Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District

Hotels
7.4 (1380 reviews)
Avenida Central Calles 7 y 9 , San José , cr

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Fitness facilities
WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Fitness center
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Excellent central location near museums and attractions
Helpful, friendly staff (noted parking and restaurant personnel)
Free/available parking
Breakfast often praised
Spacious/comfortable rooms on some stays
Cons:
Dated rooms and facilities (old installations, A/C issues)
Inconsistent cleanliness (reports of unchanged/dirty bedding, rusty showers)
Perceived poor value / overpriced for what is offered
Unreliable Wi‑Fi and a poor gym
Occasional disorganized service and pre-arrival communication issues

Categories

Cleanliness
6.5
Mixed reports: several guests noted bedding not changed or dirty and rusty shower heads, while others mentioned the hotel was clean. Inconsistent housekeeping led to a below-average cleanliness score.
Service
8.8
Generally praised: multiple comments about very helpful, friendly staff (including specific praise for restaurant and parking staff). A minority reported disorganized communication and chaotic service before arrival.
Location
9.5
Consistently excellent: repeatedly described as central, next to museums and within walking distance of markets, restaurants and sights. Location is the strongest positive in guest feedback.
Room Quality
6.8
Comfortable and sometimes spacious, but frequently described as dated: old installations, some rooms lacking windows, A/C issues and worn fixtures reduce the score.
Amenities
6
Mixed/weak: free parking is praised and breakfast service exists, but guests report poor or nonexistent gym facilities, unreliable Wi‑Fi and generally old installations.
Value for Money
5.8
Several guests felt the hotel is overpriced for what it offers; complaints about cost versus quality (facilities, service inconsistencies) drive a below-target value score.
Food and Beverage
7.7
Generally positive but mixed: many guests praised breakfast and restaurant food, while some lamented the end of a buffet service or described breakfast as poor. Overall tends toward favorable.
Overall Experience
8.1
Overall impressions are more positive than negative: frequent recommendations and repeat stays due to location and helpful staff, tempered by issues with value, dated rooms and occasional service lapses.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-11 13:43

Property Description

Central Location in San José
The Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District is situated in the heart of San José, making it a convenient choice for travelers looking to explore the city.

Modern Amenities
With air-conditioned rooms, free Wi-Fi, a gym, and a restaurant on-site, guests can enjoy a comfortable stay with all the necessary conveniences at their fingertips.

Proximity to Key Attractions
Located just a short walk away from the Costa Rica National Theatre and the National Museum, as well as offering easy access to transportation hubs, the hotel ensures that guests can make the most of their visit to San José.

Ready to experience the best of San José? Book your stay at Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District now!

Important information:

Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 12:00 PM
Airport code: SJO

Location

Guest Reviews

7.4
Based on 1380 reviews
Cleanliness: 6.5
Service: 8.8
Location: 9.5
Room Quality: 6.8
Amenities: 6
Value for Money: 5.8
Food and Beverage: 7.7
Overall Experience: 8.1
S
Somnath • family_with_children • in
10
2026-08-29 • via Nuitee
S
Somnath • family_with_children • in
10
2026-08-29 • via Nuitee
J
Jakub • couple • pl
6
Pros:

Lokalizacja

Cons:

Pokoje są przestarzałe i śmierdziało w nich stęchlizną

2026-08-28 • via Nuitee
M
Marcel • couple • nl
7
Prima om de stad te verkennen
Pros:

Ligging in het centrum met parkeer gelegenheid

Cons:

Er was een balkon, maar deze was dicht met ramen die niet open konden. Verder sobere inrichting

2026-08-27 • via Nuitee
E
Enna • solo_traveller • us
10
Pros:

La ubicacion y atencion

Cons:

Que la cama cuando te volteabas chilla porque rosa el espaldal

2026-08-24 • via Nuitee
D
Denise • extended_group • us
7
Good spot for a 1 night stay in the downtown area
Pros:

Beds had lots of pillows and were fairly comfortable & room was quiet. I slept well. Room was clean and there was free breakfast in the morning in a beatiful atruim full of plants. We met the guy who takes care of them & he is very proud of his plants- as he should be! Hotel is convenient to many places downtown

Cons:

"Balcony" was a weird closed in narrow room with bad lighting and the window in it was stuck open. I would have had safety concerns if this was on the first floor & not the 3rd floor. The coffee in the room was the weakest coffee i've ever drank- not sure if the issue was with the actual coffee or the coffee maker.

