Hotel Pibi Boreal

Hotels
9.8 (424 reviews)
Calle el Comun , Rosales Desamparados de Alajuela , Alajuela City , cr

Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Free beach shuttle
Offsite parking discounted rates available
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Room service
Luggage storage
Express check-in/check-out
Safety deposit box
Ironing service
Non-smoking throughout
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly hosts
Clean and comfortable rooms
Cons:
Some found it slightly remote
No significant negatives noted

Categories

Cleanliness
9.68
Multiple reviews mention the room and bathrooms being very clean.
Service
10
Guests consistently praise the helpfulness and friendliness of the hosts.
Location
10
Proximity to the airport and a calm atmosphere is frequently highlighted.
Room Quality
9.68
Rooms are described as pleasant and comfortable with additional features like balconies.
Amenities
9.68
Complimentary breakfast and secure parking are noted as positive points.
Value for Money
9.68
The experience is viewed as excellent value considering the services provided.
Food and Beverage
9.68
Breakfast quality is praised and served conveniently.
Overall Experience
10
Overall sentiment is highly positive with many returning guests.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-06 20:27

Property Description

Garden Oasis: Nestled in Alajuela, Hotel Pibi Boreal offers a tranquil garden setting for guests to unwind and relax.

Modern Comforts: Each room at Hotel Pibi Boreal is equipped with a wardrobe, private bathroom, and complimentary WiFi, ensuring a comfortable stay. The seating area in the rooms provides a cozy space for relaxation.

Convenient Location: With key attractions like Plaza Real Alajuela, Alajuela Cathedral, and Zoo Ave in close proximity, Hotel Pibi Boreal is the perfect base for exploring the vibrant city.

Book your stay at Hotel Pibi Boreal now to experience a blend of nature, comfort, and convenience in Alajuela!

Important information:

Please note that Front Desk is open from 06:00 - 22:00. Outside these hours please contact the hotel in advance for late chek in.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.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Airport code: SJO

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 1 year old stay for free when using an available cot.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

Location

Guest Reviews

9.8
Based on 424 reviews
Cleanliness: 9.68
Service: 10
Location: 10
Room Quality: 9.68
Amenities: 9.68
Value for Money: 9.68
Food and Beverage: 9.68
Overall Experience: 10
J
Julie family_with_children us
10
Loved our stay at Hotel Pibi Boreal! Highly recommend!
Pros:

Nice room with everything we needed, comfortable beds, beautiful veranda surrounded by lush vegetation, and delicious breakfast delivered to the room. Mathieu is a wonderful, attentive host. We especially appreciated the airport pickup by Mathieu which made our evening arrival at SJO relatively stress-free.

Cons:

Can’t think of anything we didn’t like! We really enjoyed our stay and would gladly stay here again.

2026-05-25 via Nuitee
P
Priscillia couple fr
9
2026-05-17 via Nuitee
E
Elizabeth couple gb
8
A lovely start to a great holiday
Pros:

The view overlooking the forest was beautiful and we really liked the breakfast served on the balcony.
The jam was excellent!

Cons:

Not really a dislike but we arrived late at night with heavy rain and the drive from the airport was quite challenging but thankfully short (20 mins!)

2026-05-17 via Nuitee
A
Astrid extended_group ch
10
Sehr zu empfehlen.
Pros:

Sehr schöne Unterkunft an toller Lage. Jetzt nicht mehr wie auf dem oberen Foto, eher zugewachsen.

Cons:

Nichts

2026-05-15 via Nuitee
P
Petra extended_group cz
10
2026-05-14 via Nuitee
A
Adrian family_with_children ch
8
Pros:

- gutes Frühstück auf eigener Veranda (wird gebracht)
- sehr nettes Personal
- grosse Auswahl an Restaurants ca. 10 Minuten (per Auto) von der Unterkunft entfernt

2026-05-11 via Nuitee
C
Christiaan family_with_children nl
10
Mooie locatie vlakbij vliegveld.
Pros:

Mooie accommodatie dicht bij het vliegveld. Ondanks dat je in San Jose verblijft voelt het aan alsof je in de vrije natuur verblijft. Verder basic kamer maar voldoet prima. Goed ontbijt en de extra service is prima. Een aanrader dus.

2026-05-09 via Nuitee
C
carolyndK795IP Couples
10
Lovely Birdwatcher's stay
Pros:

We really enjoy staying at the Hotel Pibi Boreal. We had two days left in our vacation in Costa Rica and chose the Pibi Boreal for its location close to the airport and away from the city center. We woke up early and went birding on their property. Heard and saw so many birds! We even were able to listen to and get a fleeting glimpse of the Long-tailed Manakin. They helped us organize our day trips to the Poas Volcan, the El Arca Botanical Garden & Restaurant, and the Costa Rica Meadery.
We would stay there again next time we come back.

