Planet Hollywood Costa Rica Review: Honest Family Guide to This All-Inclusive Resort

We stayed at Planet Hollywood Costa Rica for seven nights as the beach portion of our Costa Rica family holiday after spending several days exploring La Fortuna.

The main reason we booked it was simple: we'd previously stayed at Planet Hollywood Cancun and had an amazing experience. The pools, food, family-friendly atmosphere and the amazing food meant it became one of our favourite all-inclusive stays, so when we started planning Costa Rica, Planet Hollywood immediately made our shortlist, but this time we decided to spend the extra to add on 'Star Class'.

The question was whether the Costa Rica version and the Star Class upgrade could live up to those expectations.

Quick Answer: Is Planet Hollywood Costa Rica Good for Families?

For us, yes. Planet Hollywood Costa Rica is a great family resort and worked brilliantly as a relaxing beach stay after several busy days exploring La Fortuna.

While we preferred Planet Hollywood Cancun overall because it felt larger and offered extra facilities such as the FlowRider and swim-up room options, the Costa Rica resort had a completely different feel. It was quieter, more scenic and felt like the perfect place to unwind after the adventure-filled part of our trip.

We also upgraded to Star Class and felt it was worth it for the quieter pool area, upgraded breakfast experience and added convenience throughout our stay. Would we stay again? Absolutely — especially as part of a La Fortuna and beach Costa Rica itinerary.

Thinking Planet Hollywood Costa Rica might be right for your family? You can check the latest prices, room types and Star Class availability here.

Some of the links in this guide are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend places and services we'd genuinely use again as a family.

Where Is Planet Hollywood Costa Rica?

Planet Hollywood Costa Rica sits on the Pacific Coast in the Guanacaste region near Playa Manzanillo. The resort is approximately 40–50 minutes from Liberia Airport depending on traffic.

Once you arrive, most families won't leave very often. That isn't necessarily a criticism. It's simply the type of resort it is. For us, after several active days in La Fortuna, that was exactly what we wanted.

That said the resort offers a range of day trips bookable via their experiences team, covering the local area if you do want to get out and do more in Costa Rica.

Instead of planning activities and driving every day, we could simply enjoy the pools, beach and all-inclusive facilities. This is one reason why we think it works so well as part of our 10-Day Costa Rica Family Itinerary.

Can You Book Planet Hollywood Costa Rica Independently?

Yes — and that's exactly what we did.

When we first started planning Costa Rica, we researched package holidays and multi-centre itineraries. However, because we were travelling during August, many UK package options were limited. In the end, we booked independently and found it surprisingly straightforward.

This gave us more control over:

• How long we spent in La Fortuna

• Which flights we chose

• Whether to hire a car

• How we structured the trip

We booked early during the school holidays, and prices varied quite a bit depending on dates and room type. You can check the latest Planet Hollywood Costa Rica prices here.

If you're planning your own route, How to Plan a Costa Rica Family Trip: Our La Fortuna & Beach Route explains exactly how we put everything together.

What Is Planet Hollywood Costa Rica Like in August?

We visited Planet Hollywood Costa Rica in August, which falls during Costa Rica's rainy season, and honestly, the weather had much less impact on our holiday than we expected.

One thing we noticed was that the weather felt much more unpredictable in La Fortuna, where we were staying in the rainforest. There, we experienced frequent showers, mist and occasional heavy downpours that could arrive quite suddenly. By comparison, the weather at the beach was noticeably better. Most days were warm and sunny, with only the occasional shower passing through before the sunshine returned.

That said, it's not the same as Mexico, where you can often expect uninterrupted sunshine all day. In Costa Rica, you do need to be prepared for changing conditions and the possibility of rain at any time. Personally, we didn't mind this. The temperatures felt a little cooler and more comfortable than some of our trips to Mexico, especially when spending long periods by the pool or exploring the resort.

By the time we reached Planet Hollywood, we'd already completed the more adventure-focused part of our trip in La Fortuna, so it didn't really matter if an afternoon shower rolled in. We could simply move between the pool, restaurants, bars and indoor areas until it passed.

If you're considering visiting during the school holidays and are worried about the weather, I'd recommend reading Costa Rica in August with Kids: Is Rainy Season Worth It for Families? where I share exactly what the weather was like throughout our trip, including what we experienced in both La Fortuna and at the beach.

Is Star Class Worth the Upgrade?

Our Star Class upgrade included both room benefits and access to exclusive resort facilities.

