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Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District

3.5 star property

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Photo gallery for Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District

Flat-screen TV
Presidential Suite | In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, soundproofing
Family Suite | Living room | Flat-screen TV
Suite Belford | In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, soundproofing
Exterior

Reviews

8.0 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Room service
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Central Ave, between 7th and 9th St, San José, San Jose, 3344-1000
  • Morazan Park
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • National Theater
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • National Museum of Costa Rica
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • San José (SJO-Juan Santamaría Intl.)
    ‪31 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Deluxe

Deluxe | In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, soundproofing

Deluxe

  • 409 sq ft
  • City view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds OR 1 King Bed

View all photos for Junior Suite

Junior Suite | In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, soundproofing

Junior Suite

  • 409 sq ft
  • City view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for Presidential Suite

Presidential Suite | In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, soundproofing

Presidential Suite

  • 861 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Suite Belford

Suite Belford | In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, soundproofing

Suite Belford

  • 797 sq ft
  • City view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 King Beds

View all photos for Standard Room (Plus)

Standard Room (Plus) | In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, soundproofing

Standard Room (Plus)

  • 269 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Plus

Deluxe Plus | In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, soundproofing

Deluxe Plus

  • 409 sq ft
  • City view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds OR 1 King Bed

View all photos for Family Suite

Family Suite | Living room | Flat-screen TV

Family Suite

  • 969 sq ft
  • City view
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 Queen Bed and 2 Double Beds

View all photos for Superior Plus

Superior Plus | In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, soundproofing

Superior Plus

  • 344 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds OR 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Suite 514

Suite 514 | In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, soundproofing

Suite 514

  • 428 sq ft
  • City view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for Suite Gales

Suite Gales | In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, soundproofing

Suite Gales

  • 527 sq ft
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Superior

Superior | In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, soundproofing

Superior

  • 344 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

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About this property

Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District

3.5-star hotel in Carmen
Along with a restaurant, this smoke-free hotel has a 24-hour fitness center and a bar/lounge. Free breakfast (local cuisine), free WiFi in public areas, and free valet parking are also provided. Additionally, 2 coffee shops/cafes, a 24-hour business center, and a conference center are onsite.
Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District offers 119 air-conditioned accommodations with safes and hair dryers. Flat-screen televisions are featured in guestrooms.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones. Housekeeping is offered daily and irons/ironing boards can be requested.

Recreational amenities at the hotel include a 24-hour fitness center.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

Dining is available at the hotel's restaurant and guests can grab coffee at one of the 2 coffee shops/cafes. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. A complimentary breakfast is offered each morning. A computer station is located on site and wireless Internet access is complimentary.

Business-related amenities at this 3.5-star property consist of a 24-hour business center and 7 meeting rooms. Event facilities measuring 5909 square feet (549 square meters) include a conference center. This Art Deco hotel also offers a 24-hour fitness center, a vending machine, and multilingual staff. For a surcharge, the property provides an airport shuttle (available 24 hours) and an area shuttle. Limited complimentary onsite parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District is a smoke-free property.

A complimentary local cuisine breakfast is served each morning between 6:00 AM and 11:00 AM.
EL PATIO DEL BALMORAL - This restaurant specializes in international cuisine and serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. A children's menu is available.
Room service (during limited hours) is available.

Languages

English, Spanish

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • 24-hour roundtrip airport shuttle at scheduled times and on request for a surcharge
  • Area shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free secured, covered valet parking on site
  • Limited onsite parking

Food and drink

  • Free local cuisine breakfast available daily 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM
  • 2 coffee shops/cafes
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant

Restaurants on site

  • EL PATIO DEL BALMORAL

Things to do

  • 24-hour gym
  • Designer stores
  • Shopping

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities
  • Soundproofed rooms

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff
  • Porter/bellhop
  • Proposal/romance packages
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Wedding services

Business services

  • 24-hour business center
  • 7 meeting rooms
  • Computer station
  • Conference center (5,909 square feet of space)

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Accessible airport shuttle
  • Elevator
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Stair-free path to entrance
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible path to elevator
  • Wheelchairs on site

More

  • 1 building
  • 7 floors
  • Art Deco architecture
  • At least 80% of food locally-sourced
  • Banquet hall
  • Built in 1955
  • Double-glazed windows
  • Reception hall
  • Smoke-free property
  • Vegetarian dining options

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV

Food and drink

  • Limited room service

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Energy-saving switches in guestrooms
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Laptop workspace
  • LED lighting
  • Phone
  • Safe
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in is available for a fee
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before noon
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 72 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 15 per pet, per night, plus a deposit of USD 100 per stay
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Pets cannot be left unattended
Specific rooms only, restrictions apply; pet-friendly rooms can be requested by contacting the property at the number on the booking confirmation

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Children up to the age of 7 years can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 40 per vehicle (one-way, maximum occupancy 6)
  • Airport shuttle fee per child: USD 15 (one-way)
  • Pet deposit: USD 100 per stay
  • Pet fee: USD 15 per pet, per night
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Early check-in is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Minimum Spring Break check-in age is 18 years old
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a security system

We should mention

Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms

Property is also known as

Balmoral Hotel
Balmoral Hotel San Jose
Balmoral San Jose
Hotel Balmoral

Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District Reviews

Reviews

8.0

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 408 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 314 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 162 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 63 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 54 out of 1001 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Staff & service

7.6/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Stevan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent location
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

6/10 Okay

Christopher

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Brenda

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

One night in the city.

