Hotel La Amistad, San Jose

Hotel La Amistad is the place to stay when in San Jose. It’s central location inside San Jose itself allows one to be able to access all manner of day and overnight excursions not to mention being able to roam about San Jose itself. It’s close and convenient location allows for pleasant walks to several City parks and historical landmarks and sites. It’s close to many a bus stop for very cheap travel outside of San Jose such as to places like San Ramon and Villa Blanca or the Atlantic Aerial Tram. One does NOT need to use the expensive “private” vans that will cost you an arm and a leg to get to and from the ever so many sites to see within Costa Rica, but only an hour or two outside of San Jose. Too, the City bus system affords one a chance to see San Jose from a “local” perspective and for pennies. La Amistad is within a stone’s throw of most of these “bus stops” and if you don’t want to walk to the stop, you can take a cab for under $2.00 to the stops. If you want to avoid the busses completely, take a cab, again for very little money all things considered. The Amistad is located in Barrios Amon and Otaya. It is a converted Colonial Mansion away from the traffic of Downtown San Jose, La Amistad is in a quiet and safe historic neighborhood full of Neoclassical and Victorian mansions originally built in the early 1900's by wealthy Coffee Barons. What was once a 6 room private mansion has been recently renovated into a 34 room luxury hotel. It has grown from 6 rooms to 40 over the past 17 years or so, until it found its new owners in 2006. An American Group purchased the Hotel and has spent the last 2 years renovating the Hotel and redefining the Mission Statement: "Treat each person as you would treat an honored guest in your own home". La Amistad has 6 penthouse suites with king beds, 28 jet Jacuzzi tubs and personal dry saunas as well as, another 26 luxury rooms with either king or queen size beds. All rooms have 80 channels of Cable TV with HBO and Cinemax (for Latin America…a bit different than the USA versions) in addition to network feeds from of all places, Denver, Colorado. Wondering how the markets are doing? MSNBC, HNN and more are there as are many Spanish language stations, flat screen (CRT in most rooms; LCD in the suites) TV's, hardwire and wireless broadband internet access, refrigerator, digital safe and new memory foam mattresses. For the comforts of home or extended stay, 2 Studio Apartments are now available with kitchenette. You will find these quiet Barrio's are away from the noise and traffic of downtown but still only a short 5 minute walk to all of San Jose's main attractions - The National Theatre, Museums, Shops, Restaurants, Casino's, Nightlife and Exotic Parks. The staff is fabulous; from the front desk staff led by Marlena, Carlos, and Rudolpho to the divine women who will do your laundry simply by asking. Ask and ye shall receive be it information on attractions or specific issues you have for yourself. Breakfast is included in the inexpensive rates of the hotel and starts at 7:00am and concludes at 11:00am. It is cooked to order with eggs, ham, and sausage on the menu in addition to more fruit than one could imagine as well as breads for toast; jams, coffee, hot tea, fruit juices, milk, etc., etc., etc. One will be more than impressed with the rate for the room. “How can they do this” is something you’ll be asking yourself over and over. FREE wi-fi or hard wire in your room at 1.5mbs download....very good high speed connection. Over all.....a very good find. I shall no longer be looking for any where else to stay when in San Jose, Costa Rica.

I have stayed at the hotel for going on nine months. The staff is best, the rooms are clean and spacious (mine has a full kitchen), and the location is walking differece to everything San Jose has to offer (restaurants, museums, Cental Avenue and many Casino�s and Discos. Overall a fantastic experience that I would recommend to all. Dave