JW Marriott Guanacaste, Costa Rica
A block of Discounted rooms has been reserved for course participants at the JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa. Luxury amenities coupled with a spot in paradise makes this hacienda-style hotel the ideal destination for your Costa Rican getaway.
Room rates start at $345/night for Deluxe Run of House Rooms, $387/night for Deluxe Ocean View, $557 for an Ocean View Suite, & $588/night for an Ocean Front Suite, All rates are quoted in US Dollars. Are subject to 13% Tax in effect at the time of check in. Rates are per room per nights based in single or double occupancy. There is no extra fee for children under 12 years of age when sharing with parents. Charge per 3rd and 4th person in a room is US$35.00 each. Maximum number per room is a total of four guests. Gratuities/Service Charges; Bellman US$9.00 per person round trip and Housekeeping US$6.00 per room, per day. The Resort fee is waived for guests booking within the Group Block. Address: Hacienda Pinilla, Santa Cruz, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Tel: (506) -2201- 5318, Fax: (506) 2201 5318. Website: marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sjojw-jw-marriott-guanacaste-resort-and-spa
To book your room at the group rate, please click HERE. The cut-off date to make a reservation is January 8, 2025. Please do not wait to book your room as the block can fill up prior to the cut-off date.
PLEASE NOTE: Rooms are reserved for course participants on a first-come, first-served basis, and may sell out before the cut-off date. Each Registered Attendee is allowed to reserve up to 2 rooms with their course registration, each additional room requires a separate non-attendee registration or the additional reservations are subject to cancellation.
If reserving your room prior to your registration, your course registration must follow within 7 days of booking your room or your reservation will be subject to cancellation.
Travel to Costa Rica
Travel & Ground Transportation, Tours and Destination
HOTEL: JW MARRIOTT GUANACASTE RESORT & SPA, Hacienda Pinilla, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Phone: +506-26812000 | Fax: +506-26812020
AIR TRAVEL INFORMATION: The JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa is located in Guanacaste, in the northwest area of Costa Rica. You can fly into Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR – known as Liberia International Airport), which is an approximate 1-¼ hour drive to the hotel; however, lower fares can often be found by flying into Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), located in Costa Rica’s capital city of San Jose, which is an approximate 4-5 hour drive to the hotel.
PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS & IMMIGRATION
All persons traveling by air between the United States and Costa Rica are required to present a valid passport to enter or re-enter the United States. We suggest you allow a minimum of two to three months to obtain or renew your passport. Generally, your passport cannot expire within 6 months after the date of your trip; however, each country varies, so check with your local passport agency to verify. For more information, please visit http://travel.state.gov.
Children must also have valid passports. Children traveling with an adult other than their parent or with only one parent must carry notarized written permission from any parent or guardian not traveling with the child to or from Costa Rica. This permission must include the name of the parent, the name of the child, the name of anyone traveling with the child, and the notarized signature(s) of the absent parent(s). The State Department recommends that the permission should include travel dates, destinations, airlines, and a brief summary of the circumstances surrounding the travel. The child must be carrying the original letter – not a facsimile or scanned copy – as well as proof of the parent/child relationship (usually a birth certificate or court document) – and an original custody decree, if applicable. If you have adopted children, please be sure to have your adoption papers with you.
If you live in the United States and are not a U.S. citizen, we recommend that you check with U.S. Immigration regarding your particular situation.
Upon your arrival in Costa Rica you will go through customs and immigration and upon your departure you will have to clear U.S. customs and immigration at your first point of entry back into the U.S.
Costa Rica Entry Requirements
Current Entry Requirements can be found HERE
GROUND TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS
Personalized Transportation: We have arranged with COSTA RICA DMC, our selected tour company in Costa Rica, to provide CME Science conference attendees with transportation to/from either airport. If you would like to reserve this personalized group ground transportation, please contact, Karla at sales.coordinator@costaricadmc.com. They offer private and non-private transportation options.
Please note: If you are flying to/from the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), you will need to overnight there due to the long drive between the airport and resort.
Arrivals: Upon arrival and after clearing immigration, baggage claim and customs, please look for Costa Rica DMC, travel staff holding a sign with Your Full Name and a red balloon. Then you will be directed to your pre-assigned private transportation for the Hotel transfer.
Rental Cars at the airport: You do not need advance reservations however, it is suggested due to limited availability during peak travel seasons.
Air and Car Discounts
Discounts on airfare of 2%-7%, and on car rentals of 5%-30%. - Please click HERE to access the Air and Car Discounts Brochure.
