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Just picture yourself, on an everlasting line at the airport immigration counter at arrival, after a few exhausting hours on that plane! Even worse, there was a tremendous turbulence and the guy in the next seat did not stop trying to sell you a life insurance policy during the flight! As if this was not enough, the airline carrier lost your Gucci bag! What in heaven do you wish the most at this time—a soft, clean, and big bed at a charming, nice hotel. Right?
San Jose experienced a great tourism boom growth in the eighties, and hotels of all sorts were built. It is important though, to know the reason of your visit to make the right choice.
With the increase of the Business Class Tourism, wonderful convention centers and resorts, which offer business travelers all the convenience required to carry on with their work, were developed. Fast Internet connections, fax, secretarial services, voice mail, and conference rooms are some of the features offered. Generally speaking, resorts include swimming pools, tennis courts and gyms, as well as nice bars with live music for demanding tastes. You will find rent-a-car and traveling agencies offices and shops there as well. The restaurants are also magnificent.
For the traveler who is more interested in the city life, Downtown San Jose offers quite an array of medium to small size hotels. They have the advantage of their location, so they are great if you want to explore the city by foot, and you can always catch easily a cab or bus if you want to go further. They apply as well to the business traveler who has affairs in town and although they do not offer the same amount of services that a resort does, they are generally speaking, clean and comfortable. Among their amenities you will find bar and restaurant service, cable TV, air conditioning and a travel agency. If you require an Internet connection, there are quite a few net cafes just a few blocks away. If shopping is your weak spot, well, San Jose's retail stores carry almost anything you might want to buy. (With the exception of wild animals and endangered species that is!). Their prices are moderate to high, depending on the quality.
The tourism boom created the bed and breakfast phenomenon as well. Just a few blocks north of Central Avenue, in the historical and charming Barrio Amón, you will find some options of such a kind, that operate in the old mansions of the coffee plantation owners from the turn of the Century. After some restorations, they have been turned into small hotels, full of history and tradition. You will find bed and breakfast hotels in the San Pedro and Escazú areas as well as in some rural zones. They generally offer comfortable and clean rooms, telephones, and air conditioning or fans, and cable TV. Most of them have private bathrooms and breakfast is part of the fare. They are a great option for travelers in family groups, or whose final destination is a beach or mountain resort, but wish to spend a few days in the city.
Finally, there are boarding houses. They have the cheapest rates and will suit the traveler on a very tight budget. Bathrooms are shared and those on the rock-bottom side might be not as clean. If not ideal, they are also an option.
It is worth mentioning that some medium sized, more specialized excellent hotels are located towards the Escazú and Santana areas. Superb restaurants with European chefs and lavishly decorated rooms are their seal. They are perfect for honeymooners or persons who want to relax and forget all about everything, although their rates are a bit on the high side.
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