Hotel for early departure from SJO airport?
Aug 4th, 2008, 05:38 AM
#1
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Hotel for early departure from SJO airport?
We are driving from Manuel Antonio and looking for a hotel near the San Jose aiport. We have a very early flight, and a rental car to return.
Thoughts were to return the car the day before, and find a hotel with shuttle service to/from the airport.
We are a family of four, and want some extra room such as a Junior Suite.
Was looking at the Hotel Alta, but thought there maybe something closer. Suggestions?
Thoughts were to return the car the day before, and find a hotel with shuttle service to/from the airport.
We are a family of four, and want some extra room such as a Junior Suite.
Was looking at the Hotel Alta, but thought there maybe something closer. Suggestions?
Aug 4th, 2008, 10:05 AM
#2
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You will see numerous recommendations on the board for the Orquideas Inn. There is a transportation company based in their lobby, and they can take you to the airport in the morning. This service costs $10.00, plus gratuity. You can set it up when you make your hotel reservation.
They also have a very good restaurant. So you won't have to wonder around looking for dinner, especially since you will not have a car.
We send guests to this hotel frequently, and stay here ourselves.
Hope this helps! Let me know if I can offer more advice.
Warm Regards,
Pat Hewitt
(Travel professional)
They also have a very good restaurant. So you won't have to wonder around looking for dinner, especially since you will not have a car.
We send guests to this hotel frequently, and stay here ourselves.
Hope this helps! Let me know if I can offer more advice.
Warm Regards,
Pat Hewitt
(Travel professional)
Aug 4th, 2008, 01:28 PM
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Stayed recently at the Hotel Alta
big suites very impressive booked
for $100 on expedia.com.Escazu is
pretty close to the airport.Defintely
your best luxury value hotel for me.
A little closer is
www.adventure-inn
Ciduad Cariari Los Arcos big clean suitesfree everything internet complimentary cab fare to airport about 2k away between San Jose and SJO.
Sadly tried to stay at the Orchideas
Inn 2 weeks ago they seem to have gone downhill.It is on the other side of SJO from where you are on the outskirts of Alajuela.Inspected 2 rooms both were dirty mouldy and the A/C did not work very shabbily furnished defintely not in the same class as the Alta.So as to say something positive the pool looked nice as I was leaving.
I then elected to stay at the Adventure Inn my last night enjoyed
my free cab to the airport had a wonderful time at excellent value.
For me Alta or Adventure Inn
Hope this helps
big suites very impressive booked
for $100 on expedia.com.Escazu is
pretty close to the airport.Defintely
your best luxury value hotel for me.
A little closer is
www.adventure-inn
Ciduad Cariari Los Arcos big clean suitesfree everything internet complimentary cab fare to airport about 2k away between San Jose and SJO.
Sadly tried to stay at the Orchideas
Inn 2 weeks ago they seem to have gone downhill.It is on the other side of SJO from where you are on the outskirts of Alajuela.Inspected 2 rooms both were dirty mouldy and the A/C did not work very shabbily furnished defintely not in the same class as the Alta.So as to say something positive the pool looked nice as I was leaving.
I then elected to stay at the Adventure Inn my last night enjoyed
my free cab to the airport had a wonderful time at excellent value.
For me Alta or Adventure Inn
Hope this helps
Aug 4th, 2008, 01:29 PM
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Aug 4th, 2008, 01:30 PM
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Aug 4th, 2008, 04:47 PM
#7
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Thanks for all your responses! I was considering the Alta Hotel, but wasn't sure how close they were to the airport. I did contact them,and they do offer complimentary transportation to the airport.
How much time should we plan to get through customs and security at SJO?
How much time should we plan to get through customs and security at SJO?
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Aug 4th, 2008, 05:22 PM
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We really liked Hotel Villa Bonita. It's a B & B really close to the airport and the owners are the nicest people ever. They don't have suites but you get the run of the living room so you still feel like you can spread out. It's not fancy, but it's nice, especially for the price. And you get to see the inside of a Costa Rican house!
