Sleeping At San Jose Airport
 

We arrive at SJO after 1 am so by the time we get our bags it would be 2 am. Our flight out that morning is at 6:50 with arrival at gate of 1 hour making it 5:50 or so. My issue is by the time we check into a hotel room it will be around 3 am and by the time we fall asleep if you can (worrying about sleeping in) the max rest we will get is about 2 hours. I have read about the coffee shop being open 24 hours at the airport. Other than that is there anywhere to safely have a mental shut-down for 3 hours at SJO or should I pay the freight and find a clean hotel nearby with an all night manager?

Has anyone experienced this situation previously?

What airline is your morning flight? That makes a bit of difference in the answer.

You arrive and are shunted directly to immigration and customs, so you are no longer in the gate area. You exit and are outside. You'll need to go back upstairs to the check-in area. Yes. The coffee shop is open 24 hours. It's outside security upstairs from the check-in counters. It's open in a big balcony area, so you're not closed off from the noise. One side overlooks the check-in area; the other, the security area. Things start to get busy at airport check-in about 4 a.m. as people arrive for the wave of outgoing international flights. Until then, it should be reasonably quiet.

Hi Jeff,
I am flying Sansa the next morning. I understand I won't get a "Beauty Rest" sleep after 16 hours of transit but that is what ear plugs are for.

Sansa has its own separate building on the grounds, so you'll have to make your way there to check in. You can still get to the coffee shop in the main terminal to get some sleep. I think that's your only option.

Thanks Jeff,
It might be not matter any how as it looks like immigration is getting really tight and we could be looking at a very long long wait to clear customs.

You don't say when you're flying. The problems at the airport might be resolved by then. What's in your favor is that yours should be the only flight arriving at that hour. The big wave of evening arrivals will be well over by 1 a.m.

For anyone who doesn't know, immigration times at SJO have increased dramatically these days.