Best San Jose Costa Rica Airport Hotel
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The Adventure Inn San Jose Airport Hotel is the perfect introduction to Costa Rica- friendly tico employees, great coffee, typical food and a nice little swimming pool. Oh- and free airport shuttle!
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About Adventure Inn Costa Rica Airport Hotel in San Jose
One of the big conundrums about traveling to Costa Rica’s San Jose Juan Santamaria International Airport is the fact that, unless your flight gets in really early in the day, most travel plans do not allow time to drive directly to your first Costa Rica destination upon arrival- this is especially true if you are renting a car after landing. (This is not the case for the Liberia airport, where it is totally feasible to land and then be at a beach destination such as Playa Ocotal near Playa del Coco within 20-30 minutes).
This means most travelers need a great hotel close to the airport for just one night- either upon arriving in San Jose or just before departure. While there are a host of chain options, I love to stay in places that are quintessentially Costa Rican.
Whenever I get to Costa Rica, I can hardly wait for a cold Imperial and a perfect Costa Rican breakfast of gallo pinto! When we leave, I want to hang on to the Pura Vida spirit for as long as possible.
So when I found out about the Adventure Inn Costa Rica airport hotel, I was super excited! While there are so many great local airport hotel options, Adventure Inn stands way out among the crowd for its efficiency, cleanliness, and reasonable price. (Plus you get 10% off if you book through Pura Vida Moms!)
On our most recent trip to Costa Rica, we stayed at the Adventure Inn for our first night as complimentary guests. On our last night, we went back to the hotel because we had such a great time there!
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Customer Service At Adventure Inn
I booked our stay directly with Adventure Inn, which allows the hotel to keep prices low since major online booking agencies take about a 25% commission. The first time I booked the hotel online and instantly received confirmation of my stay along with airport transportation and car rental information via email. I did not pay anything until I arrived at the hotel- and there is a cash discount.
When we booked the last night, I had to call the hotel because I didn’t have internet access and I’d put off making a reservation until the day before we left. I was absolutely floored by the level of customer service -the woman on the phone was bilingual and efficient.
She was able to pull up a record of my last stay immediately and gave me a return customer rate, booked my free airport shuttle, and gave me an additional discount on the room for paying in cash. I honestly can’t remember a time I had such amazing customer service!
I also loved when I arrived the first night at the hotel, the man who worked the front desk greeted me by name and with a huge smile. Again, he answered all of our questions- even giving us several useful options for how to get our rental car and where to store luggage that didn’t need to go to the room- like car seats and strollers.
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How Do I Get From the Airport to Adventure Inn?
I abhor arriving at a destination with two kids, three suitcases, and no idea how I am going to safely get to the first hotel. I also really despise waiting for transport once we have landed and gone through customs and immigration.
I loved Adventure Inn because they emailed me specific and simple instructions for how to get to the hotel without having to wait around. They contract with the airport official taxis, who are waiting for you just as you leave the airport.
It was so easy- and included in the price of the room. The hotel also offers full reimbursement on taxi and Uber fare if you land on a red-eye flight.
Adventure Inn Costa Rica Airport Hotel has buses that leave every hour to the airport. In our case, that transport was full, so they sent us a private taxi at the time we needed to leave. Since we had to depart before breakfast service at 6 am, the hotel sent us four breakfast boxes to go- and the food was delicious! The whole experience was absolutely seamless, efficient, and simple.
Rooms at Adventure Inn
I’m sure you are curious about the accommodations at Adventure Inn- I mean, all the customer service in the world can’t fix a bad room. Not to worry- the rooms were awesome! We stayed in two different rooms, and both were spacious and impeccably clean.
And when I say impeccably clean- I mean it. No bugs, no stray hairs from the last guest, no weird smells in the pillows or comforters- the standard for cleanliness was super high.
The beds were comfortable, and there were plenty of extra pillows and blankets. The water in the shower was nice and hot, and we had access to both fans and air conditioning right in the room. The rooms had cable tv, wi-fi, coffee maker, and free international calling from the corded phone.