2026-05-07 via Tripadvisor
H
hernan solo_traveller be
8
2026-05-05 via Nuitee
G
GIA9183 Couples Calabasas, California
2
Stranded at Night Despite Confirmed Arrangements
Pros:

I have no words to fully express my frustration with this hotel’s management. Please do yourself a favor and do not book this property.

We made a reservation for one night, as we were arriving late and needed a place to stay before continuing to a resort located 3.5 hours away. The reservation instructions clearly stated that we should contact the hotel if arriving late, as reception closes at 10 PM. We followed those instructions and contacted the hotel via WhatsApp, providing our arrival time and details. We were told they would wait for us and arrange a taxi to meet us at the airport.

Our flight arrived at midnight. We then had to go through border control and collect our luggage. Despite a very long line at immigration, we were able to exit relatively quickly—around 12:30 AM—because one of us was using a wheelchair and we did not have to wait in the general line. Even with that advantage, no one was there to meet us. We waited an additional 15 minutes and attempted to contact the hotel multiple times by phone and WhatsApp, but received no response.

With no other option, we took a taxi to the hotel ourselves. Upon arrival, the gate was closed and there was no one there to let us in. It was nearly 2 AM, in an unfamiliar country. Fortunately, the taxi driver was kind enough to take us back to a nearby Hilton by the airport.

What is most disappointing is that the following day, the hotel attempted to blame us for the situation, claiming they could not find our messages on WhatsApp. However, they had no issue contacting us later to assign blame. If a hotel relies on messaging apps for communication, it is their responsibility to monitor them properly—especially when coordinating late-night arrivals.

If the hotel is not willing or able to accommodate late arrivals, they should not advertise or offer that option at all. This experience caused unnecessary stress and significantly impacted the start of our trip. I cannot recommend this hotel based on such unprofessional and unreliable service.

2026-05-04 via Tripadvisor
R
Robert couple nl
10
Pros:

Mooie omgeving en vriendelijke ontvangst

2026-04-28 via Nuitee
F
Francis couple us
8
Pros:

It was a very small intimate hotel, a bit quirky without many amenities, but the view was good and the staff (basically the owner) was very nice and accomodating. There was a nice outdoor area to walk around in the back. No food after breakfast (which was mostly bread and fruit), and getting to restaurants required having the staff open the gate and meeting an Uber. The place was safe and secure.

Cons:

It was isolated. No walkability at all. That may be for the best in San Jose anyway.

2026-04-27 via Nuitee
1
158Kate Friends getaway Liverpool, Merseyside, England
10
Lovely hotel - excellent quality bedlinen ! Delicious breakfast.
Pros:

The hotel is really comfortable - lovely quality bedlinen ! Nice bathrooms, lovely gardens and a delicious breakfast. I'd have happily stayed longer than the one night. Journey time from the airport really varies according to the traffic.

2026-04-23 via Tripadvisor
A
Anoniem1978 solo_traveller nl
9
Pros:

Nabijheid vliegveld en toch volop in de natuur. Vriendelijke eigenaar die veel tips geeft over het land.

2026-04-23 via Nuitee
S
Stefanie couple at
8
Great start in CR
Pros:

The owners are so nice and helpful! It was our first night in Costa Rica and we felt very comfy. The next morning we admired a lot of birds, butterflies, squirrels right in front of our balcony while enjoying breakfast!

2026-04-22 via Nuitee
D
Damien solo_traveller fr
9
Pros:

L accueil
Le jardin
Le petit déjeuner

2026-04-19 via Nuitee
I
Irina couple at
9
Nette, saubere Unterkunft in Flughafennähe
Pros:

Nette und sehr saubere Unterkunft in Flughafennähe, eine tolle Option für den Anreisetag oder den Abreisetag. Die beiden Besitzer waren sehr nett und man merkt, dass ihnen ihre Unterkunft sehr am Herzen liegt. Das Frühstück war völlig ausreichend.

Cons:

Die Zimmer sind etwas hellhörig.

2026-04-12 via Nuitee
L
lisa family_with_children gb
8
Nice location out of town if you want something a little more in nature. Our host was more than helpful even driving us
Pros:

Out of town and close to the airport. Comfortable rooms in an eco friendly environment.

Cons:

I thought the property was great but our stay was brief so we couldn’t make the most of the garden.

2026-04-10 via Nuitee
H
Hannah couple de
8
Für eine Nacht empfehlenswert.
Pros:

+ nah am Flughafen
+ freundliches Personal
+ sauber
+ schöne Lage

Cons:

- sehr hellhörig, man hat jedes Wort von den Nachbarn gehört
- es gibt keine Klimaanlage
- Flugzeuge teilweise sehr laut

2026-04-10 via Nuitee
D
Dragos extended_group us
10
2026-04-09 via Nuitee