Travel

The inns of coaching days were establishments that provided overnight lodgings and creature comforts for travelers. The Adventure Inn does exactly that, but it’s a far cry from “ye olde inns” of yore.

This up-to-date, full-service, well-appointed hotel offers homey comfort and excellent rates, and is a perfect place to begin and end a business or vacation trip to Costa Rica. Some travelers stay an extra night and explore the capital city of San José; others linger awhile and use the hotel as a home base for day or longer tours and return to the comfort of their cozy nest at the inn before taking off again to explore more of the country. 

On the periphery of an upscale Ciudad Cariari residential area, Adventure Inn is conveniently located to both the Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela and downtown San José. With one night’s stay, free transport is offered to and from the airport, 24/7. 

Welcoming Moon Glow Restaurant and Bar. Courtesy of Adventure Inn

Many residents of Costa Rica choose to stay at the inn on their way in or out of the airport. I found it was a joy to spend a relaxed evening at the hotel, enjoy an excellent dinner in the Moon Glow Restaurant and know I would get a wake-up call and have a taxi waiting for me at 3:30 a.m. to get to the airport on time. I highly recommend this hassle-free way to start a business or vacation trip, even if you live in the capital with easy access to the airport.

Canadian owner Eric Robinson, a veteran hotel owner both in Canada and Costa Rica, has extensive knowledge of the hospitality business. 

“My son, Mike, is a computer whiz, and between the two of us we manage to run an efficient, tight ship,” he said. 

A Mayan jungle theme gives Adventure Inn a tropical flair. A wonderful collection of statues and stone pots overflowing with plants can be seen everywhere, in the lobby, along the walkways leading to the rooms and nestled in every nook and cranny imaginable. Adding to the decor are hanging baskets, indoor and outdoor gardens and stuffed toucans and parrots made from colorful materials swinging on perches. There is also a photo collection depicting Costa Rican wildlife, traditions and landmarks. Guests can relax in comfortable cane furniture by a gurgling fishpond on the patio, an extension of the restaurant and terrace that overlooks the tropical garden and a new 87-square-meter solar-heated infinity pool and Jacuzzi.

The small library and comfortable sitting area with sofas and armchairs has four flat-screen computers for guest use, and wireless Internet is available throughout the inn. Guests also have free use of the fully equipped ten-piece gym.

The inn has 34 spacious, spotlessly clean and nicely furnished guest rooms with air conditioning, comfy orthopedic beds, tiled bathrooms with hair driers, cable television, safe and coffeemaker. Some rooms are equipped with Jacuzzis, mini-fridges and microwaves ($20 extra). Room service from the restaurant is available. The guest rooms are located on two floors; some of the downstairs rooms that overlook the courtyard tend to be on the dark side, but for overnight stays this is no problem.

At the inn’s Moon Glow Restaurant, the centerpiece is a replica of a guanacaste, the national tree of Costa Rica, with the face of an old Indian chief peering out of its trunk. The pleasant, attractive dining room and bar is a nice spot to meet fellow travelers and listen to their adventures over a tropical cocktail. The lunch and dinner menus offer an interesting selection of snacks and sandwiches, Costa Rican fare and U.S. and international favorites including beef, chicken, seafood, pasta and delicious salads. Excellent full American or typical Costa Rican breakfasts are included in the room rates. 

The friendly, helpful, bilingual staff assists guests with all their needs, including arranging their choice of more than 40 available tours. These include day trips, overnight and multi-night package tours to rain forests, volcanoes, national parks, beaches and white-water rafting rivers. The staff also informs guests about neighborhood attractions, which include parkland walks, a nearby golf course, first-class restaurants, casinos, movie theaters and shopping at the Real Cariari mall. The front desk can also book car rentals for delivery at the hotel, as well as countrywide shuttle bus pickup services.

Whether you check in to the Adventure Inn for a one-night stay upon arrival to or departure from Costa Rica or use it as your home base when touring the country, you will find a convenient, reasonably priced hotel offering all the amenities you need. It comes highly recommended.

Going There

Adventure Inn is 100 m east of the main entrance to Los Arcos in Ciudad Cariari. Rates including 13 percent tax are $82.49 single and $100.57 double. Add $16 for each extra person (four maximum). For information and reservations, call 2239-2633 or 2239-2592 or visit www.adventure-inn.com.

Adventure Hotels of Costa Rica

Six years ago, Adventure Inn owner Eric Robinson founded Adventure Hotels of Costa Rica, a network of 22 member hotels that refer guests to each other by offering a 10 percent discount. The group now has 89 members and finished its last membership drive at the beginning of the year. 

“Any hotel that wants to join this nonprofit association is carefully checked out to see if they meet the required standards,” Robinson said. “We have had 41,000 beautiful, glossy, easy-to-read road maps printed, locating and describing the member hotels throughout the country.” 

Guests can browse for their choice of hotel, from trendy or luxury beach locations to accommodations nestled in the rain forest or perched high in the cloud forest, on Adventure Hotels website at www.adventurehotelsofcostarica.com.