Vida Tropical B and B
300 meters East and 300 N from the courthouse traffic light in front of the Academia de Natación, Alajuela 20101 Costa Rica
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About
4.5
#7 of 27 B&Bs in AlajuelaLocation
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ADVANTAGES OF VIDA TROPICAL - 5 minutes from the airport, but not on the flight path; walking distance to the center of the city of Alajuela; on a nice, quiet, secure street, in a friendly residential area; transportation to and from the airport is available at any hour of the day or night with the official orange airport taxis or we can arrange pickup(fare is about $7.00); a base from which to do day trips in the Central Valley, or overnight trips to more distant points; a place to stay during your whole trip if you're here to check out business opportunities, real estate purchase or rental possibilities or if you want to experience daily life in the Central Valley to decide if you want to move here permanently or part of the year; s place to enjoy an extended stay at very reasonable prices. We´re in Lonely Planet, Let's Go, and other travel books, reviewed on TripAdvisor and airbnb,and recommended in Thorn Tree and other discussion boards. Established in the Last Millenium before Y2K (1999), and enjoyed by 1,000s of guests. We accept Visa and Mastercard but NOT with the new CHIP security system.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Free breakfast
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Airport transportation
Massage
Baggage storage
Concierge
Wifi
Vending machine
Car hire
Currency exchange
Non-smoking hotel
Shared kitchen
24-hour front desk
Laundry service
Room features
Safe
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Residential Neighbourhood
Green
Location
300 meters East and 300 N from the courthouse traffic light in front of the Academia de Natación, Alajuela 20101 Costa Rica
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 57 out of 100
57
Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
3 km•
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Tortuquero Airport
79.5 km•
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Rental Cars
77 Restaurants
within 1 kilometer
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Detailed Reviews
LODGINGS
There are a number (about 6) of very different rooms at Vida Tropical - each with a unique name such as Bamboo or Fish. Most are very comfortable with a fan and close to the communal toilets (although 1 is en-suite). Electric showers provide hot water (most of the time!) and you can do your laundry for $3 a load. There's a communal area where guests get together at night in a very relaxed atmosphere and share experiences.
FOOD
The breakfasts served are very nice (although a little minimal for me) and you can use the fridges for drinks if you wish.
STAFF
Martin & Ali are extremely helpful & friendly - going out of their way to help you wherever possible. They'll book taxis & tours, tell you the best restaurants and always on hand to help. They also have a cute street dog who have adopted them called Doggy Pants and a lovely rabbit who occasionally runs riot in the garden!
LOCATION
Just a 5 minute walk from Alajuela centre where there are heaps of shops, restaurants, banking facilities and internet cafes. Just $2 from the airport in the Orange taxis - about a 5 minute drive. It is located in a quiet residential area.
PRICE
Doubles are $35 and good value for money (singles $25).
We stayed here on 4 occasions during ourt 18 day stay in Costa Rica using the hotel as a base to go out and discover other areas. We were able to leave our luggage securely whilst we disappeared for several days. When we did arrive back it was like returning home each time - good to catch up with Martin & Ali and to do our laundry. RECOMMENDED!!!
There are a number (about 6) of very different rooms at Vida Tropical - each with a unique name such as Bamboo or Fish. Most are very comfortable with a fan and close to the communal toilets (although 1 is en-suite). Electric showers provide hot water (most of the time!) and you can do your laundry for $3 a load. There's a communal area where guests get together at night in a very relaxed atmosphere and share experiences.
FOOD
The breakfasts served are very nice (although a little minimal for me) and you can use the fridges for drinks if you wish.
STAFF
Martin & Ali are extremely helpful & friendly - going out of their way to help you wherever possible. They'll book taxis & tours, tell you the best restaurants and always on hand to help. They also have a cute street dog who have adopted them called Doggy Pants and a lovely rabbit who occasionally runs riot in the garden!
LOCATION
Just a 5 minute walk from Alajuela centre where there are heaps of shops, restaurants, banking facilities and internet cafes. Just $2 from the airport in the Orange taxis - about a 5 minute drive. It is located in a quiet residential area.
