Alta Hotel

• Just a 25-minute drive from the airport
• Pretty garden and outdoor pool
• Restaurant specialising in Mediterranean food
• On-site spa and beauty salon

This small hotel has a lovely hillside location with views down over San Jose, the valley and mountains beyond, just 25-minutes from the airport. With just 23 rooms the hotel is intimate, a perfect place to rest before or after a flight at the beginning or end of your holiday, with shops and restaurants a short stroll away.

The eclectic architecture is an interesting fusion of Spanish, Moorish and medieval influences.

Rooms and suites are simply but stylishly decorated and have attractive black and white photographs of life in 1920's Costa Rica. All have private bathrooms and balconies.

La Luz restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, specialises in Mediterranean cuisine, using the freshest local produce to create exquisitely flavoured and presented dishes. Breakfast is a choice of continental fare, served with freshly brewed Costa Rican coffee. There's a bar where you can relax over a chilled glass or beer or wine, enjoy a snack and meet other guests.

Outside there's an attractive garden with a sparkling swimming pool. Spa and beauty services are available on site and recreational facilities include a gym, Jacuzzi, sauna and tennis.