I was at the Bougainvillea for a few days for a business meeting, which was held in the conference room on the premises, and was very, very impressed. As everyone points out, the gardens are stunning, filled with exotic plants and butterflies. The pool is a little oasis of calm in the midst of all this. My room was big, pleasant, and had everything I needed (including a balcony overlooking the gardens). The staff at reception were very friendly and helpful. They are clearly (and deservedly) proud of their hotel, as when I left they presented me with a CD of photos.

I thoroughly recommend this hotel.

Traveled to Costa Rica for the first time for my husband's business. The grounds in October (the rainy season) were beautiful and peaceful. I felt very safe. I wasn't comfortable traveling outside the hotel area alone even during the day so the tour desk personnel helped me choose a day trip that afforded me the opportunity to see some of the countryside with a group. All the staff at the hotel are very friendly and give excellent service. Most are multilingual which was a great help because my high school Spanish is very rusty. My only suggestion to the hotel would be to upgrade the bed linens. Our bed was comfortable but the sheets would exfoliate you.

This hotel is located in Santo Domingo in the province of Heredia, up the valley from San Jose, with great views of San Jose or the gardens behind. The hotel is situated on 8 acres with lush gardens filled with flowers, plants, birds, frogs, and butterflies. You could easily spend a couple of days just exploring the gardens of this hotel before even going out to explore the rest of Costa Rica.

There is easy access to the hotel from the airport, as the airport is situated between San Jose and Santo Domingo. Traveling around Costa Rica is best done with a tour operator (as there are many) rather than renting a car. It is very easy to get lost as most communities do not have addresses. Buildings are measured by distance from landmarks rather than street addresses. This can be confusing if you don't know where you are going, so I would recommend hiring a tour operator to take you around.

The inside of the hotel is absolutely beautiful with exception art and statuary throughout. The decor is lush and you would think you are staying in a five star resort with 2 star pricing. The rooms are very comfortable, spacious and clean and the staff are very friendly and attentive. The restaurant is situated to overlook the gardens and they have feeders outside the windows, so there is plenty to keep you entertained while dining. The food is very representative of Costa Rican fare.

There are multiple facilities on the grounds, including swimming pool, exercise room, tennis courts and meeting rooms, one of which is situated in the gardens and would be a great place for events, such as weddings and family gatherings. A look-out tower and hidden walkways within the gardens allow for great opportunities to explore the lushness of the gardens.

You will feel like you are situated in the heart of Costa Rica culture when staying here, without the feel of the large city environment of San Jose. There is easy access to anywhere within the Central Valley from this location.

If you are planning a visit to the Central Valley of Costa Rica, i would highly recommend the Hotel Bougainvillea as a place to stay.

First visit to Costa Rica. Business trip Sept 10 to 14. The hotel was selected by the host of the meetings. What a great choice! Staff was very friendly and helpful. The food was very good and plentiful. The grounds make the hotel spectacular. The rooms are not new but they are spacious and clean. Ultimately the staff make it a great hotel and it is worth returning to. G