Costa Rica is a popular destination for travelers looking for a beach getaway, jungle exploration, and wildlife viewing. It’s also one of our top destinations for 2024, thanks to its eco-friendly travel options and several newly opened hotels.
While Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica isn’t a new hotel (it opened in 2014), it deserves recognition for its stunning pool and family-friendly environment. Not to mention, it has plenty of live events and entertainment that will appeal to guests of all ages. And since it’s part of the Hyatt group, there are plenty of ways to use points to book rooms.
Dreams Las Mareas is a large all-inclusive beach resort in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica, near the border with Nicaragua, located on the tranquil Playa El Jobo bay and surrounded by lush green jungle.
With 447 rooms, a spa, three swimming pools, eight restaurants, eight bars and lounges, and other attractive amenities, you will never be bored here. The spacious event space also makes it suitable for large corporate events or weddings.
The resort is part of the Dreams Resorts & Spas family resort brand and is part of the Hyatt All-Inclusive Collection. All rates include food and beverages (including alcoholic beverages) at the hotel’s eight bars and eight restaurants.
Frequent Hyatt guests will be pleased to know that they can earn and redeem points for their stays. In mid-June, a night in a junior king suite for World of Hyatt members will cost $692.
The same room for the same dates would cost 21,000 World of Hyatt points. TPG estimates that booking with points instead of cash could save you $336.
When booking Dreams Las Mareas, you should use a credit card that earns the most points for stays at Hyatt hotels, and preferably one that automatically qualifies you for World of Hyatt elite status for additional benefits. These include:
Dreams Las Mareas is located about 56 miles north of Liberia’s Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR), about one to two hours by car. By the end of the drive, you’ll have panoramic views of the bay and even see one of Nicaragua’s volcanoes.
You can book an airport transfer through the resort’s partnership with destination management company Amstar, and you’ll find the Amstar desk at the airport after customs. I simply gave the representative my name, was given a drink, and was driven to the car park where I was met by a friendly driver.
If you don’t want to take the Amstar route, there are plenty of other airport transfer companies that you can book in advance. There are also plenty of taxis at Liberia Airport, and the 90-minute ride will likely cost you at least $100.
When my car pulled up, I was greeted by friendly staff and offered a glass of bubbly within seconds of arriving. As the staff gave me a tour, I was impressed by the calming water features and colorful decorations in the open-air lobby.
Because I was a priority guest (a status you earn when you book a Club Level room or suite), the staff escorted me to a private check-in area in the priority lounge off the lobby. (Priority guests can access and use the lounge at any time during their stay using their room key.)
Check-in was quick and before I knew it I was riding a golf cart to my room. My personal concierge Joseph also accompanied me on the ride and gave me his contact information so I could email him if I had any questions.
I also downloaded the Hyatt Inclusive Collection app, which proved to be an essential tool during my stay. In the app, you can view restaurant menus and hours, view a map of the hotel, check the daily schedule of activities, schedule housekeeping, book spa treatments, and order room service.
The hotel has 447 rooms, including standard rooms and suites. Some rooms have sea, tropical or pool views, while others have a terrace with pool access or a private hot tub.
I stayed in the King Pool Junior Suite, which is a corner suite with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a stunning view of my private pool. The combination of earthy decor, rich wood furniture, and red accents gives the room a sophisticated feel.
The outside terrace is furnished with comfortable sofas and a coffee table and is separated from the adjacent courtyard by a half-wall.
The room had plenty of lighting options, but being on the ground floor meant it was a bit dark. However, the bed was comfortable and the thick curtains ensured a good night’s sleep. I felt safe on the ground floor, thanks to the double locks on the sliding glass door.
A small round table and two chairs in the room can be used as a workspace if needed. (When I arrived, I even found some goodies on the table.)
Below the wall-mounted 42-inch TV is a dresser with three storage drawers and two cabinets. The cabinet on the left contains a well-stocked mini-fridge with Imperial beer, juice boxes, soda, and bottles of still and sparkling water. In the cabinet on the right, I found snacks, cups, three small bottles of wine, and a Cuisinart coffee maker.
I decided to store my luggage on the shelf next to the dresser, but there was also room in the large wooden closet next to the front door. The closet contained hangers, extra blankets, robes, slippers, an umbrella, a safe, and a steamer (there was no iron).
The bathroom and double vanity area could have been separated from the main sleeping area by drawing a long curtain, but I decided to leave it open to allow more sunlight into the entire space.
If I forget to bring my toiletries, I’m lucky because there are spare toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, etc. on the vanity. The bathroom is fully equipped with a magnifying mirror and a hair dryer.
