Buena Vista Chic Hotel

Hotels
Independent
9 (145 reviews)
Road 130, 9 kms north from the airport, toward Poas Volcano, San Isidro, Alajuela, 4050 , San Isidro , CR

Facilities

Free breakfast
Area shuttle (surcharge)
Free WiFi
24-hour front desk
Terrace
Garden
Luggage storage
Concierge service
Picnic area
Free airport transportation
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Beautiful grounds
Friendly staff
Comfortable rooms
Cons:
Service issues at reception
High drink prices

Categories

Cleanliness
9.39
The hotel grounds and rooms are mentioned as clean and well kept.
Service
8.36
Service was praised highly, but a negative experience at reception affects the overall perception.
Location
9.4
The property is conveniently located near the airport, with a quiet and safe environment.
Room Quality
9.35
Rooms are described as lovely, comfortable and well-organized with beautiful views.
Amenities
8.88
The amenities are generally good, however, there were suggestions for improvements in the food options.
Value for Money
8.84
Value for money is impacted by high charges for drinks, which seemed unjustified compared to meal prices.
Food and Beverage
8.39
While breakfast and the restaurant received positive feedback, there were requests for a broader menu and local options.
Overall Experience
9.36
Overall experience is positive with lovely accommodations and stunning grounds.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-20 02:44

Property Description

Experience a serene retreat at Buena Vista Chic Hotel, nestled in the picturesque mountains of San Isidro.

Relaxation and Recreation
Dive into our outdoor pool or unwind in the lush garden while soaking in breathtaking views from our terrace.

Culinary Delights
Savor gourmet dishes at our on-site restaurant, Quetzal Grill, or enjoy room service during limited hours for an indulgent experience at your convenience.

Comfort and Connectivity
Our 30 stylishly appointed guestrooms feature espresso makers, rainfall showerheads, and complimentary Wi-Fi to keep you connected and comfortable throughout your stay.

Escape the everyday and book your haven at Buena Vista Chic Hotel now!

Important information:

  • Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.
  • Contactless check-out is available.

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

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets not allowed

  • Children and extra beds

    No rollaway/extra beds available

  • Check-in & Check-out

    Contactless check-out is available

  • Guest type

    Essential workers only - NO

  • Accessibility

    No elevators

See all policies

Location

Guest Reviews

9
Based on 145 reviews
Cleanliness: 9.39
Service: 8.36
Location: 9.4
Room Quality: 9.35
Amenities: 8.88
Value for Money: 8.84
Food and Beverage: 8.39
Overall Experience: 9.36
B
barrysH3517YP Couples Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, Wales
10
Great little hotel
Pros:

An excellent inntroduction to Costa Rica. Efficient, friendly staff. Decent food and superb views over the central valley. Also an excellent place to overnight if you need an overnight before leaving. Free shuttle to the airport 24/7.

2026-03-26 via Tripadvisor
V
V2297BBdavidl Couples Maun, Ngamiland East, North-West District
8
Tranquility with a view
Pros:

Wonderful one night stopover in this delightful boutique hotel set in tranquil small coffee estate.
Beds very comfortable, good strong shower and good breakfast.
Very peaceful and tranquil setting, ideal for settling into the Tico way of life…Pura Vida!

2026-02-25 via Tripadvisor
S
skiinghotshots Couples United Kingdom
8
First night in Costa Rica
Pros:

It was the 1st hotel we stayed at in CR due to a late flight in and a long journey the next day. Super stopover location. All amenities catered for. The only slight downside was breakfast was included in the price but this consisted 3 small slices of fruit, toast and marmalade along with cake and coffee/tea. On the whole very pleased with the experience.

2026-02-11 via Tripadvisor
M
marioncL4445HO Couples
8
lovely hotel just outside San Jose
Pros:

We chose to stay here after landing from Gatwick in to San Jose. It's about a 20-30 min drive, depending on the traffic. It's up quite high and has fantastic views. The grounds are lovely. The hotel seemed quite old and rustic (reminded us of a chalet style hotel in the Alps). Our room was big with three very tall beds - and although the mattress felt soft, it was actually very comfortable. The bathroom was a decent size and had excellent products.
We had drinks and dinner in the hotel and the food was very good indeed. The breakfast was also very good, with plenty of choice.
The staff were lovely. We would definitely stay here again.

