This property is lovely. Its open air design brings a modern and posh feel yet is also cozy. It's close to the airport but not at the airport. My cab fare was 12USD. The breakfast spread was delicious. The gym is well-equipped for both cardio and strength training workouts. My room was spacious though I had a jr suite. The bed was super comfortable. There wasn't a hair dryer in the room. I didn't ask for one either. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. Everyone spoke very good English. The ATM on property dispenses both dollars and colones. This hotel definitely meets the Hilton standard if you frequent the chain. I enjoyed my stay immensely.

We stayed here a couple of weeks ago as a layover on the way down to the Osa Peninsula. This place has great customer service and good money exchange. We only spent one night here and had a drink at the poolside bar, but one could easily spend a few nights here relaxing if necessary. The property seems a bit dated, but its still really nice and the rooms are spacious. The lobby area is quite nice and the breakfast in the morning (was included when we booked) was decent, I wouldn't pay for it though if I had to do it separately from the room.

The transport (probably the most important aspect for us) was really easy to handle. We got picked up from the Juan Santamaria International Airport by one of their drivers with no problems - although there is some waiting at the airport for all the tourists to figure out which shuttle to board - and then we had a taxi van arranged for us the next morning to the Pavas Airport where Nature Air flies out. Our flight departed at around 11AM and the front desk strongly recommended that we leave 3 hours early. I can understand her reservation in order to avoid missing a flight, but 3 hours is a bit ridiculous, the Pavas Airport is tiny and there is nothing to do there, even with a potential hour delay in traffic - because you do end up on some small residential streets, the entire car ride was only 15-20 mins.

Other than that, its a decent place for a layover and I would definitely consider staying here again.

If you are using San Jose as a jump off point to travel to other parts of the country, the Hilton is an easy, safe choice. It is close to the airport (they have a shuttle where you only pay one fee per room which is really convenient to and from the airport) and they have pretty good food at the main restaurant. Also, if you are worried about safety, the hotel seemed very secure. The place could use some updating but it allows for a hassle free stay and you can find some decent prices online.

I first stayed at the Cariari about 12 years ago when it was part of the Melia chain, and most recently stayed there last week. It is close to the Juan Santamaria airport and very easy to get to. I had a conference to attend at the nearby Marriott Hotel, but there were no rooms available there so I thought I'd give the Cariari a try again. The physical layout of the hotel hasn't changed, but the rooms and the lobby are much improved over what they were some years ago. My room on the first floor was quiet and featured a king size bed and a separate room with a desk. There were ample windows in the large room and the room and furniture were in good condition and comfortable.

The lobby has a new (to me) coffee shop that was open early in the morning and had Danish, muffins, etc as well as designer coffees on offer. The loud and sometimes obnoxious parrots or cockatiels they used to have in the lobby are gone.

They are charging for wifi access.

The restaurant is still located by the swimming pool, and it still has the low ceiling that gives a feeling of being underground. The breakfast buffet was adequate, although for about $22 one might expect a better spread. I have also recently stayed at the nearby Marriott and although the Marriott buffet is slightly more expensive, it is a nicer buffet with more fresh fruit and a much nicer atmosphere. Where the Cariari excels, however, is on the quality of the work-out facilities (especially the Olympic sized swimming pool) and the adjacent tennis and golf facilities. The Marriott has a driving range and attached tennis club, but the work out center is inconvenient and the Marriott pool is strictly for sitting next to, as opposed to actually swimming laps in. Overall, for future trips to Costa Rica, I will include the Cariari again on my list of hotels to consider. The Marriott often hosts large conferences, is occasionally full, and as a result, often charges high to very high rates for their rooms. The Cariari is a short five minute drive away, and while very nice, likely will be more affordable than the Marriott.