When you book, you can choose between a regular room or a “Club Level” room. As mentioned above, staying in one of these Club Level rooms will make you a Priority Guest. During your stay, Priority Guests have access to the Priority Club Lounge, which features a bar, buffet (including snacks), and ample indoor and outdoor seating. These guests also have priority access to the pool and can enjoy an à la carte breakfast at Portofino Restaurant (instead of being limited to the main buffet at World Cafe).
I think it’s worth booking a club level room if you’re traveling as a couple or just want a quiet getaway. If you’re traveling with kids, they may not appreciate the best breakfast, lounge access, or other perks, and the club level room may not be worth the extra money.
There are eight restaurants and eight bars at Dreams Las Mareas, offering a wide range of dining options. I can’t say the food was the highlight of my stay, but the staff were always friendly and it was fun to explore all the different venues. I spoke to some other guests and it seemed like they all felt the same.
There was a large corporate event happening at the resort during my stay, so Concierge Joseph made reservations for me so I could eat wherever I wanted.
On my first night, I dined at Himitsu, a restaurant that serves pan-Asian cuisine and teppanyaki. (If you want to reserve a teppanyaki spot, it’s best to do so in advance.)
I first tried a traditional Costa Rican guaro sour as recommended by the waiter and I liked it more than I expected.
I then ordered miso soup, a delicious sushi plate, and a seaweed salad (I probably won’t order the latter again). My server insisted I try the fried ice cream for dessert, which was quite a spectacle, to say the least. He heated up the ingredients, played with the fire, and placed the steaming dessert on a plate in front of me—a fun way to end the meal.
If you’re staying in a Club Level room, be sure to come here in the morning, as breakfast is only served to priority guests. You can choose from the menu or head to the World Cafe, a buffet restaurant next door, to buy food to take back to Portofino.
I ordered both a savory and a sweet breakfast, for research purposes of course. The omelettes were delicious and the pancakes were one of my favourites at Dreams.
In the evening, Portofino is open to all adult guests and serves Italian cuisine including soups, salads, risotto, pasta and pizza. The dress code is “casual elegance,” which is a little better than some of the hotel’s other restaurants, and the food seems to live up to that requirement.
The menu features a variety of basics like eggs, fresh fruit, and baked goods, as well as rotating specials like omelets and nachos. However, I noticed that there weren’t many vegetarian options, or any vegetarian options at all other than salads.
Parents will love the kids’ buffet area, where children can enjoy dishes that suit their tastes on their own.
This poolside restaurant, open for lunch and dinner, has a beautiful open-air design so you can enjoy the poolside atmosphere while you dine.
The menu offers a wide selection of seafood dishes, burgers and sandwiches, as well as grilled specialties that are perfect for a light lunch.
I tried the couscous salad and while it wasn’t my favorite, the falafel on pita made up for it.
While the staff at this Mexican restaurant were very friendly, I wouldn’t recommend anything other than the Margarita (I ordered the passion fruit).
This is the resort’s gift shop and cafe, where you can buy a sandwich, coffee or ice cream at any time of day. The gift shop offers a wide range of souvenirs, clothing, sunscreen and any toiletries you might need. I stopped in for coffee several times during my stay and never noticed a crowd.
I didn’t get to dine at Gohan Sushi Restaurant or Oceana Seafood Restaurant, but both have a nice atmosphere. Oceana’s menu features dishes like clam chowder, ceviche, and salmon, and has ocean views.
Pro tip: If you’re celebrating an important event or occasion while traveling, you can make dinner truly special by booking a table on the beach.
The pools at this resort are magnificent – no matter where you are, you’ll always be close to a sun lounger and turquoise water.
Technically, there are three main pools (not counting the pool adjacent to the bathing rooms): the upper pool, the lower pool, and the adults-only pool. But it feels like there’s more.
This is probably because one of the restaurants is a whopping 44,000 square feet. This huge pool is located in front of the main building where all the restaurants are located. In this position, you can easily enjoy your meal and then return to the reclining chair at any time.
There is a small children’s pool nearby with a climbing wall and trampoline for extra fun for the kids. The upper pool also has a water slide, and as I walked around I could hear lots of kids playing in the water. The pool bar in this area also serves pizza, a convenient place to grab a bite when the kids are hungry.
The other main pool is about a two minute walk away. It loops around the beach area and has so many different areas that it feels like several smaller pools all connected together.
One of these areas is reserved for priority guests. I didn’t have to show any identification to prove I was a priority guest to get in, but the staff member told me they keep a close eye on who uses the priority pool. The priority area has its own bar and sofa beds that can be rented.
There is also a lively pool area with a swim-up bar called Manatees. During the day it is always busy, with a festive atmosphere and loud pop music.