Aug 5th, 2008, 04:31 AM
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I will 4th Orchideas, stayed there twice, daughter once - all were enjoyable stays.
To gwovadis - I am confused by your post. Orchideas Inn is in Alajuela on the road to Doka, Poas & La Paz, just about 10 mins to SJO. Perhaps you are writing of another? I do recall traveling through SJ on our way to the Orosi Valley and passing by a place with the same name.
Faye the Villa Bonita always gets good reviews here and if all else fails there is a Hampton across the highway from SJO.
To gwovadis - I am confused by your post. Orchideas Inn is in Alajuela on the road to Doka, Poas & La Paz, just about 10 mins to SJO. Perhaps you are writing of another? I do recall traveling through SJ on our way to the Orosi Valley and passing by a place with the same name.
Faye the Villa Bonita always gets good reviews here and if all else fails there is a Hampton across the highway from SJO.
Aug 5th, 2008, 10:02 AM
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Another vote for Orquideas Inn. We stayed there two nights (first and last of a two week trip) and thought it was great. Food is very good, staff friendly and accommodating, rooms comfortable, and it is very convenient to the airport.
Aug 8th, 2008, 10:19 AM
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Hotel Villa Bonita is very small and charming/homey, while Orchideas is more of a B&B with landscaped gardens and great pool and bar/food. I would choose to stay there on a last night.
I wasn't impressed with Adventure Inn. Stayed there in March this year and it was pretty basic.
I wasn't impressed with Adventure Inn. Stayed there in March this year and it was pretty basic.
Aug 8th, 2008, 11:26 AM
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We stayed at Grano de Oro and really loved it; it's built in an old mansion and has a great restaurant on site. It was about 15 minutes from the airport, and we had them arrange transportation for us. It has a nice rooftop garden with hot tubs on the roof. Great service too.
Aug 9th, 2008, 07:06 AM
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Hampton Inn and Garden Court are about as close to the airport as you would want to be. These hotels have the advantage of being within sight and walking distance of the car rental agencies. There is also a casino next door to a Denny’s. There is a 24-hour free shuttle to the airport and free breakfast at the Hampton Inn. There is little at either one to remind you of Costa Rica, but this has never bothered us since we arrive well after dark and are out of town or in the SJO departure lounge by 9:30am.
It's also nice to be able to get your rental car as close as possible to the source in case they do not supply you with what you thought you were getting.
The Hampton Inn is not cheap, but the hotel next door is a bit cheaper. I think you pay a little more for the convenience. Both hotels do a brisk business serving travelers with late arrivals and early departures.
Since the neither the Hampton Inn, the Garden Court next door to it (nor the Denny's across the way) have much of a following here, I occasionally feel like it is fair to mention it. It may not be your thing, but then it might be just what you were asking about. I posted this information here, in response to a question, on June 30, and it’s gone already. I am not associated with either hotel except as a customer. And I promise to stay at Orquideas some day.
It's also nice to be able to get your rental car as close as possible to the source in case they do not supply you with what you thought you were getting.
The Hampton Inn is not cheap, but the hotel next door is a bit cheaper. I think you pay a little more for the convenience. Both hotels do a brisk business serving travelers with late arrivals and early departures.
Since the neither the Hampton Inn, the Garden Court next door to it (nor the Denny's across the way) have much of a following here, I occasionally feel like it is fair to mention it. It may not be your thing, but then it might be just what you were asking about. I posted this information here, in response to a question, on June 30, and it’s gone already. I am not associated with either hotel except as a customer. And I promise to stay at Orquideas some day.
Aug 10th, 2008, 02:07 PM
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reponding to question from dfarmer.
www.orquideasinn.com where my negative experience occured was shown 2 smallish dark mouldy no view rooms with dysfunctional A/C.Chose to stay elsewhere.Not unique according to reviews on TA.To be fair might be some nice rooms too just did not see them.
