Cruce de Poas/Cacao 5 km west of cemetery, Alajuela, Province of Alajuela Apdo. 394, Costa Rica
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peggydaly
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Hopped a cab (tho the hotel will also arrange transport if you like), settled in, and then tood a walk on the very large, beautiful grounds. Went to their cozy bar and restaurant to wait for my friends. It's priced like US food/drink. The rooms are really nice with air-cond. There are lovely countryside views and patios.
The staff was very helpful with tours or transport. Asking nicely they let me wiggle behind the counter to use the internet.
Unique Quality: Nice trails on the grounds. Pool, bar, restaurant, tour arrangement - really a one stop shop that makes one's arrival or departure easy. Not much to stick around but a good pass-thru.
Orquideas Inn Photo: view from patios
sean420
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I've stayed at the Orquideas Inn 4 times now. It's a great place for the first and last night of our trip to Costa Rica. They have transportation to and from the airport for $10 and even though both times our flight was an hour late, the driver was right at the door to the airport to meet us. The staff at the hotel were all very accommodating and friendly.
We stayed in one of the roadside rooms which can get a little noisy in the mornings with the traffic and trucks coming down the hill but it didn't bother us since we had to wake up early. There are other (more expensive) rooms available away from the roads if you like your beauty rest.
The rooms are simple and clean with in room coffee, cable tv, air conditioning, free local calls, and good hot water.
The hotel has a nice pool and a secluded hot tub
There is a Marilyn Monroe themed bar that is a fun place to meet other travelers as well as a restaurant upstairs. The food in the restaurant is good and you can eat in the bar area as well. You can charge your bar tab and restaurant bill to your room but I advise paying as you go so that you don't get any "surprises" when you check out.
The only problem we had was a discrepancy on our food/bar bill. We were charged an extra $20 for wine that we did not order or drink but the manager took the charges off our bill when we checked out the next morning.
Unique Quality: A wonderful buffet breakfast is included and is served by the pool. Breakfast included rice, potatoes, fried yucca, sausage, orange juice, yams, plantains, coffee, as well as a made to order omelets and pancakes. There was a parrot climbing on the fence and there were also an aviary with three beautiful toucans nearby.
The grounds are also very lush with some trails good for a short walk.
Orquideas Inn Photo: Tucan at Orquedias Inn
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twoinluv
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Orquideas Inn & Resort is located just 10 minutes from the International Airport in San Jose/Alejuela, Costa Rica. The hotel is on 10 acres of gardens. The rooms are spacious and decorated in lively colors. A full & delicious breakfast is included, as well as welcome drinks in the bar when you arrive. This is a perfect place to spend your first and last night in Costa Rica since it is located near the airport.
Unique Quality: They have their famous Marilyn Monroe bar, which is covered in Marilyn Monroe memoribilia. They have a fantastic restaurant on the 2nd floor overlooking the valley. Their pool is beautiful. And they have a book exchange, so you can grab a free book and leave the one you were reading.
Orquideas Inn Photo: Bright & Clean Rooms
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Great place, especailly if you want to stay near the airport, it is in Alajuela. Super friendly staff and the bar has a Marilyn Monroe theme! The property is beautiful, lots of paths to walk around and get a feel for Costa Rica. The restaraunt serves fantastic food, we opted to have dinner in the bar, a funkier atmosphere.
First off, we would definitely recommend this as a good place to stay if you are overnighting around SJO, before or after a flight.
We had a delayed, late evening flight. After getting through Immigrations and Customs, we grabbed an airport taxi and headed off to the inn. I think it took our driver about 15 minutes to get to there. The front desk was waiting for us, and we didn't realize that they'd sent a shuttle van to the airport to pick us up. I think the shuttle cost $10, which is about the same for a taxi. The taxi driver took our room key from the front desk and drove us up a hill on the property to our room's building, then helped us carry our luggage into the building. The property appeared very safe, between the security walls and gate, and a pair of (friendly looking) dogs and a security guard (also helpful) on patrol. We had a pleasant night's sleep, an excellent breakfast the next morning, and some helpful driving directions to set us on our way. We stayed in DARLYS SUITE (1 king bed - $115.23), which had a very large bedroom, a sitting area, a patio, and a good-sized bathroom (with a shower, not a tub/shower). I think we really could have done without the room's AC, but it was comfortable.
Our patio (2nd floor) was very nice and gave us a view of their lawn. For starting the day as late as we did, there wasn't much noise.
We followed the gravel walkway, with a great view, down to the lower building and joined other travelers for breakfast that consisted of a buffet tended by a cook making eggs to order. Of course, the coffee was also great.
Although we didn't make use of them, the inn had a very nice looking pool and their Marilyn Monroe [themed] Bar.
A few of our photos are on Flickr: http://flickr.com/photos/8475809@N05/1241915576/in/set-72157601678429993/
We have stayed at the Orquideas Inn 5 times in the last few years.
It is a wonderful, clean, fun, friendly, welcoming place, great food-some of the best in Costa Rica, a stable and committed staff.
The grounds are gorgeous-nature trails, gorgeous landscaping, meadows with butterflies, a refreshing swimming pool, now a hottub, numerous areas to hang out, play cards, relax. I can't recommend it enough. Only 10 minutes from the airport, and there's a great transportation company Zamar that has a small office in the hotel's cozy reception, gift shop area. Whenever I was there I ran into numerous "repeat" customers, that have been coming over and over for years! A definite gem.
