Courtyard by Marriott San Jose Escazu

Location! Location! Location!

Stayed here for one week. The hotel is not huge. It has a nice size lobby (you can find the Tico Times newspaper in English and Spanish in the lobby), hotel shop, copy center (w/computers, printer), meeting rooms, one restaurant (Las Brujas), small pool, small 24-hour gym and outside sitting area. It offers free wifi. Our two laptops, cell phones, ipad, etc. fit nicely in the room's closet safe. It also offers free coffee in your room and lobby area. Lobby area also has refreshing water (sometimes flavored w/fresh strawberries, oranges...) and pastries. The staff was truly friendly. The rooms were nice and clean. Our stay here was pleasant (my partner was here on business and I tagged along). I would definately stay here again. It's in a superb location. They connect you to Swiss travel company who offers tours of Costa Rica so that you can book whatever options you desire to take during your stay. This was convinient. I must emphasize that service was spectacular. Staff was friendly, attentive, helpful... above and beyond our expectations (answered some of my silly newby questions w/out making me feel dumb!) Also, this hotel is environmentally eco friendly.

Unique Quality: My partner and I really enjoyed the Itzkatzu plaza adjacent to this hotel. It made this hotel very valuable. They have an awesome variety of quality restaurants and a couple of bars. Security guards are everywhere so you feel pretty safe. No need to take a taxi just walk over there... We enjoyed the specialty coffees at La Tetera (great salads there, too) the Argentian restaurant Terruno, and the Peruvian restaurant Chancay. We had some awesome mojitos at LKabana Classic. We went to the Italian gelato shop every day! They are getting ready to open a "Glutten Free" eatery in this mall as well. They also have a nail salon and spa in this plaza. The hotel restaurant "Las Brujas" was also very good. The Courtyard by Marriott also offers a free shuttle to the largest mall in Costa Rica "multiplaza" Escazu which is located accross the highway (you can see it from the hotel). Complimentary shuttle service is from 10 am to 7 pm every hour on the hour (you must be timely!) check in at the lobby. A taxi ride back to the Courtyard is $2 (dollars). This mall has a supermarket, food court, restaurants, movie theatre, coffee shops, small mall-type kids play area (and a huge toy store) and is a 3-level top-notch shopping heaven! The rooms at the Courtyard had a small refrigerator and we asked for a microwave which they immediately brought (we had so much left over from the restaurants -- my partner's midnight snacks LOL). They are nice size rooms but not super luxurious, just nice, practical and comfortable instead. Great service, great prices, great location... We truly enjoyed our stay here. My partner is a member and accumulates "membership rewards" I believe this offers special pricing something to look into if you're going to stay here. It was about a $30 taxi ride from the airport. If you want to be in a nice, safe place conviniently located near restaurants and some entertainment... this is your place!