Fiesta Resort All Inclusive Costa Rica

Doubletree Central Pacific’s go-go energy starts the moment guests step into the perpetually crowded lobby, where lines snake around the front desk throughout most of the day. Beige buildings with white trim overlook well-kept lawns dotted with palm trees and thatched-roof shelters. The ocean is often visible from the neat pathways winding through the hotel’s expansive grounds. The main building and several guest-room buildings have airy, open corridors, but in some of the older buildings, hallways can be dark and stuffy. The overall look is functional and cleanly sleek but not super luxurious. 

Couples and families of all ages make up the majority of guests. Many are international tourists, but the hotel also draws Costa Ricans from other parts of the country. With kids running around burning off steam and adults enjoying free-flowing alcohol, the atmosphere buzzes day and night, particularly around the main pool. For an all-inclusive vacation with several family-friendly features, Doubletree Central Pacific delivers. But when it comes to local charm, distinctive on-site features, and personalized service, it's lacking. 

As its name suggests, the hotel is set along Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast in the uninspiring town of El Roble. There’s not much within walking distance, but the resort provides an adequate base for exploring Puntarenas. Guests who want to get off the property and explore the area should plan on renting a car or signing up for organized tours. Carara Biological Reserve is about a 30-minute drive away, while Monteverde National Park is about a two-hour drive. 

The town of Puntarenas, with its bustling fish market, beachfront boardwalk, and ferries to the Nicoya Peninsula, is a 15-minute drive from the hotel. The beach destinations of Playa Herradura and Jaco are about an hour’s drive away, as is Juan Santamaria Airport.

The 315 rooms at Doubletree Central Pacific are spacious and cheerful, decorated in color palettes of green and gold. Floors are white tile, and the furniture is generic dark wood. A few photos of leaves adorn the wall, but overall there's nothing surprising about the chain hotel decor. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, safes, and clock radios with MP3 connections. Wi-Fi is available, but it comes with a fee. Two-cup coffeemakers and tiny dining tables come standard. Standard Rooms have views of the grounds or the main pool, while Ocean View Rooms include balconies or terraces with partial sea views. Some Suites have balconies, and some have separate living areas with sofa beds -- some also include dining areas. 

White-tile bathrooms have granite countertops and either showers or shower/tub combos -- Ocean View Rooms and Suites have bathtubs or whirlpool tubs. Aroma Actives bath products are provided. 

For an all-inclusive, family-friendly resort, Doubletree Central Pacific checks off all the boxes. The all-inclusive packages include unlimited food and drinks, and a jam-packed entertainment lineup. During the day, beach volleyball, soccer, tennis, bingo, kayaking, and aqua-aerobics are among the activities available. Nightly entertainment takes place in a breezy amphitheater. 

The hotel’s sprawling main pool has a shallow kids' section, where plenty of adults swim with their children-- the El Pelicano Snack Bar separates it from the general swimming area, which has a thatched-roof swim-up bar called El Pargo. The pool includes a pretty arched bridge across its center. Its small bar, El Malecon Bar, has a swim-up section as well as a dry seating area with a few high-tops. The third pool is the modest relaxation pool, which is found near the lobby. It’s generally the quietest place to go for a swim.

The hotel’s main restaurant, Calypso, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets. There’s a thatched-roof main dining area, which spills out into a pool-view area sheltered by a tent. There are some themed dinner nights, but otherwise it’s a pretty standard buffet -- big crowds and spreads of food that are diverse but, according to past guests, mediocre in quality. The main bar, El Mastil, which centers on a circular wooden bar, sits alongside the restaurant. 

El Pelicano Bar & Snack Bar, which is found at the main pool, fills the gaps between Calypso’s meal times, serving snacks and drinks throughout the afternoon as well as late-night eats. The little fruit bar nearby was closed during our visit, with El Pelicano serving smoothies and snow cones in its place. There are two a la carte restaurants, Cana Brava and Macondo, both of which require advanced reservations and minimum stays. Sunset Bar, located on the hotel’s pier, is open only on weekends during in peak season.

The dark-sand beach is lovely and remains fairly quiet even when the hotel is full. The waters off the coast are generally too strong for swimming or snorkeling, but the sunset views are spectacular. 

The hotel has separate kids’ clubs: Kids age 4 to 12 can sign up for supervised crafts, movies, and stories, while those 13 to 17 have video games, pool tables, and ping-pong. Heliconia Spa has hydro-massage tubs plus offers massages, body treatments, and facials in ocean-front bungalows. There’s also a bright fitness center with views of the pool, which features a decent selection of machines and free weights. 

The business center, which includes PCs and printers, is open 24/7. The hotel has 6,500 square feet of meeting and banquet space, which can accommodate groups of up to 300 people. Wedding planning services are available. Free Wi-Fi is available in the lobby, and free self-parking is offered in a gated lot.