The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in San José

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to San José

Are you looking for a hotel for your first trip to San José? With plenty of activities and sites, this is a great destination for first-time visitors. So if you're deciding where to stay on your first trip to San José, don't worry, we've got you covered. We've analyzed the hotels in San José to find out which are the best for first timers based on price, amenities, location, reviews, and guest ratings. In this guide, we'll be showcasing the best hotels for first-time visitors in San José, taking into consideration all of these important factors. Whether you're traveling solo, with family, or with friends, there's a hotel that caters to every traveler's needs to make the most of your first trip here. So, if you're visiting San José for the first time, the hotels below will be great options, as many of them have pools, breakfast, and plenty of comforts to help you relax. So, here they are, the best hotels in San José for first time visitors.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Hotel MC San Jose

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $128 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly

Located at Calle El Faro nº 2, San José, Hotel MC San Jose has great rooms from $128 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and parking. It has a terrific 8.70 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 0.4 km from the city center, first time visitors will especially love child care, laundry services, laundry facilities, bicycle rental, and family rooms at this relaxing hotel. The room service is especially nice after a long day.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Airport shuttle
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop


Pension Aloha

Guest House with prices starting at $88 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to San José
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

A great place to stay is Pension Aloha which has nice rooms starting at $88. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 9.10 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Cala Higuera, s/n. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers hiking, laundry facilities, bicycle rental, a tour desk, and air-conditioning which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.3 km from the city center. Everyone loves a nice pool, and you won't be disappointed with this one. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Bicycle rental


Hotel & Spa La Posada De Paco Only Adults

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $125 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

We found Hotel & Spa La Posada De Paco Only Adults to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $125. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and a hot tub, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 9.99 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at Avenida San Jose 12, San José. You'll also find a spa and wellness center, free parking, laundry facilities, a tour desk, and air-conditioning which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 0.2 km from the center of town. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Refrigerator


Cortijo El Sotillo

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $120 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in San José
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Beach

With terrific rooms from $120, Cortijo El Sotillo, at Carretera Entrada San José s/n, San José provides an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Its terrific guest rating is 8.30 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers hiking, laundry services, free parking, a pool table, and kids meals. It's located just 0.4 km from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Horse riding
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Playground
  • Luxury


Hostal Las Gaviotas San Jose

Inn with prices starting at $97 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

Hostal Las Gaviotas San Jose has a great guest rating of 9.99 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, city views, free parking, laundry facilities, and family rooms. The great rooms here start at $97 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at Entrada 8, San José. Furthermore, it also offers a tour desk, air-conditioning, a 24-hour desk, a refrigerator, and balconies, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 0.6 km from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator


Hostal El Dorado Cabo de Gata

Hostel with prices starting at $126 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to San José
  • Beach

The great guest rating of Hostal El Dorado Cabo de Gata is 8.50 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, scuba diving, a bar, and breakfast. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $126, and it's located at Cmno de Aguamarina s/n, San José. We also love the hiking, laundry services, a free breakfast, fishing, and family rooms which are great for visitors. And since it's just 0.3 km from the center of the town, the location is great, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms


Dona Pakyta

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $171 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Beach

A cool place is Dona Pakyta because it has great rooms that start at $171. It has room service, a restaurant, a bar, hiking, and laundry services, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at Crta Entrada a San Jose s/n. Only 0.2 km from the city center, travelers will especially love kids meals, horse riding, laundry facilities, family rooms, and a tour desk at this convenient hotel.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Horse riding
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop


Hotel-Apartamento Carolina y Vanessa

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $88 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

Hotel-Apartamento Carolina y Vanessa offers a bar, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, pet-friendly rooms, and city views which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $88 (before taxes). It's located at Avda de San José, 18 and has earned a guest rating of 9.40/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers free parking, family rooms, air-conditioning, a microwave, and a refrigerator which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.1 km from the city center. We always love being able to prepare simple meals in a hotel room, and the kitchenette here was teriffic. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Kitchen
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Hostal Puerto Genoves

Guest House with prices starting at $77 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to San José
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • Beach

Located at Balandro, 15, Hostal Puerto Genoves has great rooms from $77 (before taxes). It offers room service, scuba diving, hiking, free parking, and table tennis. It has a terrific 8.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find a tour desk, air-conditioning, a refrigerator, a playground, and diving which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 0.4 km from the center of town. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Hiking
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Hostal del Cabo

Hostel with prices starting at $115 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Beach

A great place to stay is Hostal del Cabo which has nice rooms starting at $115. Offering hiking, rooms with kitchenettes, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and family rooms, it also has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Las Olas, 9. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers air-conditioning, a 24-hour desk, a microwave, a refrigerator, and balconies. It's located just 0.5 km from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Pets allowed
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Mojacar, Almería, Roquetas de Mar, and Carboneras.

For more terrific hotel ideas in San José, make sure you also see Best Beach Hotels in San José or Best Hotels for One Night in San José.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in San José?

San José Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$114

Travelers to San José will have a large number of terrific first time trip accommodation options with a variety of great prices. The price of first time trip hotels here can vary by amenities, dates, and the neighborhood. Based on thorough data from 10 first time trip hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $114. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in San José.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 4-star hotels: $140
  • 2-star hotels: $102


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