Any recommendations for a decent hotel (not too expensive) in San Jose, preferably in a nicer area. Never been and only interested in seeing suggested areas, as there is only one night there.

Thank you!

Cassidy,
In Barrio Amon there are several very nice and reasonable hotels. This is an area within close walking distance of the most popular sights in the city--Teatro Nacional, Museo de Oro, Jade Museum, Plaza de la Cultura, Avenida Central and the pedestrian mall, mercado central (about 4 blocks down the pedestrian mall west), and a couple of parks. For evening, it is a $2.50 taxi ride to nearby El Pueblo, a "mall" of restaurants, bars, clubs, and artisan shops.

We personally enjoy staying at the Hotel Don Carlos--breakfast is good and included, staff is excellent, rooms quite nice, about $65 green season, but we have heard good things about the Hotel Tomas Santo, Hotel Dunn, and a few others. Also nearby is the Aurola Holiday Inn (one of the few high rises in the area), and the Amon Plaza Hotel--closer to $100. This is one of the nicer areas, but it is advisable to take a taxi at night, much as you would anywhere else.

One of the most highly recommended hotels in Costa Rica is the Grano de Oro (hope I got that right), but it is located a little further away from this primary area of interest for visitors and comes with a higher price tag. Many people detest San Jose (it isn't one of the prettier large cities in Central America), but it does have some value for a day of sightseeing, museum going, and evening entertainment.

Thank you so much for your very informative response!

Prices at Hotel Don Carlos are going up in No. Also there is a 16.39% tax added. Our superior room for March is now $93.

We spent one night at the Grano de Oro in July. A little more $, but we really liked it. They have a wonderful restaurant and great drinks! A short cab ride to the "sights". (It is walkable if you don't mind walking) We would stay here again.