Are you considering staying at the all-inclusive Best Western, Jaco Beach Costa Rica? This is a review of the accommodations and amenities available.
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While on a tour package booked through EcoTerra Costa Rica and Groupon, my family and I opted for the all-inclusive hotel when traveling to Jaco Beach, Costa Rica. How did we enjoy the Best Western and would we recommend upgrading to the all-inclusive package? This is a review of the all-inclusive Best Western Jaco Beach.
The All-Inclusive Resort
Jaco Beach was considerably hotter than the Arenal/La Fortuna area of Costa Rica we had visited prior. This portion of the country is not directly in a rain forest and the hotel was located on the beach. During our stay in Jaco Beach, it did not rain once which was in stark contrast to the earlier portion of our stay.
Upon looking up reviews on TripAdvisor prior to traveling and booking this hotel, there were a variety of ratings. Reviews included:
- The hotel was run down,
- The food was lacking,
- Drinks were mediocre
In contrast, reviews stated expectations were too high.
What are some of the property amenities at Best Western Jaco Beach All Inclusive Resort?
The hotel was older and lacking the Costa Rican charm one would expect.
Related: Our experiences in the Arenal Volcano area
There are two bar areas for the resort so it did take quite a bit of time to get a drink. It was difficult to get a chair at the pool area during some points of the day because of crowds and the lack of seating.
The hotel was right on the beach. The beach was vastly different than the Florida beaches we are used to because the sand is not white, but instead more of a black/gray color. In addition, there were rocks and pebbles, no shells. Make sure you wear your flip flops to the beach as the sand is very hot!
The room
In comparison to the room we stayed in prior to arriving in Jaco Beach, the room was a huge disappointment. It was a normal hotel room with two double beds, a bathroom, cheap decor, and it was about half the size our room at the Casa Luna Hotel and Spa. There was no charm, there was no view, there was nothing remarkable about the room. It was not bad, but it was nothing to actually remark on. It was comfortable enough. We were happy we were only staying at this hotel for a short stay.
Food and beverage
Because we had opted for the all-inclusive package, we received food as well as beverages included. The beverages had plenty of alcohol in them, however it did take a while to get a drink as there were only two bars. The food was a buffet for every meal. There was one restaurant to choose from and then an outdoor buffet area that had more snack type food such as hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, etc. The variety of the food did not really change that dramatically each meal. It was tasty but again not outstanding. There were iguanas hanging out by the restaurants and they did eat leftover food dropped on the ground. My son thought that was awesome!
While on the beach, we did see macaws in the wild. This was an amazing sight as we have only seen these birds in captivity.
Related Post: Top 10 Best Beaches Near Tamarindo
In summary:
In conclusion, my review of the All-Inclusive Best Western Jaco Beach is 2.5 stars out of 5. I would not say I hated it, but after coming from the Casa Luna Hotel and Spa, it was definitely a disappointment (You can read our review of the Casa Luna Hotel and Spa here). There was really no Costa Rican charm to this location. Was the all-inclusive option worth the extra money? I would say yes. Why? The food was tasty, drinks were included, and we had the convenience of everything right at our fingertips at the resort instead of having to travel outside of the hotel. Therefore, after fishing and getting up so early that morning for our charter, our goal was just to relax by the pool so staying at the resort was exactly what we wanted.
Have you stayed at the Best Western, Jaco Beach? We would love to hear from you. Drop us a comment.
