Stayed on arrival for my first 4 days in C.R. while getting dental work in San Jose (a good reason/huge $ savings to visit CR btw), and again upon departing night a week later. Received a good, American quality, 4th floor pool facing room of 3 star+ American equivalence in all ways that included very adequate b'fast at Denny's (attached to hotel along with a small casino) during our first leg.

Beds definitely vary in comfort as this first room's bed was way too hard. Had understood that CR beds were pretty "firm", but hard is hard -end of story- and we would have addressed this had we better realized... Our second stay/bed was much better. Would advise noting preference in advance.

Best security staff and fire control here that I saw anywhere in CR (Am U.S. fireman - saw some pretty scary stuff in US owned "upper scale" hotels while staying in CR) Despite all written on crime in the San Jose area the immediate neighborhood/ blocks around Irazu seemed much safer then many in USA cities(!)

Pool, grounds, 2 tennis courts were all fine - very well maintained and landscaped, as was the entire facility in general. (better then many back in U.S.)

Our second departing stay/room, while still fine, was not quite as large, or as quite as well appointed - faced rear of hotel/city scape vs. pool area. Would suggest confirming preferences before booking from this small lesson we learned. Pool and jacuzzi close @ 8 so sleeping noise was never of issue, but also plan use of these accordingly/early.

Hotel bar/disco/happy hour (and big screen TV soccer games!) is available and get "spirited", but again, security for hotel and casino is always present and any noise never affected us. (...Had pre-listed our preference for a quiet room)

Dining: Yes, the Denny's is on the pricey side, but also includes a 10% gratuity in the bill. My last trip to a US Denny's was no great deal either, so if you want Americano fare that's shipped in a few thousand miles you pay accordingly. OTHERWISE, find La Gallera right across from the hotel entry to be very OPEN, despite T.A. postings to the contrary (blind posters maybe??), and we gave it a 8/10 for fare/good wine list after two meals here.

Subway was also across the street, buy why eat there unless you went w/ the teens/kids...?? So keep reading...

Go RIGHT of the main entry and follow the sidewalk for about 175-200 yards (You'll pass the Casino parking lot) and you'll find La Fuenta, a good fish/seafood restaurant (had Pescado a la Espagnol twice - nice local style fish dish!) Real CR fare here for reasonable $. There's an adjoining mini mall to La Fuenta that holds another CR fare restaurant further within - right next to the cigar shop/kiosk with real Cuban and Costa Rican cigars.

There's also a Chinese rest. sign. outside but we didn't find/check it out, so I can only assume that other TA/Irazu posts here about "immediate limited dining" were put up by people that [cluelessly] never left the Irazu grounds or the Denny's counter... (i.e., typical tour groupers) Anyway, we were glad we explored beyond the ends of our own American noses.

You'll also find a supermarket (open til 8ish PM and pretty cool to check out for local snacks, food, beer/wine, I-forgots, etc.) and a decent pharmacy (English only so-so - open til 8-9ish) both within plain sight/ few yards of the aforementioned La Fuente and mini-mall. Very handy!

Again, the market/mini-mall area seemed perfectly safe w/ mucho security very present during open hours. No problemo! ...would suggest keeping purses/fanny packs w/ straps back at hotel (back @ home even better - straps get cut/ran off with) anywhere in the SJ metro area and guy's wallets go in the FRONT hip pocket. Blow off any American/others sob story of getting robbed and awaiting money from home. (a common fleecing line of total El Crapolla, and we did get this once on our way over to the mini-mart from a nice, clean cut, and worthless young Americano scam artist.)

A little digging should find so-so Irazu discounting from rack rate, but we paid about 117 US plus tax. Signing up for the Best West. frequent stay card helps by 10% too.