Taormina Hotel and Casino
Avenida 11 Calle 3 Bis Barrio Amon, San Jose 10103 Costa Rica
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About
#24 of 98 hotels in San Jose
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Taormina Hotel and Casino is strategically located in the historic neighborhood of Barrio Amon in San Jose, Costa Rica near the Financial Center of the Capital. It is close to cultural attractions, entertainment, and only 25 minutes away from the Juan Santamaria International Airport. The property features 90 magnificent rooms, distributed in a four story building. We're a very inviting hotel with a distinguished Costa Rican style and a friendly bi-lingual staff.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Free breakfast
Bicycle rental
Casino and Gambling
Airport transportation
Business Centre with Internet Access
Meeting rooms
Car park
Wifi
Bar / lounge
Coffee shop
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Snack bar
Car hire
24-hour security
Concierge
Gift shop
Non-smoking hotel
24-hour front desk
Clothes dryer
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
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Room features
Air conditioning
Desk
Fireplace
Housekeeping
Coffee / tea maker
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Interconnected rooms available
Safe
Telephone
Iron
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Hair dryer
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Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Centrally Located
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Location
98Great for walkers
Grade: 98 out of 100
66Restaurantswithin 0.5 km
22Attractionswithin 0.5 km
Contact
Avenida 11 Calle 3 Bis Barrio Amon, San Jose 10103 Costa Rica
Getting there
Rental CarsSee car hire from US$9/day
447Reviews15Q+A100Room tips
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My first stay a year ago was generally ok because of the wonderful people working the desk at that time. So I returned in April, but left after only 2 hours due to a COVID infection. Their no-show policy is to charge 1 night. But in my case, I did check in before realizing that I needed to test myself for COVID due to a sore throat. After confirming my COVID infection, I left the hotel to quarantine in an isolated situation. I was charged for both nights because they do not give refunds. I felt that was HORRIBLE customer service, especially since I chose not to stay and infect people. I have had poor customer service issues at this hotel, but this last visit was beyond comprehension. The man working the desk weekdays is so arrogant and ignorant! The internet on floor 3 was not functioning during my stay this time. And after their service man made an attempt to resolve the issue, nothing changed. So I went to the desk only to be told there is nothing wrong. And regardless of anything I said, his only response was to argue with me that it was my devices. And he was not considerate in his mannerisms, so eventually I did get frustrated also, but not until I could bear no more of his attitude. I’ve seen him working several times before and noticed his lousy demeanor with other people. But it was the first time I had to deal with it. And even though my devices worked perfectly in the hotels before this place, AND worked perfectly with the hotel’s casino WiFi, he refused to care. As a 25 year IT manager and consultant, it wasn’t difficult for me to understand the problem. But in the end, I just left the hotel the next day to go to the Hilton, where once again, the internet worked perfectly. Now beyond that issue, there was a worm crawling in my bed when I moved the sheets the first night (I should have taken a photo). But that did not surprise me because on my first visit, when a very rude room attendant gave me a wrapped roll of toilet paper, several bugs and a cockroach came running out of the core when I set it down. Luckily I was able to kill the cockroach before it got away. I believe the storage area for their cleaning carts must be in a bug infested area. Also, the bathroom door would not close. The shower handle was so loose or defective I couldn’t adjust the water much at all. The entry door would stick. The climate system would not cycle (had to be on or off only). One curtain would stick so badly I sometimes couldn’t open it. The bed frame was a shin-buster! I have bruises on both legs. The music in the bar is extremely loud most nights. The traffic noise outside is horrible. Noise from all the sex workers, taxi drivers, and patrons outside at night is so obnoxious! They almost always have only one functioning elevator. They will do constant security checks on everyone except gringos. And I rarely felt as if any of the staff appreciated any guests. Maybe because they are mostly foreign men looking for sex workers. This is an adults only hotel, but obviously NOT for couples. It may have been just chance, but the quality of the guests has dropped dramatically in the past year in my opinion. The first time it seemed a better quality of customers. Now it seems like a freak show to me. I was there only 2 days, and that was 48 hours TOO long! MUCH too long!! I should have left the first day.…
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Date of stay: August 2022
Value
Rooms
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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I have stayed in this hotel many times. My last time before this trip was in late 2019 before the Pandemic. Hotel is still in ok physical condition. I travel on business. MUCH has changed here since 2019. Mostly all new staff and ownership. New chef and different menu in restaurant. The hotel is well located near the central plaza of San Jose. I really liked staying here before, nice rooms, bathrooms, bar and restaurant. ROOMS, now are ok except for some rapid deterioration evident. BAR, well it is now full of "outsiders" who are not guests especially the majority are "working ladies (if you can call them that)". Worst, the Bar and Lobby and sometimes restaurant are full of AMERICANS mostly looking for a "special type of tourism". Almost No One inside the bar is ever wearing a mask even if they are not drinking. RESTAURANT, is ok, but not the same menu or quality as before, and also many "working ladies" inside the restaurant when the bar is full. I am in the medical business and this hotel has become in my opinion a "breeding ground" for Covid 19. The area outside the hotel during daylight is ok and I would consider safe. At night the over flow crowd (working ladies and who comes with them) are standing outside, I do not think it is safe. I had a business meeting here one day and it was embarrassing, the Pharmacist Lady who showed up almost left without entering due to the atmosphere. BREAKFAST, those who complain are crazy, they give 2 free choices. The TIPICO a Costa Rican Brakfast which I had every day and the AMERICAN. Breakfast is good, no complaints here. The TAORMINA Hotel has now become the New "Hotel El Rey and Blue Marlin Bar" in San Jose. I will not stay here again unless it changes completely back to what is was before. If you want to see the WORST of America, come to this Hotel & Bar around 7pm you will be amazed by what is transpiring.…
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Travelled on business
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Only Come If You Are a Man Looking for Special Female Tourism
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Nice hotel for single travelers to enjoy nightlife, casino, bar. Beware of the charge of an extra $10 for anyone you take into the room and be charged on the credit card. Good breakfast will cost an additional $5 from their free breakfast.
