During my most recent visit to Costa Rica, I was a guest for two nights at Rincon de San Jose, a small, centrally located budget hotel in the city center. Here’s a review of my experience.
THE STYLE: Set among three different buildings that are connected via courtyards and common lounge areas, Rincon de San Jose is a reliable budget travel choice, with utilitarian style accented by original artwork and a lovely central garden, which has a restaurant.
THE GUEST ROOM: I stayed in room 41, a second-floor guest room with a double bed. The room has a small television, writing desk, and small closet. The bathroom has a shower, with wall-mounted soap for both the sink and shower (you’ll need to bring any other amenities you might need). The room has a ceiling fan and no air conditioning, but cool evening temperatures made it comfortable enough to sleep. This Costa Rica hotel offers a variety of room set-ups, including rooms with three single beds and rooms with one double bed and one single bed, making Rincon de San Jose a potentially good option for groups of friends traveling together.
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HOTEL FEATURES: The hotel’s most attractive feature is the small central garden area, which has seating and also a restaurant that serves breakfast (free for some hotel guests; verify at the time of your reservation), as well as lunch and dinner for the general public. The hotel’s WiFi is free and usable in the public areas, but wasn’t reliable in my guest room, so the outdoor garden seating area served well as my very pleasant workspace. There is also a lounge area with a table and chairs, and a second-floor roof deck.
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The hotel’s best selling point, in addition to the budget-friendly prices, is the location. It’s located in the heart of Barrio Amon, a tourism-friendly neighborhood in the city center that’s dotted with lovely architecture, some good restaurants (including Cafe Mundo, which is just across the street) and a variety of art galleries. It’s also within a 10-minute walk to the bustling downtown shopping district, the city’s historic theater, city parks and other tourist attractions, including the brand-new home of the Museo de Jade, the jade museum.
BEST FOR: Budget-minded travelers looking for a central location in downtown San Jose.
RATES: $49 and up (May and June have the lowest prices, according to the hotel Website). The hotel also offers adventure travel packages, rafting packages and cycling packages.
INFO & RESERVATIONS: http://hotelrincondesanjose.com