We really enjoyed our stay at the hotel Balmoral. Located in the city center on the Main street it is convenient for seeing all the city sites. Our room was large and the bed with the yummy comforter was heaven. Breakfast was great with so many choices and fresh fruit. The staff was friendly and helpful, secure parking for our car, and the bar and restaurant right on the main street so you can enjoy your meal and people watch at the same time. I will be back to San Jose and this is where I will stay, again I cant say enough about the location. Thank you Balmoral!

There may be nice rooms in this hotel, but we didn't see them. We stayed two nights, one night at the beginning of our trip and one night at the end. Both times we had a very small, inadequate room at the farthest end of the hall. There was a utility shaft outside both rooms that jutted into the corner of the room, taking up probably 1/3 of the room space. In the photos it is surrounded by curtains. There were two double beds, a huge closet with small shelves (with a light bulb but we could find no way to turn it on) a small flat screen TV and a small fridge.The fridge was loaded with bottles of liquor, water, etc. - I am sure at premium prices. The rooms were clean and the beds comfortable.
Our second night was even worse than the first night. Our room was on the 6th floor - where they have the banquets, etc. and we could hear dishes and silverware clanging and the kitchen help yelling to each other - it was noisy.
Also on the second night we had no place to put our luggage - no bench, chair or table in the room. So the second bed had to be used for luggage. If you don't mind sharing a double bed this will work. Otherwise you will have to put your luggage on the floor. And floor space is at a premium in this room.
The bathroom had a dispenser for shower gel and soap, but both were empty. There was a sample size bottle of shampoo and a half full bottle of conditioner.
The breakfast in the morning was very good, and the restaurant spacious and nicely appointed. There are lots of green plants surrounding the dining areas and the usual CR open to the air bar. Monday and Wednesday is two for one cocktails and beer - a nice option.
The hotel is in a good location - right on Central Avenue - the pedestrian walkway lined with shops, markets and places to eat. It is easy to walk to the main park and the museums. This is the best part of this hotel. However, driving to it can be a nightmare.
There is free valet parking for your car. And the hotel staff was friendly and accommodating. The wifi was the worst we encountered in our entire stay in Cost Rica - which is peculiar since this hotel is in the city. But it was a strange place to stay all the way around. Not the best of our lodging by a long shot. Gate 1 - our travel company - booked us into fabulous hotels for the other locations, but seem to have dropped the ball in San Jose. There may be better rooms in this hotel, but we did not experience them.

I chose the Balmoral Hotel primarily for its price and its location in the center of downtown San Jose. I had only one day to spend in San Jose before moving on to the Puerto Viejo area, so I wanted a hotel close to all the sites. The location did not disappoint, but I would not recommend the Balmoral for longer stays. My room was pretty depressing with one little window. The bed was uncomfortable, and the room's location at the end of the hall meant a lot of noise from the street filtered in. Otherwise, the continental breakfast was decent. I appreciated the wifi in the lobby and the presence of an ATM downstairs.

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.