At a glance:
The Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belen near San Jose Airport in Costa Rica offers the convenience of an airport hotel, in a resort like setting. It is also a decent option for those wanting to spend a couple nights in San Jose to visit the city. The hotel is set on a former hacienda that has been renovated. Located on a 30 acre coffee plantation, there are 2 outdoor swimming pools, a golf driving range, and a coffee-inspired spa.
What it actually is: A multi-purpose suburban hotel that has elements of a charming Spanish hacienda, a peaceful tropical hillside resort, a bustling event venue, and a stopover airport hotel.
What it is not: A destination resort to spend a considerable amount of time at.
Room: King Executive Balcony Room (Upgraded from: King Guest Room)
Time of year: winter (Holiday season)
Scores:
Hotel Design: 89 – Beautiful Spanish architecture and nice outdoor spaces.
Location: 85 – The location is great for an airport hotel, but secluded from downtown or other walkable areas. Downtown San Jose is about a 15-30 minute Uber ride away, depending on traffic.
Sleep: 79 – Standard (but good) Marriott bedding, but some noise from restaurants and other public areas can be noticeable.
Service: 85 – Good. The hotel went above and beyond with some extra touches.
Room Design: 83 – Nicely renovated but otherwise fairly standard.
Room Amenities: 86 – A good sized terrace plus good standard in room amenities.
Hotel Amenities: 87 – Nice pools, a good gym, a number of (somewhat uninspired) onsite dining venues, and a limited airport shuttle.
Vibe: 82 – Resort meets convention meets airport hotel – there’s a lot going on here, but it seems to generally work well.
Cleanliness / Maintenance: 89 – Despite the age of the property, everything appeared well maintained and clean.
Value / Extras & Perks: 89 – Lounge access for Marriott elite members was nice (if not somewhat limited and busy) and nice welcome amenities were an added bonus.
OVERALL: 85.4
Would we stay again? Yes
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