Ester`s Place — Hotel in San Rafael

I've stayed here twice this year (2019). It is a suburban house owned and run by Ester, a young Costa Rican woman who speaks excellent English. She is very friendly and relaxed about her guests sharing her home. No food is provided, instead the guests just use her kitchen. It's a great place to meet interesting people. It's very popular with people from North the USA who use the nearby dental clinic in preference to the huge fees they would have to pay in the States. An additional reason is that her room rates are about half of what the big chain hotels charge.The rooms are nice, comfortable and spotlessly clean, and there is an outside sitting area to sip your cold beer. Neither of the rooms I stayed in has A/C, but they do have fans. A/C isn't necessary at San José's altitude. There are restaurants within a 15 minute walk at Escazu Village and a Walmart if you need to buy your own food, and if you don't want to walk there is always Uber. The only downside is that there is space to park only one car inside the property; otherwise cars must be parked in the street outside. Lots of the neighbours do likewise. It seems to be a quiet neighbourhood, but of course there can be no guarantees about the safety of cars left outside. Remember that this is a guest house, not a hotel, so don't expect the amenities you would pay for in a big hotel. If you are looking for an alternative to what the major hotel chains have to offer, I recommend...

While traveling to San Jose Costa Rica for some dental implants I stayed at Ester's place on two separate occasions. It is located within a few kilometers of Cima Medical Center and many of the local medical and dental providers of the area. ||Staying at Ester's was more like visiting a friend than it was staying in some hotel or even an Airbnb. The rooms are large and have their own bathrooms and visitors have access to a full kitchen if they choose to prepare their own meals.||The owner, Ester, was extremely helpful and accommodating, going above and beyond to make my stay enjoyable and comfortable. When I had an issue with leaving my cell phone in a local Uber she even assisted me in retrieving it.||While I was apprehensive about staying at someone's home while they were still living there, I felt extremely comfortable and had plenty of privacy. The owner was very unobtrusive but available for any of your needs.||I did notice that some of the travel sites tend to not have the correct availability shown and have found that it was best to contact her directly through WhatsApp. The prices were way lower than what I expected of what I would have paid in any of the local hotels having only paid $40 per night in October of this year 2021.||For anyone traveling to that area for medical tourism purposes I would highly recommend staying at...

We've been visiting this place in San José for years, whether solo, as a couple, or with family, and it never disappoints. Each stay reveals thoughtful updates and enhanced comfort, with impeccably clean rooms and an unbeatable location in one of the city's safest, most accessible neighborhoods. The warmth and dedication of the owner, Ester, always make us feel welcome. Plus, great options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails are just a short walk away. We...