We live in Costa Rica about an hour and a half away from San Jose, but we didn't want to drive in and park overnight. We enjoyed our breakfast which had everything - Continental, American style and "Tico" style. Our room which had the economical rates was clean and comfortable. There is wifi, another computer to use, a gymnasium which we did not investigate, attractive surroundings and the hotel is close to everything in downtown. We had a great stay and a productive shopping trip.

To escape from New York City’s winter in January 2013, we returned to Costa Rica after two visits in 2011.

Our base city, San José, was conveniently located for day excursions to: the Tortuguero Canals, Manuel Antonio National Park, La Paz Waterfalls, Monteverde Cloud Forest and the Ram Luna Folklore Show.

After enjoying Hotel Balmoral in 2011, our choice of hotel was a “no-brainer”. We returned and were not disappointed.

Though located in a shabby downtown area on Avenida Central, this hotel represents an excellent choice, having gone through massive renovations in 2011. Our suite on the fifth floor was furnished with hardwood floors and earth-toned walls.The bedroom was spacious with a king-size bed, widescreen TV and a safe deposit box. Air-conditioning was accessible from remote control panel. The living room was large and beautifully furnished with a sofa, coffee table, work desk and chair, recliner for reading, a small table and a mini-bar. The bathroom was large with shower and a tab that converted into a mini Jacuzzi. It could use a rear-view mirror not susceptible to clouding up. Bathroom amenities included a hair-dryer, soap, shampoo, conditioners and ample shelf space.

Services are great at the Balmoral. Housekeeping provided cleaning and a fresh supply of extra towels daily, though a guilt-provoking sign on the wall encourages guests to re-use towels for environmental control. Foreign exchange and departure tax collection are no longer provided at the front desk. Still, the staff is friendly and informative and will get you a taxi on a short notice. Daniel, at the tour desk, provides good help with day excursions, restaurant reservations and travel advice.

A complimentary breakfast buffet was served daily between 6 and 9am at the El Patio Restaurant at street level. Food choices included Costa Rican foods such as: rice with black beans (Gallo Pinto), fried plantains, cheese, tropical fruits, and American/European foods such as: eggs made to order, bread, carrot cake and cinnamon buns. Drinks included water and orange juice that were left on the counter without cover or ice (=very bad) and hot coffee. The staff accepted requests for tea that took 10 minutes to fulfill. This menu needs change with more offerings, catering to the finicky American and European guests. Breakfast hours should be extended till 10 am to accommodate late-risers. El Patio Restaurant is open to outside diners and offers a good choice of cakes, hot and cold drinks, European and Costa Rican dishes. Prices, though, are high in comparison with other establishments in the area. Live music is provided on weekends.

The new business center at the Balmoral includes two computers, available complimentary for hotel guests. A new lavatory is conveniently located next to the business center. The ground floor has been renovated and has new shops with mini pharmacy, self-service candy shop and a gift shop. You may want to skip the fifth floor poorly-equipped Fitness Center altogether.

All-in-all our experience at the Hotel Balmoral was excellent and despite some credit card issues we shall return again.

My wife and I stayed at the Hotel Balmoral in San José, Costa Rica, for 12 days, checking out January 21, 2013. This was our third visit to that beautiful country and the second stay at the Balmoral.

For the most part, the Balmoral is an excellent choice, particularly if you intend to use the capital city as a base and to take one-day trips to the jungle safaris and other touristic locations. Balmoral is located in the dead center of the city, on the principal boulevard, Avenida Central.

Since Costa Rica is an inexpensive country, the rates at the hotel are fantastic. We shared a suite loaded with wood cabinets and closets, enough room to store just about all the stuff one accumulates at home. The wooden floors are gleaming, as though a coat of ice were placed above them, making them impervious to scratches. The maid service is phenomenal: not a speck of dust can be found in the suite. The room had a 32 inch TV with cable including HBO. Yet perhaps because we were there between high seasons—middle of January—we had this room for just $141 a night, and that included the 13% government tax.

The shower is terrific: strong current of water and thankfully not the European style “telephone” types. Hot water never gave out. Eight bath towels were provided for us.

The staff are great as well. Daniel, the concierge, fixed us up with trips to jungles and to a folklore show, aided by brochures a-plenty on the racks. This is a particular strength: we stayed during the past 9 months in Alicante, Spain, and Tirana, Albania, in five-star hotels including the Melia. There was no concierge at the announced desk at any time. The staff could not or would not speak much English and seemed hostile when compared to the friendly folks behind desks at the Balmoral.

The breakfast is filling but limited. Gallo Pinto (rice and beans wedded together), indifferent bread and pastries, eggs made to order albeit cooked to a rubber consistency, papaya, cantaloupe, watermelon, and coffee and tea. However, despite a renovation during the last year that put a few stores in the lobby (a candy emporium and a small pharmacy among them), the breakfast dining room featured more than half of its chairs as plain wood and just a few with upholstery. Your butt will thank you if you manage to sit in the latter. If you sit just behind the bar, you will not find upholstery on the seats: you would have to take a table. One wonders why the Balmoral could not have spent some more colones to match all the chairs with cushions.

There are two computers for guests’ use, but apparently unwilling to spend a few more colones, management still uses these machines manufactured in 2002 with Windows XP. One of the machines does not respond correctly to some keys including the @. (You have to ask the staff which key to depress for that important sign.) Behind the computers are two public restrooms. The men’s room automatic dryer had not worked all week. There are internet cafés a short walk away, charging under one dollar for an hour’s use.

The fitness center is a sad case. Five machines including a junior-size treadmill that did not function during the time we were there.

The hotel’s bar and restaurant, The Patio, is surprisingly expensive considering the reasonable rates of the rooms. A pizza comes to $20.

Weaknesses aside (all hotels have ‘em), Balmoral is a place to which we would enjoy returning.

I generally go into SJ once a month, and after being disappointed with where I normally stay, decided to give the Balmoral a try again. Very impressed with renovations, great location and the staff is great. Secure parking garage is a huge plus! Good breakfast is included in price. Restaurant prices are high though.