PRICE
Doubles are $35 and good value for money (singles $25).
We stayed here on 4 occasions during ourt 18 day stay in Costa Rica using the hotel as a base to go out and discover other areas. We were able to leave our luggage securely whilst we disappeared for several days. When we did arrive back it was like returning home each time - good to catch up with Martin & Ali and to do our laundry. RECOMMENDED!!!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
To say that our experience was pleasant seems like an understatement. Norman and Isable promptly responded to our inquiry for a room. We just needed a place to overnight on our way into and out of San Jose International. Vida Tropical is a short 5 minute ($3) taxi ride from the San Jose airport. Instructions for the taxi driver are provided in spanish along with a phone number in case there are issues finding the B&B. We arrived and were greeted by Greg a great guy that gives you the tour of the place gives you your room and explains the honor beverage system. They even call you a taxi for your departure. The bath and bed rooms are nice and clean, the common areas have several lounging areas, a pet bunny in the garden and the most amazing breakfast cooked by Sylvia. On our way out of Costa Rica we had a few hours to scout around the sourrounding community - Norman has a great restaurante just a few blocks from the B&B and there is a great central parque with food and art vendors. Next time we plan to spend a night or two for some local exploring of the coffee plantations, waterfalls and valcano.
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Date of stay: December 2006Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Check-in / front desk
Service
Business service (e.g., internet access)
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Excellent B&B! Agree with what the UK poster found a year ago. I wandered in & out and stayed for 4 nights out of a 3 weeks stay.
Sylvia prepares wonderful breakfasts! Norman and Isabel are very gracious hosts who very quickly make you feel as if you're family. I much, much prefer staying in Alajuela than in San Jose. Most tours & tourist transports can arrange for a pick-up or drop-off at the nearby Garden Court Inn (next to the airport). Norman & Isabel (or the owner, Jose) can certainly fix you up very well with whatever your travel needs are in Costa Rica - they have excellent drivers that they can recommend and know many of the great little hotels and tour operators.
BTW, that funny bunny still runs riot in the yard!
Sylvia prepares wonderful breakfasts! Norman and Isabel are very gracious hosts who very quickly make you feel as if you're family. I much, much prefer staying in Alajuela than in San Jose. Most tours & tourist transports can arrange for a pick-up or drop-off at the nearby Garden Court Inn (next to the airport). Norman & Isabel (or the owner, Jose) can certainly fix you up very well with whatever your travel needs are in Costa Rica - they have excellent drivers that they can recommend and know many of the great little hotels and tour operators.
BTW, that funny bunny still runs riot in the yard!
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Date of stay: April 2006
Value
Rooms
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
February 2020 Stayed for 2 nights, booked online. The owner was helpful with emails while booking. However, huge disappointment on arrival, but we were just too tired after 23 hour travel to move. The upside: Breakfast is great, the owner comes during the breakfast hour only and was helpful and cheerful. Downside: Our room had a private bath, but we had no water pressure at all on arrival and a few times during our stay, and if it did run it was just a trickle, barely enough pressure to get a shower, sheets were synthetic and sweaty, towels were threadbare. Walls need a new coat of paint. No where to hang anything, no place to put luggage except the floor. The whole house is tired and worn, needs lots of maintenance to return it to what is in the pictures, it is just not worth the price. There is a new BnB just three doors up that would be a better bet.
The whole house needs a fresh coat of paint, some maintenance done, new sheets and new towels, and fix the whole water pressure issue and it may be back to being a decent place.
The whole house needs a fresh coat of paint, some maintenance done, new sheets and new towels, and fix the whole water pressure issue and it may be back to being a decent place.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The main thing about Vida Tropical is how nice & helpful Isabel & Norman are. If you are just arriving into town, this is a great place to start. They let me leave luggage for free while I traveled around and even found me another accommodation when I they were booked full. They booked tours and coordinated things that they really didn't have too. The fact that I could leave luggage there while I traveled, that they booked another hotel for me & that they were so nice & helpful made this a place I would highly recommend.
