There are two places out of the 6 places I stayed that stood out on the luxury end of my visit in Costa Rica. The first place was in San Jose by the name of Hotel Grano de Oro. This was a gorgeous place not unlike a hotel you would see in a movie where a well-dressed star sits elegantly waiting for some clandestine meeting. I found the staff to be helpful and kind. Not in a faux way. The bartender was quite good and answered all our questions about the drinks he was making and about what alcohol was produced in the country. I didn't take pictures of the rooftop jacuzzi(s)but I spent some time up there as well beneath the night sky drinking cocktails and relaxing after not sleeping for 38 hours. The room was well-kept with drinkable water (there are places in Costa Rica where you can't drink the water but those places are on the wilderness end of the traveling) and a hair dryer, mini-bar, laundry service-perfectly comfortable.
The room was situated off a courtyard in the beautiful restored building and I loved having the window open up to the glorious plants and birds. Having come from the freezing Midwest this was a nice break to say the least. I would most certainly recommend this hotel for a stay in the city. San Jose is a big, busy place and this hotel gave you a touch of an oasis away after a long day exploring. The only thing I cannot comment on is the food as I did not eat in the restaurant as I was not sure they could accommodate my vegan diet. They greeted us with a fresh juice drink upon arrival and gave us a map to navigate which can be a touch tricky in the city. I would most certainly stay here if I find myself in San Jose again.
