Costa Rica
Central America · Costa Rica
Best Months
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Rec. Nights
7 nights
Airports
LIR (Daniel Oduber Quiros International), SJO (Juan Santamaria International)
Avg. Cash
$99 - $2,728/night
Best Value
Overview
Costa Rica fits active volcanoes, cloud forests, Pacific surf breaks, and Caribbean beaches into a single destination. The Guanacaste coast offers dry-season sunshine while the Osa Peninsula delivers raw nature experiences.
The Andaz Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo is one of the most celebrated Hyatt redemptions in the Americas. The JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort is a top-tier Marriott option.
Even the most high-end resorts pride themselves on sustainable practices — you might spot howler monkeys from your infinity pool or watch sea turtles nest near your cabana.
Cash vs Points
Hotels in Costa Rica range from $99 to $2728 per night. Points redemptions offer 2.62+ cents per point value.
Points Hotel Recommendations
13 properties in Costa Rica bookable with points, sorted by value
| Hotel | Program | Check-in | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hyatt Place San Jose/Pinares | Hyatt | 5,060 | $132 | 2.6¢ | ||
Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort, Costa Rica | Hyatt | 43,701 | $733 | 1.7¢ | ||
Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica | Hyatt | 53,414 | $884 | 1.6¢ | ||
Residence Inn by Marriott San Jose Escazu | Marriott | 21,000 | $218 | 1.0¢ | May 23 | |
Four Points by Sheraton San Jose Costa Rica | Marriott | 14,000 | $139 | 1.0¢ | May 23 | |
Courtyard by Marriott San Jose Escazu | Marriott | 14,400 | $128 | 0.9¢ | May 23 | |
Wyndham Garden San Jose Escazu | Wyndham | 15,000 | $131 | 0.9¢ | May 23 | |
Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique | Hilton | 120,000 | $986 | 0.8¢ | May 23 | |
Wyndham San Jose Herradura Hotel & Convention Center | Wyndham | 15,000 | $97 | 0.7¢ | May 23 | |
Los Altos Resort, an SLH Hotel | Hilton | 140,000 | $789 | 0.6¢ | May 23 | |
Holiday Inn San Jose La Sabana | IHG | 31,000 | $162 | 0.5¢ | May 23 | |
Crowne Plaza San Jose La Sabana | IHG | 40,000 | $192 | 0.5¢ | May 23 | |
Hilton Garden Inn Guanacaste Airport | Hilton | 35,000 | $151 | 0.4¢ | May 23 |
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Transfer Points Strategy
Find the best transfer path for your credit card points
If you have Points:
Hyatt Place San Jose/Pinares
If you have Marriott Bonvoy Points:
Residence Inn by Marriott San Jose Escazu
If you have Points:
Wyndham Garden San Jose Escazu
If you have Hilton Honors Points:
Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique
If you have IHG One Rewards Points:
Holiday Inn San Jose La Sabana
How to Earn Points for This Trip
The best hotels in Costa Rica use World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Wyndham Rewards, Hilton Honors, and IHG One Rewards points. Here’s how to earn them:
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
IHG
$99
Annual Fee
140,000 IHG One Rewards points — transfers earns IHG One Rewards points directly
- 140K bonus points — enough for 3-5 free nights at many IHG properties
- Earn 26x total at IHG properties and 5x on travel, dining, and gas
- 4th night free on IHG award stays (saves 25% on 4-night bookings)
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Hilton
$150
Annual Fee
130,000 Hilton Honors points — transfers earns Hilton Honors points directly
- Automatic Hilton Honors Gold status
- Earn 12x at Hilton properties, 6x at restaurants and supermarkets
- Free weekend night reward after $15K in calendar year spending
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Hilton
$550
Annual Fee
175,000 Hilton Honors points — transfers earns Hilton Honors points directly
- Automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status (top tier)
- Earn 14x at Hilton properties, 7x on travel and dining
- Free weekend night reward annually + one after $60K spend
Bilt Mastercard®
Bilt
$0
Annual Fee
earns World of Hyatt points directly, earns Marriott Bonvoy points directly — only card that earns points on rent — transfers 1:1 to all major hotels
- Earn 1x points on rent with no transaction fees (up to 100,000 pts/yr)
- Earn 3x on dining and 2x on travel
- Transfer 1:1 to Hyatt, Marriott, IHG, and Hilton
Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Chase UR
$95
Annual Fee
75,000 Ultimate Rewards points — transfers earns World of Hyatt points directly, earns Marriott Bonvoy points directly
- Earn 5x on travel through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3x on dining, select streaming, and online groceries
- 1:1 transfer to Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Hyatt
$95
Annual Fee
60,000 Hyatt points + free night (Cat 1-4) — transfers earns World of Hyatt points directly
- Earn 4x at Hyatt hotels and 2x on dining, travel, and gym memberships
- Free night certificate annually (Cat 1-4) worth up to $300+
- Automatic Discoverist elite status
Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn a commission when you apply through our links. This does not affect our recommendations or the price you pay. We independently evaluate every card based on transfer value and earning potential.
Travel Tips
Best Time to Visit
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Getting There
LIR (Daniel Oduber Quiros International), SJO (Juan Santamaria International)
Visa & Entry
Check your country's requirements
Budget
From $99/night
Packing Essentials
Pack for the climate
Cultural Tips
Respect local customs
Ask AI About Costa Rica
Have questions about traveling to Costa Rica with points? Our AI advisor can help you plan the perfect trip, compare hotels, and find the best value redemptions.
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