We stayed at the Hotel Alajuela, as a stopover, before catching a flight the next day.

We stayed on the recommendation of a friend. He recommended it because Alajuela is near the airports, and it doesn't have as much of the riffraff one might find in San Jose. He also said that, "It is safe, clean, well run, a bit dark, and costs $30 a night." It was all of this. It was also a bit warm, and the bed wasn't the best. But, we knew that we were just there to crash, and we split a big bottle of beer, to knock ourselves out before bedtime.

The hotel staff were excellent.

The hotel is right on the plaza, and we enjoyed sitting on the benches, along with families and romantics, and the catedral.

The hotel recommended a restaurant around the corner for dinner. La Mansarda was just great, with very good Costa Rican food. Our waiter was a pleasure, and very attentive. The restaurant was a scene.

Centrally located, taxis are at the plaza when... more