San Jose Heredia Hotels

Balmoral Hotel in Downtown San Jose

By Patrick Brunelle ⋅ November 4, 2009 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

If you are looking for an affordable lodging option in downtown San Jose Costa Rica, then the Balmoral hotel just may be your best option. The Balmoral hotel in San Jose is an older hotel, with a distinctive look, however, it has been making some large improvements and renovations, none more noticeable than the Patio area that offers Costa Rica its first great open air Patio experience.

The street located in front of the Balmoral hotel is for pedestrians only, and is packed pretty much all day. Located across from the Balmoral hotel in San Jose is the renowned Hotel Presidente, its four star counter part, and much pricier option. The Balmoral Hotel offers a gym, however, when touring the hotel I was greatly disappointing with the low standard of the equipment and the size of the room that they called a gym.

Driving to Hotel Balmoral can be a little tricky as well, due to the driving conditions in the Central Valley. The parking area is also hard to find, as the main entrance only has space for a few cars. The lobby area in the hotel is average at best, as they are in desperate need of changing their carpet. But these small details can easily be disregarded when you see the affordable prices offered by the Hotel Balmoral. The nightly entertainment and lively atmosphere also make this one the hottest spots in all of San Jose. The location also can’t be beat, as you are but a few steps away from the National Museum, Avenida Central and the Gold Museum.