JW Marriott Costa Elena Sets Its Guanacaste Debut as the Brand's First All-Inclusive
Marriott's first JW all-inclusive targets a late September open in Guanacaste with 415 rooms, Griffin Club privacy zones, and 11 restaurants.
JW Marriott All-Inclusive is preparing to open JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa on Costa Rica's Guanacaste coast, the first all-inclusive property under the JW Marriott brand. Marriott's live property messaging lists a Sept. 30, 2026 opening, while earlier trade coverage had pointed to Sept. 10, so travelers should treat the calendar as fluid and reconfirm on Marriott before buying nonrefundable flights into Liberia.
The resort reworks the former Dreams Las Mareas site at Playa El Jobo in Guanacaste, putting a Bonvoy-linked luxury all-inclusive on a coastline many regulars already know from the previous Inclusive Collection stay.
What guests get on site
Reporting across Marriott messaging and trade outlets cites about 415 rooms, including Griffin Club, a hotel-within-a-hotel zone with butler service and dedicated pool and beach access. Amenities include a large poolscape marketed at roughly 44,000 square feet, a Spa by JW of about 16,000 square feet, and 11 restaurants and bars spanning buffet, Japanese, seafood, Italian, Mexican, and Costa Rican concepts, plus a culinary school. Meetings inventory includes about 10,000 square feet of space with an 8,300-square-foot ballroom for groups around 820.
Families are in the mix through a kids club and Family by JW programming. Couples and privacy seekers should price Griffin Club carefully: dedicated quieter beach and pool zones may depend on that room category rather than standard inventory.
Why a JW all-inclusive changes a Guanacaste shortlist
Most all-inclusive beach weeks still push travelers outside big hotel loyalty programs. A JW Marriott all-inclusive in Costa Rica gives Bonvoy members a way to spend free-night certificates or points on a full-board beach stay without leaving Marriott's ecosystem. Cash calendars have opened ahead of award inventory in some snapshots, so points bookers should check the live Bonvoy path separately from published cash rates.
Arrival planning matters as much as the brand story. Most guests fly into Liberia Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport. Factor transfer time, rainy-season roads, and check-in timing before treating an opening-week arrival as a same-day beach landing.
What to verify before you book
Confirm whether the Griffin Club upsell is required for the privacy you expect, which restaurants will be live on day one, and whether spa appointments and kids club ages match your party. Opening-month operations can still shift after the ribbon cutting.
If your dates are fixed around late September through winter peak, price JW Costa Elena against other Guanacaste all-inclusives now while named-brand inventory is still settling. If your trip is flexible, waiting for first-month dining and Griffin Club delivery reports can be the safer path. Either way, recheck Marriott's open date and cancellation rules before you lock air.
