Fodor's Expert Review Hotel Bougainvillea

True to its name, this modern, very comfortable three-story hotel is awash in bougainvillea on the outside and decorated with an impressive collection of Costa Rican art on the inside. With 10 acres of lawns, and mature trees laden with bromeliads and orchids, you may even forget that you're only 20 minutes from San José. Spacious, carpeted rooms have plasma TVs, laptop-size safety boxes, and coffeemakers, comfortable mattresses, fine linens, and screened windows to let in cool breezes. Upper-floor rooms have balconies. Brilliant stained-glass windows and brightly colored tropical art decorate the lobby, which also displays an oddly beautiful collection of local geodes and minerals. The large, elegant restaurant offers a menu of slightly old-fashioned Continental cuisine, including very good desserts, and the intimate bar-lounge often has piano music on weekends. With environmentally friendly practices, this hotel sets an example for sustainable tourism.