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Date of stay: September 2021
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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My stay in August was my first at Taormina, although I had been to the casino in the past. I do not know why people lie on these reviews, besides having a stick up their ___. The rooms are NOT worn out, they are in great shape. I opted to rent a suite, (#411) which had a living room area with a guest bathroom, and a master bedroom with a private bathroom. The bed was very comfortable, the furniture was classy and clean, and the bathrooms functioned well and were very clean. I also saw my buddies "superior" room which was also very nice (No living room). I scheduled my return Covid test for Monday afternoon at 2pm and the front desk called me at 2pm to say that the nurse was on her way up. $50 and 2 hours later, my results were emailed to me. The hotel manager also printed out a hard copy for me, which he surprised me with at check-out. The free breakfast was NOT two pieces of toast and fruit. You can choose from an American or Tipical Costa Rican breakfast. My american breakfast was Juice or coffee, fresh fruit, 2 eggs, hash brown, crispy bacon and toast. There were also extras (pancakes, waffles, etc) that you could order. The casino has slots and table games, (Roulette, blackjack, and others) and the sports bar has video gambling (Roulette and blackjack) too. The sports bar is empty during the day, but after 5pm the chica's start arriving. It's nothing too intimidating, and you can easily find a love affair for the evening if you so choose. The casino stays open later than the Covid curfew if you are staying at the hotel. The area around Taormina was safe for exploring during the day and was only a few blocks away from the main city center. Room service was great - Same menu as sportsbar and restaurant downstairs, but they also will bring you beers, drinks and shots as well. The prices were not more expensive and there was no service charge. The Wifi was great, I had multiple devices connected at all times with no issue. I did not see anyone having a bad experience at Taormina. All the guests were very friendly and we all spoke together at breakfast. My agent Elizabeth made all the reservations for me, including the Covid test. She got me the suite, got me a nice airport transfer, offered tour info, and even got the hotel to put a stand-up fan in my room for nighttime use. Elizabeth - 506 8742 3796 Whatsapp The General Manager (Sorry, I forgot his name) was on-site to say hello everyday. His front desk manager saw me waiting at the front door for the rain to slow down, and he came over with his personal umbrella to loan me to go outside. The front door guy checks everyone's temperature upon entering, and he will get you a cab if asked. I cannot recommend this hotel enough. If you are a single guy, or couple with no children, this hotel and casino is clean, safe and comfy. Families might want to consider the evening "scene" before booking. But to be clear, there is nothing crazy like nudity or fighting going on. There are just a bunch of ladies dressed sexy in the private sportsbar (There are frosted windows).....which your kids shouldn't be in anyways.…
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Date of stay: August 2021
Value
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Service
Room Tip: 3rd floor and higher are quieter.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
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I so enjoy coming to the Taormino and being in a luxurious room with a king bed, nice furniture , great coffee maker, endless hot showers , big views of the city , and generally very quiet atmosphere up on the fourth floor. This in contrast to living out on my farm in Southern Costa Rica or staying at modest hotels in beach towns and other tourist spots where things are decent but always a little simple. The Taormino feels modern and brings me back to civilization. The neighborhood is Barrio Amon and has a lot of colorful architecture and nice buildings from the last century . Very nearby is the zoo and several hectares of old forest right in the middle of the city . Exploring on foot is nice and felt quite safe to me in the daytime. Ten blocks away and your in the heart of downtown with the big pedestrian streets and various tourist destinations : The Gold Museum , The Theatre , etc. I dont do casinos but they do have a small one there with lots of games.and the food looks really good there. The bar at the casino is populated with ladies of the night if you are looking for company. There is a professional massage service during the day that can come to your room for a very reasonable price : $40-$60 for an hour plus. The restaraunt -cafe is nice and totally open to the street which can be noisy at times. Its a nice hotel and strategically located for tourism.…
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Date of stay: June 2021