Faye will becoming up from MA so my point was that Escazu the Alta Hotel
or Los Arcos Adventure Inn both top
rated on TA might be better for her
since both are between San Jose and
SJO and have free SJO transport.To go to OI she would have to go PAST
SJO and pay for a cab ride back.
www.orquideasinn.com where my negative experience occured was shown 2 smallish dark mouldy no view rooms with dysfunctional A/C.Chose to stay elsewhere.Not unique according to reviews on TA.To be fair might be some nice rooms too just did not see them.
Faye will becoming up from MA so my point was that Escazu the Alta Hotel
or Los Arcos Adventure Inn both top
rated on TA might be better for her
since both are between San Jose and
SJO and have free SJO transport.To go to OI she would have to go PAST
SJO and pay for a cab ride back.
Aug 19th, 2008, 07:46 AM
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Thanks gwovadis,
In fact, we will be staying at Hotel Alta for the same reasons you mentioned. But, we may still need to back track. I am finding car rental companies that aren't open early (approx 5-6AM), so we may need to return the car the day before our flight. If so, Hotel Alta does have a free shuttle to the airport.
For all you Orquideas fans, we will be staying there a couple of nights, prior to driving down to MA.
We will be doing the Pacuare rafting trip, with an early morning pick up at Orquideas Inn. A bit nervous about rafting, since I have no prior experience.
In fact, we will be staying at Hotel Alta for the same reasons you mentioned. But, we may still need to back track. I am finding car rental companies that aren't open early (approx 5-6AM), so we may need to return the car the day before our flight. If so, Hotel Alta does have a free shuttle to the airport.
For all you Orquideas fans, we will be staying there a couple of nights, prior to driving down to MA.
We will be doing the Pacuare rafting trip, with an early morning pick up at Orquideas Inn. A bit nervous about rafting, since I have no prior experience.
Aug 19th, 2008, 03:54 PM
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Now I'M confused--LOL! Perhaps I read something wrong. Orquideas is BETWEEN Manuel Antonio and the airport--very much on the way. Would Hotel Alta not be past the airport to the east (in Escazu) and require backtracking? Not that it matters, I'm sure it is an excellent choice.
We always recommend Hotel Villa Bonita because it is a good price and the owners are very kind and generous young Ticos. We have always appreciated staying away from the larger chains and interacting with the owners more. Just seems to add a small extra dimension to our vacation time.
Orquideas is also a great choice. Tiny bit more $$ ($60-$90, haven't checked lately?), a little further from the airport, transfer a little more costly, but the Marilyn Monroe bar and the food in the restaurant (or at the bar) are nice at the end of a long day.
Taxi from Hotel Villa Bonita to the airport is about 1000 colones ($2 US). Rooms about $50. We like it that #1 has a bathtub!
Also Wi-Fi and free internet as well as laundry facilities. Not sure if Orquideas offers either.
We always recommend Hotel Villa Bonita because it is a good price and the owners are very kind and generous young Ticos. We have always appreciated staying away from the larger chains and interacting with the owners more. Just seems to add a small extra dimension to our vacation time.
Orquideas is also a great choice. Tiny bit more $$ ($60-$90, haven't checked lately?), a little further from the airport, transfer a little more costly, but the Marilyn Monroe bar and the food in the restaurant (or at the bar) are nice at the end of a long day.
Taxi from Hotel Villa Bonita to the airport is about 1000 colones ($2 US). Rooms about $50. We like it that #1 has a bathtub!
Also Wi-Fi and free internet as well as laundry facilities. Not sure if Orquideas offers either.
Aug 19th, 2008, 03:59 PM
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No you're right shillmac, it would be further to go to Alta. To the OP, I would utilize the shuttle at Alta as the traffic in/out of the Escazu area can be really bad in the morning (and late afternoons).
