Planet Hollywood Costa Rica by Royalton
Liberia, Costa RicaAll travelers
Our take
Hollywood-themed hillside all-inclusive above Guanacaste's Papagayo coast
- 2 dining venues listed
- ~40 min from LIR
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Resort facts & overview
- Location
- Liberia, Costa Rica
- Audience
- All travelers
- Brand
- Independent
- Dining listed
- 2 venues
- Airport
- LIR
- Transfer
- ~40 min
Why travelers love it
“Hollywood-themed hillside all-inclusive above Guanacaste's Papagayo coast”
The staff is the standout here, warm, attentive, and quick with drinks and service whether you're at a cabana or the buffet. Rooms are spacious with big views over the Guanacaste hills, though the property sprawls up a steep hillside, so expect shuttles and elevators to get around.
Food & drink
StrongPlentiful options anchored by the So Cal buffet, with five à la carte venues in rotation and consistently praised drinks. Quality lands solidly above average without hitting destination-dining territory.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- So Cal buffet is the standout
- Five à la carte restaurants in play
- Drinks poured generously
- Attentive food service to cabanas
Heads up
- No single restaurant called out as exceptional
Dining overview
Multiple à la carte restaurants plus a large main buffet (SoCal) that many guests treat as their default for most meals. Options span Italian, Asian, steakhouse, and casual poolside and sports-bar fare, with generally solid quality across venues.
2 documented dining venues
SoCal
main international buffet, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Sports bar
casual American pub fare and game-day viewing
Counts and access can vary by source and room tier.
Food & drink photos
Food & drink photos
Beach
WeakThis is a hillside resort above the Papagayo coast, not a beachfront property, so sand and surf are not the reason to book.
low confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Sweeping ocean views from the property
Heads up
- Not directly on the beach
- Beach access requires transport down the hill
The resort sits on a hillside above the Papagayo coast rather than directly on the sand, so beach access is via shuttle to a small cove below. Guests generally spend more time at the pools than on the beach.
Pools
StandoutThe main pool is the social heart of the resort: large, clean, and run by an animation team that keeps the energy high all day.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Large, clean main pool
- Entertaining, talented pool staff
- Swim-up bar in play
- Cabanas available with butler service
Heads up
- High-energy vibe not for everyone
The main pool is large, well-kept, and lively, with an activities crew running games and entertainment through the day. Multiple pools are scattered across the terraced property, several with swim-up bars.
Rooms & suites
~450 roomsRooms are spacious, modern, and comfortable, with balconies and stocked mini-fridges; hilltop suites near the lobby have particularly good views. A few guests have noted housekeeping details (dust, cobwebs in corners) could be sharper.
Junior Suite (One Bed)
Entry-level suite with a king bed, seating area, balcony, and stocked mini-fridge. Rooms are spacious and modern; a few guests have flagged inconsistent housekeeping and dated cable-only TVs.
Includes
- +private balcony
- +stocked mini-fridge
- +separated bathroom area for privacy
Junior Suite (Two Beds)
Same suite footprint configured with two beds instead of one, aimed at families or friends sharing. Sleeps up to four when the layout includes a sofa.
- Sleeps:4 guests
Includes
- +two beds
- +private balcony
- +stocked mini-fridge
Star Class Junior Suite
starSame room but with the Star Class upgrade: personal butler, dedicated concierge, and access to the reserved Star Class pool with its own bar and food service. Reviews are split, some call it the highlight of the trip, others say the service felt tip-driven.
Includes
- +personal butler
- +dedicated concierge
- +access to Star Class pool and bar
- +premium liquor selection
- +in-room aromatherapy menu
Room details here are AI-assisted, compiled from the resort's own website and public sources. Categories and names change often — confirm the exact room when you book.
Room photos
What’s included
StrongSolid mid-tier all-inclusive value with strong food, service, and pool experience, though it sits a notch below true luxury peers like the Westin next door.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Spacious, well-appointed rooms
- Strong food and drink program
- Grounds are well maintained
- Staff hospitality is a consistent highlight
Heads up
- Star Class upgrade underwhelms
- Housekeeping detail slips (cobwebs noted)
- Not quite luxury tier despite premium pricing
Package inclusions and upgrade access have not been collected yet. Confirm them for your room and dates when booking.