Hotel Parking
Self parking is complimentary; valet parking is $10.00/day
RENTAL CAR On-Site at the JW Marriott
Avis has a location on site at the JW Marriott, open daily from 8:00AM-5:00PM. They offer a special pricing package for guests of the hotel. Pricing includes: An automatic transmission 2022 SUV; a full tank of gas, air-conditioned vehicle with GPS, unlimited miles, free drop at any Avis in Costa Rica, including airports, and full insurance. Standard SUV is $141/day US and Premium SUVs are $199/day US. These can be reserved in advance by texting or calling Pablo at +506 6186 1004 (The Costa Rica country code is 506, Pablo's number is 6186-1004). On-site reservations are also available and recommended to reserve at least the day before for best availability.
Costa Rica Tours and Destination TOURS
We have arranged with COSTA RICA DMC, our selected tour company in Costa Rica, to provide CME Science conference attendees with tour options. To view tour information and to reserve, please visit http://costaricadmc.com.
Know before You Go! – Costa Rica – Land of Tico & Pura Vida…Costa Rica is a crossroad, located between the Pacific and the Caribbean, Nicaragua, and Panama and between continents on the Central American isthmus. It is a convergence of lifestyles, wildlife, culture, pastimes and a promising future. Gourmet coffee plantations and rainforests flank an inland range active and dormant volcanoes whose slopes descend over miles to the rainforest lowlands to the east and west, endless savannah to the not fringed with beaches from border to border.
Costa Ricans who often call themselves “Ticos,” are generally fun to mingle with, quick to smile and many times go to great lengths to help out foreigners get the best of their vacation time, as you will hear them say… the country is Pura Vida!
Wildlife at its best! Over 25% of its territory is still virgin forest, laws provide waterways, beaches and mountains permanent protection. Costa Rica is the world’s most famous ecotourism destination.
Entry Requirements: Most foreigners, including U.S. and Canadian citizens and most Europeans need only to present a valid passport that will have 6 month validity. Costa Rica requires visas from a few countries, however, so check with the closest embassy.
Spring-like weather all year-round. Unlike temperate zones, Costa Rica has 2 seasons a Green Season from June to November and the Gold Season from December to May. Temperatures are dictated more by elevation and location than by season, ranging from tropical on the coastal plains to temperate in the interior highlands. Typically, mornings are sunny, with light showers in the afternoon during the Green Season, rain is rare during the Gold Season.
What to bring:
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Waterproof Jacket
- Insect Repellent
- Swimsuit
- Camera
- Pants
- Shorts
- Walking Closed Shoes
- Binoculars (optional)
- Beach/ hand Bag
General Information
Time Zone: Central Standard Time all year round, Costa Rica does NOT observe daylight saving.
Languages Spoken: Spanish is the official language, while English is widely spoken throughout the country.
Currency: monetary exchange is in Colones, but the American dollar is widely accepted. The rate of exchange is controlled by the Central Bank.
Electrical System: standard electricity in Costa Rica is the same as in the United States and Canada: 110 volts AC (60 cycles) and outlets are the same.
Name of the President: the actual President started office in May 2018; his name is Mr. Carlos Alvarado, a Sussex University Master Degree in Political Sciences & Development. Our First Lady is Claudia Dobles is an Architect & Urban Planner.
Water: tap water in Costa Rica is generally considered safe to drink; however, water quality varies widely outside of major cities. To ensure a comfortable trip, only bottled water should be consumed.
Phone Network: international mobile service is efficient and Costa Rica, make sure you activate the roaming service with your supplier. Internet service is widespread throughout the country. Wi-Fi wireless services are offered in every resort.
Credit Cards: most global credit cards are accepted throughout the country, your photo ID will be required in most transactions.
Travelers Checks: are not accepted in commercial establishments, neither banks.
Tipping: a 10% tip will automatically be added to your restaurant bill. You should check your bill carefully, especially before paying an extra tip. Tour guides and drivers expect tips.
Taxes: a 13% VAT tax is tacked on to hotel, restaurant and most service-industry bills.
Attire: visitors should wear clothing designed for tropical countries, made of cotton recommended for outdoor adventures and horseback riding. A light jacket is recommended for long bus rides or visiting volcanoes, as temperatures can drop as low as 50°F.
Hospitals: In San Jose 3 private hospitals and 4 public national hospitals within 30 minutes from the San Jose International Airport. There are 2 private clinic hospitals and 1 public national hospital within 30 minutes from the Liberia International Airport.
