The Holiday Inn Express in San Jose, Costa Rica, is conveniently located near Juan Santamaria International Airport. This hotel provides practical amenities, including free Wi-Fi, a complimentary breakfast, an outdoor pool, and a fitness centre. Guests also benefit from free shuttle services to and from the airport. The hotel is clean, has comfortable rooms, and has friendly staff
My husband Tim and I experienced efficient service and comfortable accommodations during our stay. Even though some guests have reported drawbacks, including noise from the air conditioning units and occasional slow check-in processes,. The breakfast quality has also been critiqued, with some finding it subpar.
Our check-in process was straightforward, and our room was both clean and well-equipped. We appreciated the complimentary breakfast each morning and found the airport shuttle service extremely convenient. The hotel’s location near rental car agencies and local dining options made it a practical choice for our travel needs.
Continue reading to discover detailed insights into its amenities, guest experiences, and tips for making the most of your stay. We’ll provide a comprehensive guide to help you decide if this hotel meets your travel requirements.
Holiday Inn San Jose, Costa Rica Overview
Holiday Inn Express is six miles from Zona Franca el Coyol, an industrial hub. It is also adjacent to the Rio Segundo railway line, making visiting various towns from San Jose manageable. The Plaza Real Cariari and Central Park are nearby. Here are my key takeaways about the Holiday Inn Express San Jose.
- The hotel offers complimentary shuttles every 15 minutes. There is also a free shuttle at 7 PM to go to the mall for shopping or to the nearby restaurants.
- Holiday Inn Express is part of the Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG), one of the biggest hotel brands in the world.
- Be sure to visit the first and only Starbucks farm in Costa Rica and learn how the brand exports the best coffee.
- Spirogyra Butterfly Garden is one of the best places near Holiday Inn Express to take your kids, especially those who love nature. They will learn about butterflies’ different stages and the plants they survive on.
Our Experience Of Holiday Inn Express, San Jose
Check-in time: 2:00 PM
Check-out time: 12:00 PM
The hotel allows early check-in and late check-out if you inform them beforehand but at a fee. The minimum check-in age is 18. Holiday Inn Express has two-floor levels.
Accommodation
Holiday Inn Express has 100 non-smoking rooms with four accessible rooms. You can also request for connecting rooms. The private bathrooms in the guest rooms have rainfall showers. Housekeeping is done daily with onsite laundry services. All the rooms have climate control.
All rooms come with the following amenities:.
| Amenities at Holiday Inn Express | ||
| Coffee maker | Free phone calls | Microwave |
| Hairdryer | Free toiletries | Mini Refrigerator |
| Free Wi-Fi | Cable TV | Complimentary Coffee and Tea Supplies |
| Non-smoking rooms | Work Desk with Lamp | Power Converter |
| In-room Safe | Iron/Ironing Board | Electrical Adapters |
| Rollaway Bed/Cot Available | Crib Available | |
Dining
Holiday Inn Express has no on-site restaurant but offers a complimentary continental and American breakfast buffet. You can also request breakfast to go. The buffet breakfast includes cereal, cinnamon rolls, eggs, and bacon. The restaurant offers complimentary coffee in the lobby and room service between 12:00 PM and 12:00 AM.
The buffet offers Costa Rican dishes, such as tamales and galla pinto. It also serves various local teas and coffees.
Other Facilities
- Outdoor swimming pool: The hours are between 8:00 AM and 10:00 p.m.
- 24-hour front desk: Besides handling your check-in and check-out, the service desk staff can help recommend the best car rental services.
- Business centre: It has two meeting rooms. The centre has a scanner, copier, printer, and available office supplies.
- The fitness centre’s operating hours are 12:00 PM to 11:59 PM. It has treadmills, exercise bands, elliptical machines, a stationary bicycle, and an exercise ball.
- Free parking: There is complimentary self-parking with 24-hour security surveillance. The parking area has an electric vehicle charging station.
