We need a hotel room in San Jose on our first night and last night of our trip- coming from and going to the airport. We're just hoping for a quiet place to sleep until morning that's close to a good restaurant. Any recommendations?

How about hotels WITH a good restaurant?

The Hotel Buena Vista has been the quietest hotel we've spent the night in during our trips to CR. 15 to 20 minutes easy drive to the Airport and a decent restaurant in house.

The Orquideas Inn also in Alajuela, 15 to 20 minutes from the airport has an even nicer restaurant though not as quite as Buena Vista or as easy to find. Recommend the deluxe rooms for a much better restful sleep.

Corteza Amarilla is lovely and has delicious food with a beautiful garden patio. 15 min. from the airport.

Sandy

Love Las Orquideas, but wish it were closer to the airport! Hotel Villa Bonita (www.hotelvillabonita.com) is 5 minutes away. Great little B&B ($50) with a wonderful breakfast and a delightful young Tico couple as hosts/owners. JUST down the street a block or two is a GREAT Peruvian restaurant with excellent seabass (corvina) and the best ceviche ever! Inti Raymi is the name of it. . .

Good food at Orquideas too, and a fun little bar, the Marilyn Monroe bar.

By the way, FYI, you won't be in San Jose unless you intentionally take a taxi into town (about 15 min). The airport is in the city of Alajuela, west of San Jose. It's a little misleading!

Sure wish I could get all my thoughts together in the same post! Sorry. . .

I was just thinking, did you PLAN to stay the night in San Jose? Some do. We used to, until we had been there, done that, and decided it was now much simpler to just stay in Alajuela!

But, if you ARE planning to actually be in the city, give the Hotel Don Carlos a try--excellent value, super location to all the main sightseeing areas (there aren't that many, but the few are very good). Another fabulous hotel is a little less "city center" and closer to the west side of town is the Gran de Oro. It has a top notch reputation.

We're arriving by plane in San Jose, staying in a hotel for the night, and then taking a bus to Chirripo in the morning. So we can stay wherever- in San Jose or not. As long as we can get to a bus station in the morning we're fine.

We loved Grano de Oro... great rooms, great restaurant.

Hi we stayed at the Hampton Inn and suites near the airport. We arrived late at night and they have a shuttle bus to and from airport or to the local mall. It was basic but convenient.

When we go to Costa Rica, we stay at The Dragonfly Inn both upon arrival and upon departure. Owned and run by Dawn and Michael, they're located in Alajuela and will arrange a taxi for you when you fly in.

They also take into consideration the time for your flight when you leave, will arrange a taxi for you, and will be sure you have a bite to eat before you leave.

Dawn and Michael are fabulous hosts. Their Inn is comfy, with all the comforts of home. What a perfect way to start and end your Costa Rica travels.

If you go, tell them Patty and Jeff from Reno Nevada send hugs!!

http://www.dragonflyinncr.com/index.html