The entire staff was very friendly. Hotel is older and in the city. Walkable. Parking was convenient. Breakfast was included. Very simple w 4 choices plus coffee and juice.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

6/10 Okay

Aaron

Traveled with group
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property wasn't as clean as i would like and the management wasn't as prompt to my questions.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024

2/10 Terrible

Elisha

Disliked: Staff & service

Very unhappy with this hotel and hotels.com

We tried 2 times a full week before our stay to cancel because of a death in the family. Even received a note from Hotels.com that they sent it to the hotel to cancel. Zero response. Only check in messages and how was your stay responses. I fault both the hotel and Hotels.com for not responded or refunding under these conditions. I even sent the obituary as proof.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

6/10 Okay

Keith

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service

Restaurant experience, horrible.

Everything was decent just decent however once again the service in the restaurant as we were there before and I just wrote it off to a bad day, was horrible. No lie 57 minutes as we saw the clock when we sat down to get cold pancakes with fruit and one plate of scrambled eggs with rice. Two other couples screaming as well. Our waitress ignored us over 25 minutes, just to bring me a cup of tea and coffee when we first sat down. Another waitress saw how upset we were and finally brought me the tea and then the orange juice which took another 15 minutes, which is part of your breakfast.I don’t know why anyone will go here. I can’t believe anyone has a good experience from what I’ve seen and experienced myself now. They need to fire everyone in that restaurant.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mia

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We only stayed for two nights and it was a comfortable stay after a late flight. Very close to a lot of shops and restaurants. Staff were friendly too. Rooms were clean, breakfast was good. A/C and TV were good.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

4/10 Poor

Pamela

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

2/10 Terrible

Kyle

Business traveler, Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service
We arrived at the checkin desk and there was one person working and a couple checking in. She asked us to sit and wait and she would call us up to the counter. Another couple was in the seating area and they said they were waiting because their room was not ready and they had already checked in, we were next. While we were waiting another couple came in and were helped before we were, not a huge deal, another checkin agent also arrived as there was only one person doing checkins. While checking in I was asked to pay for the room, I told them I booked on Expedia and it should be paid. She was very unfriendly and said the room was not paid for and wanted to know how I was going to pay. I said again that it was paid for. Her associate helped her find that the room was in fact paid for. She was very unfriendly. That evening around 8:00 PM the phone in the room rang and it was Anna from the front desk, same girl that checked us in. She said our card was declined and I had to come down to the front desk and pay for the room. She was VERY unfriendly this time. I told again the room was paid for.She said it was not and If I wanted to stay the night I had to come down to the front desk. She was very rude. I was almost dressed to head down and the phone rang again and it was Anna, she said it was a mistake, the room was paid for. I went down anyway to talk to her. I was not asked for a card to cover any additional expenses and needed to know how she had my credit card information. She
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Colleen

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Liked: Staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

scott

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Great Hotel to explore downtown San Jose

The location is perfect for exploring downtown San Jose. Just a few minutes walk to museums and the central avenue stores. Check in was a bit stressful and chaotic and our agent was not very friendly but after that the stay was great. All the rest of the staff were very friendly and helpful. The hotel is older and it shows, but our room was great despite the age. We booked a deluxe room and it was huge, with a nice glassed in balcony. It had lots of outlets, a full sized refrigerator and a microwave. It was quiet at night. The hotel restaurant is quite nice. A bit more expensive than street restaurants, but that is normal. The service and food were good and it was nice to have a good meal in our hotel, especially on our first night.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

4/10 Poor

Cindy

Business traveler
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Not coming back for sure

Hotel is out of date. A good was TERRIBLE .
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

6/10 Okay

Esther, Sydney

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
The people are very friendly but the hotel and the beds and linnen need desperately to be upgraded, towles are clean but fall apart bed is old ect
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Katherine

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff was fantastic. Our room was good. The restaurant on this property was just perfect. Food was perfect. We were here 5 nights museums are walkable. Easy to catch a tour here. We would come back. A real gem.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ronald

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

6/10 Okay

William

Disliked: Room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gina

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Nice hotel

Very spacious, clean and easy for walking around. Dinner and breakfast was amazing
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

6/10 Okay

O.

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Fabio

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Well situated and comfortable
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Debbie

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

S Ashley

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

4/10 Poor

Aida

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Alex

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

6/10 Okay

Gil

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
This is more like a 2 star hotel. Quite outdated. The pictures were probably taken several years ago. I would not recommend coming with young kids
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024