Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District

Hotels
7.4 (1368 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 1368 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
Y
Yaiza • extended_group • es
8
2026-08-08 • via Nuitee
S
Shawnte • solo_traveller • us
7
Pros:

Location was perfect easy to walk to shops and restaurants and meet up for tours

2026-08-06 • via Nuitee
F
Francinie • solo_traveller • cr
7
Pros:

La ubicación es muy buena

Cons:

La ropa de cama no había sido cambiada cuando entramos y estaba sucio.
Mejorar eso. Lo demás bien. Lástima que el desayuno ya no es tipo bufet

2026-08-05 • via Nuitee
M
Monica • extended_group • es
8
2026-08-03 • via Nuitee
F
Fredy • family_with_children • ch
7
2026-08-03 • via Nuitee
C
Campos • solo_traveller • cr
10
Pros:

La ubicación. La habitación y el desayuno

Cons:

Todo bien

2026-08-03 • via Nuitee
M
Mesh • extended_group • cr
8
I recommend it because you can easily visit the nearby museums without extra transportation fees.
Pros:

It is in an excellent location with nearby museums. Oh, and the breakfast is really good.

2026-08-03 • via Nuitee
M
Maria • extended_group • ec
8
Mi corte estancia en San José
Pros:

Las habitaciones cómodas, bien ubicado

Cons:

Le faltaba más vida nocturna considerando también que el sector un poco oscuro el boulevard y requiere mayor iluminación y seguridad para turista

2026-08-03 • via Nuitee
R
Renata • solo_traveller • co
3
totally overrated, this is a 2 star hitel with a high price pictures might be from 10years back
Pros:

the staff were extremely helpful and accomodating

Cons:

this is not a 4 star hotel, barely 2. It is extremely expensive for the what it has to offer. It is clean, but breakfast is poor, food is questionable, the gym is a disaster and the overall service of the hotel does not flow. they do not respond before arriving and have a bit of a chaos.

2026-07-25 • via Nuitee
L
Laia • couple • es
9
2026-07-25 • via Nuitee
R
RUANO ALONSO • family_with_children • es
8
Comodidad para la visita centro de San José
Pros:

La amabilidad del personal, en particular de Fernando en el servicio de restaurante y de todo el personal del parking.

2026-07-22 • via Nuitee
P
Pikkwan Rebecca • solo_traveller • us
7
Good for one night stay
Pros:

It's in downtown and within walking distance of interesting places like the central market and museums. The room was large with a full size fridge and microwave.

Cons:

The room was old. The shower head was very rusty

2026-07-19 • via Nuitee
R
Reiner • couple • de
8
2026-07-18 • via Nuitee
B
Bert • extended_group • nl
8
2026-07-18 • via Nuitee
T
Tatiana • family_with_children • us
10
An excellent location if you want to enjoy the historic part of the city; very comfortable rooms and a wonderful, very c
Pros:

Location, room, breakfast, staff. Everything!

2026-07-17 • via Nuitee
L
LAURA CAROLINA • extended_group • co
6
2026-07-17 • via Nuitee
B
Brett Kimmel • family_with_children • cr
8
2026-07-14 • via Nuitee
N
Neymi • couple • pa
2
Pros:

Nada

Cons:

Precio, instalaciones viejas, aire no funcionaba bien

2026-07-13 • via Nuitee
M
Mir • solo_traveller • ca
9
Pros:

Everything

Cons:

Nothing

2026-07-13 • via Nuitee
S
Sabina Isabel • couple • ch
9
2026-07-12 • via Nuitee