My husband and I were in visiting CR for our honeymoon in 01/08, and stayed in Hotel Presidente twice: one night when we just arrived, and another night before our departure. For the first stay we got a room with two separate beds and when asked a room with one larger bed (it's a honeymoon!), we were told that the hotel was full. the room was OK, it was overlooking the walking strip, and was pretty noisy. Also, I woke up several times at night when our neighbors were flushing toilet in their rooms - it was that loud. The food was just OK (later I learned that the food was very good if you compare that restaurant to any others in the vicinity). We paid $89 plus tax for that room. Breakfast was included in the price. Breakfast is a hot buffer with a choice of eggs, sausage, rice and beans, and fruits.

For the second stay, they upgraded us free of charge to a larger room with king size bed and jacuzzi, as well as gave us a bottle of champaign and chocolates as a gist for the honeymoon. That was sweet! The manager Oscar was very helpful. The room was not noisy at all, and very clean.

The hotel is located in downtown San Jose, in the middle of everything. However, beware, that it is a famous pick-up place where old American and Canadian men pick up young and beautiful Costa Rican girls.

It was a nice stay, and we will definitely stay there again.

Hotel Presidente is a great place to stay if you want to be able to walk to the museums, national Theatre, Central Market and other places of interest. Taxi fare to the hotel is $17.00 and takes about 20 min. at low traffic times. Be aware that rush hour easily doubles this. Inter Bus is a good option if you are traveling from another hotel. The hotel has a cafe/restaurant offering many options. Free internet, tour desk and the opportunity to pay your departure tax make this hotel tourist friendly. While flying to Costa Rica a fellow passenger informed us that this was not a good hotel. She indicated there were "working girls" using this hotel as a meeting place. Needless to say we were a little worried prior to our arrival. However we saw no sign of any people or activity which one might find disturbing. The staff are friendly, speak English fluently and offer a clean and secure location for anyone to stay.

I can only agree with most other reviews the hotel is getting each time better, the improvements which took place for as long as I had the chance to stay in this hotel are very nice and could not be better. Depending up on where my meetings in San Jose take place I most of the time try to stay in this unique hotel.

The rooms are of a nice size, well maintained and very clean, the noise level is very low, which gives you the chance to get a good sleep at night.

The Restaurant / Bar service in respect to Quality and Attitude is perfect, the service is fast and always with a smile. During Lunch time you are well advised to make a reservation since the place is full most of the time, it also shows that the Restaurant does a good job on the local Guest market.

If you take all facts together, the President hotel prices verses value is for sure one of the best options you can find in San Jose. I am looking forward being back in March 2008

The Hotel Presidente is my home away from home when I travel to Costa Rica. I have stayed at thePresidente four times since the turn of the century. In May 2000, In June 2002, in December 2005, and, in June 2006. Every time I return, they have made the hotel even better, by improving the facilities, and making the entire hotel more mordern. This hotel surely appreciates the business of it's repeat customers, it has always treated me very well. The rooms are clean. The staff is always very helpful, friendly, and courteous. And, best of all, the price is right ! I book all my tours through the tour desk, and have never had a bad experience. The food at the "News Cafe'" is excellent, the free breakfast buffet is included in the price of your room. The open-air cafe allows you a bird's eye view for peopole watching San Jose's street life stroll past while you dine or drink. The hotel is located on "La Grande Via" a five mile long cobble-stoned pedestrian(no vehicle traffic) street, which is also refered to as "Gringo Gultch", as this is the main shopping district downtown, with all the stores, schools, restaurants and pharmacies you could ever want. For you Gringo turistas, they also have K.F.C., Burger King, and Mickey D's. Also the National Theatre is one block away. Another new time saving feature that the hotel has, is: you can now pay your airport departure tax at the front dask, and they give you a government receipt, to save you from standing in an extra line at the airport.