Costa Rica (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Matthew Firestone [52]
For tonier options, the upscale suburb of Escazú (Click here) – a 20-minute bus ride away – is a good choice. If you’re flying into or out of Costa Rica, it may be more convenient to stay in Alajuela (Click here), as the town is minutes from the international airport.
Reservations are recommended in the high season (December through April), in particular the two weeks around Christmas and Semana Santa (Holy Week, the week preceding Easter). Before reserving with a credit card, see boxed text. For general information on hotels in Costa Rica, Click here.
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Hostels
The city overflows with hostels geared at backpackers. Keep in mind that the arrangements at these spots are basic: you’ll have a bunk and access to a shared bathroom, but plan on bringing amenities such as soap, shampoo and towels. Many places, however, are equipped with 21st-century goodies like wi-fi and TV lounges. Many hostels also have affordable private rooms. All hotels listed below have hot-water showers.
For ease of use, all of San José’s hostels we’ve covered are listed here, regardless of the part of town they’re in. For some excellent alternatives, see the Los Yoses district (Click here).
Galileo Hostel (Map Click here; 2248-2094; www.hostelgalileo.com; cnr Calle 40 & Av 2; dm US$9-10, s without bathroom US$22, d US$30, d without bathroom US$24-26; ) In a vintage house east of Parque La Sabana, this snug little hostel has several dormitories and half a dozen private rooms of various sizes. The freshly painted dorms are tight (it’s bunk to bunk), but the rooms are clean and the prices the cheapest in town. There is free wi-fi, a communal kitchen, a small garden patio and an onsite bar, where you can sip Pilsens and watch the game. The best part: the laid-back American owners host Sunday BBQs during football season.
Costa Rica Backpackers (Map Click here; 2221-6191; www.costaricabackpackers.com; Av 6 btwn Calles 21 & 23; dm US$12, d without bathroom US$28; ) About a block east of the Supreme Court complex, this extremely popular hostel has 15 dormitories and 13 private double rooms spread out over several structures that surround a nice garden with hammocks and a free-form pool. Chill-out music completes the laid-back ambience, though you can always take things up a notch in the attached bar-restaurant, which serves breakfast (₡1800 to ₡2500) and other basic meals (casados ₡3000). Rooms and shared bathrooms are basic but clean, and decorated with tropical-themed murals. There is a communal kitchen and TV lounge, as well as free luggage storage and internet access.
Gaudy’s (Map Click here; 2258-2937, 2248-0086; www.backpacker.co.cr; Av 5 btwn Calles 36 & 38; dm US$12, d with/without bathroom US$30/26; ) You’ll find this homey hostel inside a sprawling modernist house in a residential area east of Parque La Sabana. Popular among shoestring travelers for years, it has 13 private rooms and two dormitories. The Colombian owners keep the design scheme basic and the vibe mellow, but the service is professional and the rooms well maintained. There’s a communal kitchen, TV lounge, pool table and foosball, a courtyard strung with hammocks, as well as free internet. Find it 200m north and 150m east of the Banco de Costa Rica.
Hostel Casa del Parque (Map Click here; 2233-3437; www.hostelcasadelparque.com; cnr Calle 19 & Av 3; dm US$12, d with/without bathroom US$40/30; ) A vintage art-deco manse from 1936 houses this quiet spot on the eastern edge of the Parque Nacional. Six large, basic private rooms and one dormitory have parquet floors and simple furnishings, while a private double features a vintage ’30s boudoir. A somewhat bare