5 Free 5-Star Marriott Nights in Costa Rica: Los Sueños Review

📣 UPDATE (October 2026): The 5-night version of this card offer I used has ended. The current Chase Marriott Bonvoy offer is 3 free nights, available through June 2027.

The strategies in this post still work with the 3-night offer. For the full step-by-step on how to earn and use it, see my How to Get Free Marriott Nights post, or check the current offer here.

                                       

Our 5 Night Marriott Bonvoy Strategy

We opened the Marriott Bonvoy credit card, (see THIS previous post) unlocked the 5 free night certificates, and split them up: 4 nights at the luxurious Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort in Playa Herradura & saved the final night for the historic Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belén near the SJO airport before flying home. I was worried the last night would be a waste. NOPE! Perfect way to close out a perfect trip! 

"Disclaimer: Marriott is absolutely not paying me for this review; this is our unfiltered family experience." (But they can if they want to 😛)

Review: 4 Nights at Los Suenos Resort

I honestly did not expect Los Sueños to be a Costa Rican highlight. I went into the trip thinking we would just relax by the pool for a few days before heading off on a rugged jungle adventure. But we had SO MUCH FUN! The hotel grounds are beautiful, the pools are amazing and seemingly unending, the resort staff could not have been nicer, and the beach... well, we will get to that in a moment.

The even bigger surprise for our family was the wildlife. There were way more animals on-site than we ever expected. We spotted scarlet macaws, sloths, and the hotel even offers a pretty awesome, completely free guided animal tour right on the property. Apparently, there are even crocodiles nearby, though I didn't spot one myself! 

In terms of activities, they have kayaks and stand-up paddleboards available to rent, free golf balls to smash (or completely miss, depending on your skillset), and a cute on-site cafe. The cafe has great breakfast and snack options that are not nearly as expensive as the sit-down resort restaurants.

The Truth About The Beach.....

Now, let's talk about the beach. It gets a lot of bad press online. Honestly, we thought it was actually just fine. Like many Costa Rica beaches, the quality depends heavily on the tide and time of day. If you go at low tide when the water is calmer, you will have a great time. The water was gorgeous during our visit, we had a blast playing in the waves, and the resort has lounge chairs waiting for you on the sand. Plus, the Herradura sunsets are absolutely not to be missed! 

Our only major complaint was regarding the resort fee (which you still have to pay out of pocket, even when booking with points). For what they charge, you are only allowed to rent water sports equipment for 30 minutes per day, which felt a bit cheap for a luxury resort. 

Pro-tip: If you walk down the shoreline to the left of the Los Sueños property, you will find a public beach area. The water here is slightly clearer and has fewer waves. While it is more crowded and you have to pay to rent chairs from vendors, you will find great local restaurants, much cheaper food options, and a fun local atmosphere.

What's Nearby: Exploring Outside the Resort Grounds

Another plus of Los Suenos is you aren't "stuck" in the resort (unless you want to be)

1. The Los Sueños Marina Village

Just a short 10-minute walk from the hotel. This clean, upscale commercial area sits right on the harbor and features a variety of sit-down restaurants, a gourmet grocery store, and a cute coffee & dessert shop. It's still pretty pricey, but you don't need to drive, and it’s a fun spot to look at the yachts and helicopters (that's right!). There is also a cute beach area, called Rocky Beach, with clear blue water.

2. Vista Los Sueños Adventure Park

If your family is craving a rush of adrenaline, the Vista Los Suenos Adventure Park  is about 12  minutes down the road. (Note: This section contains affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you). It is a fantastic off-site option for an adventure day. They offer zip-lining canopy tours, ATV trail rides, horseback riding, and a waterfall hike. It’s the perfect way to burn off some energy before heading back to relax at the resort pool. We did the Zip line & ATV combo. More about it in a future post. But of our 3 ATV tours in CR, the ATV Tour at Vista Los Suenos was by far our FAVORITE!!!

3. Quick Trips to American Favorites & Jaco

Kids want a taste of home? Starbucks, BK, Subway, are all around the corner. (not a plus in my opinion except we have a VERY picky eater). Jaco is also a 15 minute drive and the PERFECT night out for dinner. 

My Honest Los Sueños Critiques (And How to Fix Them)

Here is my unfiltered take on what fell short, along with the easy workarounds we used to save our vacation:

👎 Critique 1: The Food is Expensive and Mediocre

Aside from the cute on-site cafe (which we loved for breakfast and snacks), the main resort restaurants are incredibly pricey, and the food quality simply isn't fantastic for what you pay. 

 **The Fix:** Drive to the in town grocery store or eat at local restaurants outside the resort. 

👎 Critique 2: The Rooms and Beds Feel Small

The guest rooms and beds are definitely on the smaller side. To be fair, we are a family of four with two growing teenagers sharing a single standard room. If it were just two adults traveling, the space probably wouldn't feel quite as tight. 

 **The Fix:** Honestly, we didn't go to Costa Rica to sit inside a hotel room! We spent all our time at the pools or exploring nearby activities, so the room size didn't ruin our trip.

👎 Critique 3: The 30-Minute Water Sports Limit

As I mentioned earlier, the strict 30-minute daily limit on kayak and paddleboard rentals feels incredibly cheap for a luxury property - especially since you are already paying a mandatory out-of-pocket resort fee even when booking with points. 

**The Fix:** If you want an unrestricted day on the water, skip the resort rentals entirely and walk down to the left to the public beach area, where you can arrange more flexible rentals with local operators.

Finally, Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belén

We only spent about 12 hours here before our flight out of San José (SJO), but those 12 hours were absolutely awesome. If you want that final *I'm on vacation* feel before heading home, booking this historic coffee plantation resort is a total game-changer. 

Here is my quick, unfiltered, takeaway from our short stay:

👉Incredible Dining Choices: The property features a surprising variety of excellent on-site restaurants, making it easy to grab a fantastic final dinner without leaving the grounds. (But you will PAY)
👉Relaxing Amenities: While there aren't as many massive swimming pools here compared to the unending waters at Los Sueños, they do have a wonderful, relaxing hot tub that was perfect for winding down after our jungle adventures.
👉Superb Customer Service: The resort staff members were incredibly warm, welcoming, and helpful from the moment we checked in. 
👉You can drop off your car at Alamo the night before and then get a free shuttle to the airport in the am (helped us to relax and sleep in!) 
👉Convenient Off-Site Walkability: If you want a break from resort prices, the hotel's location is excellent. There are great local food spots and authentic Costa Rican coffee shops within easy walking distance right outside the main gates.

The Verdict: Was the Points Strategy Worth It?

Every second of time and energy put into this credit card deal (which was relatively minimal compared to others) was SO very worth it. This was probably our greatest win yet. Stay tuned to the blog for more tips & deals on how to score free nights. 

Want the step-by-step on earning the points? Here’s how we did it! 

Don't want to wait? Apply for the card now.