The Orquideas Inn met us at the airport with Luis, the driver, holding a sign with our name on it. It was very nice to see him there, since you are inundated with people asking if you need a cab as soon as you leave the airport. He showed us where the airport ATM was and then drove us to The Orquideas Inn. His English was fabulous and I got to practice my Spanish in an unintimidating setting. It was very nice.
Then, when we go to The Orquideas Inn, the staff was very welcoming and helpful. Their English was fabulous, too, which was nice since I hadn't had a chance to practice my Spanish for a few months and was a little self-conscious of it.
What I thought placed this hotel above and beyond any others that I have been to was that, even though we visited during off-peak season, the hotel had all their facilities open all the normal hours and fully staffed. Even though me and my travel partner were two of maybe only five people staying at the hotel, the pool was still cleaned with a pile of clean towels for our convenience, the grounds were still being kept, very pristine I might add, and the breakfast buffet was set like they were feeding a full hotel. I've been to other hotels that close the pool, or at the very least the pool bar, during off-peak season, but this place kept everything open and staffed and it felt like we owned the place. It was fantastic!
The grounds are gorgeous, the rooms are nice and the views are fantastic. I did hear some street noise from our room, but it didn't bother me or my travel partner one bit. I'd stay at this hotel again in a second. The food and drinks were fantastic, too! Thanks Luis, Alex and Lucy for the great time!
We arrived after long flight delays tired and we were relieved to see the smiling driver waiting for us with a sign with our name on it. He was our introduction to the Orquideas Inn. From the moment we were picked up to the time we left the staff could not have been more helpful and friendly. The place was clean, unique and beautiful - a little oasis for us to start our trip. We plan to return on our final night in CR. The food was fantastic both dinner last night and the plentiful breakfast this morning. The pool, jacuzzi and gardens are all gorgeous. We had a large, clean room with a king bed and a beautiful view of the mountains and greenery. The bathroom was spotless with a sunken jacuzzi tub. We love this place!
Las Orquideas Inn was the perfect place to begin and end our stay in Costa Rica. We were not planning on touring San Jose at all, so we needed somewhere affordable and near the airport. Orquideas was both of these things and more.
We stayed in one of the roadside rooms for $59 (low season) and didn't find them to be too noisy. (However, I am a heavy sleeper).
The breakfast in the morning was fabulous, and had we had more time, the pool looked very lovely as well. The Marilyn Monroe bar was sort of random, but they had great buffalo wings and nachos. Ask for a "Guara Sour" it's supposedly the national drink....the liquor is made from sugar cane.
The only hang-up was getting there in the dark. Be sure to print off the directions from their website, and follow them exactly. Other than that, enjoy your stay!
During our 4-week trek around Costa Rica, Orquideas Inn in Alajuela was our home away from home. The beautiful grounds, great service and comfortable rooms kept us coming back between our trips to both coasts and everywhere in between.
Orquideas is an oasis, slightly off the beaten path from the airport businesses, busy streets and chain hotels located around Alajuela. It can be difficult to find the first time... follow the signs in town toward Grecia and Poas Volcano, pass various industries until you see the far more quiet street with the Orquideas signs and gate on the right. The hotel's website has many pictures & a decent map.
The hotel has a full service tour desk. But with a car, it is easy to take day trips from here. We really enjoyed Zoo Ave, Poas Volcano & the ox carts of Sarchi.
The resident chef, Jose, makes even the simplest dishes into masterful presentations. Each appetizer (Boca) was delicious with the deditos & chicharrones being our family favorites. The chicken club sandwich was an excellent lunch choice. The main dinner dishes are a bit expensive but with ample portions great for sharing. There are many inexpensive diners/soda close by with meals costing significantly less. Breakfast served from 8-9 a.m. was filling and included in the room charge.
The Marilyn Monroe Bar at the hotel is a fun gathering spot with plenty of comfortable tables encircling the pool area. Alex, the evening bartender, is one of the most interesting and fun conversationalists and a tremendous asset to the hotel.
Rooms: our family of 3 stayed in both Garden and roadside rooms at different visits-- each with 1 dbl bed, 1 sgl bed, A/C, phone, T/V, tile floors & bath. The veranda and sitting areas were great spots to play cards, read & watch the daily rain.
With private gated grounds, beautiful trails, lending library, pool & hot tub-- Orquideas is tops! The entire staff-- front desk, housekeeping, servers, bartenders, maintenance guys-- were incredibly friendly & helpful. I highly recommend Orquideas as a hotel convenient to the airport & to exploring the Central Valley.
Pura Vida--
Trish & Chris of Sterling, VA, USA
Orquideas Inn Hotel Lawn
View from Rm at Orquideas Inn
We are arriving late (8:00 pm) into the San Jose Airport. We want to head to Arena the following morning. Could anyone recommend a family friendly, economical motel near the airport or on the way to Arenal that we could get some rest before heading out the following morning. Thank you.
hotel Villa Bonita
Pura Vida Hotel
Orquideas Inn
Hampton Inn ( just mentioning this. Typical Hampton Inn with a Dennys right next to it and just across the street from the airport).
Hi we always stay here at the begining & the end of our trips. They will pick you up free of charge day or night...any time. They will also take you to the airport at the end of your stay.They are clean, very secure & close to the airport & breaky is included in the price.
http://www.hotelbrillasol.com/
They have their famous Marilyn Monroe bar, which is covered in Marilyn Monroe memoribilia. They have a fantastic restaurant on the 2nd floor overlooking the valley. Their pool is beautiful. And they have a book exchange, so you can grab a free book and leave the one you were reading.
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