www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I have stayed at the Clarion several times, so this review won't be from just one stay, but a compilation of the approximately 4 times I have stayed there.

The best descripion I can give of the Clarion is that it is a US style hotel, with US-style amenities.

The rooms are well apportioned, and if you woke up in the hotel, and didn't already know you were in CR, you wouldn't know it until you went outside the hotel (except for the little bit of spanish you MIGHT hear).

Wireless worked well. Each room I stayed in had a comfortable bed, couch, and the bathroom was descent.

The casino is nice, if you play, but since I don't come to CR to gamble, I didn't partake much.

The breakfast at the Clarion, which I've had MANY MANY times, including when I've stayed at ZB, is really quite good, and I would recommend it to anyone wanting a buffet style breakfast. If you're not staying there, or ZB, breakfast is a little expensive - $10, I believe, so I personally wouldn't go there unless I had that comped...

The staff at the hotel were as friendly as could be expected, but none of them really went out of their way.


Only once did I have any dealings with Nixon, who was very charming, and a pleasure speaking with. The other times I've stayed there, the CRT rate was not available, so my dealings with him were minute...

The prices of the Clarion make this a definite possibility for a hotel to stay at.

The location of the Clarion is quite perfect, at only a block from ZB, so it is a definite good mongering locale.

I don't know if there's all that much I can say pro/con the Clarion. If you're looking for a good, clean, inexpensive room, with all the trimmings of a US chain hotel, then this would be it. (minus the pool - Clarion doesn't have one).
If you're looking for location, Clarion has a great one, if you want to feel like you're in CR, I wouldn't recommend this hotel, but sometimes it's nice to have all the amenities of a US hotel.

qbf.

Nice group of reports, which will come in handy -- thanks QBF!

You are very welcome!

I love the Clarion. Great location, great breakfast, no problems with the wireless connection. The staff was great and only oogled a little as I brought my steady stream of Colombianas and Dominicanas upstairs. I did however make the mistake of not booking through the casino. The rooms were more expensive and so were chica fees. But, overall, I love the place.

dapanz1

I agree with QBF's assessment of the place, except for one thing. My wireless signal was shit most of the time.

The rooms are big (even the standard), the breakfast is one of the best in town, FREE parking garage, and reasonable rates (with CRT discount).

They have also solved the bedsheet problem they had in the past. Their sheets were not properly fitted to the beds, so they would slide off while you were sleeping/phucking and you ended up laying on an uncovered mattress.

The first room I was in on my first stay had shitty wireless... I complained, and got moved... didn't have a problem after that...

Breakfast is $8, I eat there often. It is on par with the breakfast at the KL ($10?), with perhaps not as complete selection of pastries. Great breakfast atmosphere, the open air dining and the choice of music is always great.

QBF is right. It is a very AMERICAN property, in a awesome location with great amenities all around. Bakea (2 blocks away) is one of the nicest restaurants in all of San Jose.

ok, now I have to wonder WHY I was quoted $10...

Maybe the person didn't know... or I was just being charged the "gringo" price...

BTW I think Bakea is, indeed awesome, as you can tell from my review of it...

I am still looking for that one great breakfast in San Jose that I can really get excited about. I have not found it yet.

The Clarion breakfast: for the price, atmosphere and quality is the best I have found so far, but a step or two away from being something that I give a top ranking to. Like you said, a buffet breakfast is a buffet breakfast (with omelet station).



I'm a Gringo, maybe they were charging you the Tico price.......

As far as breakfast is concerned:

the White house probably has something excellent, but I don't think I'm willing to sell my car for breakfast...

On the low end, I generally have breakfast these days at one of two small sodas... Generally on my way out of town...

One of them is in Asseri, and the other one is in Tibas, just off the highway to Guapiles.

Go past the Motel Eden, on the highway, and take the 1st exit after passing Eden on left, as if to get back on. Make a right, and it's about 100-200 meters on the right.

DAMNED good breakfast, but you have to tell them what you want...

Same goes for the one in Asseri, but I'm not even going to START to describe how to get there... Sufficed to say that it's on the road to Jorco.


Both breakfasts are awesome, but I've had to train them as to what I want.

Of course, if you really want a good breakfast, you provide the food/chicas, and I'll cook