TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

We took a mom/daughter trip and stayed at PH in Guanacaste, Costa Rica August 2–7, 2026. Let me start by saying we ultimately had a good time and would consider going back with our eyes wide open, with our girls. We would not go back for an adult trip. Prior to arriving, we elected to upgrade to Star Class. We're glad we did it gave us access to a much less crowded pool available only to Star guests, and the bar at the Star pool had high-end liquor (the drinks at the main pool are terrible). We also had access to the Green Lounge, which we were told would have snacks, water, and liquor. It did have all these things, but they were unimpressive, and the liquor wasn't high-end. As part of Star Class, we each had a butler, Henry and Geraldo. For the most part, they checked on us and secured all our restaurant reservations (be sure to make those the day you arrive). We also had a "mini bar" in our rooms, though it barely deserved the name: no alcohol, a few sodas, and bottled water (see attached picture). We also received a coupon book as part of Star Class, but every time we tried to use it, there was some small print or exception, so we never used any of them. Being candid, the upgraded amenities aren't very upgraded, but had we skipped it, we likely would have left the hotel. We requested rooms near each other and not on the ground level. Neither request was honored. My room was right by the pool, which made it nice and easy to access the Star pool. It was spacious and very clean. However, there's a real issue with the ground-level rooms: it's extremely humid, so much so that the sheets feel damp and nothing, clothes, swimsuits, anything, can dry out. As a result, there's a faint wet-basement smell. I requested a dehumidifier, which worked wonders, but it was so humid I had to empty it every two hours. Without it running, the room sat at 90% humidity. My friend's room, though, was uninhabitable. It was far from us, on the ground level, and the smells, including from her shower, were unbearable. The hotel tried air fresheners, which just gave two bad smells instead of one. Because the hotel was at full capacity, she and her daughter stayed in our room the first night until they could find them a new one. The next day, their butler Henry moved her to a new room in my building, on the third floor. Room service was subpar, with an extremely limited menu. As Star Class guests we were supposed to get a better room service menu, but as far as we could tell, it was identical to the standard one. The food overall was okay, not great, but not terrible. The Italian and the Japanese steakhouse were the best of what we tried. The staff was very friendly and warm, but the service was beyond slow. Multiple times our order at the pool was simply forgotten, and wait times were extremely long. They need more staff. This isn't a beach vacation destination, it's a home base for excursions. The beach itself is in a small bay, not a typical open stretch, and the resort doesn't provide chairs or service on it. One thing we did love: it's a black sand beach, and the water was very warm. We did the hydrotherapy circuit at the spa, and it was amazing, the spa itself is beautiful. We considered booking more spa services, but the prices were quite high, so instead we got massages on the beach from local providers: an hour for $40, and it was great. Overall, we had a wonderful time. Most days we spent at the pool, but we also did a half-day catamaran excursion that was fantastic. So would we go back? Maybe, with our girls, but on our own as a family trip rather than a couples getaway. P.S. If you're traveling soon and saw the U.S. Level 2 alert about mosquitoes and chikungunya: we had absolutely no issues and no bites. P.S.S. PH is a Marriott property; however, we were told we wouldn't earn Marriott points because we didn't book directly through Marriott.

Soft black sand. Clean warm ocean. Great service by all staff. Huge rooms. Great variety of food. Star class is worth paying for.

Amazing, Steven on the pool side bar was really good

We recently returned from staying at this hotel and I would not recommend it. If you are wanting to stay at a 5-star hotel, this is not the place. Pros: The drip coffee is decent and the junior suites are spacious. Cons: Everything else. The food and service in most of the "restaurants" are criminal. I don't understand how anyone in the reviews can rave about the food. It's very poor quality, the portions are small and there's no flavor. The food is either undercooked or burnt. The staff regularly forgets to bring items ordered. Service overall is hit or miss. Also about half of our party ended up very sick by the end of the trip which we attributed to the food. We were Star Class (which don't waste your money on) and didn't hear from our butler until we called down to the front desk to ask if he would be contacting us after dinner on the first day. Anytime we asked him or the front desk for anything, it would take 30+ minutes. Room service was also 1+ hrs. Reservations for dinner were nearly impossible to get for our party. Again, slow service all around at this resort. The property is not walkable for anyone that's not in pretty good shape. There are steep inclines throughout the property that you would have to walk to get from building to building. The mode of transportation is a golf cart that staff will transport people to/from areas which is fine; HOWEVER, during peek times (lunch, dinner) the lines are easily 20-30 people deep and you have to wait quite some time for a ride. The pool is gross (strong urine and chemical smell) and overcrowded. The best parts of this trip were leaving the property. I HIGHLY do NOT recommend wasting your money at this “resort.”

The VIP experience is not worth the hype. The staff is too busy worrying about immediate reviews so they keep their Marriott status/relationship. The butler service was helpful with unpacking but it seemed I wouldn’t get help unless I gave a big tip upfront. There was a vibe from the staff like half of them hated to be there and the other half was fine. The all inclusive drinks are a plus but you have to plan extra tips to give to all staff which this was our first time to do an all inclusive . The kid pool was great for our toddlers and we loved some of the conveniences as a family. I wouldn’t rate this a 4 star hotel because it seemed simple amenities that a 4 star should have, they don’t provide. I would not choose this hotel again if I had the option. The room was spacious but not VIP status other than it’s closer to the pool.