Amenities & activities
Couples
Good fitWorks well for couples who want a lively Hollywood-themed backdrop with strong service and hillside views, though the family and wedding crowd means it's not a romance-first pick.
medium confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Dramatic hilltop views over Papagayo
- Cabana service with drinks on demand
- Spa day bookings easy to arrange
- Wedding-friendly setting
Heads up
- Mixed with families and kids
- Not a dedicated adults-only atmosphere
Families
Good fitA comfortable fit for multigenerational trips and destination weddings with kids and grandkids in tow, with a large main pool that keeps children entertained.
medium confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Handles multigenerational groups well
- Large, lively main pool
- Plentiful buffet options kids will eat
- Welcoming, patient staff
Heads up
- Hillside layout means lots of walking
Peace & Quiet
MixedA lively, entertainment-driven resort with animated pool staff and a Hollywood theme running throughout. Come for the buzz, not for silence.
medium confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Well-maintained grounds for strolling
- Didn't feel crowded even near capacity
- Hilltop suites feel removed from the action
Heads up
- Pool staff keep energy high all day
- Themed entertainment is a core feature
Full-service PH Spa, fitness center, kids' and teens' programming, nightly entertainment with a Hollywood theme, and Star Class upgrades that add butler service and a private pool area.
Spa, gym & activity photos
What guests say
High confidence997 reviews · through Nov 2026
Read all reviews on Google ↗
Based on older reviews
Recurring complaints
No recurring complaint theme found in the reviews analyzed.
Best suited for
What past guests say
“Amazing food and service by Dylan, Gonzalo, Josue - Tiramisu was absolutely amazing”
★★★★★
“I enjoy every thing here and the service is great, thank You Gina for your special service”
★★★★★
“Good place”
★★★★★
“Our pool bartenders Paola and Nestor were perfect and made our honeymoon so special!”
★★★★★
“Disappointing Experience with Star Class – Planet Hollywood Guanacaste<br><br>We have visited Planet Hollywood Guanacaste on other occasions, and unfortunately, this time we noticed a significant difference in the quality of service.<br><br>I want to emphasize that the service staff makes a great effort to serve guests well. The staff are willing and work hard; however, it is clear that there are not enough staff to adequately meet the hotel's demand. This directly affects the guest...”
★★★☆☆
Read all reviews on Google (4,018) ↗
Ask Rosie
Have a specific question about Planet Hollywood Costa Rica by Royalton?
Rosie answers from this resort’s guest reviews and our research — with quotes.
Know before you book
- Housekeeping detail can be inconsistent (dust, cobwebs reported)
- Star Class perks underwhelmed some guests
- Hillside layout requires shuttles and stairs
- Reservation issues reported by some guests at check-in
What you should know
What to Know
This is a hilltop resort, not beachfront, and the Star Class upgrade delivers less than the marketing suggests unless you plan to lean on butler service heavily.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Butlers helpful for spa and dining bookings
- Top-of-resort suites have the best views
- Mini fridges kept well stocked
Heads up
- Star Class perks feel thin
- Room reservations not always honored at high occupancy
- Deep-cleaning inconsistencies in rooms
- Property is not on the beach
WATCH OUT: Seasonal heads-up
- Green season (May to November) brings frequent afternoon rain in Guanacaste
- Peak dry-season weeks (late December to March) book up fast for weddings
Fly into Liberia (LIR); transfers run roughly 40 minutes. The property is built into a hillside, so pack comfortable shoes and be prepared to use shuttles between the lobby, restaurants, pools, and beach. If you want the most out of Star Class, plan to actually use the reserved pool and lounge areas, otherwise the upgrade may feel underwhelming. Tipping is not required but appreciated.
Good to know
- Property is built on a steep hillside; shuttles run between areas
- Beach is a short shuttle ride down from the main resort
- SoCal buffet is a guest favorite and often the default meal spot
- Star Class adds butler service and a private pool zone, best value if you'll use it daily
- Hollywood-themed decor and entertainment set the tone throughout
All photos
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What we know
Everything below comes from data we collected: here's the inventory for this resort.Updated September 2026- Photos
- 142
- Review excerpts
- 20
- Dining venues
- 2
- Menus
- Not yet collected
- Room categories
- 5
- Videos
- 3
- Editorial lenses
- 8
We aggregate. We don't trap. Verify on any of these:
Where this data comes from
We tell you what we know, and what we don't.
- Last updated
- September 8, 2026
- Sources
- Official resort siteGoogle PlacesDirect resort media
- Completeness
- 83%
Source collection snapshot
These collection totals can differ from the items available on this page. Video totals include screened results; the inventory above counts published tours.
- 144 photos
- 3 dining venues
- 3 videos