Room and in-room benefits

• Larger, upgraded room category

• Premium minibar with drinks and snacks

• Upgraded toiletries and amenities

• Dedicated Star Class check-in experience

• Concierge / butler-style service via WhatsApp

Resort benefits

• Exclusive Star Class pool with a quieter atmosphere

• Dedicated pool service

• À la carte breakfast instead of the main buffet

• Priority assistance with restaurant reservations

• Access to premium drinks and selected upgraded menus

• Reserved beach area

For us, the biggest benefits weren't actually the room itself. The quieter Star Class pool, à la carte breakfast and having help with restaurant bookings made the biggest difference during a week-long family stay. It simply made the holiday feel a little easier and more relaxing.

If you're staying 5–7 nights or longer, I think Star Class is worth considering. If you're only staying a few nights and plan to spend most days exploring Costa Rica, I'd probably save the money and book a standard room instead.

One thing worth considering is how the upgrade fits into your overall trip budget. Accommodation was by far the biggest cost of our Costa Rica holiday, and Star Class contributed to that. If you're weighing up whether to spend more on the resort or allocate your budget elsewhere, see How Much Does Costa Rica Cost for a Family? for a full breakdown of what we spent.

If you're comparing room categories, it's worth checking the latest pricing difference between standard rooms and Star Class before booking. View current availability here.

Pools and Splash Area: Great for Relaxing Families

The pools ended up being one of the areas we used most during our stay, although it's worth setting expectations if you've previously visited Planet Hollywood Cancun.

Planet Hollywood Costa Rica doesn't have the same level of water attractions as Cancun. There isn't a FlowRider or large water park, which is one of the reasons we slightly preferred the Cancun resort overall. The Costa Rica resort also has fewer purpose-built family water attractions, giving it a more relaxed feel.

That said, there is a dedicated Splash Kids Zone with smaller slides and water features for younger children, alongside several pools that kept Joshua entertained throughout our stay. We found the focus here was much more on swimming, splashing and relaxing rather than spending all day racing down slides.

What we particularly liked was the flexibility. The swim-up bars, dedicated lunch and snack service around the Star Class pool, readily available pool towels and relaxed approach to inflatables meant we could properly settle in for the day. Joshua happily played with balls and floats in the pool without any issues, which made family pool time feel easy rather than restrictive.

For us, the pools didn't provide the constant action and entertainment of Cancun, but they suited the slower pace of our Costa Rica itinerary perfectly and worked brilliantly as a place to unwind after La Fortuna.

There was also plenty going on throughout the day at the main pool, including:

• Pool activities

• Music

• Entertainment

• Family-friendly games

We generally found sunbeds available, with no need to arrive early to get shade. What worked well was that the resort felt full without feeling overcrowded. A lot of our afternoons were simply spent moving between the pool, drinks, snacks and occasional swims in the sea.

Kids' Club and Entertainment

The kids' club was another reason we chose Planet Hollywood. Having previously visited Planet Hollywood Cancun, we knew the kids' clubs offered much more than simple arts and crafts, and that proved to be true here as well.

For Joshua, who was 7 when we visited and starting to outgrow some of the typical colouring and craft activities, the gaming area was a big plus. It gave him somewhere cool and comfortable to escape the midday heat for a while, while still feeling like he was having fun rather than being "looked after."

What we really liked was how flexible it was. There was no need to commit to full sessions — we could simply drop him off and pick him up when it suited us, which worked well around pool time, meals and excursions.

Outside the kids' club, there were plenty of other activities around the resort including:

• Table tennis

• Basketball

• Giant chess

• Pool games and activities

• Beach sports

This meant there was usually something happening without the resort ever feeling overly scheduled.

Evening Entertainment

Evenings were relaxed but never boring.

Most nights there was some form of entertainment, whether that was live music, a kids movie, a silent disco, themed shows or family-friendly performances. After dinner, we'd often take a walk through the resort, grab a drink and see what was on.

It wasn't quite as lively as Planet Hollywood Cancun, but that actually suited the overall feel of the resort. Costa Rica felt calmer and more relaxed, which worked perfectly after our action-packed time in La Fortuna.

For families, the combination of the kids' club, evening entertainment and activities around the resort meant there was always something to do, without feeling like you had to constantly keep children entertained yourself.

Restaurants and Food

Food is one of the most important parts of any all-inclusive review and, overall, we were impressed.

There was enough variety that we never felt like we were eating the same thing every day. We tended to alternate between the buffet, à la carte restaurants and poolside snacks depending on what we felt like, and Joshua never struggled to find something he enjoyed.

Our two favourite restaurants were definitely the steakhouse and the Japanese restaurant. Both felt a step above the buffet experience and were the meals we looked forward to most during the week. The Japanese restaurant was particularly entertaining, while the steakhouse became our go-to option when we wanted a more relaxed family dinner.

During the day, there was always somewhere to grab snacks, freshly made cappuccinos, ice cream, drinks or a quick lunch, which made life very easy with a child. We also found the buffet useful for breakfast and the occasional easy dinner when we didn't want a long meal.

