Park Inn by Radisson San Jose

The hotel is not much to look at from the outside, architecturally-speaking, with its bland beige exterior broken up with a row of colorful cubes running down the front. Once inside, though, the design gets more interesting. There is an entrance on the street level welcoming guests with a rug that says: "...adding color to life..." (Guests can also self-park in the underground lot and enter through the elevator.) The main floor has an expansive layout starting with the lobby, adorned with black-and-white striped floors, leather sofas, and an (intentional) industrial-chic edge from exposed pipes on the ceiling. 

The lobby segues to the restaurant that makes itself known with a large RBG sign facing a u-shaped bar. This dining space contains dozens of sleek red chairs and black tables for all-day dining. Something is throwing it off, though: There is 80s music playing on speakers. Not only that, but correlating music videos are shown on several screens, taking away from the sleeker, more sophisticated vibe. Lionel Ritchie, the Bangles, and Joan Jett simply do not fit in with this modern environment, unless one likes to be reminded of an era when jeans were tapered. 

Besides this, the hotel is as current and reliable as it gets. Guests arrive to their rooms via the same elevators that head to the garage, which means there is easy access to and from the car (without having to go to the lobby first), making packing and unpacking a cinch. When not enjoying the rooms, some might be using the third floor which has a large lounge space, outdoor pool, and fitness center. There is mix of business and leisure travelers here, as well as local companies coming for the day to use the meeting facilities next to the pool. As for the first floor, the hotel hopes that with time RBG will attract more people, including trendy locals for small plates and cocktails. Until then, guests can pretty much expect to have the lay of the land. 

Park Inn is located in Costa Rica’s capital and largest city. Since San José's "el centro" -- the downtown center, and also the base for the country's corporate, banking, and political offices -- is not everyone's cup of tea, this hotel is a good choice for those who prefer to be a bit further removed from the hustle and bustle. That being said, it takes only five minutes (traffic depending) to drive to shops, dining options, markets, and cultural landmarks such as the National Theatre, National Cathedral, Gold Museum, and Plaza de La Cultura. Guests can also walk to some sites and restaurants in the area. 

While business travelers tend to stay for longer periods of time, leisure travelers typically stay in San José for a night or two while in transit to or from the airport. The hotel is a 25-minute drive from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) and under two hours from the Pacific coast. For those who have a car, there is a secure underground parking lot for free, which is accessed by a key card and speaker system with the security guard. Otherwise, guests can use the urban bus system or have the front desk call a taxi. Transfers from the airport can be arranged as well. 

This 12-story hotel has 117 rooms and suites with contemporary, simplistic decor, including white walls and bedding, pale gray carpeting, and bold color accents for a splash of contrast. Natural light is allowed in from near floor-to-ceiling windows. All room types include free Wi-Fi, A/C (units, not central), 42-inch flat-screen TVs, working desks, empty mini-fridges, and Cuisinart coffeemakers with local Café Britta coffee. Bed configurations are either two Queen-sized or one King-sized in each room. Bathrooms have counter space, walk-in showers, rain showerheads, and eco-friendly toiletries that can feel pretty generic, especially considering the two-in-one shampoo.

Most rooms are Standard, with desks that face the room rather than the wall. Nine rooms are considered Deluxe Rooms; these each have a King-sized bed and walk-in closet. Nine more rooms are Deluxe Executive with the addition of pull-out sofa beds. The largest rooms are the Suites (there are also nine of these) with a living and dining area and higher thread count sheets in each. (Master Suites have separate bathtubs.) TVs in the suites rotate 360 degrees so that they can face the living room or bedroom. 

Higher floors offer urban and mountain views, especially during sunset and beyond, when the city becomes aglow. In-room dining is available, along with several movie channels.

The third floor is home to many of the hotel's features, including an outdoor pool and terrace with a handful of sun loungers and accompanying hot tub. Though the pool is heated via solar panels, temperatures may be cold (this is typical of pools in San José due to its mountainous surroundings, which have a cooler climate than the coast). The pool area closes in the late evening. Next to the pool, with loud striped carpeting, is the meeting space which can accommodate up to 250 people for social and business gatherings. Catering services may extend to the pool area, putting a damper on someone enjoying peace and quiet on the terrace. On the other side of the pool is a large multi-functional lounge space for kids or teenagers. Beyond here is a fitness center with black walls, murals of ocean waves, and a disco ball. While unique, the black walls darken the space making it feel less motivating during daylight hours. 

All-day international dining is available at RBG Bar & Grill on the first floor. Free breakfast is served from the early morning, though service is spotty and perhaps a bit standoffish. One may come down for the first time, wait to be approached by staff, wait some more, finally seat themselves, and then not know how to proceed. After following some of the regulars, though, one can spot the self-serve coffee area. The buffet is also self-serve with eggs, pastries, bacon, fresh fruit, and local dishes like pinto de Gallo. If successful in getting a server's attention, guests can order espresso and á la carte items for an additional fee. This dining area is open from morning until late at night, along with a full bar serving cocktails (room service is also available). More restaurants and bars are located within walking distance, or a quick drive away. There's also a snack stand next to the front desk for stocking in-room mini-fridges.