Luxury hotels in San José

Hey! When I travel I love to stay at luxurious hotels - especially the kind of places that offer over the top extras and really spoil their guests with great service, nice spas, awesome restaurants and beautiful views. What more can you want? To save some time, I've put together this list of my favourite 5-star hotels and resorts in San José. I hope you will like it!

• 1 Studio Hotel Boutique San José, Costa Rica

  

  Hotel. Featuring a rooftop swimming pool, Studio Hotel offers rooms with free high-speed WiFi and views of the surrounding Central Valley. Set in the centre of Santa Ana, this eco-friendly hotel has an à la carte restaurant. Each air-conditioned room at the Studio Hotel has simple, attractive décor. All rooms have an iPod docking station, and tea and coffee making facilities. Solar panels heat the water. Guests can enjoy a buffet breakfast in the Studio’s restaurant or on the terrace. A range of international cuisine is available for dinner. The centre of San José is 12 km from the hotel, while the nearby CR-27 Próspero Fernández Motorway connects guests to Caldera and the coast within 1 hour. Forum I Business Centre is 750 metres away, and you can drive to the airport in 15 minutes. Show full description Guest review score 9.1, rooms from around $106.

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• 2 Hotel Boutique Alta Las Palomas San José, Costa Rica

  

  Hotel. Offering an outdoor pool, Hotel Alta las Palomas is located in Santa Ana, Costa Rica. Free Wi-Fi access is available and the property has a restaurant on site. The rooms here will provide you with cable TV, air conditioning and a balcony. Private bathrooms also come with a shower. The on-site restaurant is open from 06:30 to 22:00 hours. The AM PM Supermarket is just 1 km away. At Alta Hotel you will find that the friendly staff can help the guests with information about interesting sightseeing in the area, or arrange a tour. The property also has laundry services available. Tobías Bolaños International Airport can be reached in a 20-minute drive, while Poas Volcano National park is 43 km away. Show full description Guest review score 8.6, rooms from around $212.

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• 3 Hilton San Jose La Sabana San José, Costa Rica

  

  Hotel. Hilton San Jose La Sabana has a fitness centre, terrace, a restaurant and bar in San José. This 5-star hotel offers an ATM and a business centre. The accommodation offers room service, a 24-hour front desk and currency exchange for guests. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a desk, a coffee machine, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a shower. At Hilton San Jose La Sabana all rooms have bed linen and towels. A buffet breakfast is available every morning at the accommodation. Hilton San Jose La Sabana offers 5-star accommodation with an indoor pool. Poas National Park is 47 km from the hotel, while Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica is 400 metres from the property. The nearest airport is Tobías Bolaños International Airport, 3 km from Hilton San Jose La Sabana. Show full description Guest review score 8.9, rooms from around $186.

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• 4 Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Curio Collection By Hilton San José, Costa Rica

  

  Hotel. The Gran Hotel Costa Rica is operated by the hotel group Elite Hotels and Resorts of Costa Rica. It is the only hotel in San José declared by the government as a historical and architectural monument. Located in the heart of San José, surrounded by national museums, plazas and walking boulevards, the venue is within walking distance to the main cultural and tourist attractions. In May 2016 a complete transformation began to revitalize this historical hotel with the latest room designs, sophisticated furnishing, premium services and the most advanced technology. An impressive lobby with a fully modern welcoming experience, as well as an executive lounge, meeting rooms and an innovative concept of a brand restaurant, will all be ready and open by October 2017. The hotel is affiliated through a franchise arrangement with Hilton Worldwide under the brand Hilton Curio Collection. The hotel is within 5 minutes’ walk of San José Cathedral and the National Theatre. The hotel building has been recognised as a site of architectural interest. Show full description Guest review score 8.9, rooms from around $186.

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• 5 Sheraton San Jose Hotel, Costa Rica San José, Costa Rica

  

  Hotel. This modern hotel near Costa Rica’s capital of San Jose features a casino, free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour fitness centre. Guests enjoy several on-site restaurants and bars and an outdoor swimming pool. Each air-conditioned room at Sheraton San Jose Hotel, Costa Rica includes modern décor, a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a comfortable seating area. They also come with a safety-deposit box and a private bathroom with free toiletries. Curu offers delicious cuisine with a local flare. Guests will find a major shopping centre within 550 metres of the property, and San Jose City Centre is a 12 km away and features sightseeing and nightlife. Sheraton San Jose Hotel, Costa Rica is just a 5-minute walk to the Meridiano Corporate Centre, and the city’s Juan Santamaria International Airport is 20 km away. Show full description Guest review score 8.9, rooms from around $121.