One tip I would give is to book the most popular restaurants as early as possible, especially if you're travelling during school holidays. The resort can get busy and the best dining times tend to disappear quickly. What we loved though was you were not limited on the number of bookings you could make, as long as you got in early enough you could have a la carte every night, another benefit of Star Class!

While I wouldn't say the food alone is a reason to book the resort, it was consistently good, family-friendly and helped make the all-inclusive experience feel genuinely relaxing

Gym and Adult Facilities

While this is very much a family-focused resort, there are plenty of facilities for adults too.

One thing we liked was that it didn't feel as though everything revolved around children. While Joshua was enjoying the pools, kids' club or one of the activities around the resort, there were plenty of opportunities for adults to relax as well.

The fitness centre was modern, air-conditioned and much better equipped than the small hotel gyms you often find at all-inclusive resorts. If you like keeping up with your workouts while travelling, it's more than adequate for a holiday gym.

There is also a spa offering massages and treatments, which can be a nice way to unwind after the more active part of a Costa Rica itinerary. We didn't spend much time there ourselves, but it was popular throughout our stay.

For us, though, the biggest adult benefit was simply having the chance to relax. Whether that meant enjoying a quieter morning at the Star Class pool, ordering a drink from the swim-up bar or taking in the ocean views while Joshua was busy elsewhere, the resort gave us far more downtime than we'd had during our La Fortuna adventure days.

It struck a good balance between being family-friendly and still giving parents opportunities to switch off for a while.

What Is the Beach Like?

This is one area where expectations matter. The beach is attractive and swimmable, but if you're expecting the soft white sands and turquoise waters of Mexico or the Caribbean, this isn't quite that experience.

What the beach does offer is something very Costa Rican. One of our favourite parts of staying here was spotting monkeys around the beach and resort grounds. They regularly appeared in the trees during the day and became something we all looked out for, especially Joshua.

We enjoyed spending time on the beach, but if I'm honest, we probably spent more time by the pools. The beach complemented the resort nicely, offering a change of scenery and opportunities for wildlife spotting, while the pools remained our main base during the day.

For us, the combination of beach, wildlife and ocean views felt much more uniquely Costa Rican than a typical all-inclusive resort experience.

What We Loved Most

What made Planet Hollywood Costa Rica work so well for our family wasn't one standout feature, but how easy everything felt.

The pools were where we spent most of our time, Joshua loved having the freedom to move between the pools, kids' club and activities, and the all-inclusive format meant we never had to think about where we were eating next or how much the next drink or snack was going to cost.

Most importantly, it balanced our Costa Rica itinerary perfectly. We'd spent the first part of the trip exploring waterfalls, hanging bridges, volcanoes and hot springs in La Fortuna, so arriving somewhere where we could simply relax, enjoy the facilities and slow down felt exactly right.

Downsides

No hotel is perfect, and there are a few things I'd want families to know before booking.

The resort feels much more like an American-style all-inclusive than a traditional Costa Rican experience, so if you're looking for local culture and authentic small-town charm, this probably isn't the place. The focus here is entirely on comfort, convenience and resort facilities.

Restaurant reservations can also be competitive during busy periods, particularly if you're not staying in Star Class, so I'd recommend booking your preferred restaurants as early as possible.

Finally, while we felt Star Class was worth the extra cost for our stay, it does add a noticeable premium to the overall holiday budget and won't be essential for every family.

None of these were deal-breakers for us, but they're worth understanding before you book so your expectations match the type of holiday Planet Hollywood Costa Rica actually delivers.

How Many Nights Would I Stay?

For most families, Planet Hollywood Costa Rica works best as part of a wider Costa Rica itinerary rather than the entire holiday.

We stayed for seven nights after La Fortuna, which gave us plenty of time to relax, enjoy the pools, beach, restaurants and kids' club. It was the perfect contrast to the adventure-focused first half of our trip.

That said, if your entire Costa Rica holiday is 10 days to two weeks long, I'm not sure I'd want to spend all of that time at a single all-inclusive resort. While there is plenty to do, the days can start to feel a little repetitive if you're someone who enjoys exploring.

For us, the sweet spot was combining 2–3 nights in La Fortuna with 5–7 nights at Planet Hollywood Costa Rica. That gave us the best of both worlds — rainforest, waterfalls and wildlife followed by a genuinely relaxing beach stay.

If you're not completely convinced that Planet Hollywood Costa Rica is the right fit for your family, don't worry — we looked at several different beach resorts before booking. In Where to Stay on the Beach in Costa Rica with Kids: Best Family-Friendly Areas, I compare the main beach destinations, resort styles and family-friendly hotel options to help you find the best match for your budget and travel style.

