D Sabana Hotel (Park Inn by Radisson)

Rooms and decor

Picture a 4-star hotel at the western end of Paseo Colon, a short walk from San Jose's biggest park — that's the feel of D Sabana Hotel (Park Inn by Radisson). The building is a tall, square, white-and-brown tower in the classic chain mold, recently rebranded as "D Sabana" but still part of Park Inn by Radisson under the Radisson Hotel Group. Step into the lobby and you'll find a warm wood check-in counter and a bright orange-and-yellow lounge area in the lively Park Inn style. It isn't trying to be a plush luxury hotel; it takes the friendly, clean and easy-to-use route instead. All 117 rooms share the same palette — soft beds, light linens, a desk by the window, carpet underfoot and a flat-screen TV on the wall. Some face the pool, others look out over the city and the mountains to the west. Plenty of real reviews praise the rooms as clean and tidy, with staff who are friendly and speak decent English. The overall feeling is "comfortable to come back to" rather than thrilling — which, for travellers who plan to spend their days out exploring, is exactly right.

Food and amenities

For a hotel that starts around $83 a night, the amenities here are more complete than you'd expect. There's an outdoor pool sized for a cooling soak, with a jacuzzi right beside it, set on the hotel's garden terrace among trees and sun loungers — a pleasant spot in the late afternoon when San Jose starts to cool. Reviews note the pool is clean and rarely crowded, since the 117 rooms spread guests out. Next to it is a 24-hour gym kitted out for cardio and weights. The RBG Bar & Grill, Park Inn's in-house restaurant, serves American and international plates — burgers, steak, pasta and Mexican dishes — and doubles as the bar, a good place to settle in after a day out. The highlight reviewers keep coming back to is the free breakfast included with every night: a buffet with local Costa Rican gallo pinto (rice and black beans), made-to-order eggs, pastries, cheese, ham, seasonal fruit, and the country's renowned Costa Rican coffee. Free Wi-Fi covers the whole hotel, and there's parking for anyone driving a rental.

Location and getting there

The hotel's trump card is being just 500 metres, about a 7-minute walk, from La Sabana Metropolitan Park — effectively the "Central Park" of San Jose. It runs to more than 70 hectares, with a lake to walk around, continuous running and cycling paths, the national stadium (Estadio Nacional) standing at its center, and the Costa Rican Art Museum (MAC) housed in the old airport terminal, free to visit. Crossing over for a morning jog or coffee by the lake with the locals is something many guests say they grow fonder of than expected. The old town center — Avenida Central, Mercado Central, the National Theatre — sits about 2.5km east, a 10-15 minute Uber or taxi ride for a few dollars' worth. One of the real strengths is the run to Juan Santamaria (SJO) airport, about 17km away straight up the Prospero Fernandez highway (Highway 1) to the west — 20-25 minutes when traffic is light, ideal if you land late or fly out early. Heading to Escazu, with its good restaurants and the Multiplaza mall, is just 10 minutes along the same road.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. The first thing to weigh is the distance from the old town center: if you want to walk to the National Theatre, Mercado Central or the Gold Museum, forget it — you'll be calling an Uber or taxi every time, which adds up to $10-15 a day if you go in often. Travellers who want to explore the old town on foot all trip might do better in Barrio Amon or La California. The second is that the building and some fittings are showing their age: this Park Inn has been open for years and renovations haven't happened on every floor at once, so some reviews report tired furniture, too few power outlets, or hot water that's inconsistent in the morning when everyone's showering. If you're set on a brand-new, Instagram-ready room, lower your expectations. The third is noise from Paseo Colon — the street side is a business strip with traffic from before dawn, so a low floor facing the road can catch some of it. The fix is to ask for an upper floor on the pool or garden side at check-in; staff are usually happy to oblige if rooms are free. Finally, dining options around the hotel aren't as varied as in more tourist-heavy districts, so for a wider choice at dinner you may need to drive 10-15 minutes to Escazu or the center.

Our take

After pulling together hundreds of real reviews and digging into the details, D Sabana Hotel (Park Inn by Radisson) is San Jose's best-value 4-star for travellers who prize being near the big park, with a pool, jacuzzi, gym and free breakfast all in from around $83 a night. It suits families on a budget who want the kids in the pool and a park to wander, solo travellers or couples who need a reliable base near the airport for getting in and out of Costa Rica, and nature-focused visitors heading on to La Fortuna or Manuel Antonio — use it as a one- or two-night base to start or end a trip. But if your trip is really about soaking up old-town San Jose, the museums and downtown nightlife, or if you're set on a brand-new designer room, this won't be your first pick. Overall we give it 8.1/10: a 4-star that does its job well — clean, complete, fairly priced, and next to a park you won't find at this rate anywhere else.