A great downtown location in San Jose, Costa Rica. Hotel Santo Tomas provides a free hot cooked typical breakfast to order, FREE SECURED PARKING, FREE High-Speed Fiber Optic EVERYWHERE WIFI, security box, swimming pool, hot Jacuzzi, and gym. Only four blocks from San Jose, Central Avenue, an easy stroll to most local attractions and walkable to major bus stations, 7-10, El Caribe. By Costa Rican law no smoking inside the property anywhere. Available 24/7: tour, travel & car rental services, free baggage storage, and paid laundry service for our guests. A great place for Dental Patients and Digital Nomads to come and enjoy our wonderful open-air gardens, flowers, and covered terraces, to enjoy the volcano views here at Hotel Santo Tomas in San Jose, Costa Rica.
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Pros: We were looking for a place on the lower end of the price spectrum that was a one night romantic getaway for two. Preferably including breakfast and a swimming pool with jacuzzi 😊 Not much to ask! We booked one of the cheaper rooms on the ground floor. Before check in we took an Uber to nearby San Pedro mall to do some essential shopping and see a movie. Then we checked in and I relaxed in the jacuzzi under the San José night sky while my husband enjoyed a full workout in the gym/weights room. TV with cable was great for my husband who enjoyed the football while I enjoyed the hot shower and relaxed in the bed afterwards. We had an amazingly comfortable sleep and a delicious breakfast in the morning of gallo pinto, fresh tropical fruits, freshly squeezed watermelon juice and hot coffee. A generous check out time of 12pm meant we had more than enough time to get our things together and leave when it suited.
Cons: Not many cons at this price point and value. The guy at the front desk was a bit weird when we asked him for a second glass for water as there was only one in the room but not a big deal. We also had to ask him for the TV remote. The towels were a bit small like a mini dress on me after my shower. But good quality (with a third extra towel for the jacuzzi) and high quality bed linen. It is also in a slightly rough looking neighborhood but this is not a problem if you travel to and from the hotel by Uber or use a hire car (which you can park privately inside the property). My husband and I waited for our Uber outside in the morning and did not feel unsafe whatsoever. You can also wait inside the hotel until your taxi or Uber arrives.
Overall impression: The other photos and reviews of this hotel I have seen do not do it justice - it looks far better in person. It has real character since it is a restored historic hotel from an era bygone, but that is why everything is such high quality from the bed linen to the floor tiles. Everything is also in good shape, freshly painted and clean and spotless from the bed linen, to the shower and bathroom, to the jacuzzi and pool. There are little hidden nooks around the hotel that make it very charming. The breakfast area is lovely and the jacuzzi, pool and waterslide were a real highlight. We WILL be back.
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Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:San José in general has the potential to be dangerous as it is a dangerous city. However that...
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Response from Willaim Thomas Douglas, Owner at Santo Tomas Hotel & Wellness Center
Responded May 27, 2024
Hi Tessa-Leigh, Wonderful, having you stay and I'll take care of that second glass in the room, supposed to be there. That Jacuzzi above the pool with a waterslide was our daughter's idea when she was 8. I designed and built it and she was the first one down! She suggested putting a dolphin in the tile at the bottom and I did! How much fun is that? What an outstanding description you have written. This is a great assist for travelers looking for accurate information. We have been open for almost 34 years! Our location is also ideal for travelers going to the Caribbean side, two blocks away turn east and you are on your way. The two main bus stations are within walking distance of the hotel. The 7-10 and El Caribe are the two largest in the country. and all tour pickups and drop-offs are at the hotel's front door. Thank you so much for such a fantastic review! Thomas, Heidy, and, Our Staff
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What do we expect from a hotel when you get to the spot and see an issue with the reservation? Good will trying to find a solution. That’s my experience with Hotel Santo Tomas, downtown in San Jose. There is always a good feeling coming from a nice reception. The hotel is in a classic, old-style downtown San Jose house: with beautiful architecture, the hotel has large, nice, extremely clean rooms. The hotel is at walking distance from many of the cool tourist points in San Jose: the Teatro Nacional, museums, and ministry buildings. Yes, good wifi. What do we expect from a good hotel when we arrive on site and discover a reservation problem? Goodwill to try to find a solution. That is my experience with the Hotel Santo Tomas, in downtown San Jose. There is always a good feeling of receiving someone with a good reception. The hotel is in a classic old-style downtown San Jose house: with beautiful architecture, the hotel has large, pleasant and extremely clean rooms. The hotel is within walking distance of many of San Jose's most interesting tourist attractions: the National Theatre, museums and ministry buildings. Yeah, good wifi.
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Date of stay: July 2024
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Trip type: Travelled on business
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.