Tips for Staying at Planet Hollywood Costa Rica with Kids

• Book restaurants as early as possible

• Pack casual evening outfits

• Take advantage of the kids' club

• Arrange airport transfers in advance

• Consider whether Star Class is worth the upgrade for your family

For our family, Star Class was worth the extra cost, largely because we were staying for a full week.

How Does Planet Hollywood Costa Rica Compare to Planet Hollywood Cancun?

One of the main reasons we booked Planet Hollywood Costa Rica was because we'd previously stayed at Planet Hollywood Cancun and had such a great experience.

While the two resorts share the same family-friendly feel, all-inclusive convenience and entertainment-focused atmosphere, they actually feel quite different once you're there.

Planet Hollywood Cancun is bigger and has more facilities. There's simply more going on, including attractions such as the FlowRider surf simulator, a larger water park area and a wider choice of activities. If your children love being constantly entertained and having lots of options, Cancun probably has the edge.

Planet Hollywood Costa Rica feels more relaxed and more integrated into its natural surroundings. The views, wildlife and jungle-covered hills create a completely different atmosphere. We regularly spotted monkeys around the resort, which immediately made it feel more "Costa Rica" than a typical beach holiday.

For our family, it wasn't a case of one being better than the other — they were just different.

• Planet Hollywood Cancun felt larger, busier and more activity-focused.

• Planet Hollywood Costa Rica felt calmer, more scenic and worked brilliantly as a place to unwind after exploring La Fortuna.

Because we'd already spent several days enjoying waterfalls, rainforest and volcanoes, the slower pace of Planet Hollywood Costa Rica suited us perfectly. If we'd gone straight there for a two-week resort holiday, I might have missed some of the additional facilities available in Cancun. As the relaxing beach portion of a wider Costa Rica itinerary, though, it was exactly what we were looking for.

Final Verdict: Is Planet Hollywood Costa Rica Worth It?

Yes. If you want a family-friendly all-inclusive resort where everything is easy, comfortable and designed to help you relax, Planet Hollywood Costa Rica does that extremely well. For us, it was the perfect contrast to La Fortuna and a fantastic way to finish our Costa Rica family holiday.

Would we stay again? Absolutely. In fact, if we returned to Costa Rica tomorrow, we'd probably repeat exactly the same formula: La Fortuna first, Planet Hollywood second.

Looking to book? You can compare the latest Planet Hollywood Costa Rica prices, room options and travel dates here.

FAQs: Planet Hollywood Costa Rica

Is Planet Hollywood Costa Rica good for families?

Yes. We found Planet Hollywood Costa Rica worked particularly well for families with school-aged children thanks to the pools, kids' club, all-inclusive dining and relaxed atmosphere. It was the perfect way to unwind after the more adventurous part of our Costa Rica trip in La Fortuna.

Is Star Class worth it at Planet Hollywood Costa Rica?

For our family, yes. The quieter Star Class pool, upgraded breakfast experience and help with restaurant bookings made the stay feel much more relaxing. However, if you're only staying a few nights or plan to spend most of your time outside the resort, you may not get enough value from the additional cost.

We also cover how this impacted our overall budget in How Much Does Costa Rica Cost for a Family? Our Real 10-Day Budget Breakdown.

How many nights should you stay at Planet Hollywood Costa Rica?

We stayed for seven nights and enjoyed it, but for most families I'd recommend 5–7 nights as part of a wider Costa Rica itinerary. Combining Planet Hollywood with a few days in La Fortuna gives you the best balance of adventure and relaxation.

See 10-Day Costa Rica Family Itinerary: Jungle, Volcanoes & Beaches for the route we followed.

Is Planet Hollywood Costa Rica better than Planet Hollywood Cancun?

They are quite different. We felt Cancun had more facilities, including the FlowRider and larger water attractions, while Costa Rica felt more relaxed and scenic. As part of a Costa Rica holiday, we actually preferred the slower pace and wildlife around the resort, especially after spending time exploring La Fortuna.

What else should I look at before booking Planet Hollywood Costa Rica?

If you're still deciding whether Planet Hollywood is the right fit, I'd recommend comparing it with other beach resorts and locations before booking.

Where to Stay on the Beach in Costa Rica with Kids: Best Family-Friendly Areas looks at the main beach destinations, resort styles and family-friendly hotel options we considered during our trip.

plan your TRIP TO costa rica

If you’re planning your family trip to La Fortuna, these guides will help you pull everything together:

About Plan Family Escapes

We’re a UK-based family sharing real, experience-led travel guides based on trips we’ve taken with our school-age son Joshua across destinations like Lapland, Turkey and India.

Everything we share is based on what we’ve personally experienced — with honest advice on what actually works when travelling with kids, focusing on making family travel easier, more comfortable and genuinely enjoyable.