Very nice hotel. Wonderful staff from front desk to housekeeping and breakfast, all were very friendly and helpful. The breakfast buffet was great, many options to choose from and I especially liked the Cafe Britt machine with its plethora of options. My cortados were so good, I ended up purchasing from Cafe Britt when we returned home! The hotel is within close walking distance of many shops and restaurants. We stopped by the Tap House next door for a very enjoyable dinner and enjoyed the various events taking place right outside of the hotel. Just a warning, the hotel can be tricky to find if you're not familiar with the area. You can only seem to enter the parking lot from one side which means taking a right turn just past the Volvo dealership. It looks like you're pulling into a parking garage but you'll see a small sign for the hotel on your left. There is a small parking area for the hotel but if there are no open spaces, you park at the AC Marriott hotel and they'll stamp your card from the front desk so you don't have to pay.
Great location in the heart of San Jose, within walking distance from all the city’s attractions. As a Hilton member, we were recognised with a great upgrade to a nice and modern room. The daily breakfast was sumptuous with local and western options. The evening happy hour was incredible and the best selection of drinks we’ve ever been to. Would also like to thank several staff who helped us during our stay - Anthony the bellhop, and Carlos + Marcela, severs at the hotel’s restaurant. One suggestion is for the reception counter staff to be more friendly and approachable. The perception we got was they were cold and rushed.
We felt that for an upscale hostel, this place was on a whole, a great experience. My only suggestion is that the rooms need more ventilation. Our 4 person dorm room had a tiny window blocked by the beds. Putting a vent fan in the window would solve this issue. Otherwise, for what it is we loved our 2-night stay here. This was at the end of our 3 week trip and had been to many towns and places across the country, I'd say we met the most friends here and had the best time. The cafe could use more larger/common tables but we were able to meet people easily regardless. They have activities and events to encourage interaction as well as a bar and pizza oven. While these amenities are overpriced, they were convenient and similar to other hotel restaurants/cafes. We didn't feel the staff was pushy at all and if we just wanted to hang out in the cafe we weren't bothered and didn't feel forced to buy something. (and probably because of this, we usually did buy food or drinks) The location was good enough - we could walk to the central market / pedestrian mall in 10 minutes. It's walkable (during daytime) from the 7-10 bus station and the Tuasa bus to the airport. The co-working space we felt was a good value, and fantastic. High powered wifi can support video meetings and it's just across the street. Also somewhat social and a good environment to work. The staff and regular patrons were amazing and we felt that we had new friends as soon as we arrived. The place had a warm feeling that I can't quite describe, created by both the staff and the guests. We didn't want to leave.
I cannot say one bad thing about this place. First class all the way. Beautiful rooms, rain shower heads, best beds and pillows ever, great and kind beautiful staff. The guys at the front desk became very vested in us, giving us info, storing our bags, always dressed perfectly, and always carrying themselves professionally. The breakfast buffet in the morning was great! The hotel is located in a quiet part of town, yet very close to bus routes, major highways, groceries, and parks. Guests have access to the pool next door which was small and cozy. There us a small gym downstairs with a few machines and weights. And of course the small ****** around the corner. A great value!
TTessa_assetUndiscovered gem of a hotel near San Pedro.
Pros: We were looking for a place on the lower end of the price spectrum that was a one night romantic getaway for two, that I could also use my free trip coins at toward the cost of the room. Preferably including breakfast and a swimming pool with jacuzzi 😉 Not much to ask!
We booked one of the cheaper rooms on the ground floor.
Before check in we took an Uber to San Pedro mall to do some essential shopping and see a movie. Then we checked in and I relaxed in the jacuzzi under the San José night sky while my husband enjoyed a full workout in the gym/weights room. TV with cable was great for my husband who enjoyed the football while I enjoyed the hot shower and relaxed in the bed afterwards. We had an amazingly comfortable sleep and a delicious breakfast in the morning of gallo pinto, fresh tropical fruits, freshly squeezed watermelon juice and hot coffee. A generous check out time of 12pm meant we had more than enough time to get our things together and leave when it suited.
Cons: Not many cons at this price point and value. The guy at the desk was a bit weird when we asked him for a second glass for water as there was only one in the room but not a big deal. We also had to ask him for the TV remote. The towels were a bit small like a mini dress on me after my shower. But good quality (with a third extra towel for the jacuzzi) and high quality bed linen. It also is in a slightly rough looking neighborhood but this is not a problem if you travel to and from the hotel by Uber or use a hire car (which you can park privately inside the property).
Overall impression: The other photos on trip.com and similar booking sites do not do this hotel justice - it looks far better in person. It has real character since it is a restored historic hotel from an era bygone, but that is why everything is such high quality from the bed linen to the floor tiles. Everything is also in good shape and freshly painted. There a little hidden nooks around the hotel that make it very charming. The breakfast area is lovely and the jacuzzi, pool and water slide were a real highlight. We WILL be back.
Stayed here for a total of 6 days before and after a group tour. Rooms vary: I had 426 and 405. The latter had no window and felt a little claustophobic, despite its size. Lift was out of action (and I sensed this was not just a temporary issue) and, on a few occasions, room card did not work, which was inconvenient. However, on the positive side, beds were very comfortable indeed and the breakfast (Costa Rican) was excellent (and not the same each day). Breakfast staff and the evening bar staff were all very friendly and helpful.