Best Western Irazu Hotel - Page 1

Best Western Irazu is especially attractive after a week or two in Costa Rica's boonies.

It’s attractive, comfortable, well-appointed rooms with all the amenities (except a mini bar), freeze-your-toes AC (oh, so wonderful and so much missed everywhere else), beautiful grounds, great swimming pool, first-rate, friendly and helpful staff, a jumpin' night club and even a casino.

Their parking lot is well guarded. The rooms are quiet. A Denny's restaurant also is part of the complex, which might be a draw for locals, but there's an excellent Tico (that's what nationals call themselves) restaurant across the street that has first-rate, reasonably priced food beautifully presented and service that's polished, attentive and charming, but with paper napkins and without the starched white tablecloths one would expect, considering its other attributes.

The hotel has an excellent shuttle service to the airport. It's also much easier to find than maps and address would seem to indicate. I mean, assuming that you're approaching on Hwy.1 from the Pacific side, you think the hotel is on Hwy. 3 and (having faced the very challenging driving there) you worry about finding your turn off. Just stay on Hwy.1 until you're in the city proper. A couple of billboards for the hotel will mark your progress after you pass the airport and there are actually hotel signs at the exits, which sometimes are blocked. Not to worry. If you've taken good advice and rented a BIG 4x4, the low median dividers in that area enable you to make a U turn! This hotel is worth it.