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Date of stay: March 2007Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Check-in / front desk
Service
Business service (e.g., internet access)
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Perfect place to stay when you get to Costa Rica. Having never been to Costa Rica before I was unsure of what I would be getting from a hotel. What I got from Vida Tropical was a home from home. Isabel and Norman are the perfect hosts. They made me feel so welcome. I have to say that the communication I had with Isabel before I arrived was excellent. She answered all more questions promptly and I was very impressed by her professionalism. You can book and arrange anything with Isabel with 100% confidence. The hotel has a real family feel to it. Isabel and Norman are lovely to talk to and will help you in any way they can. The restaurant that Norman runs is a fantasic. The food is so tasty! The location is in a nice, safe suburb and 5 minutes from the airport by taxi. The hotel is really cute and very clean with the different murals and my room was perfect. Bed was so comfortable and the shower was the best I had during a month in Costa Rica. You don't need air con because of the climate in Alajuela. There's a computer with free use, tv room,garden, terrace with hammocks or the lounge if you want to chill out. Breakfast is brilliant due to the choice, quality and quantity. I spent 4 nights here in total as I stayed here at the start of March and the start of April before I left and after a month traveling I looked forward to returning to Tropical. This is the first and last place I would stop if I return to Costa Rica. Loved every minute of my stay and was sad to leave.
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Date of stay: March 2012Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is my second time staying here at Vida Tropical and I have no complaints. Isabel is very friendly and helpful and even arranged our car rental for us. It was delivered right to the door the morning after we arrived and we made payment right on the spot there. We stayed again on our return trip home and we drove the car to Vida Tropical and Maurice (one of the staff) parked it somewhere safe for the night and let the car rental agency know it was back and they could pick it up in the morning. This was so nice and convenient!! The rooms are basic but clean. There is breakfast in the morning between 7-9am, but not if you have to leave earlier for your plane. It was my husband and I and our 4 teenage girls and we had 2 rooms, both with private bathrooms and right next to each other. Everyone was comfortable and happy. It is a sweet and comfortable place with character and my favourite thing is waking up to the sound of bird song rolling down from the hills early in the morning(-: I would absolutely stay here again and recommend it as a no frills, friendly and comfortable pit stop on the way to and from airport.
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Date of stay: March 2016Trip type: Travelled with family
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Getting lost in Alajuela during rush hour traffic, we called Vida Tropical B&B and Isabel calmly gave us directions and helped us arrive safely. whew! After 2 weeks of traveling, we were tired, dirty and a bit nervous about getting our car back to the rental agency, and to the airport the next morning on time and getting good food and showers before our long trip the next day.
Isabel at Vida Tropical B&B took care of all our needs and more! She knew to call the car rental and have them pick up our vehicle for us at Vida. (We had no idea this could be done!) Learning when our flight departed, she had a taxi called and scheduled for the next morning. She had the kitchen supplied with what we needed to cook a snack and a city area map and names of nearby restaurants. We showered, had a snack, and took a wonderful evening neighborhood walk, before sleeping well, knowing our rental car and ride to the airport was taken care of!
Isabel and Vida Tropical B&B, you were just what we needed!
Isabel at Vida Tropical B&B took care of all our needs and more! She knew to call the car rental and have them pick up our vehicle for us at Vida. (We had no idea this could be done!) Learning when our flight departed, she had a taxi called and scheduled for the next morning. She had the kitchen supplied with what we needed to cook a snack and a city area map and names of nearby restaurants. We showered, had a snack, and took a wonderful evening neighborhood walk, before sleeping well, knowing our rental car and ride to the airport was taken care of!
Isabel and Vida Tropical B&B, you were just what we needed!
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Date of stay: January 2015Trip type: Travelled with family
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: If possible, leave yourself time for the wonderful breakfast
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have stayed in many places around the world and I must say , my experience here was arguably the worst place i have ever stayed in all of my travels.
First of all, I had a REALLY hard time finding the place. I don't know if it was late at night or what, but the directions provided on the internet need some serious improvement. There are basically no signs outside of the house (btw, it is really a "house") which makes it EXTREMELY difficult to find at night.
