The Alta is a great place to stay. It is only a 20 minute drive from the airport and has fantastic views over San Jose (ask for a first floor room or higher). The rooms are very clean and comfortable and there is a nice pool. The hotel is quite quirky and interesting. The restaurant is expensive but top class. There's a cheap bar/restaurant 4 minutes walk down the road. The downside is it's a way out of town, but it's a perfect place to stay on the way to or from the airport

My girlfriend and I spend our first night in Costa Rica at Hotel Alta and we both loved this hotel. First off, it is conveniently located to the San Jose airport. We were both taken back not only by the size of the room but how beautiful it was. The hotels elaborate architecture, everything from the arched door frames to the gorgeous pool area pointed to the care and attention to detail that was put into designing the property. The balcony offered a spectacular view of the valley. The hotel staff, particularly the restaurant staff, was extremely helpful and warm. Our meal at La Luz, the onsite restaurant was excellent (I enjoyed one of the freshest pieces of tuna I can ever remember having) and we were able to enjoy a level of quality and luxury above what we found at other restaurants throughout the country. My only regret is not spending more than one night at Hotel Alta. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone traveling to the San Jose area.

Hotel Alta is an extraordinarily comfortable place to stay. The rooms have incredible views looking west over the valley. Sitting on the spacious balcony watching the sun set over the city is a spectacularly beautiful experience. The architecture of the hotel is a welcome departure from the high rise boxes of the chains. Throughout the hotel are curves, arches, angles, and textures in an old world style but with modern construction. The result is visually stunning. The hotel staff is very friendly and will go out of their way to help you with whatever you want to do in Costa Rica. I could not find any fault with the service in the hotel, from housekeeping to front desk to the excellent restaurant. La Luz restaurant, situated in the Hotel, has a well-deserved reputation as one of Costa Rica's best restaurants. The food and service were excellent. Nothing can ruin a good meal for me faster than poor or inattentive service. At La Luz, the care that obviously goes into the menu carries over to the wait staff who were always attentive but not overbearing. The setting is casual but elegant. The atmosphere is quiet so conversation is possible without having to lip read. Highly recommended.

It is an understatement to say that Hotel Alta has extreme old world character, style, and charm. The layout is interesting with the hotel seeming to have very few right angles. The view from our room of the city was stunning, the restaurant gorgeous, the staff very friendly. I would stay here again. The only downsides I experienced were the food was not that great, our room needed just a little maintenance, and I do not appreciate restaurant dress codes (but I here this is a San Jose thing). None were enough to spoil my experience here.