sandyc

I just came back from a wonderful trip, and I stayed at a brand-new hotel 15 min. from the airport in San Jose. It's called Corteza Amarilla, http://cortezaamarillalodge.com and it's really lovely. I was the 4th guest, as they had just opened last week. The owner, Jorge, grew up in the main house and he's been dreaming of opening the hotel for 30 years. He does glasswork as a hobby and personally made each dining table, lamp, and glass bathroom countertop in the hotel. It's really charming -- small and intimate with lots of nooks and crannies for sitting around drinking coffee. Beautiful gardens, large rooms, and the showers are really cool. The floor is made from some type of pumice and feels really good on your feet. There are rooms inside the main building, but I preferred the ones outside. There's also a yoga room, spa, & jacuzzi, and the food is delicious. It's a family-run hotel and they were very nice. I'll definitely go back. It's not the cheapest, but they put a lot of work and special details into the place. It's very comfortable and charming. I have a lot of photos if anyone wants to see them.

Sandy

raderbarbarian

From the website, this looks like a spectacular place. Of course, websites can lie. And the prices listed are above-the-roof unless it really is spectacular.

The problem I see is just WHERE is this place? When a website appears to go out of its way to avoid telling me where it is located - other than "located only 12 minutes away from the capital and 15 minutes from the international airport" - alarm bells go off. Some of the WORST areas of San Jose are "located only 12 minutes away from the capital and 15 minutes from the international airport."

So where are ya, pray tell?

sandyc

I felt very safe there. It's 15 minutes away from the city -- there wasn't anything else around expect the office complex of Swiss Travel. There's a gate w/ a guard and it's a quiet area. There's nothing around, so you can't walk out and run to the convenience store, but it's definitely a nice little oasis.

Sandy

dfarmer

Thanks Sandy for the review of this hotel. Always good to know of unique and comfortable choices with convenient access to the airport.

From the pictures, this hotel looks to be in the surrounding countryside of SJ? Could you tell us, which direction? I am assuming probably north or west of the city?

As for the price - it is a bit under the price of some of the most recommmended hotels from travelers on this forum. I have added to my list of choices.

raderbarbarian

Okay, I'll try again. Maybe this will work. WHERE is Swiss Travel, the place that this hotel is next to? I believe Swiss Travel is in Santa Ana, which is the district to the west of Escazu?

The point I am trying to make is that when a website tells EVERYTHING you could possible want to know about a place EXCEPT where it is located, then it is reason to wonder why not? If this place is in Santa Ana, there is nothing wrong with that. Santa Ana IS out of the way and not particularly convenient to other areas, but it is not a bad place at all. Nice community. I have friends living there. Perfectly acceptable.

So why the "mystery location", I still wonder.

sandyc

I'm really terrible w/ directions so I can't tell you east/south/west of the airport. Like dfarmer said, I'd say it's in the surrounding countyside. Swiss Travel and the Corteza hotel are officially in San Jose -- not St. Ana -- and there wasn't much else right there, but we went to Chancay in Escazu from there (good restaurant by the way -- Peruvian, lots of seafood) and it took about 10 min. to get there. Hope this helps place it for you.
Sandy

dfarmer

Thanks Sandy, this sounds to be in the general direction of the Vista del Valle Plantation Inn, which I much enjoyed. Sitting outside of SJ, on a hillside, overlooking a riverbed and distant lights of the city. VdV is just 25 mins from SJO.

Sounds to be maybe west to southwest of SJ. No problem not knowing your directions. I just wanted to know in general which way it was situated. In this direction it would probably be a good location for those traveling onto or from the Pacific Coastal regions.

Will keep it in mid for future trips.

I personally love small hotels, with special personal touches, this sound lovely. Thanks again for the detail.

dfarmer

Well - that should read "keep in mind (not mid)" Need to proof read more often!

sandyc

I'm bringing this up again because I see that they now have a map on the website and there was some question about it before. It's a really great hotel when you want to be near the airport.

Sandy