Hotel Bougainvillea

Hotel Bougainvillea Review

True to its name, this modern, very comfortable, three-story hotel is awash in bougainvillea on the outside, and decorated with an impressive collection of Costa Rican art on the inside. With 8 acres of lawns, and mature trees laden with bromeliads and orchids, you might even forget that you're only 20 minutes from San José. Spacious, carpeted rooms have plasma-screen TVs, laptop-size safety boxes, and coffeemakers; bathrooms have either a shower or a bathtub. Comfortable mattresses, fine linens, and full-length, screened windows to let in cool breezes, make for restful nights. Above the first floor, every room has a balcony with either a daytime garden view (Room 205 has the best view), or a nighttime view of sparkling city lights. Brilliant stained-glass windows and brightly colored tropical art decorate the lobby, which also displays an oddly beautiful rock collection of local geodes and minerals. The elegant, large restaurant ($$-$$$) serves a wide selection of slightly old-fashioned, Continental cuisine complimented by very good desserts. An adjoining, more intimate bar/lounge often has piano music on weekends. With lots of greenery and environmentally friendly practices, these folks have justifiably been recognized for the example they set for sustainable tourism.