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: 4th floor has some views.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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What a negative experience! We chose to stay at Taormina hotel after disregarding several comparable hotels because they advertised on location Covid testing assistance within 24 hours. It was extremely important for us to get this test in this timeframe to be able to make our flight. Upon arrival right away we found out that the testing wouldn’t be at the hotel because it was a weekend and the staff created doubt as to whether it would be done within the 24 hour timeframe. None of this was disclosed to us and was the exact opposite of what they advertised. In the morning we asked reception again for the timeframe and assistance, we got no help and a very defensive demeanour. When calling the clinic ourselves we were told that they could not do it within 24 hours. This news created so much stress for us all because we had relied on the information that the hotel blatantly advertised. We had to undertake extreme and expensive measures to make sure we could still get a test done elsewhere on time to make our flight. The hotel offered no assistance. Besides the deceitfulness of the hotel the staff also lied to cover up and tried to shift the blame to us. However, overall I think the worst part was just the total and complete lack of empathy. They made it clear that had we not made our flight we could expect no help, compensation or even a sliver of recognition of their part in our situation. Besides the unfriendly reception staff the hotel has a strange atmosphere and transforms into a sex tourism destination in the evenings. And finally the cherry on top 'the free' breakfast is 2 slices of toast and some fruit. Thinking back of my stay I am still baffled by the treatment we received at this hotel. I would strongly recommend that you NEVER STAY HERE and seek out a hotel were you are not lied to and treated like a customer with some form of mutual respect.…
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Date of stay: April 2021
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Stayed at Taormina for 5 nights during my Costa Rica trip. The pros: location and friendly service. The cons: noisy (it has a casino + other stuff lol), worn out rooms, unstable internet and mediocre breakfast (stayed at Park Inn before for the same $ amount and their breakfast is really great).
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Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
This casino and bar is nice, but with Costa Rican rules not allowing alcoholic drinks in casinos (which is crazy) makes the experience not as fun. However playing blackjack I actually won the most money here. It did use an automatic shuffler so be warned as it can make you either win big or lose big!!!! Good luck! The bar is nice and some space, prices are higher than anywhere else I went so be prepared for extra double taxes which is crazy. But lots of females filling this bar with the Del Ray closed down!! Enjoy!!!
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Date of stay: November 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
3 Helpful votes
Helpful
I have stayed at this hotel four times. The hotel is clean, safe, great Sports Bar awesome breakfast buffet. rooms are designed very well free parking, great menu in the restaurant. nice Casino. But most of all the people who work there are awesome from the front desk to the restaurant to the sports bar to the housekeeping staff and parking. on the rare occasions that I had a problem they went well above the line of duty to rectify the situation. Can't wait for my fifth trip
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip 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.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Keep in mind I give it 5 stars for the area. It is the nicest place in this area. Nothing really come close. The place is clean and the staff was top notch. Security is great. The Valet was nice. The front desk remembered me from last year and they actually walked up to my room for a wake up call. I advise this property for single males as there is some friends to be made here. The restaurant was better this time even though it takes forever to get your food sometimes, but it was still better. The casino is nice and actually won a few buck. Bar is nice. There are nice restaurants across the street. Good place. I would go back. The only downside is that if over the restaurant on the second floor suite is pretty loud. One hint is that if you speak English then use the SAP button on the TV to get more channels in English.…
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
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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.
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PRICE RANGE
US$119 - US$136 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Hotel Mona Lisa
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of San JoseSan Jose MetroSan Jose
NUMBER OF ROOMS
87
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Frequently Asked Questions about Taormina Hotel and Casino
Which popular attractions are close to Taormina Hotel and Casino?
Nearby attractions include Carpe Chepe (0.4 km), Galeria Namu (0.2 km), and Spirogyra Butterfly Garden (0.4 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Taormina Hotel and Casino?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Taormina Hotel and Casino?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Taormina Hotel and Casino?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Taormina Hotel and Casino?
Yes, free parking, a parking garage, and secured parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Taormina Hotel and Casino?
Conveniently located restaurants include Cafe Rojo, Restaurante Silvestre, and La Criollita.
Does Taormina Hotel and Casino have airport transportation?
Yes, Taormina Hotel and Casino offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Is Taormina Hotel and Casino located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 1.0 km away from the centre of San Jose.
Are any cleaning services offered at Taormina Hotel and Casino?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does Taormina Hotel and Casino offer any business services?
Yes, guests have access to a business centre and meeting rooms during their stay.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Taormina Hotel and Casino?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Spanish.