Delta Hotels by Marriott San Jose Aurola

The people were so nice and accommodating, and the location was very central with a beautiful park right across the street. My wife and I visited Costa Rica for the first time and had a really nice stay. The room could use a little updating, though nothing that mattered much. We liked the pool, and the food at the bar was pretty good, though we didn’t try the restaurant. La Palma was a cool little bar, and bartender Daniel really connected with us and made the stay as good as it could be. Keep an eye on the costs, though, since they varied a lot. The fitness room was closed for repairs, so we couldn’t check it out.

The employees were very nice and helpful, and the downtown location gave us a nice city view. The lobby was lovely, though our older room had a bit of an odor. The bathroom was okay, but the bath mat in the tub needs replacing and the soap dispenser was empty. We also had to show proof that breakfast was included for us.

The city view was great, and they provide free water in both the rooms and the gym. It’s really convenient for getting to SJO airport and downtown bars and clubs. The beaches are far away, but that’s just Costa Rica, and you can Uber or book an excursion from here. The rooms can smell musty or damp, which I think may be because of the indoor pool. I fixed the wet smell with air freshener. I’d definitely stay again.

The room stayed at 23-24°C the whole time, even with the air conditioning on full blast. Maintenance came 10 hours after I contacted them and said there was a water tower problem. The rooms are very dated, and I only realized it was a rebranded Holiday Inn when I saw that merchant name on my card charge. It didn’t feel like the usual Marriott experience, and I wouldn’t come back.