We loved staying at Hotel Santo Tomas! The location in the city center is perfect, there are lots of restaurants nearby and major attractions are a short walk away. Although in the city, the hotel is an oasis with many cozy seating areas, a large outdoor breakfast room and a pool and hot tub. The decor is colonial with beautiful period artwork. Our room on the second floor was roomy, with a large bathroom and a very comfortable bed. However, what sets this hotel apart is the staff! . They are all so professional, yet friendly, warm and accomodating. The cooks and servers at breakfast, the room cleaners, the front desk people, all went out of their way to provide excellent service. We fell in love with Jeremy, who was amazing, opening the door for us, asking about our day, answering our questions, and always with a smile. We stayed ten days and found it difficult to leave. Kudos as well to the owner Thomas, who was extremely prompt in answering my many inquiries. Hotel Santo Tomas is a great place to stay in San Jose and I am already missing it!
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Response from William Douglas, General Manager at Santo Tomas Hotel & Wellness Center
Responded Jan 12, 2024
Hi Janey, your title is exactly what we want to do every day. Provide lasting Costa Rican vacation memories. I had a recent client describe the facilities this way for the first time. ( Said the place has great bones) The home was built in 1908 for a family with 10 children. Almost 9000 sq. feet with original mahogany floors, handmade mosaic tile floors, and a 15-foot-tall ceiling along with the natural ventilation system take one back to a bygone era. All of our staff is on board for this mission. We have employees that have been with us for 27 of the past 33 years. Wonderful having everyone stay. Thank you so much for the wonderful review. Happy Trails Thomas, Heidy, and Our Staff
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Hotel santo tomas is A gorgeous old building, lovingly maintained. The wide plank wooden floors glowed with polish. Lovely staff. good breakfast. My room was gigantic, but unfortunately didn’t have a window for fresh air, so it felt a little stifling. There was a very tall ceiling of bead board and period lights and it did have an overhead fan. Also, there was a free-standing fan. A word of caution: Bathroom floor and shower floor are extremely slippery. Good options for the entire range of restaurants, shopping, and sight-seeing within walking distance.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Downtown San Jose is frenetic after peaceful beach escape. Be sure you are prepared for change...
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Response from Willaim Thomas Douglas, Owner at Santo Tomas Hotel & Wellness Center
Responded May 23, 2024
Hi Jonneh, Sounds like you were in room 8 the original dining room. All rooms have windows. The original family consisted of 10 children, so imagine that dining room with furniture and a table, most likely with 16 chairs at least, lovely. That arched window is beside the door, behind a curtain. I apologize you did not see it. Our location is close to all attractions and the two main bus terminals,7-10 and El Caribe, are walkable. Thank you for your kind words. Thomas, Heidy, and Our Staff
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Manned desk right at the door. Very professional and attentive.
Housekeeping exceptional
Food in morning much more than typical prepackaged items you see in most places.
Security. You get buzzed in and guests are required to sign in and register.
Phones and communication. Responsive. The owner even will exchange text messages with you.
Look at Trip Advisor. It recently received an award.
Restaurant across the street with Trip Advisor award. People line up waiting for it to open.
What an amazing place with dedicated staff that aren't replaceable.
It all starts at the top with the owner.
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Make sure you talk to the owner. He is usually there at 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.
Response from William Douglas, General Manager at Santo Tomas Hotel & Wellness Center
Responded Jul 25, 2023
Hi Als, That is a very concise and to-the-point review, that will be very informative for prospective travelers. Yes, you are correct, we have received awards from TripAdvisor now for the past 13 years. So nice you noticed that, you are the first to mention it. Looking forward to your return. Great quality review, all of us here at the Santo Tomas Thank You! Thomas, Heidy, and Our Staff
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Positives: It is budget hotel in the downtown area. If you plan to use buses for travel across CR, it is a good location as bus stations are a walking distance. It has a swimming pool and gym. Negatives: It’s location is also a negative. The staff advised us not to go out in the dark as it is unsafe (possibility of mugging). They even advised us against waiting outside the hotel for the Uber. The area around and the road on which it is located looks rough. We stayed for one night and our room had dirty bedsheets and pillow covers. The decor of the room and bathroom are very dated, which wouldn’t be a problem if maintained and cleaned properly. The pictures do not reflect the true condition of the/our room. Breakfast felt very minimal. Conclusion: If you can afford a little bit more stay along the national museum area.
