Hotel Santa Maria Inn

Smoke from nearby fires was in the air, and staying here was impossible for me. I had a lot of health issues after my stay.

It was OK for me. They have a nice dog, a German Shepard.

For the price, the hotel was reasonably clean and comfortable, and breakfast was adequate, though the portions seemed small for us Canadians. Parking is very tight, so you’ll need to be a capable driver or have a tiny car. The beds felt oddly hard and a little rounded. There were mosquitoes in our rooms, and both had an unfilled gap around the air conditioner that could let bugs in. No one was there when we arrived in the middle of the afternoon. After we called, at a cost of $15 to turn on our phone, they came within 10 minutes. It could work if you get a good deal and aren’t picky, but it’s hard to recommend on purpose.

We felt at home thanks to the welcoming hospitality, and our spacious upstairs room had gorgeous views from the window. We wandered around the neighborhood and loved the scenery at different times of day. For breakfast we chose fruit and skipped the traditional option to keep it light. The hotel is a peaceful, quaint spot between SJO Airport and the city, with flexible check-in hours. If you’ll arrive late, please email ahead as a courtesy. It worked perfectly for our few nights, and might be one of the country’s best hidden gems.