lcontr

for our first and last days in Costa Rica, we are looking to stay at a clean/safe hotel very close to the airport. (we arrive late from USA and depart early back to the states).
Shuttle service would be nice. Any suggestions. Would like to spend less than 200.00 per night if possible.

incabod

The airport is in Alajuela 25 minutes outside San Jose. No idea why the airport is designated SJO but you want to look for hotels in Alajuela.

I have stayed at and would again
Trapp Family Country Inn - http://www.trappfam.com/
Adventure Inn - http://www.adventure-inn.com/
Buena Vista - http://www.hotelbuenavistacr.com/

There are many hotels in the area, those above come in around $100 a night.

More will be chiming in soon.
Cheers

qwovadis

www.xandari.com

www.mybeaconescazu.com

My top 2 in your price range...

The Alta Hotel Escazu from $90 best deals for me last

Expedia.com

All of the above are BEAUTIFUL and

have shuttles FREE with some rates...

Happy Travels...

qwovadis

Our newly renovated San Jose airport hotel offers free shuttle rides to and from the airport. With comfortable accommodations you have room to roam at our San Jose hotel.
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sjcca

VERY closest not much to do other than the hotel but

great deals sometimes for me bidding priceline

As a Marrott.com preferred guest if I ask kindly

they are required to upgrade you to best available

usually club floor and suites for me so join up

if you go there it is FREE.

RAC

We like the Orquideas Inn at $99/night for a room with a view and a king size bed. Good breakfast too. Shuttles are $15 I believe.

Escazu is not particularly close to the airport.

hipvirgochick

I like Orquideas as well, it's about 15 minutes from the airport. Great pool, bar, restaurant, etc.

Deb15July

Alegria B&B
Casa Bella Rita
Xandari

shillmac

Orquideas one of our favorite places. The restaurant has good food, and we enjoy the Marilyn Monroe Bar. . .so unusual. Great price! Bedding could use an upgrade. . ., but still we stay there when needed that early a.m. flight or arriving late at night.

Recently, just to give it a try, we stayed at Hotel Bougainvillea. It was awesome; we absolutely loved it. It is a little pricier and we chose it because it has extensive gardens and a very nice pool and we had time to spend an entire morning there. Staff was excellent. I think we paid about $140. Very difficult to get to; couldn't have done it without GPS. But within 15-20 minutes of airport.

Kinkazote

Qwovadis, you have given a link to the Marriott in San Jose California website. People who want to be close to SJO probably should not make online reservations using that particular website.

Additionally, the closest hotel to the airport is not the Marriott but the Holiday Inn Express, followed closely (about 30 yards) by the Hampton Inn. Both share the same free shuttle. The actual travel time to either from the customs exit to the Hotel entrance is 3 minutes if you get a green light at the entrance to their location.

lcontr

thanks to all for the wonderful input.
very helpful indeed.
booked hotel in Alajuela as suggested.

jdp867

shillmac- trying to find out how your GTG at Bosque del Cabo went in July. We are considering a 5th trip to CR (other 4 were 2004-2008) but not sure we want to rough it w/ geckos and bats. Is it so awesome as to be worth dealing with the creatures? We are also considering Los Altos de Eros and Rancho Pacifico (although RP seems pricey). Any input? thanks

volcanogirl

jdp, we've stayed there, and it's amazing. Have you checked out their video from their website and the reviews on tripadvisor? That will give you a good idea of what to expect.

Deb15July

jdp,
BDC is definitely not roughing it unless you consider lack of a hairdryer to be such! Wildlife is awesome.

RP has deals on Luxury Link at the moment (both auctions and outright purchase) for dates between now and April 2012.

http://www.luxurylink.com/fivestar/i...ancho-pacifico

hipvirgochick

jdp - I was at the GTG with others and we had a blast. It was our 2nd GTG and we're planning a 3rd for 2013. For me, part of the awesomeness ARE the creatures, so I don't consider that a negative. Several of us have been to BDC many times. I'm pretty sure Tully tops the list.

hipvirgochick

You should definitely be willing to happily deal with geckos, bats, spiders, snakes...among many other things. Just incredible wildlife there.

MFNYC

I just booked Casa Bella Rita, a small b&b) to be near the airport the night before we depart. It gets great reviews and I believe they will even pick you up from the airport.

Deb15July

You will love CBR and Rita and Steve. Steve picked us up at the airport on our return from the Osa and Rita arranged a taxi to the airport the next morning for our flight back to the US. If you pay with cash you'll get a 10% discount.

Enjoy!