Melissa,
Anytime you stay at a hotel convenient to the museum and other popular tourist sights, including El Pueblo, you are talking about Barrio Amon which tends to be in a rather noisy part of town--nights included. Don Carlos and Santo Tomas are both in this very convenient area.

Aw, shillmac, you're so nice. I've only asked about 20 different questions about San Jose hotels but you patiently answer them all!

You see how much progress I've made? I've narrowed down the first hotel to Don Carlos, Grano de Oro, Le Bergerac, Santo Tomas, Orquideas...oops, should have added Hotel Bougainvillea too. (in or near San Jose.)

Which one gets your vote for the "MOST FUN"?

Most fun for me was Orquideas. The Marilyn Monroe bar is a great place to meet people and talk about travel and other things. It's not big and fancy just comfortable. I was traveling alone at that time and had lots of invitations to join people for meals. Met people from all over. Disadvantage here is, you don't have anyplace to get out and walk around. The grounds are nice enough but other than that you are stuck unless you actually get in a car or taxi and go somewhere. There is a pool and the birds are fun to look at.

The Amon district is the best for getting out and walking around looking at things during the day. I have been there about 4 times at various hotels and still enjoy it.

Melissa, as much as we loved Grano de Oro I probably couldn't call it 'fun', especially from a young adult's perspective. It is walking distance from the art museum, Gold museum, the Mercado Central (10-20 minute walk, that is). GdO has two rooftop jacuzzis, nothing in the way of grounds, a wonderful restaurant, and an old world charm and elegance that brought us back for our last night. I'm also not fully informed since we didn't look for night spots that might appeal to your son and daughters...

Hi Melissa!

Just sent you an e-mail---forgot to say "congratulations"!

You aren't going to go wrong with any of these hotels--they are all good places, but for different reasons. There isn't a "best". Whichever you choose, you'll enjoy for what it is. While Orquideas is fun (your kids would enjoy visiting with Alfonso at the bar--he speaks excellent English and loves American music, you and your husband would enjoy getting to know Edwin, who is so funny in a very dry way), Grano de Oro would probably be the pick for a classy place, and Don Carlos and Santo Tomas for convenience to downtown San Jose. Bergerac is further east (Los Yoses?)--can't comment on it, don't know the area. I've heard it is a nice hotel. I think I would rule it out first thing, however, since you are wanting fairly close proximity back to the airport and it is the furthest away. Also, it will take you almost as much time to get to the airport from Orquideas as from the west side of San Jose logistically. Almost.

Is any of this helping?

Thanks everybody for putting up with me. I'm having the most fun being indecisive though it's keeping me up too late at night.

Shillmac, I was going to eliminate Le Bergerac when I realized that it was the closest hotel to the San Pedro district where lots of students hang out, and according to the Lonely Planet guidebook, it would be safer to hang out there for some music and dancing and visiting bars and cafes than it would be hanging out downtown... (Plus my "kids" are age 18 to 23...)

One thing that's really confusing is figuring out how you head out of San Jose to get to Arenal. I thought I would consider that in my hotel decision, but so far I've seen 3 sets of directions, one saying head west out of san Jose, another saying head north out of San Jose, and yet another saying head northeast out of San Jose!?! Does San Jose have schizophrenic roads?!

I know that from hotels Santo Tomas and Don Carlos you can walk to interesting things very close by...What about near the other hotels? Anybody know if there are interesting places to walk to very close to the hotel? (I know we can take taxis and definitely will at night anyway. But we'll have 1 full day in San Jose.)

Basically when we leave San Jose I want to hear everyone saying, that was really fun. I'm trying to keep that in mind as my top priority.

When you leave town, you'll want to rely on the directions you get at the hotel desk. Because there is so much to see and do in the large area north of San Jose (and all the roads are connected some how or another it seems), you could make your way to Arenal using any of those directions. Quickest way would still be to go west out of town to the Interamerican and up through San Ramon.

You're right. There is always stuff going on in the San Pedro area. Bergerac might be a very good option given the ages of your kids. Oh gee. . .

Shillmac, thanks for the "directions" to Arenal.

Chuckle, chuckle...yeah, guess we have to leave Le Bergerac on the list!

But I made one commitment...we're staying at the Lost Iguana in Arenal and I'm looking forward to it.

To Melissa5: In San Ramon, I met the greatest couple who blend Cuban with Costa Rican tobacco...they have a cigar shop on the main drag going thru town on the left on the way to Arenal. I went in to ask for directions but also ended up getting instructions on the fine art of making/rolling/smoking a fine cigar. I don't smoke but this was quite the experience. And having these wonderful people invite me in was such a joy that I will never forget. They have pictures posted on the wall of all the people they have 'taught'. Now this was fun!

joeschmo, you never know where the next adventure lies...

I've made a decision (miracle?!) Muchas gracias everyone for helping me decide. (For some reason my folder on San Jose hotels is fatter than any of the others...)

We'll be staying at Hotel Grano de Oro when we fly into San Jose. There are many recommendations from guests at this hotel (including many of you!). I have received several prompt and very helpful replies to my e-mails to this hotel, and that is a big help.

Melissa, I think you'll be more than pleased with the hotel aspect; let us know how the 'fun' works out!

-Jeff

Melissa,
I think you will be pleased with The Grano de Oro. No, there is no perfect hotel for everything. When will you get the car? Sure you won't be driving at the time your plane arrives at night to this hotel. Maybe pick it up the next day or have it delivered to you. I would not want to drive into San Jose at the time you are arriving.
Off to Rome in a few hours with your helpful suggestions.