Marriott's upscale JW Marriott brand has finally gone all-inclusive. The JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa is now welcoming guests in Guanacaste, on Costa Rica's northwest Pacific coast — the first property to carry the JW flag with an all-inclusive model.

Rather than starting from scratch, developers Mullen Real Estate Capital transformed the existing Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica property. The redesign leans into local character, drawing on traditional Costa Rican design and architecture inspired by the Bribri and Cabécar Indigenous peoples.

The scale is substantial: 415 rooms, plus a hotel-within-a-hotel called Griffin Club for guests who want extra privacy — it comes with butler service, a dedicated pool, private beach access and a round-the-clock lounge. Families are well covered too, with a kids club, dedicated family programming under the Family by JW banner, and a 44,000-square-foot poolscape that Marriott claims is the largest of any resort in Costa Rica.

Wellness is a big part of the pitch. The Spa by JW covers more than 9,000 square feet with treatments for adults and children alike, and the property debuts the brand's first Mindfulness House — a quiet space for reflection set beside forest and shaded by a native Guanacaste tree. There's also a modern gym and a large on-site garden.

Food-wise, you get 15 bars, restaurants and culinary experiences spanning an international buffet plus Japanese, seafood, Italian and Costa Rican venues. An on-site culinary school runs interactive sessions teaching guests to cook local dishes, and in a quirky nod to founder J.W. Marriott Sr.'s original business, the resort is opening the brand's first stand-alone root beer stand.

Beyond dining, there's a rotating schedule of activities: guided kayaking, a weekly local shopping market, and hands-on enrichment and wellness sessions for kids.

If you're weighing a winter sun trip, this matters because it adds a genuine luxury all-inclusive option to a corner of Costa Rica already known for beach resorts — and it's bookable with points, which is rare at this end of the all-inclusive market. Two caveats before you book: rates quoted are for a specific guest count, so make sure your party size is accurate when reserving, and points redemptions go quickly at new properties.

Story via The Points Guy.