2026-08-23 • via Nuitee
M
MARK • couple • us
10
Amazing trip
2026-08-23 • via Nuitee
J
Jakub • couple • pl
10
Pros:

Lokalizacja obsługa parking

Cons:

Hotel jest odrobinę przestarzały

2026-08-19 • via Nuitee
A
Albin • solo_traveller • ch
7
Pros:

Location was good at day-time, but completely empty and rather sketchy at night (would not recommend walking around there at night). Bed was comfy. Receptionist was friendly.

Cons:

Wifi was slow and had very bad coverage in my room.
After flushing the toilet there was a persistent varying pitch tonal sound for 10-15 min, mildly annoying at day time, VERY annoying at night (hard to sleep).
Receptionist quoted me $50 for airport transfer, even though they had already quoted me $40 over email. Hopefully an innocent mistake, but I get suspicious. Corrected to $40 after I questioned it.

Also: Hotel is need of a renovation. Was given physical keys even though all rooms seem to have door card readers (did the system break?). But could be worse, things generally worked.

2026-08-18 • via Nuitee
E
Emanuele • solo_traveller • it
8
2026-08-17 • via Nuitee
L
LOUIS • family_with_children • cr
8
À conseiller pour le centre historique
Pros:

Parfait emplacement en plein centre de San José et des principaux sites à visiter. Hôtel très correct. Propre, calme et literie confortable.

2026-08-17 • via Nuitee
P
Philippe • solo_traveller • fr
10
Pros:

Hôtel idéalement situé sur l'avenue principale de San José, à proximité des musées

2026-08-17 • via Nuitee
P
Päivikki • extended_group • fi
7
Hyvä yhden yön majoittumiseen
Pros:

Sijainti keskeinen ja huone tilava.

Cons:

Pesuhuone oli vähän ahdas ja remontin tarpeessa. Aamiainen ei ollut buffet, ja annos oli erittäin pieni verrattuna muiden hotellien vastaaviin aamiaisiin. Kahvia ei saanut hakea itse lisää.

2026-08-15 • via Nuitee
B
Benjamin • family_with_children • fr
7
2026-08-14 • via Nuitee
A
Alberto • solo_traveller • it
9
Colazione da migliorare
Pros:

La posizione

Cons:

La colazione non a buffet.. Che si possa prendere un solo piatto e non diversi.. Non viene servita acqua

2026-08-12 • via Nuitee
H
Helga • extended_group • sk
4
2026-08-11 • via Nuitee
A
ARNAUD • family_with_children • fr
8
2 nuits à notre arrivée pour se poser
Pros:

Plein centre ville, personnel au top

2026-08-11 • via Nuitee
K
Kler • couple • mx
9
EXCELLENT
Pros:

NO COMMENTS

Cons:

NO COMMENTS

2026-08-11 • via Nuitee
M
Martha Elena Pérez • extended_group • co
2
Pésima estancia. Creo que booking debe actualizar las fotos y decir la verdad sobre lo que ofrece e
Pros:

Hotel viejo feo en mal estado muy costoso por lo que cobran y lo que muestran en las fotos no coincide. Sitio feo. Además no hay wifi en las habitaciones

Cons:

No le gustó nada

2026-08-09 • via Nuitee
M
María • solo_traveller • es
10
Pros:

Todo! La ubicación, el parking, el desayuno y el personal

2026-08-09 • via Nuitee