Tourist Attractions Near Holiday Inn Express
San Jose has a unique history, and you will have various exciting activities. Nearby dining options near Holiday Inn Express include the Rosit, Denny’s, Taj Mahal, Spaghetti Factory, and Britt Cafe Bakery. You can visit the following tourist attractions while staying at Holiday Inn Express:.
Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffee Farm
Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffee Farm
It’s the first and only Starbucks coffee farm. The Starbucks brand creates the best practices to make coffee more profitable, especially for small farms. They also share information and other resources with other farmers.
The farm is 240 acres in San Luis, Sabanilla, at the slopes of Poas Volcano Mountain, about 45 minutes from Holiday Inn Express. The visitor centre is open from 8 AM to 4 PM, and the
café & Gift Shop is open from 8 AM to 6 p.m. The fee for a 90-minute visit to the farm is $25 per person. After the tour, there is a coffee tasting at the cafe, where you will also get time to appreciate the magnificent views of the farm.
Starbucks bought the Hacienda farm in 2013. The farm mainly has arabica coffee trees that are resistant to diseases like rust. There are about 800 trees on the farm.
Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center
The rescue centre is on a 14-hectare site in La Garita, Alajuela. Formerly a zoo, the Rescate Rescue Center is now a 100% Costa Rican non-profit foundation whose primary work is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release wildlife.
Rescate Wildlife Center is open from 9 AM to 5 PM daily. It admits around 2,700 animals annually. Some of the animals you might see at the centre include.
- Tapirs
- Monkeys
- Pumas
- Coyotes
Some animals that the centre cannot release for behavioural or health reasons stay at the Endangered Wildlife Reproduction Center. The rest comfortably live the rest of their lives at the Lifetime Care Sanctuary.
Spirogyra Butterfly Garden
In the garden, you’ll see butterflies in various stages and the plants that nurture them. You can walk from the Holiday Inn Express to the garden. The garden is open from Monday to Thursday, 9 AM to 1 p.m., and Friday to Sunday until 2 p.m.
Sol Carballo began the Spirogyra Butterfly Garden in 1992. The garden is on the banks of the River Torres in the middle of San Jose. Spirogyra breeds around 20 different types of butterflies. The farm also acts as an agent for small butterfly breeders in the community.
Jade Museum
The Museo del Jade is opposite Plaza de la Democracia in San Jose. Fidel Castro founded it in 1977, and it has the world’s largest collection of American Jade. However, the museum occupied new buildings in 2014 when the old ones became inadequate. The new structure resembles a block of raw jade stone.
The museum has over 7,000 pieces, most of which are animal images. However, there are also other ceramic, gold, and stone pieces. The five-story museum houses all the pieces and a flowing fountain.
The Museum of Costa Rican Art
The museum has indoor and outdoor spaces with many sculptures, paintings, and mixed-media pieces. Students and anyone under 18 can enter for free. On Sundays, all adults can visit the museum for free.
The Museum of Costa Rican Art is next to La Sabana Park. Besides Monday, the museum is open from 9 AM to 4 PM on all other days. The Museum of Costa Rica has over 6,000 pieces overall.
Take advantage of going up to the upper level with a 360-degree golden mural. On the upper level is the Salon Dorado, the venue for several annual choral concerts.
For more relaxation options near San Jose Airport Costa Rica, you should check out our guide on the 7 Best Beaches Close to San Jose Airport, Costa Rica.
Conclusion
Well, at least know a good hotel when you land or on your last day in Costa Rica. Holiday Inn Express is a few minutes from San Jose Airport and offers free shuttles to and from the airport. The hotel has clean, comfortable guest rooms and a complimentary breakfast the following morning.
What was your experience staying at the Holiday Inn Express San Jose?
About Michelle Schmidt
Born in California, Michelle traveled extensively through the USA and Europe before moving to South Florida during the pandemic. Her career in Marketing has taken her all across the world. Her favorite country is France but she'll never turn down a beach vacation!
