We stayed one night in the Gran Hotel, this past Saturday (3/1/08). We just ended our stay in CR and wanted to shop one day in San Jose. The Gran Hotel is located just a block from the shopping area, museums and local banks.

They have a quiet bar downstairs that allowed cigar smoking and it had a couple TV’s. We decided to eat in the restaurant and had perhaps the best meal of the trip.

The room was clean and dated like the rest of the hotel. We got room 420, overlooking some sort of courtyard. This was one of the noisiest hotels I have ever stayed in, lucky we were tired.

We had to leave at 0600 and the restaurant was open at 0500 for breakfast; a typical CR breakfast.

We would only stay there again if there was a room away from the elevator and courtyard.

Stayed in San Jose, CR on our way in to the country, Quepos, and out. We had confirmed reservations thru Travelocity but arrived and was told they were full, had our reservation so they booked us a room down the street. Stayed at the Gran Hotel in downtown San Jose 2/29/08 during our return trip. I like the character of the old hotels as long as they are clean and equiped. Neat place, but more like camping. No hot water for a shower, very noisy during any waking hours, no outlets anywhere. The bed was about 95% of the room. Staff speaks little english, looks like the CR maffia, guards everywhere. My experience is that these were the only unfriendly Ticos we found in the entire country! Avoid the Gran Hotel, nice location in the heart of the city but there are plenty of other choices. They put us up in the Balmoral Hotel - DON'T go to that one either - a DUMP! Try the Raddison - a much better choice.

We arrived after travelling from Scotland (25hours) to a warm welcome and a fantastic lobby. We thought we had arrived at the wrong hotel. The staff were very helpful and always pleasant. The breakfast was fantastic. Even the piano player added to our experience, however the rooms were a bit tired and in need of a upgrade. The shower wasn't too great. On the up side the hotel is near everything you would want see in San Jose (the Gold Museum and National Theatre). Not much else to keep you in the city.

This was the hotel where our tour of Costa Rica began and ended 12 days later. The lobby looked very nice, but both nights our room faced the front of the building, with a 24 hr restaurant and a traffic light that dinged every time it changed all night long. There was no way to get a good night's sleep, since without ac, even with fan in the room, it was too warm with the windows closed and they did not control the noise...The window treatments and bedding were dated. The bathroom on the second night was so small that one could not reach the sink without closing the bathroom door. We've suggested to the tour company that they find another hotel, since the following morning is either the start of a long bus ride or plane ride back to the States. The only elevator was out when we returned from dinner the last evening. Fortunately, we were only on the 4th floor!