I chose the Aloft San José Hotel, Costa Rica, knowing that it didn’t offer shuttle services from the airport. I somewhat regretted this choice, as I admired the ballet of shuttles to other hotels close to the airport, particularly in Alajuela, Costa Rica‘s second-largest city, where the airport is located.

With a shuttle, I’d have had time to get to the hotel for refreshments and a snack, and get back to the airport in time to meet my wife, who was traveling on a different itinerary from me and was due to arrive two hours later. However, the hotel does offer a limousine service, provided you lighten your wallet by USD 40 per direction.

Regardless, I chose to wait patiently, and when I was reunited with my wife, a friend came to pick us up at the airport. As the hotel is located in the Pozos district, about ten kilometres from the airport, we arrived at our destination in just a few minutes, despite the winding road’s steep gradient.

The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points for free stays at over 8,000 hotels worldwide is to have the Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card (and/or the Marriott Bonvoy^® Business American Express^®* Card).

In addition to the exceptional welcome bonus of each of these two cards, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar on all your purchases and 5 points per dollar at any of the Marriott establishments. On top of that, every year, you’ll receive a free hotel night certificate (worth 35,000 points) and 15 Elite Night Credits toward your Marriott Bonvoy status.

Access to the hotel is via a main gate adjacent to the landing stage, located on a secondary dead-end road that’s easier to get to than the ruta nacional secundaria 147. The landing in question features the hotel’s trademark written in huge letters.

The formalities upon arrival went smoothly. I was asked for ID and the first and last names of my guest, then asked to sign a contract/liability waiver.

For the security deposit, I presented a credit card affiliated with the Marriott Bonvoy programI specified that I would pay the final bill with a W Hotels gift card (purchased at the reception desk of Hotel W Montréal) from which the Aloft brand takes its inspiration; both are brands in different ranges, part of the broad portfolio brought together in the Marriott Bonvoy program.

I was told that they didn’t know how to use such a gift card. However, they noted the reference number and assured me that appropriate action would be taken.

I received a magnetic key and two coupons redeemable for a selection of treats offered in a display case located in the dining area, a bonus available to Marriott Bonvoy members holding Gold Elite status or higher. Thanks to my status with the program (Titanium Elite), I was offered free breakfasts at the hotel restaurant.

The bedroom door opens onto a generous walk-in closet and bathroom vanity, which are separated from the toilet and shower by a sliding door.

The closet acts as a dividing wall, supporting the headboard of a king-size bed with a bedside table on either side. A highly functional work table overlooks a good-sized window. Between the room’s two windows is a leather sofa, with a TV mounted on the wall above it.

An opaque glass wall separates the bedroom from the shower, allowing natural light to shine through. The imitation wood furniture is simple but effective. The grey-painted walls are rather drab, but the bright colours of the headboard, sofa, and work chair balance out the overall mood of the room. It’s big enough to move around easily, despite our suitcases on the floor.

The complimentary breakfast with Titanium status is served in the hotel restaurant. The buffet includes a few hot dishes of local specialties, a continental-style cold buffet (bread, jams, cereals, yogurt, etc.), a good selection of fruit, and a few choices of pastries that are a bit dry and bland.

The filter coffee, served in carafes, is not particularly good, even though Costa Rica is a major coffee producer and exporter. Luckily, the coffee offered to high-status members was much better. Machines can be found near the dining area next to reception, and in dedicated areas on the upper floors.

Most of the hotel’s amenities are found in a single room near reception. Here, you’ll find a games room, complete with a ping-pong table, a TV area, a bar, and a dining area where you can buy drinks and snacks.

The hotel also boasts a gym, which we unfortunately didn’t have the chance to visit, and a small outdoor pool, which was closed for maintenance at the time of our stay.

Departing was complicated due to the use of my gift card as a means of payment. Having used Marriott gift cards all over the world and now being used to these difficulties, I suggested to the clerk at the front desk to photocopy the coordinates so he could familiarize himself with the procedure to use them, as we had to leave for the airport. A few hours later, I received the file by email.

We used Uber to get from the hotel to the airport. The fifteen-minute journey, traffic-depending, cost us 8 USD.

The hotel is practically new, very clean, and within walking distance of a grocery store, a few bars, and restaurants that are quite expensive considering the type of food offered. A short Uber ride will take you to the Multiplaza Escazù shopping centre, where the food offered is interesting and definitely more affordable.

On the other hand, the hotel is located quite far from the outskirts of San José, a city we didn’t find all that interesting to visit. After a short walk through the centre, our friends preferred to return to the more lively Barrio Escalante and show us around its outskirts.

On our next whirlwind trip to San José en route to Nicaragua, we’ll try a hotel in Alajuela, closer to the airport.