Guest reviews Nayara Hotel Spa & Gardens, Arenal

by Owen_thesaints Kent

A memorable stay

My wife and I stayed for 3 nights at this hotel – it was the seventh leg of our tour of Guatemala and Costa Rica. On our arrival we were greeted with very welcome chilled flannels and a non-alcoholic cocktail. We were given a detailed briefing to learn about the facilities of the resort. It was rather a lot to take in – fortunately we were provided with a booklet and a map which gave us all the information we needed. We were transported by golf buggy (apparently there are 23 covering the entire site) to our casita – our luggage appeared soon thereafter. We attended the manager’s welcome cocktail party – the management seem very proactive in ensuring that the guests have the very best stay possible. The standard of service is exemplary. On the first night we ate in the terrace restaurant. We found the food to be only adequate. Having been seated at 7.30 pm the bread basket didn’t arrive until after 8 pm. We had the main course of grilled snapper with rice and salad. When it came to desserts several options were unavailable. There was a vocalist to entertain the diners. Unfortunately the ambiance was spoilt by a family group at a nearby table who shrieked at one another – not everyone wanted to be party to their conversation. One evening we ate in the ‘romantic restaurant’ – Mis Amores. The food here was refined, the desserts being particularly good. The tables were a little dark for our liking with the oil lamps being frequently blown out in the breeze. Breakfast was a buffet with an extensive range of juices and fruits, with a huge variety of breads and pastries, and plenty of cooked options. Breakfast wait staff were very attentive and friendly. We had a long walk through the grounds – there was a nature trail with all the major trees being labelled to help with identification. The well kept gardens are an absolute delight – the paths are kept free of moss to prevent them from becoming slippery. It was a real treat just to potter around the resort, with fascinating areas around every corner. It is advisable to have one of the hotel’s umbrellas as the weather can change in an instant. Our room was very well set up for a luxurious stay. The bed was supremely comfortable and it was wonderful just to sit on the terrace to watch the passing bird life. Special mention must be made to the staff working in reception whose warmth and friendliness were great assets to the resort. They always were ready to assist – if they saw us waiting for an excursion they were straight over to check that everything was in order and whether they could do anything to help.

by Turtlesharksnapper Male

Lush green luxury

We stayed 3 nights in a Rainforest villa. The hotel grounds are beautiful and overflowing with plants and tropical flowers. What sets this place aside is definitely the staff and the high level of service they delivered from the moment we booked to the moment they waived us goodbye. We could feel the genuine welcome, the professional response and the friendly smiles came from the heart. They love to work here and therefore guests feel the love too. The restaurants are all of highest standard, food always fresh and delicious. The family pool had several games to keep children busy. We did several activities on and offsite, the guides were really good. We spotted birds, sloths, even venimous frogs. The drinks and cocktails were simply incredible. We never tasted anything so good. The mixologist at La Terrazza is definition world class. Herbert at the pool put big smiles on our faces every day despite the regular showers. The espresso bar was a find. The coffees were unbelievable, as a side note it would have been appreciated if children were admitted too. They would have loved the ice creams and cakes too, This was our first time in Costa Rica and we had the best holiday ever thanks to the two Relais et Chateaux properties, including Nayara where we stayed at.

by Susiiequesie New york

Amazing resort

It's all been said before, the grounds are lush, rooms are spectacular and service is impeccable. We stayed in casita 23, it was really close to the reception and therefore the buffet breakfast, and we liked that a lot. The resort is absolutely huge, easy to get lost walking around, so we liked that we were close to the main area, especially breakfast. We were also very close walk to Amor Loco and the quiet pool. We enjoyed going there more than the other adults only pool, since the other one near mis amores had music going all the time, and it was more of a scene. Would definitely return.

by QJ_Lew Katonah, New York

An Amazing Stay and Experience!

Nayara Gardens actually exceeded our expectations for our 7 night stay. After reading the reviews and doing the pre-trip research, we knew we were staying at a resort full of accolades and great reviews. True to form, everything we experienced was top notch and there were practically no issues to draw attention to. We were fortunate to experience practically everything the resort had to offer - the staff/service, the restaurants, the trails, spa, pool/gym and espresso bar. The resort truly provides an immersive experience of the rain forest with amazing views of the Arenal volcano. Staff - everyone from the check-in, cleaning services, wait staff at restaurants and valets were extremely friendly and professional. They always wanted to make sure everything was perfect. Brayan at La Terraza was outstanding and welcomed us every day at the breakfast buffet. Jairo was always refreshing our water at the quiet pool and Isabelle was always there to greet us at the lobby each morning as we embarked on our daily activities. Restaurants - we enjoyed all the (5) restaurants at the resort but couldn't clearly select one as our favorite... they were all very good and offered something different. The breakfast buffet was included and was excellent... offering fresh, quality selections and even having a delicious gluten-free section. The wait staff at each one were superb and were knowledgeable and very friendly. The prices were very reasonable for a high end resort. Room - we stayed in the Rainforest Villa and were blown away by the beauty, size of the room, and cleanliness. Our favorite features were the wrap around deck with jacuzzi, the enormous bathroom area, and the private outdoor showers. The room was serviced twice a day where fresh water and little treats were presented each night. Other - the spa and gym were very nice and were consistent with the quality of the resort. We also participated in the coffee seminar presented at the Espresso Bar (very impressive space) at an additional cost. We were about 10 minutes from the town of La Fortuna and no more than 20 minutes from all the key attractions - Hot Springs, 1968 Arenal Volcano Hike, Mistico Hanging Bridges and the Waterfall. We had our own car so we planned our activities separately from the resort - we enjoyed the flexibility that this provided. There were no additional resort fees (which is nice these days) and the parking was also included. It is a true Costa Rican rainforest experience, and the resort is a very eco-conscious and sustainable property. All resort facilities are shared with the sister property, Nayara Springs (adults only) and waking (or getting a ride) between all the facilities were relatively easy (within minutes of each other). If walking, be aware that some of the paths (although paved and lush with gardens) can be steep so you'll want to call for a ride. In all, it's a great resort that provided an authentic rain forest experience with great staff, food and activities for everyone. Very highly recommended!

by sydney1960 pompey

Lovely hotel with superb spacious rooms

We stopped at the Nayara Resort & gardens for 2 nights during our 2 weeks travelling around Costa Rica. Amazing location with hot springs nearby & off course the volcano although rain clouds prevented us seeing it fully! Our deluxe room was superb with so much space surrounded by the jungle and near to some sloths asleep in the tree tops.