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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 William Douglas, General Manager at Santo Tomas Hotel & Wellness Center
Responded Feb 1, 2022
Hi Indranil, I looked thru your reservation and you booked our cheapest room, the Economy, this also included the free breakfast for the two of you.. These rooms are located in the original home, built-in 1908, a registered historical property. We have 4 other room types available some with balcony views, located in our newer annex upstairs. As we are in the dry season with summer winds there most likely is some dust, I have spoken to my staff to be more attentive. You are correct we have a great location for the bus terminals and tour pickups. I urge everyone to look at pictures from all of the media sources available, especially ones posted by clients. I am happy to say that we have thousands of reviews from the past 32 years, which everyone can read and inform himself or herself. I apologize we could not satisfy you. Thank you Thomas
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A trip to the past. Interesting historic building. The furniture, curtains and bedding look very old. +: large rooms, close to the National Museum and Theater (four blocks). -: the neighborhood is very noisy (music), as is the street. It's not a pretty or pleasant area. Could improve: Breakfast. For dinner, I used Uber Eats, as I didn't feel comfortable walking around the place at night. The website explicitly said "Breath In New Life with a Relaxing Massage" and that's why I chose the hotel, as I wanted to have a few days of relaxation. Neither of the two receptionists I consulted knew how to provide information about massages, nor did they get back to me when they said they would do it.
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled solo
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It is a hotel with a very good location just 3 blocks from Central Avenue and a few minutes from several places of interest. However, at night the area is very desolate and with some homeless people asking for coins. It is in an old house, which gives it a rustic touch and the rooms are comfortable, plus there are several very useful and comfortable common areas. Unlike other places in Costa Rica, the people at the reception are a little serious and curt but otherwise, the place was fine.
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Tener cuidado en la zona en la noche,
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Everything was pretty perfect. Omar the manager was delightful and funny and very welcoming, the place was clean and quiet and in a great older building that was extremely charming but also very spacious in every way (a lot of old charming buildings have small rooms and low ceilings-not this one) The breakfast was actually a very good breakfast with fresh eggs and many choices, not just some juice and coffee and stale bagels. Thomas the owner is on-site and is on top of everything and very engaging. Also a cool pool with a jacuzzi and a small gym and very centrally located. Perfect.
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
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 William Douglas, General Manager at Santo Tomas Hotel & Wellness Center
Responded Feb 1, 2022
Hi Imsmilin, What an absolutely, wonderfully, descriptive review you have written. You were smart and booked direct. Built in 1908, a historical registered property, lots of stories here! Open now for the past 32 years, we are here to create lasting Costa Rican vacation memories. Omar has been with us for many years as well as most of our staff. There are hundreds if not thousands of repeat clients that have passed thru that front door again and again. Now there are even grandchildren coming. How much fun is that! Looking forward to your return. Thomas, Heidy and Our Staff
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Even in Paradise s#£t happens. As we were three weeks into our exciting six-week round trip of Costa Rica we had to return suddenly to San José for urgent eye surgery. We had already had a good experience at the Hotel Santo Tomas at the beginning of our visit and, luckily for us, they had a free room — not a given as it’s a popular place. After the surgery I was instructed to stay put, mostly sitting, for four weeks before being allowed to fly home, so instead of rambling through rain forests, sloth-spotting, basking on beaches or venturing up volcanos we were stuck sitting in the hotel. This is where the owner, Thomas, took pity on us and offered us a deal on his smallest room to help us out in our hour of need. His offer turned the word “generous” into an understatement. He saved our bacon! We will be forever grateful. Thomas obviously has the right feel for choosing his staff as everybody who works there from the guys on reception to the chambermaids and the people making breakfast could not have been more friendly, helpful and concerned. Once you are through the gate, Hotel Santo Tomas is a peaceful oasis in the middle of busy, bustling San José. The house once belonged to a coffee baron and the dark woodwork and colourful floor tiles lend the place a classy and authentic atmosphere. I couldn’t use the well-equipped fitness room but did enjoy the hot tub almost every day. We can’t possibly thank everyone by name but thank you David and Dave and special thanks go to the lovely Omar, philosopher and gentleman who enriched our stay. When in San José, stay at Santo Tomas. Highly recommended!
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Rooms
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.
San Jose, Costa RIca68 contributions10 helpful votes
Hi Paul we have walk-in showers in the downstairs rooms. No elevator. I have bad knees also, already replaced one.
Sorry I just saw your question
Thomas
San Jose, Costa RIca68 contributions10 helpful votes
Hi Sorry, I just saw your question. We give a free breakfast in the morning, but no dinner service. There are many , many really good restaurants to select form all right out the front door.
Cheers
Thomas
There are more places to choose from in the San Jose area.
PRICE RANGE
C$104 - C$131 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of San JoseSan Jose MetroSan Jose
NUMBER OF ROOMS
30
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Santo Tomas Hotel & Wellness Center - UPDATED 2025 Prices, Reviews & Photos
Frequently Asked Questions about Santo Tomas Hotel & Wellness Center
Which popular attractions are close to Santo Tomas Hotel & Wellness Center?
Nearby attractions include Teatro Nacional Costa Rica (0.4 km), Pre-Columbian Gold Museum (0.4 km), and Metropolitan Church (Catedral Metropolitana) (0.3 km).
