San José Travel Forum

We're going to spend a couple of days in San Jose and need an affordable place to stay. I would prefer a small hotel/B&B. Hostel would do as long as there are individual rooms as opposed to dorm style. Our max budget is $40-50 per night for two people.
Since we're not renting a car I would prefer closer to the downtown area where most of the sights are.
My travel guide recommends a place called Pension de la Cuesta. Anyone tried it?

Hi
We've stayed at the Hemmingway Hotel both times we've been in San Jose. It's an old hotel with lots of character and wonderful staff. Clean simple rooms with breakfast included . It is very close and a short walk to downtown,the Simon Bolivar Zoo, the National Theatre, souvenir shopping, banking, the central market and the infamous night life circuit. They provide a walking map at the front desk to help you locate nearby points of interest. Check out my travel pages if you want to see more information about Costa Rica . I have lots of pictures too.

It is $35-55 per night for a double room . Here's there address http://www.hemingwayinn.com/description.html

Is it downtown that you want to see or places like Britt, Poas, Doka Coffee plantation, etc. Those are accessed fairly easily from Alajuela which is near the airport. I would recommend Vida Tropical for that area. You can also easily travel to downtown San Jose from there to see the city sights. Not much to see there though. The central area by the National Theater is interesting. Great cafe at the Gran hotel across the street.

Yes, although I initially stayed at the Gran Hotel. I was happy there and have posted my review of said hotel. I haven't posted my review of Pension de la Cuesta though.

I decided to change settings as I really don't like the impersonal hotel atmosphere. I checked the web for Bed & Breakfasts around the center of the city (I still wanted to be around the Gran Hotel area), find a place that's walking distance to everything in downtown, and suitably found "Pension de la Cuesta." They have a well-maintained website and I thought to try it.

The owners were really wonderful & they're the hands-on type. They help you out with travel information/itinerary/tours and give you insight about the country. It is a nice hostel type set-up that allows you to mingle with the other visitors/tourists & guests if you're up to it. Although you find a colorful picture of the house in the website, the reality is that it is not that colorful when you see it as the the paint has chipped off and it is in need of re-painting. I went in thinking that I had booked a bedroom, but when I went in I found myself placed in a dorm-style room with proper warning (I was the only one in there though & plus, I think it was largely because I had come in very late for check-in after a long full-day excursion & check-out from the Gran Hotel). I believe they do have one bedrooms in there, but it gets quickly booked/occupied. If you're opting for a bedroom, pre-book well in advance & confirm with them before & as soon as you arrive in town. They are pretty good about e-mail responses. Other than this, the location is perfect as you are right there in the middle of all the action. The service, the price, location, warm and personalized services cannot be beat. Goodluck & enjoy beautiful Costa Rica!

I have finally done a write-up of my experience at Pension de la Cuesta. It's in my San Jose page "hotels/accommodations" section, if you wish to take a look at the review. Goodluck!

My wife and I have stayed several times at La Amistad Hotel Inn which is smack-dab in one of the most historic (colonial) central parts of San Jose (Barrio Aman). This area of central San Jose is very safe and quiet (http/hotelamistad.com) [info@hotelamistad.com]. La Amistad is quite historic in its own right and has a staff to welcome people from all over the world. The term "welcome" definitely applies -- from Owner, Matt Kinkelaar to the ladies preparing a delicious breakfast. English is spoken with clarity and with an attitude to genuinely help tourists and/or business people. The room accomodations (some semi apartments with kitchenettes) are newly furnished with good phone service, cable TV, computer room, and individual, well fitted bathrooms. Even the goldfish in the fountain are friendly (one is expecting since April 30). We paid $58.00 per night and would never think about staying at La Cuesta or any other hotel/B@B in San Jose. One great asset is La Amistad's location within several blocks of the well known Cafe Mundo. La Amistad can fix you up with a rent-car at competative rates. My next trip there will be in July.
Cy Bolinger