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• 6 AC Hotel San Jose Escazu San José, Costa Rica

  

  Hotel. AC Hotel San Jose Escazu in San José provides accommodation with a fitness center and a shared lounge. The hotel offers a Spanish restaurant. The units are fitted with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a coffee machine, a shower, free toiletries and a desk. Rooms are complete with a private bathroom, while some rooms at the hotel also boast a seating area. Guest rooms include a wardrobe. AC Hotel San Jose Escazu offers a continental or American breakfast. Speaking English and Spanish at the reception, staff are always at hand to help. Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica is 5 km from AC Hotel San Jose Escazu. The nearest airport is Juan Santamaria International Airport, 19.3 km from the property. Show full description Guest review score 8.7, rooms from around $134.

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• 7 Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belen San José, Costa Rica

  

  Resort. A former hacienda set on a 30-acre coffee plantation, this hotel features 2 outdoor swimming pools, a golf driving range and a coffee-inspired spa. Downtown San Jose is about 15 minutes’ drive away. The Kuö Spa at Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San Jose offers a wide variety of body and beauty treatments using coffee, volcanic ash and other natural ingredients from Costa Rica. All rooms feature flat-screen TVs with cable and satellite channels and wired internet. Private private bathrooms include amenities. Some rooms offer views of the pool. The hotel offers Peruvian delicacies at the La Isabella Restaurant, open for dinner, or Latin American cuisine at Antigua restaurant. The café serves gourmet Costa Rican coffee. Guests can try ecotourism activities at Poás Volcano National Park, or take a tour of the Café Britt Coffee Plantation, both within 15 minutes’ drive of the hotel. Juan Santamaría International airport is only 5 km away. Free Wi-fi is available in public areas. Show full description Guest review score 8.6, rooms from around $224.

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• 8 Crowne Plaza San José Corobicí, an IHG Hotel San José, Costa Rica

  

  Hotel. A casino, indoor and outdoor pools can be found at Crowne Plaza Corobici, situated next to La Sabana Park. Its bright, spacious rooms come with flat-screen cable TV. Each modern, air-conditioned room includes a laptop safe. A coffee maker is also provided. Bathrooms comes with toiletries and a hairdryer. Japanese cuisine in served in the hotel’s Fuji restaurant, while El Tucán serves local and international dishes. You can also relax in the lounge bar. Crowne Plaza Corobici is just a 5-minute drive from San José’s financial district. Juan Santamaria Airport is a 15-minute drive away. Free private parking is available on site, and the front desk can arrange car hire, airport transfers or city tours. You can use the free Wi-Fi in the hotel’s business centre. Show full description Guest review score 8.6, rooms from around $120.

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• 9 Park Inn San Jose by Radisson San José, Costa Rica

  

  Hotel. This property is located only 500 metres from Parque Metropolitano La Sabana Park in central San José. It offers an outdoor pool, hot tub, and a fitness centre. The rooms at Park Inn San José are air conditioned and feature a mini bar, coffee maker and a flat-screen cable TV with high definition channels. The bathroom provides free toiletries. Rooms are decorated in a modern style with colourful accessories. The restaurant at Park Inn serves international-style cuisine. Room service is also available and the breakfast is free of charge. The tour desk at the hotel can help the guests with the arrangements to go sightsee around the city and through all Costa Rica. Tobías Bolaños International Airport is reachable after a 15-minute drive, and La Sabana Shopping Mall is 5 minutes’ drive away. San José town centre is 4km from the property and the Art Museum is 1 km away. Show full description Guest review score 8.6, rooms from around $121.

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• 10 Barceló San José San José, Costa Rica

  

  Hotel. This classic hotel is located in a quiet area of San José, 3 km from the city centre. It offers an outdoor pool, tennis court and complementary WiFi connection and shuttle to and from the airport, this service must be booked 24 hours in advanced. The air-conditioned rooms at the Barceló San José feature carpeted floors, flat-screen TV and views of the city or mountains. Each one comes with a coffee-maker and mini bar. The Barceló San José has 3 restaurants, Anfora Restaurant, Miyako Japanese and El Rancho Grill Restaurant also you will find a bar on site. There is a spa with a fitness centre, hot tub and a range of treatments. Other facilities include a 3 squash court and 2 tennis court. Juan Santamaría Airport is a 15-minute drive from the hotel, and an airport shuttle service is available on request. You can drive to Sabana Park and the National Stadium in 10 minutes. Show full description Guest review score 8.5, rooms from around $91.

