Hotel Arenal Springs Resort & Spa

We live in Costa Rica and my sister and husband were visiting us at the beach. We decided it would be fun for all of us to go to La Fortuna at the end of their trip for something different and to see Arenal. We had a hard time finding a place that could accommodate us because most places were fully booked by the time we were looking. We found 2 rooms available here and booked them quickly. We had a great time, it’s just this place didn’t really even feel like Costa Rica. It was very resorty (and I know I know it’s a resort so I should have researched more) . There are so many rooms/ casitas you feel like you’re in a development in the States or something. It was beautifully kept and very clean but also sort of sterile? Like not many trees etc. The staff were all very friendly and accommodating, always had smiles on , even though their hours seemed extremely long. The pools were nice and clean and comfy. The worst part was the food . Expensive and sub par , what you would expect from a tourist trap. Food service throughout Costa Rica is generally slow , and it was fairly slow here as well but was expected. We waited once for an hour for chicken fingers and nachos that when they finally did arrive were cold , we were too hungry too care and couldn’t find our server anywhere anyway LOL. The food was the worst at their “typical cuisine” restaurant. I’m not sure what constitutes it as a “comida típica “ restaurant. It is wildly expensive and has a large menu but has nothing any of us wanted to eat, especially for $50-$60 a plate. We decided to share 2 orders of chicken rice (which was $40 per plate and meant to be shared) and the plates were ample but it most definitely was the strangest chicken rice I’ve ever eaten. It was more like risotto with a ton of saffron (no wonder the price was so high) and some pieces of grilled chicken with a little bit of pico de gallo around the edges? Strange. It was overall an ok stay and at ok place that was extremely expensive for what it was. If you stay here, I would definitely recommend eating at restaurants in the town and not at the resort.

The resort was about a 3 hour drive from SJO. You go through the town of La Fortuna just outside the resort. Many shops and restaurants with a Central Park in the middle of the town. You’ll need a taxi (15 minute ride) because it’s too far to walk from the resort. The resort is upscale and is at the base of Arenal Volcano. The volcano views from the resort and the main breakfast area are breathtaking. When we arrived we were welcomed by the reception staff with drinks and a cool towel. Reception staff were very friendly. The rooms are very clean and serviced daily. Not sure how to describe it, but we had the junior suite room which is a room that is part of a villa that has two units side by side. The villas are located on several “streets” to the east of the resort and you can either walk to the main reception, dining and pool areas or call the desk and they will send a golf cart. Most people looked like they just walk around the resort. Don’t get me wrong with the street comment, all of the rooms are contained on the resort and are close to everything. There is a fresh water pool and also the hot spring pools, both of which have swim up bars where you can order drinks and food. Bar tenders did not really seem happy to help customers but the food and drinks were generally expensive but good. The breakfast buffet was really good and the workers in the dining area were very friendly and attentive. They have a smoothie and omelet station as part of breakfast and they were fantastic. Concierge staff called cabs for us for rides into La Fortuna which cost $16. They were very informative about the area and held our luggage on the day of departure so we could swim until our transportation arrived. Had a great stay and besides the attitude of the pool staff, would recommend this resort to anyone.

Stayed at this resort for 3 nights and wish I was there 3 weeks! The grounds are beautiful and well kept. We were upgraded to larger room on the second floor in the back and it was amazing and newer. Almost all of the buildings are one level with a perfect view of the volcano. They run a golf cart all day and evening in case you don’t feel like walking to the pool or restaurants. There are several hot springs and a pool. The pool could be bigger - it got crowded in the afternoon. The breakfast was really good. They had two ice machines so you could fill your bottles and also a water station. All of the employees were very nice and always helpful.

Our welcome was wonderful. The staff offers you a beverage off their menu and we were quickly checked into our Jr Suite. The room was clean and comfortable with two queen beds awaiting us after a long day. A small mini fridge can be used to keep your drinks or leftover food cold. A few more hooks to hang things to dry, but overall we were pleased and comfortable Breakfast is buffet style with an omelet and smoothie station. The food is wonderful. Lunch and dinner were not as good. Both meals were cooked poorly with little flavor and the staff were less than attentive. I would recommend traveling into Fortuna or the surrounding area for lunch and dinner. The local cuisine is amazing and the options are plenty. The hot springs are a small set of manmade pools with the spring water flowing through them. The upper pools are the warmest and the temperature drops as you to lower pools, ending at the small swimming pool. The lower pool has a swim up bar where you can eat and drink. The drinks are mainly ice and some juice. The resort is not within walking distance of town and there is no shuttle service. If you have the front desk call you a cab they will charge $16.00 just to call, and then you pay the fare that was between $10.00 and $15.00 one way. The resort is clean, the rooms are comfortable, the food and service were disappointing. It’s not the worst in the area, but you may find a greater value for a similar price.

Resort is beautiful tropical clean and staff are so friendly and kind. Excursions in the area are perfect for adventure and nature oriented people. Rooms were AC and clean. Property is smaller than appears on the map but fitting of Costa Rica!

We loved this resort. We travelled with family and there was so much to see and do. The pool facilities and hot springs were amazing for kids and adults. The rooms were very clean and easily accessible to the pools. They even made a special display and gift for my child's birthday. We loved the breakfast buffet - the food and service were amazing. The gym was excellent and there were yoga classes every morning. There were two games areas for the children - overall there was so much for the children to see and do, on and off the resort. The whole resort is much more beautiful than I expected based on the pictures on the website and on Trip Advisor I would definitely go back.

Pros: It’s very pretty with a nice view of the volcano, if no clouds. Showers have a little plant garden. Free minibar and complementary bottle of wine on first night. Has a Nature reserve on the same road as resort which is lovely. Cons: Rooms share a paper thin wall, can hear every word of people in adjacent room. Dinner servers will push “drink specials”but don’t be surprise if they cost $30+ so make sure to ask.