Hotel Review: El Mangroove Autograph Collection Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s Guanacaste area is an ideal destination for nature lovers. There is something to suit everyone, whether you want to spend a night at the beach or in the jungle. There is something to suit every hotel point enthusiast.

El Mangroove is an Autograph Collection hotel and one of many Marriott Bonvoy hotels in the region. This beachfront resort is a great place to stay for an entire vacation, or a couple of nights with other Marriott Hotels in the United States.

Here’s a review of El Mangroove Costa Rica, an outdoor, luxury resort.

After your flight lands, you can easily reach the resort by taking a short 20-minute drive.

El Mangroove lies in the Gulf of Papagayo. This means that the Pacific Ocean’s dark-sand beach is directly in front of it. From the hotel, all sorts of fun activities are available, including zip-lining, horseback riding, water sports, and hiking.

The architecture of this hotel and its integration with the natural environment is what makes it so special. Behind the al fresco area, there is a fountain that trickles. The check-in process includes a tropical drink, a cool towel, and a refreshing breeze.

Two-story structures are situated around the garden of the property, with views to the wooded surroundings. The occasional monkey, bird or raccoon will also pass by, adding to the atmosphere.

The resort has a restaurant with a stunning, open space that features a striking architectural design and offers views of both the beach and pool. An open roof lets in natural light. Separately, there is a glass-walled, air-conditioned dining room for those who would rather be inside.

The resort is surrounded by pathways that lead to five pools, a small gym, and a spa. You can walk anywhere in the resort and it’s fun.

El Mangroove’s guests can choose from three restaurants, among which Makoko is the most popular. It offers a wide variety of international dishes, including everything from fresh fish to pastas, salads, and tasty desserts.

Breakfast is served as a buffet or a la cart. The traditional Central American dish gallo pinto (made with rice, beans and seasoning) is available every day. Don’t forget the sauces that go along with the dish.

His special sauces, for example, are an excellent way to spice up the menu. The sauce is made with oven-roasted tomatoes, habanero chili, onions, cilantro, and other herbs. It’s smoky, but also spicy. The sauce can be purchased to bring home.

Matiss, the restaurant that is closer to the seaside for lunch and dinner. It has tables in the sand and offers a relaxed menu with fish tacos.

The commitment of the team to offer vegetarian, vegan, and child-friendly menus is particularly impressive. The menu is not limited to just one or two items; they have a wide range of choices for people with alternative diets.

Malu is another guest-favorite restaurant. It offers delicious Mediterranean cuisine such as rack of lamb, steak, paella and pizza cooked in an open fire. This restaurant is only open for dinner and has received high praise.

El Mangroove’s staff is one of the friendliest you will find. They not only try to get know their guests, they also provide a high level of service the minute you arrive. Costa Ricans are living the “pura-vida” life here.

The bar service can be found on the beach or by the pool, as well as in restaurants.

El Mangroove’s guest rooms are comfortable and spacious, with a layout that is unique. The suites often have an adjacent room separated by sliding glass doors, in which guests can relax in a hammock or on a couch while enjoying the view.

The screened-in areas in rooms are often not air conditioned. This gives guests the feeling of being on a beach, but from their privacy.

Air conditioning and ceiling fan work hard in the bedroom. The most comfortable beds have four large pillows, soft duvets and power outlets easily accessible.

While open-plan bathrooms offer little privacy, they do have beautiful shower stalls with eye-level panels which allow you to see the forest when showering.

Many guests enjoy the outdoors and the pool, beach and forest surrounding the hotel.

Many of the best accommodations include their own plunge pool.

El Mangroove has five unique swimming pools. The first is an adult-only pool with a lap style. One is a round pool that faces the sea. Another is perfect for children.

The two additional pools are a great option for guests who want to cool off from the heat of the day. The $150 poolside cabanas come with many perks, including a cushioned private seating area, ceiling fans and fridges with soft drinks, beer and water.

There are many meeting rooms, including traditional ballrooms as well as boardrooms. The resort also has outdoor reception areas. The resort is a popular destination for weddings.

Soon, plans are underway to update the furniture in meeting rooms.

The hotel provides a variety of amenities in exchange for the resort fee. These include coffee tastings and yoga sessions.

In the fitness center, you will find fresh apples, chilled towels and filtered drinking water. El Mangroove has two tour boats that are exclusive to the resort.

The resort spa is slated for an upgrade. It currently has four treatment cabanas outside and several indoor areas, one of which can be used by couples. Relaxation is provided by massage and beauty treatments.

The hotel offers guests the opportunity to participate in a variety of nature-related activities during their stay. For example, they can plant a tree on site that will be later relocated into a nearby forest. This is a free activity for hotel guests.

Liberia International Airport, located about 23 kilometers (14 miles) from El Mangroove, is serviced by major U.S. airlines as well as many international carriers.

JetBlue TrueBlue points are redeemed based on ticket price. The cheaper your ticket is, the less you will need. JetBlue points are worth 1.5 cents.

Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and other airlines have abandoned their award charts in favor of dynamic pricing. You can’t know exactly how many miles to accumulate before your trip without knowing the date of travel, the cost in cash and the number of passengers. American Airlines has taken a similar approach, and its AAdvantage map makes it simple to plan your trip based on your miles.

Marriott’s calendar of award dates can assist you in choosing the most suitable dates to use points towards a stay at El Mangroove. The cheapest rate we found for summer was 40,000 points per day, which represents a fantastic deal.

(Photo at top courtesy Marriott)