Doubletree Cariari By Hilton San Jose

Walking into the room felt like stepping back into the 1970s—and not in a nostalgic or charming way. The décor was sparse, mismatched, and showed its age, making the room feel tired and overdue for a refresh. It looked as though very little had been updated over the years, which was disappointing. That said, there were a few bright spots. The bed was comfortable and made for a good night's sleep, check-in was quick and hassle-free, and the complimentary breakfast was a pleasant surprise with a good selection of options. Overall, while the staff and amenities made the stay perfectly manageable, the guest rooms are in need of a significant renovation to match modern expectations.

We stayed at this hotel when arriving late at night to the San Jose airport and the night before we left the country. This hotel was excellent. The staff is professional and helpful. We had two rooms with balconies overlooking the large pool. The rooms are spacious and very clean. There is an extenive breakfast buffet with a good variety of food and it was actually one of our favorite breakfast buffets on the trip. There is a convenient free airport shuttle. The hotel has a small executive lounge with evening beverages and appetizers, a few breakfast offerings and sodas and snacks thru the day, this is a nice bonus for those with access. There is a small casino, gift shop, bar and restaurant. The lobby area is welcoming and has several areas to relax. I would stay at this hotel again.

We stayed here twice in April, at the beginning and end of our tour of Costa Rica. It is very convenient to the airport (less than 15 minutes), and its long, low architecture is appealing. Both times we had spacious rooms, with big comfortable beds and a good bathroom. The second time we had a room with two sinks, one inside and one outside the bathroom. Helpful. There’s a safe in the room, and nothing is far away. We didn’t use the casino, but friends did and won $9! Over the two stays, we had breakfast (excellent buffet) lunch (okay) and dinner (a la carte from our tour operator). Nearby are some shops including a small grocery store (bought Costa Rican chocolate there as souvenirs, far cheaper than at the airport), As airport hotels go this was pretty good, but it could have been about anywhere.