2026-02-09 via Tripadvisor
A
angelalD3560SP Couples
10
A nice hotel.
Pros:

A great hotel for a quick stop and refresh after flying into San Jose. Friendly staff and good service throughout.
The restaurant was mid range but adequate.
Gardens surrounding the hotel were lovely but being a coffee plantation was a stretch of the imagination, you could walk the pathed tour in 5 mins.
On a super plus note the bed was the best hotel bed I’ve slept in.

2026-02-01 via Tripadvisor
M
María
10
Pros:

Convinient

2025-09-24 via Nuitee
L
Lisa Renee friends
10
Pros:

Everything about this property and its staff was amazing. It was quiet. It felt very safe. The staff went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and safe when I return to Costa Rica I won’t be returning back into San Jose however, if you are, this is a great place to stay

2025-09-14 via Nuitee
S
Susan friends
10
Pros:

The hotel and grounds are lovely and well kept. We had a delicious dinner at the restaurant. Staff were very friendly, and the room was comfortable with a great view of the city lights.

2025-09-14 via Nuitee
S
Sharon partner
8
Pros:

I loved the property, we stayed in the villa #1 which was big and beautiful. There were paths leading from the accommodations down the mountains with beautiful trees, flowers butterflies etc. The view from the villa was magnificent. The restaurant was convenient and had mostly friendly staff but i would have preferred a more Costa Rican cuisine and maybe sell a few snacks at the front desk. I really would have loved if they had a relationship with one of the local restaurants to do deliveries! That would've been awesome since the local food was delicious! The t.v shoes were only in Spanish which I understand but the remote has an English input that didn't work. Over all I would recommend the hotel. I went during the rainy season so we didn't have to deal with any crowds.

2025-08-27 via Nuitee
K
karen family
6
Pros:

Rooms are comfortable. No elevator. Noisy since open floor plan and could hear staff talking in restaurant late into the evening and then housekeeping early in the morning. Staff was excellent. Not too convenient for airport but a cute hotel b

2025-08-11 via Nuitee
P
Patricia H family
10
Pros:

Staff was incredible, helped with anything we needed and made accommodations when needed. Pool area was not the best but we only used it for one day.

2025-08-09 via Nuitee
N
Nicole partner
10
Pros:

Amazing hotel in the hills, but proximal to SJO. Very comfortable, clean, gorgeous grounds. Staff is super friendly and the included breakfast was amazing! Highly recommend!!

2025-07-24 via Nuitee
V
VICKI family
10
Pros:

Absolutely stunning grounds! Everything was perfect!

2025-07-15 via Nuitee
E
Erika
10
Pros:

This is a great hotel located near the airport.

2025-07-14 via Nuitee
V
Voyage55096602559 Friends getaway Honiton, Devon, England
6
Nice hotel let down
Pros:

We stayed one night we arrived and one night before we left Costa Rica. The rooms are lovely and comfortable everything seems very well organised.beautiful views too. In the Resturant they accommodated the coeliac and that is very much appreciated.

Where it went wrong for us was the service at reception. Id left something the first night, I asked when I returned if it had been found. The receptionist enquired if I had rang (I hadn’t) and then spent sometime explaining why it was my fault over and over with a smirk. All I was hoping for was ‘I’ll ask the cleaners if they found anything’, which she did say only after our dressing down. We were left feeling uncomfortable and unhappy.

Because of this we didn’t ask why we were charged over $30 for two drinks we had at arrival (it was too late to get the receipt at the time and promised it on our return). This amount seems especially high since our evening meal cost just over $30.

2025-07-13 via Tripadvisor
R
Regina family
10
Pros:

Beautiful property. Clean, quiet and so unique. Reminds me of old Hollywood.

2025-07-09 via Nuitee
P
Pedro
10
Breathtaking
Pros:

Amazing property. The views are breathtaking and the customer service is unmatched. Food was delicious and rooms were clean.

2025-06-15 via Nuitee
L
Leonel family
8
Pros:

Thank you to Fiorella for all her assistance, great service 😊

Would recommend phone service in the villa’s a gym and more food service options.

2025-06-14 via Nuitee
M
Manuel family
10
Pros:

Welcoming atmosphere, great, comfortable rooms, nice pool, Very beautiful views, all around the property, nice coffee farm Trail. We were super pleased all around. Highly recommended!

2025-06-10 via Nuitee
K
Kevaris
6
Pros:

Beautiful resort , with a great view i would stay again.

The downside was we were not explained how the room service works and we have all types of insect that were affecting the quality of our stay. The staff was really nice

2025-06-08 via Nuitee