I also loved that the hotel was flexible with us on check-in and check-out times since we had alternate schedules and needed our girls to be able to nap there on one occasion. I also appreciated that the hotel was quiet- super quiet. There were even signs for quiet hours that were respected when we were there.
There’s also a great outdoor pool and jacuzzi at Adventure Inn, and we spent several hours splashing and playing in the sun- it was gorgeous!
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Food like at Adventure Inn
As an unabashed Costa Rican foodie, when I’m back in Costa Rica I never want to waste an opportunity to eat really delicious Costa Rican food. And let me tell you- Adventure Inn Costa Rica airport hotel did not disappoint!
They have a bar/restaurant inside the hotel called the Moon Glow Bar & Grill, and the first night we arrived, we ordered Costa Rican nachos, French fries, and of course Imperial beer. The food was super typical and the service was awesome- plus the prices were not too high.
On our last night, we enjoyed pizza and hamburgers, which were also delicious (clearly we were not on the healthy eating kick there, haha) and enjoyed some microbrews from Domingo 7.
In the morning, we enjoyed an amazing complimentary breakfast buffet complete with eggs and freshly baked goods. Breakfast includes an assortment of exotic fruit as well, all of them labeled with their names.
There was coffee, tea and juice, and a full menu from which we could order a typical breakfast, pancakes- really anything you could imagine. We ate extremely well, which was a huge help as we got on the road for a day of travel to Jaco.
Location
Adventure Inn Costa Rica Airport hotel is conveniently located about 10 minutes north of the San Jose airport. It’s also about a four-minute drive away from the rental car area. It’s just on the edge of a gated community, so the area is extremely quiet and safe. There isn’t a ton as far as stores and restaurants within walking distance, so that is the only drawback. It’s ok though, since most guests are only there for a few hours between places.
Highlights
- Interbus shuttle services to and from the San Jose International Airport are included in the room fee.
- Fantastic customer service! Phone and front desk staff can communicate in both English and Spanish and are super helpful and accommodating.
- Clean, quiet, and comfortable rooms complete with internet, air conditioning, and long-distance calling service.
- Beautiful pool and jacuzzi/hot tub area.
- Costa Rican- style breakfast is offered in the morning and an in-hotel restaurant (The Moon Glow Bar & Grill) serves delicious traditional fare.
- Located near a gated community about 10 minutes from the San Jose International Airport and 4 minutes away from car rentals.
Additional Resources
Save 10% on your stay with Pura Vida Moms
Overall, our experience at Adventure Inn Costa Rica Airport Hotel was honestly perfect-and I will be singing their praises for years to come. It will be our new go-to airport hotel in San Jose Costa Rica because it is efficient, clean, quiet, and priced right! Make sure to book your stay today-and remember that Pura Vida Moms readers get 10% off their stay! Rooms start at around $100 a night.
FAQ
What time does the outdoor pool close?
The pool closes down at 9 pm to allow guests to get rest. Quiet hours are king at Adventure Inn, which any traveler will appreciate!
How long do dinner hours run?
Dinner hours for Moon Glow Bar & Grill begin at 6 pm and extend up to 9:30 pm. Afterward, lighter snacks and the full bar are available until 10 pm.Â
Does Adventure Inn offer laundry services?
Yes, laundry services are available for a small fee. You can request laundry bags at check-in.Â
Can I book tours from Adventure Inn?
Absolutely- hot springs, zip lines, city tours- they can do it all.Â
Other Costa Rica Travel Articles from Pura Vida Moms
- 20+ Amazing San José Costa Rica Day Trips
- A Foodie’s Restaurant Guide to La Fortuna, Costa Rica
- Planning a Trip to Costa Rica– Start Here!
- Basic Spanish Phrases for Travel
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Christa Jimenez
Welcome! I’m Christa, a Spanish teacher married to a handsome Costa Rican and mother of two bilingual daughters. We’ve spent over 25 years living in and traveling to Costa Rica with our daughters, and this website is my love letter to all things Costa Rica- and to bilingual parenting too. You can read my full story here. Thanks for stopping by!