Hotel Grano de Oro (San José; tel. 2255-3322; www.hotelgranodeoro.com): San José boasts dozens of old homes that have been converted into hotels, but few offer the luxurious accommodations or professional service found at the Grano de Oro. All the guest rooms have attractive hardwood furniture, including old-fashioned wardrobes in some rooms. When it's time to relax, you can soak in a hot tub or have a drink in the rooftop lounge while taking in San José's commanding view.
Hôtel Le Bergerac (San José; tel. 2234-7850; www.bergerachotel.com): This classy little hotel has been pleasing diplomats, dignitaries, and other discerning travelers for years. Ask for one of the garden rooms or get the old master bedroom with its small private balcony.
Villa del Sueño Hotel (Playa Hermosa; tel. 800/378-8599 or tel./fax 2672-0026; www.villadelsueno.com): It's not right on the beach (you'll have to walk about 90m/295 ft.), but everything else here is right on the money: clean, comfortable rooms; a nice refreshing pool; and an excellent restaurant. You can't do better in Playa Hermosa.
Amor de Mar (Montezuma; tel./fax 2642-0262; www.amordemar.com): Clean, spacious, and comfortable rooms set on a sloping lawn that leads down to a rocky coastline, with a natural pool carved into the rocks, all add up to my idea of a tropical paradise.
Hotel Fonda Vela (Monteverde; tel. 2257-1413; www.fondavela.com): With plush, modern rooms and an excellent restaurant, the Fonda Vela, one of the original hotels up here, is perennially a top choice in Monteverde. The hotel is located close enough to the Cloud Forest Reserve that you can even walk there.
Cariblue Bungalows (Playa Cocles; tel. 2750-0035; www.cariblue.com): Try to get one of the private wooden bungalows here. If you do, you might be so happy and comfortable that you won't want to leave. Just 90m (295 ft.) or so away, however, are the warm waves of the Caribbean Sea. If this place is full, the neighboring Azania Bungalows (tel. 2750-0540; www.azania-costarica.com) is just about as good.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
