Doubletree By Hilton Hotel Cariari San Jose - Costa Rica

“Lovely, low rise hotel blessedly close to the airport”

This was the first hotel I stayed in as part of a Llama Travel group tour of Costa Rica. 10 minutes from the airport, they said. Oh yea, I thought - but oh joy! it really was that close (no noise, though) and after 18 hours travelling, that is worth a lot. Everything you would expect in an int… more

This was the first hotel I stayed in as part of a Llama Travel group tour of Costa Rica. 10 minutes from the airport, they said. Oh yea, I thought - but oh joy! it really was that close (no noise, though) and after 18 hours travelling, that is worth a lot. Everything you would expect in an international hotel chain (decent sized room, everything available and working - except, surprisingly, a fridge) but not the soulless high rise. I loved the trad Spanish style - all dark wood and tiles and the open corridors with greenery. The pool area (great for recuperating after said journey) was lovely, with drink and snack service available. The very attractive restaurant set poolside was also very good, and service throughout was prompt, charming and helpful. So many people sweeping, cleaning and primping. A really good start to the tour, and I would recommend to anyone poleaxed by the long journey to Central America.

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“Always a favorite and even more so after this recent trip.”

We always stay at the Doubletree Cariari when in San Jose; always at the start and at the end of our multi city vacations. The property is beautiful and the staff is very wonderful. This particular visit ended up being very unique as we had started our trip im Cariari as usual, then moved on to J… more

We always stay at the Doubletree Cariari when in San Jose; always at the start and at the end of our multi city vacations. The property is beautiful and the staff is very wonderful. This particular visit ended up being very unique as we had started our trip im Cariari as usual, then moved on to Jaco for the next leg of the trip and I ended up having a horse riding accident and ended up back in San Jose in CIMA hospital for surgery on my humerus and rotator cuff. We obviously had to cut the Jaco part of the trip AND the next leg which was at Arenal short as I was in the hospital for several days. Doubletree was very accommodating and let us move up our return reservation by a couple of weeks as I couldn't travel home right away after leaving the hospital. While staying at the hotel, I could only walk to breakfast- of which the hostess at the buffet was extremely helpful by letting us sit over at the tables by the bar instead of in the buffet as it was easier for me to protect my arm. We mostly only ate in the evening at the executive lounge to again, reduce instances of accidental bumps of the arm. Very quickly, much of the staff knew that I was recovering from a bad accident and surgery and was highly accommodating and would ask my husband while he was out during the day how I was doing and if we needed anything. I can express how much I appreciate the kindness and consideration we experienced while dealing with a difficult situation and this only reinforces our preference for this property. Thank you so much- the Clelands.

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“Convenient to airport, comfortable”

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 ro… more

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.

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“Convenient stay, but the rooms need to be updated”

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. … more

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.

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