Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Curio Collection By Hilton

Excellent service, and attention

Wenceslao at Curio 5 provided outstanding service during our visit. He was attentive, welcoming, and made sure we had everything we needed the entire time. The food was amazing and full of flavor, making the experience even better. Thank you, Wenceslao, for the excellent hospitality , highly recommend!

I’m torn on this hotel. The customer service was A+. We arrived and were quickly ushered to the 5th floor where their check-in desk is located. The hotel itself is beautiful and the lobby area on the 5th floor has views of the city from all around. However, the hotel itself gives me mixed feelings. Let’s sum it up for my friends with ADHD. Likes: - The exterior and interior decorations are beautiful. Lots of history here - JFK stayed here when he visited the country in the 60’s and there are pieces of memorabilia everywhere. It’s pretty cool! - Customer service is top notch. Everyone we ran into was extremely friendly and courteous. - The breakfast buffet is great and has lots of options. The folks working in the bar area and buffet were some of the friendliest people we ran into there. Dislikes: - This hotel is for those who want to spend their day outdoors in the city. There is *nothing* to do here. The restaurant is insanely overpriced (30 dollars for a cocktail CAD) and their meal prices are just as bad. However, ALL of Costa Rica is overpriced regardless of where you go so I can’t lay full blame on the hotel but it is highway robbery regardless of how you look at it. - Why do I want to watch my spouse have a visit to the toilet? The room is set up with a frosted toilet room, sink, and a frosted shower that abuts the bed. They both leave *nothing* to the imagination. I like privacy when I’m in the toilet. You don’t get that here. It’s weird. I do not recommend this hotel for anyone that is not a couple (or at least this room style) because if you weren’t friends before, you’ll be close friends after. - You can’t go out at night. Don’t do it. So you’re left to your own devices for, sundown until sun up. There’s nothing to do at the hotel other than the overpriced bar and restaurant. I’m giving this 4 stars because the staff do what they can with what they have. I personally would never stay here again.

Staff were excellent

Felt a bit tired

We had an outstanding stay at the Hilton Curio Collection, San José. The hotel is absolutely beautiful, with elegant design, a welcoming atmosphere, and excellent amenities throughout. The beds were incredibly comfortable, making it easy to relax and rest after long days of exploring. The concierge service was exceptional from start to finish. They went above and beyond helping us with our luggage, car arrangements, and coordinating tour services, which made our trip seamless and stress-free. The hotel’s location is another huge advantage, with many restaurants, attractions, and places of interest all within walking distance. We would also like to give special recognition to Wenceslao Perez and Oscar Mendez, who assisted us many times during the many meals we enjoyed at the hotel’s top-tier restaurant. Their customer service, professionalism, and warm conversation truly elevated our dining experiences and made us feel genuinely welcomed each time. Overall, this was a memorable stay, and we highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting San José, Costa Rica.

The hotel is in a great location, the rooms are comfortable and spacious enough. The breakfast was very good with a diverse range of food and the breakfast room staff were so helpful and friendly. The bar and restaurant facilities are also great in the evening when you don’t want to venture out elsewhere in San Jose.

This is a weird one to review. For the price point, and being a Hilton property, you (guest) are excused for having high expectations. However, some of this hotel experience falls flat. Biggest hits - the breakfast is great, better so if you’re a Hilton Gold member so that it’s included. Otherwise the prices here are bonkers. I cannot even attempt to justify the prices at the on-site restaurant and I’m not going to try to do so. No basis in reality. Another hit, which is also a miss, is the location. Very central and “downtown core” vibes if you want to go out and about during the day. However, multiple trustworthy people - included staff here - cautioned us against venturing too far from the immediate vicinity of the hotel after dark and we heeded that advice. So, once the sun goes down you’re a bit stuck at the hotel unless you are taking taxi or uber. The walkability score difference between daytime and nighttime is massive. Which brings me to my first major flaw - lack of amenities. There is a small gym, and that’s it. No sauna, pool, or even an outdoor place to hang out other than the indoor 5th floor lounge (see above point re prices). So you’re a bit stuck at the hotel without a whole lot to do, It’s a bit strange to be in a tropical destination without a pool or outdoor (secure) space to pass the time. Next major flaw - let me explain the bathroom and room setup that you will have read about if you’ve already read some reviews, Do not come to this hotel and share a room with someone that you are not VERY comfortable with. The shower wall is next to the bed, and it is frosted glass. Not opaque, I can see you showering and there ain’t no secrets left to share between us. The toilet does have its own door next to the sink (imagine you’re standing facing the sink and the shower is to one side of you and the toilet room is to the other side). Frosted glass, not opaque. I can see you sitting on the can. Ain’t no secrets. I have no idea what the designers were thinking but it’s clear that guest privacy wasn’t top of mind. A truly bizarre design choice. The staff are fabulous. No fine print here. We stayed here for two nights before carrying on our way south. Glad we did to try something new, and cashed in Hilton points to stay for free. If we had to pay we would have gone to the Intercontinental. Stay here with eyes open- just avert your gaze when the other person is on the toilet!!

Nada

Nada

The location was good. Felt clean and safe.

The bathroom had no privacy. No doors or space to even change clothes, let alone shower and use the toilet. When going to the lounge in the morning for coffee, I was totally ignored and had to go to go up to the staff to get a cup.