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• 11 Real InterContinental at Multiplaza Mall, an IHG Hotel San José, Costa Rica

  

  Hotel. This hotel is an urban retreat in the heart of Escazu, San Jose’s most exclusive neighborhood. The hotel is located within the city's most prestigious shopping centre complex, Multiplaza Escazu. Guest rooms are designed to fulfill the needs of today's global traveler; with streaming speed internet, soundproof windows, total blackout curtains, bedding with 300 thread Egyptian cotton sheets, alarm clock with mobile docking station and more. Escazu Corporate Center and Plaza Roble Corporate Center are just a short stroll away from the hotel. Just a few steps away from the hotel´s lobby, in Multiplaza Mall, you will find upscale stores, bars, coffee shops and restaurants. This hotel features the hottest concepts in entertainment and dining, including four trendy and lively concept restaurants: The Market, Factory Steak & Lobster, NAU Sushi Lounge and Pimento. The hotel´s full service spa blends with nature, its perfect for guests that want to escape and relax. The hotel´s updated fitness center overlooks serene tropical gardens, a Jacuzzi and three heated outdoor pools. Show full description Guest review score 8.2, rooms from around $264.

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• 12 Radisson Hotel San Jose - Costa Rica San José, Costa Rica

  

  Hotel. This stylish hotel offers an outdoor swimming pool, an indoor heated pool, and a conference center. Each spacious room includes free Wi-Fi. The Radisson Hotel San Jose Costa Rica is situated in central San José, 800 meters from Central Avenue. Free 24-hour secure parking is offered on site. You can relax in the hot tub and sauna at the Radisson Hotel San Jose, there is also a gym. The spacious rooms feature classic-style décor and elegant carved wood furniture. Each room offers a coffee maker and a stylish bathroom with toiletries and a hairdryer. The Radisson’s Acuarelas restaurant serves fresh local and international dishes, while Café Tropical offers a varied buffet breakfast. Room service and Medical assistance available 24 hours a day. Show full description Guest review score 7.9, rooms from around $114.

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• 13 Holiday Inn San Jose Aurola, an IHG Hotel San José, Costa Rica

  

  Hotel. Set next to Morazán Park and 1 km from the centre of San José, Holiday Inn San Jose Aurola offers views of the Central Valley. It features an indoor swimming pool, gym and free parking. Each air-conditioned room at the Holiday Inn San Jose Aurola has simple, modern décor with carpeted floors. All accommodation has cable TV, free Wi-Fi and a coffee maker. Guests can enjoy a selection of Costa Rican and international cuisine in the Tropicana buffet restaurant. The à la carte Mirador Restaurant is set on the 17th floor and offers views of San José. Costa Rica’s National Museum, the Museum of Gold and Children’s Museum are within 500 metres of the Aurola. Tobias Bolaños and Juan Santamaría Airports can be reached in 25 minutes by car. Please note the pool will be out of service from December 06th to December 15th, 2017. Show full description Guest review score 7.7, rooms from around $119.

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• 14 Wyndham San Jose Herradura San José, Costa Rica

  

  Hotel. On the outskirts of San José, just a 10 minutes' drive from Juan Santamaria International Airport, Wyndham San Jose Herradura offers 3 outdoor pools and a casino. The air-conditioned rooms have satellite TV. The centre of San José is about 15 minutes’ drive away. Guests also have access to the golf course and tennis courts of the nearby Cariari Country Club. All of the spacious rooms at the Wyndham Herradura have coffee makers, and many have hot tubs. Some have private balconies overlooking the exotic gardens. The outdoor pools have swim-up bars and hot tubs, and are surrounded by sun terraces with loungers. The Wyndham has 3 restaurants, serving a range of different cuisines, plus a fashionable bar. Show full description Guest review score 7.2, rooms from around $90.

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I try my best to keep this guide up to date and I last refreshed it in November 2022. Did I miss a luxury hotel that should be on this list? Send me an email and let me know!