I was greeted at the door (definitely woke up whoever answered the door) and shown to my room. It was very small but here's the big issue: the bed/room reeked HORRIBLY of a dirty man smell/ body odor. It was about 11:15 at night and I was exhausted from my trip. I thought about leaving but was just too tired to leave. I tried to sleep but the smell of the room permeated through my nose. It just STANK. I was really frustrated. The room just didn't seem clean at all...I was afraid there might even be bedbugs.
After finally falling asleep at midnight I was awoken at 4 am by someone upstairs walking around. The walls /floors are paper thin so guarantee you'll hear someone if you are downstairs. At this point, I just wanted out, so I left.
It was a really bad experience staying here. Felt like a really raunchy hostel. I would think twice about staying here............
First of all, I had a REALLY hard time finding the place. I don't know if it was late at night or what, but the directions provided on the internet need some serious improvement. There are basically no signs outside of the house (btw, it is really a "house") which makes it EXTREMELY difficult to find at night.
I was greeted at the door (definitely woke up whoever answered the door) and shown to my room. It was very small but here's the big issue: the bed/room reeked HORRIBLY of a dirty man smell/ body odor. It was about 11:15 at night and I was exhausted from my trip. I thought about leaving but was just too tired to leave. I tried to sleep but the smell of the room permeated through my nose. It just STANK. I was really frustrated. The room just didn't seem clean at all...I was afraid there might even be bedbugs.
After finally falling asleep at midnight I was awoken at 4 am by someone upstairs walking around. The walls /floors are paper thin so guarantee you'll hear someone if you are downstairs. At this point, I just wanted out, so I left.
It was a really bad experience staying here. Felt like a really raunchy hostel. I would think twice about staying here............
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Date of stay: October 2012Trip type: Travelled solo
Location
Cleanliness
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from JosefromCostaRica, Owner at Vida Tropical B and B
Responded Nov 3, 2012
Hi voodoo I'm really sorry you were not happy with our humble place. Yes, it's not easy to find, there are no addresses in Costa Rica, so if the cab driver is not familiar with landmarks used, they might have a problem finding anything. Regarding the room, we pride ourselves in cleanliness, so I don't know what you were smelling, we change bedding constantly, sweep and mop all rooms, etc, and have literally dozens of people using the rooms with no complaints, and we check all the rooms over and over to make sure all is OK. Yes, it's a house, and it can happen that a guest leaving for an early flight can be noisy, but we try to be as quiet as possible for the peace of the guests. Again, I'm sorry you were so unsatisfied, we get so many good reviews that the bad ones really hurt and surprise us, just makes us try harder and not be complacent. Thanks, Jose
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I stayed here one night before leaving from the nearby airport. Nice B&B, managed by friendly Silvia and family, where I found a cosy, clean room and a good breakfast before . Also, the transport to the airport was included in the price of the room, so you don't have to pay for the cab. I can definitely recommend this B&B!!!
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Date of stay: January 2012Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
"The upstairs rooms are nice and large have a nice veranda and all but one have big private baths."Read full review
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ALSO KNOWN AS
vida tropical b and b hotel alajuela
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of AlajuelaAlajuela
NUMBER OF ROOMS
7
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Frequently Asked Questions about Vida Tropical B and B
Which popular attractions are close to Vida Tropical B and B?
Nearby attractions include Our Lady of the Pillar Cathedral (0.7 km), Juan Santamaria Historical Cultural Museum (0.7 km), and Tour Adventure Costa Rica S.A. (0.8 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Vida Tropical B and B?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and free parking.
What food & drink options are available at Vida Tropical B and B?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Vida Tropical B and B?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Vida Tropical B and B?
Conveniently located restaurants include Pesqueria da Limonta, Rosti - Plaza Real Alajuela, and Jalapenos Central.
Does Vida Tropical B and B have airport transportation?
Yes, Vida Tropical B and B offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Is Vida Tropical B and B located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.9 km away from the centre of Alajuela.
Are pets allowed at Vida Tropical B and B?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.