I don't think that the hotel's website is really effective in making reservations. Calling and trying to confirm was not 100% effective either.
The place is pretty basic. It is well located. Rooms open off of a large dark hallway on the 2nd or third floor. A family member had a problem with noise when staying a month after I was there but I had no problem. The room did not have space for anything beyond the 2 beds so it felt somewhat cramped even tho' it was not that small. There was no window to the outside. The breakfast was OK and the staff was helpful, with some being more so than others.

Hotel America was a last resort (as it is pricey in comparison to the nice hostels I have been in on my trip) but it was late and dark and the rest of the hotels were even worse. The first room I saw there was very dirty and had hairs in the beds and a filthy bathroom. The next room I saw was alright, however the walls are filthy, there is no sound barrier and the fan in the room was broken. The front desk was not accepting credit cards that night and I had to go around the block to an ATM to be able to pay for the overpriced room. They said there was nothing they could do about the fan, even though it was a standing fan that could have been replaced. I had been paying $9 a night for a beautifully clean, quiet room prior to this and was very disgusted by Hotel America.

I stayed in Hotel America for one night before going on a public bus trip to Jaco, Costa Rica with a large group of university students (there were about 15 of us total). The rooms are huge, bathrooms all right, the linens seemed all right. There isn't much to say about Hotel America except to rave about the location.

If you want to stay in a safer place than San Jose, the city of Heredia is the perfect choice! It's in close proximity to Poas volcano and is closer to La Paz Waterfall Gardens and other area attractions. Heredia is really safe, though it doesn't offer any museums or cultural attractions other than a few little buildings in the centre of town.

I have stayed at this fine hotel in the center of Heredia, the most beautiful city in Costa Rica. It is right off the Central Park and has huge rooms, comfortable beds, you can fit about 25 people in the shower! And the breakfasts are continental, HOWEVER, I used to live there & knew an employee there who had the kitchen prepare me the typical Tico breakfast of fruit & gallo pinto each day...mmmm the hotel prices were superb, as was the service on every level...clean, comfy, right outside the door is the bus to anywhere in the country. Costa Rica has the most evolved public transport system I have ever seen, you can get on a bus & connect with any part of the country. Heredia's central Valley location makes it easy for day trips to Jaco and Puntarenas beaches and you just go around the corner to the disco at night, or next door to the Chinese restaurant...fried chicken at any "on the sidewalk" spot is excellent. Hotel America...I'll stay there every time! I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! 5 stars from me.Teresa GrockiTampa, FL