Crowne Plaza San José La Sabana, San José

Crowne Plaza San José La Sabana is a comfortable and modern 4-star hotel just outside the historic center of San José near La Sabana Park. Built in 1975 and renovated in December 2020, the ten-story hotel houses 213 rooms and dominates the surrounding landscape. While it mainly attracts business travelers, it's family-friendly, too. Amenities include a large outdoor pool, a casino, an outdoor picnic zone, and a two-story fitness center.

Pros

• Food and drink options include a Japanese restaurant and a poolside bar. 
• The staff can communicate with guests in English, Japanese, and Spanish.
• The pool is well-illuminated at night and large enough for swimming laps.
• The hotel offers lots of accessibility features.
• Some rooms on the upper floors offer views of the mountain and La Sabana Metropolitan Park.

Cons

• Guests may experience noise from outside due to the busy urban location near a highway.
• Past travelers say the breakfast is over-priced.

Authenticity

Apart from serving Costa Rican food in one of its restaurants, there's not a lot of local charm here: the hotel is part of the IHG Group of hotels and resorts and adheres to international standards.

Location

The hotel is on a busy road leading into the center; La Sabana Metropolitan Park and its Costa Rican Museum of Art and National Stadium are within a 15-minute walk. To get into the historic part of San José, it's best to take a taxi or hire a car, as the drive is about 15 minutes. Once in the buzzy hub, you can easily walk to sites like the Jade Museum, National Museum, and cathedral. 

Rooms & Bathrooms

Though fairly standard in design, the hotel's rooms blend comfort and style, each with bright, modern interiors, plush furnishings, and amenities like air-conditioning, WiFi, a pillow menu, blackout curtains, and an iPod docking station. Even the standard room category offers city views, but you can always upgrade your stay to one of the suites for a few extra perks. Opt for a suite with lounge access or your private Jacuzzi, or grab the spacious two-bedroom Presidential Suite if you want to spread out. 

Wildlife

Given the urban location, guests shouldn't expect to see wildlife around the hotel.

Amenities

Amenities include an expansive outdoor pool with a poolside bar and a two-story fitness center open 24 hours. There's also a spacious lobby lounge with comfy seating and desks, plus an Avis car rental kiosk. The on-site casino has 10 slot machines, three gaming tables, and a bar area with a flat-screen TV. The hotel offers accessible rooms with features like entrance ramps, accessible door locks, an emergency button or cord in the bedroom, low-height switches, and raised power outlets. 

Family-Friendliness

The hotel is family-friendly with its spacious, non-smoking, and hypoallergenic rooms. There are family rooms that can comfortably accommodate small and large families with kids. In-room babysitting and childcare services are available, and cribs and cots are available, all for additional costs. A kids' menu is available at the hotel's restaurant. A garden and a picnic area on the property are additional family-friendly features.

Other Highlights

The hotel houses two on-site restaurants—Nattivo and Fuji—where you can indulge in various international cuisine and local Costa Rican fare. Nattivo is on the ground floor, adjacent to the swimming pool, and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet-style. Fuji serves Japanese food for lunch, dinner, and dessert in a dining room with tatami mats and low tables. There's an on-site bar near the pool; guests can request poolside service.