You Want Flexibility

For those that prefer to not have everything planned out in advance, an all-inclusive may not be the best option. 

All-Inclusive vs. Standard Hotel Pricing

Pricing for hotels vary depending on the hotel, room category, and season. Typically, standard hotels range between $150 and $3,000 per night and all-inclusives range from $350 to $4,000 per night.

This means that there’s definitely a sweet spot where you can book an all-inclusive for the same as a standard hotel. 

Also, one thing to keep in mind is that children under a certain age are free when staying in the same room as a parent, whether standard or all-inclusive.

This can create a significant savings for food and accommodations. Hotels vary, so be sure to check directly with each hotel to see what their policies are.

Want to read more about how much a Costa Rica family trip costs? Read our complete guide:
→ How Much Does it Cost to Go to Costa Rica? 1-Week Family Guide

Why We’ve Changed Our Minds About All-Inclusives

Our first visit to Costa Rica was over 30 years ago, and since then, we’ve had the opportunity to visit many, many times.

We’ve never been opposed to staying at all-inclusives. In fact, we’ve stayed at them ourselves, specifically in Costa Rica.

However, there were always some things that we found irksome at the ones we stayed at. Mainly, we didn’t like how difficult it was to get a reservation at the restaurants or for some of the on-site activities.

Gradually, we started to veer away from them in favor of standard hotels. It was much easier to get reservations for since many people head into the local towns for dinner.

However, we’re gradually starting to shift back in favor of all-inclusives. Why is that? 

Costa Rica is much more expensive than when we first started visiting. We stayed at J.W. Marriott Guanacaste for 5 nights and it cost us about $10,000 all-in. This included the following:

• 2 rooms, one ocean view and one resort view
• 3 dinners with drinks at the resort
• 2 dinners with drinks off-site
• 1 additional meal per person each day at the resort (we don’t usually eat 3 meals per day so some of us opted for breakfast and others opted for lunch)
• An average of 2 additional alcoholic drinks per person/per day
• Random drinks or ice cream purchases
• Tax and gratuities

We basically averaged $2,000 per night for a 5-night stay. We probably could have booked a nice all inclusive for around $6,000 total. That’s a considerable savings.

So, is an all-inclusive in Guanacaste worth it for families? Absolutely. They may not be perfect, but neither are the standard resorts, at least not any of the ones we’ve stayed at in Costa Rica. 

Ready to compare your hotel options?
See what all-inclusive resorts and traditional hotels in Guanacaste are currently costing for your dates.

→ Compare All-Inclusive Resorts in Guanacaste
→ Compare Guanacaste Standard Hotels

 Before You Book an All-Inclusive in Costa Rica

If you’re thinking of booking an all-inclusive resort in Costa Rica, check directly with the hotel for their policies when it comes to family inclusions. Here’s a quick list of some questions to ask:

• What’s included for kids specifically
• Is the kids’ club free, and what ages does it cover?
• Are cribs and rollaway beds available, and is there an added cost?
• Are airport transfers included?

Asking these questions in advance might help you to decide if an all-inclusive is right for your family.

Answering Your Questions About Costa Rica All-Inclusives

Is it better to do all-inclusive or not in Costa Rica?

All-inclusive resorts in Costa Rica are a great option if you want to stay within budget since food and accommodations account for the majority of spending costs in Costa Rica.

What is the best all-inclusive resort in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

There are several great all-inclusive resorts in Guanacaste, but two of the best ones are W Costa Rica and Andaz Peninsula.

What is the best time of year to go to Guanacaste, Costa Rica? 

The dry season, from December through April, is a great time to visit. However, the green season is one of our favorite times to visit, specifically in July.

Our Final Take: Are All-Inclusives in Guanacaste, Costa Rica Worth It?

So, are all-inclusives in Guanacaste, Costa Rica worth it for families? In our honest opinion, yes they are, especially if you want to budget your money. 

We’ve gone back and forth on all-inclusives over the years, but the significant increases in costs to visit Costa Rica has pushed us in favor of all-inclusives, especially for families.

While you can still find deals for regular hotel accommodations, all-inclusives provide up-front transparency and allow you to budget more effectively with less unknowns.

Regardless of where you stay, you’ll enjoy Costa Rica and you’ll most likely want to visit again.

If you have any questions about Costa Rica, feel free to reach out to us at any time.

Talk soon!

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