During my recent visit to Costa Rica to cover Expotur, the nation’s annual tourism convention, I was invited to stay several nights at the Aloft San Jose, which is part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ value-priced Aloft Hotels brand. Here is a review of my experience.
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THE STYLE: This 150-room Costa Rica hotel, located in an upscale neighborhood just outside of San Jose, Costa Rica, features the signature Aloft style — a contemporary mix of dark and bright colors, with industrial chic touches and an overall casual but stylish ambiance. I found the style, amenities and vibe very consistent with what I experienced during my earlier stay at the Aloft Cancun hotel, the first Aloft property in Mexico.
THE GUEST ROOM: I stayed in room 621, a rather large room with two queen-size beds and lots of natural light. I especially like the large work desk, which has multiple outlets at desk level. Free bottles of water were provided daily, and the coffee maker was supplied with Britt, a popular brand of Costa Rican coffee. I’m also a fan of the cute retro alarm clock on the nightstand. Rooms also have safe-deposit boxes, large TV screens, iron and ironing board, and bath amenities including hand soap and lotion (shower soap and shampoo is dispensed from a unit on the wall in the shower). WiFi is free in the guest rooms and the public areas.
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in the Heart of San Jose
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HOTEL FEATURES: One of my favorite things about Aloft Hotels is the lobby design — it’s stylish yet casual, with splashes of color and an array of comfortable chairs and couches. It’s also very practical, with a long table equipped with power outlets that makes it easy to connect and also recharge computers and other devices. A well-placed pool table provides an additional option for socializing.
In 2013, the property added a new restaurant, which serves a breakfast buffet as well as lunch and dinner (I enjoyed tasty black bean soup and tilapia here). There is also a bar (called W XYZ, as in other Aloft Hotels) that becomes a social hub in the evening, and a convenience-style shop that sells snacks and light food 24 hours a day. Guests have free access to a decent-sized gym, and there is also a self-service laundry room, which can be convenient for travelers needing to freshen up their look. An outdoor terrace, behind the restaurant and lobby bar, provides yet another place to relax. Business travelers can make use of three meeting rooms, the largest of which measures 800 square feet, while everyone can use the free Internet printing service in the lobby to print boarding passes for their outbound flights.
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BEST FOR: The Aloft San Jose is best for business travelers and leisure travelers looking for reliable accommodations with reasonable prices in the upscale suburbs of San Jose, Costa Rica, close to shopping and corporate offices. Members of Starwood Preferred Guest can also gain or redeem points while staying here.
RATES: About $85 and up.
INFO & RESERVATIONS: www.starwoodhotels.com