This post is a guest contribution from one of our incredible BoldlyGo community members, Rosie Calig (@Rosie Calig) Rosie and her family recently spent five nights at the brand-new Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica, booking most of the stay with Hilton Honors points. Her experience is a great example of how families can use points and miles to unlock luxury resort stays that might otherwise feel out of reach. We love showcasing real stories from within our community, because some of the best travel strategies come from people actually putting them into action. If you’d like to share your own experience or points-and-miles win with the BoldlyGo community, you can submit your contribution here.

My family and I (two adults and our daughter, just shy of four) recently spent five nights at the beautiful Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica. If you’re researching the newly opened Waldorf Astoria Cacique Costa Rica, here’s what our experience was actually like—from booking with Hilton points to the pools, dining, kids activities, and overall value of this luxury resort.

Booking the Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica with Hilton Points

We used Hilton Honors points for most of our stay: 480,000 points plus a free night certificate for four nights, and then extended to five nights after the cancellation deadline (so we paid cash for the additional night).

At the time of booking:

• Hotel value: about $7,213
• Round-trip flights on American Airlines: about $3,683

For a family trip to Costa Rica, using points made the experience much more attainable.

Arrival and First Impressions

We arrived in the afternoon and were greeted with fresh coconuts and a warm welcome. Check-in was immediate and hassle-free, and our room was already ready.

We were upgraded from a Bahía room to an ocean-view room, and staff transported our luggage via golf cart to the room.

I arranged a private transfer through Viator ($196 round trip), and the drive from the airport to the property took roughly 30 minutes.

Service felt polished right from the start.

The Room (10/10)

The room was spacious, comfortable, and very family-friendly.

Highlights included:

• Two queen beds (we originally requested one king + rollaway, but this worked perfectly)
• Large bathroom with double sinks and a rain shower
• A balcony bathtub with a beautiful ocean view
• Efficient luggage service and helpful staff

One caveat: we were told during check-in that our daughter’s meals would be complimentary everywhere except room service, but that policy had recently changed and we were ultimately charged for her meals.

If you’re traveling with kids, it’s worth confirming children’s meal policies in writing at check-in.

Hilton Diamond Status Perks

We did not receive a welcome amenity in the room or obvious Diamond recognition beyond check-in.

However, we did receive complimentary buffet breakfast for all three of us, though à la carte items were still an additional charge.

Breakfast at Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica (7/10)

The buffet breakfast was generous and well presented.

Options included:

• Fresh juices and coconuts
• Unlimited mimosas
• Omelette station
• Hot breakfast items
• Yogurt and fruit
• Bread and pastries
• A kids station with cereal and pancakes

Ordering from the à la carte breakfast menu costs extra, even with status benefits.

Pools (8/10)

The resort has 11 different pools, which was a huge highlight for families.

Our daughter especially loved:

• The pool with the water slide
• The baby pool area

The pools were clean, and the poolside staff was attentive. Lounger availability was decent, though we did notice some guests saving chairs as early as 5:30 AM, which we didn’t expect at a resort of this caliber.

Shade was limited in the morning but much better after about 2 PM.

Poolside service and water stations were available. If you’re picky about sunscreen, bring your own — the complimentary lotion wasn’t strong enough for us.

Beach (7/10)

The beach itself is beautiful and clear with lots of shells.

Some notes:

• Not all loungers had umbrellas
• Costa Rican beaches are public, but vendors were respectful
• Beach staff checked on guests regularly

On one windy day I was stung by a jellyfish, but local vendors spotted it first and alerted hotel staff. The response from the hotel was quick and helpful.

Pro tip: consider getting a beach massage from local vendors. We loved Julieta and Claritza—friendly, professional, and a fraction of the resort spa prices.

Dining at Waldorf Astoria Cacique (6/10)

Dining was the most inconsistent part of the stay.

Food was generally expensive and somewhat hit-or-miss.

Some highlights:

• Ceviche – outstanding
• Tico Tica skirt steak with chimichurri – excellent
• La Finca – beautiful at sunset (request an outside table with a sunset view)
• Vida – great for lunch but underwhelming for dinner

Pricing examples:

• Meals often exceeded $100 for two people
• Ice cream scoop: $9
• Iced latte: about $11

Room service was fine but not particularly memorable.

Kids Club (8/10)

The Kids Club was a major win for our family.

Our daughter (not yet four) absolutely loved it.

Features included:

• Bright, safe indoor play space
• Crafts, games, and supervised activities
• Friendly staff who clearly enjoy working with kids
• Shaded playground outside
• Glass doors so parents can easily check in

The club was open roughly 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM.

There’s also a separate teen area with:

• Gaming consoles
• Pool tables
• Ping pong
• Board games

Activities and Entertainment (0/10)

This was one of the weaker aspects of the resort.

The activities schedule listed things like kayaking and beach games, but we rarely saw organized programming actually happening.

Evenings were especially quiet.

By around 8 PM, most things felt closed or shut down. If you’re looking for nightlife or evening entertainment, you’ll probably want to plan off-property activities.

Service (10/10)

Service was consistently excellent across the property.

From housekeeping to restaurant staff to grounds teams, everyone we encountered was:

• Friendly
• Efficient
• Genuinely helpful

This level of service was one of the highlights of the stay.

Visiting Coco Beach Nearby

We also visited Coco Beach, which is lively and worth checking out.

You’ll find:

• Gelato
• Live music
• Restaurants
• Shops

Taxis can be pricey, so renting a car may be more convenient if you plan to go offsite multiple times.

Final Thoughts: Is Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Worth It?

If you’re looking for a polished, family-friendly luxury resort in Costa Rica, the Waldorf Astoria Cacique Costa Rica delivers a strong overall experience.

Even though the resort is family friendly, there are plenty of adult-focused spaces where couples can relax and enjoy quiet areas.

Things to keep in mind:

• Food prices are high
• Evening entertainment is limited
• Confirm kids’ dining policies at check-in

Overall, we left satisfied. The great service, strong kids programming, comfortable rooms, and family amenities made this a very enjoyable stay and one we’d recommend.

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