DON'T LET THE NAME FOOL YOU, BEST WESTERN BEACH RESORT JACO BEACH COSTA RICA
Written: Apr 02 '03 (Updated May 09 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Right on the beach, but still an easy walk to town.
Cons: can get crowded on weekends.
The Bottom Line: One of those places I would stay at again if in the area.
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| JAMES23's Full Review: Best Western, Jaco Beach Costa Rica |
I don't know, maybe it's just me but the term Best Western Beach Resort seems a contradiction in terms. I connect the name Best Western with nice comfortable mid range business hotels. You know those usually located in a strip near the airport for extra convenience. In fact there is a Best Western in San Jose the capital, near the airport.
That said there is a Best Western Beach Resort in Jaco on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast. I spent four days there in March of this year and actually to be honest it's one of the better value places I've stayed at in the last little while.
The resort has 130 rooms in two three-story buildings. A third building contains the administration area, front desk, main restaurant and other similar facilities. The three buildings form a loose U shape surrounding the pool area. The open end faces out onto the beach, which the hotel sits directly on. There is also a small pavilion that contains the main bar.
The grounds are all nicely landscaped and well laid out with everything close at hand. Naturally the place is enclosed and patrolled by security but they are fairly discreet. A nice touch is the large number of iguanas that seem to live on the property. They are harmless and for the most part seem quite used to the attention they receive.
The admin. block includes a tour desk and gift/convenience store. The gift shop has a wide selection of good souvenirs, where surprisingly the prices compare well with other places in town. There is a small area with pool tables and video games for those so inclined. Fantasy Gray Line Tours has a desk where a variety of day trips can be booked. Theses are also available at several places about town, but here one can use major credit cards.
The front desk offers an exchange service for guests only and there are four three banks and four ATMs in town including one across the street. There is a free safety deposit box service available at the front desk. Alternatively you can use the in room ones for $3.00 per day. There are also some limited facilities for conferences and conventions including a meeting room that can hold 50 people.
Hotel guests have the use of free bicycles available near the main gate, and a gym in town. There is a tennis court between the pool area and the beach. The beach area has chairs and umbrellas in a reserved area for guests. Surfboards, boogie boards and other such items are available either free or for a nominal charge. Beach towels are also available for guests.
The pool is rather small but it is nicely appointed. There is a separate wading pool area for children. The area around the pool has a plentiful supply of deck chairs and tables with umbrellas for those who just wish to laze the day away.
The rooms are small, simple but comfortable. Each has one single and one double bed, and alternative arrangements can be made including bunk beds if needed. There is a full bathroom with a generous supply of towels and complimentary toiletries. Each room has a good air conditioner, which is essential here, and direct dial telephones. There is satellite TV and here that actually means a good selection of local and North American channels. Maid, laundry and room service are all available.
There are no balconies or patios for any of the rooms, but the hallway is an open balcony, with views of either the pool area or the gardens. There are deck chairs in the room that can be dragged out onto this balcony to enjoy the evening breeze. Best bet is to get a room on the third floor on the side facing inward towards the pool as a partial view of the beach and ocean can be had from here.
The hotel offers both an all-inclusive plan and a pay as you go for meals and drinks. For the later one can sign for items, negating the need to carry cash. A credit card is needed to establish an account at the front desk for this. The main restaurant serves good buffet style meals. Three nights a week there are theme nights, Italian, Mexican and a Hawaiian BBQ on the lawn near the beach. The bar also serves light snacks such as nachos and hamburgers daily until 8:00 p.m.
I was on the all-inclusive plan for my stay but to be honest it's not really needed. The hotel is conveniently located at the north end of town. A wide variety of bars, restaurants, and cafes are literally a few minutes walk away. In Jaco you can find something to suit any and all tastes and budgets.
One point worth noting for those contemplating a stay here, Jaco is the closest beach resort to San Jose the capital, only two hours away. The hotel incidentally offers a free shuttle service for guests daily to the airport and to its sister property the Best Western Irazu. It is also one of the few "nice" large hotels right in town.
For this reason it is a popular spot for "Josefinos" looking for a weekend getaway at the beach. The place tends to become crowded Friday evening, and stays that way until late Sunday afternoon. Those who might not enjoy a pool full of noisy children and/or bar full of their equally noisy parents might keep this in mind when booking. Alternatively those staying on a weeklong package may consider using this time to book the daylong excursions and reserve the midweek days for some quiet longing around.
Rates start at $86.00-$89.00 US double per night, and of course there are a variety of air/hotel packages available from various tour operators. The lobby has information bulletins from several Canadian and European Tour companies.
Best Western Jaco Beach Resort, P.O. Box 37-4023 Jaco
Costa Rica
Tel: (506) 643-1000, (506) 220-1772, Fax: (506) 643-3246
Reservations 1-800-528-1234
e-mail: htljaco@bestwestern.co.cr
This review was originally posted in the general Costa Rica section March 16, 2001. With the addition of it to the database I have updated it and moved it to it's proper spot. FYI it received 39 member and 510 total hits.
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Recommended:
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JAMES23
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Member: James Smith
Location: Toronto Ontario CANADA
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