I used the reviews on TripAdvisor to choose the Tryp Corobici for a 4 day visit to San Jose where I got dental work done (at an excellent dentist for a fraction of the cost I would pay in the U.S.). I wasn't expecting very much, based on those reviews, so I was really pleasantly surprised when I arrived there. Check-in took about 3 minutes with staff who spoke to me in fluent English (even though I was willing to speak Spanish). The room had all of the amenities I needed. Like everywhere in Costa Rica, hot water and water pressure in the shower were sometimes a challenege, but usually these were sufficient.
The Tryp Corobici is in a perfectly safe area of the city. Feel free to walk anywhere, but beware that the cars rule over the pedestrians in San Jose. The pool was very nice and the gym is the best I have ever seen at a hotel. I really liked the breakfast buffet very much. The restaurant staff, like most Costa Ricans, are very very nice people.
One warning, do not use the taxi drivers that sit at the front of the hotel waiting to take advantage of you. They will try to charge you 2 to 3 times as much as if you simply walk a few extra feet to the very busy road the hotel is on and flag down a taxi. Don't trust the hotel staff to get you a taxi --- they'll get you one of the expensive ones. When taking a taxi in San Jose, always ask if they use the "Maria," which is their term for the meter. The honest ones who you flag down on the street will use this.
If I needed to stay in San Jose again, I would certainly stay at the Tryp Corobici. Though if you are going to Costa Rica, minimize the stay in San Jose and maximize it anywhere else in the country.
