San Jose, Costa Rica

San Jose, Costa Rica

Outside Palacio hotel in San Jose, Costa Rica

I wish I could say getting there was uneventful... absolutely not. We left from JFK international airport in NYC on Jet Blue, & had a connecting flight leaving out of Ft. Lauderdale FL. Our flight left 1 hour late from JFK (paper work was the reason they told us). Of course we missed our connection (the only flight leaving for Costa Rica for the day). We were put on a bus to Orlando (5 hour ride), given two $12 food vouchers and housed at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando's airport to catch a 8am flight the following day. Can you say PISSED OFF?

We stayed at the Barceló San Jose Palacio hotel, 10107 San Jose de Costa Rica, San Jose de Costa Rica which was suppose to be a 5 star hotel. I'll give it 3 1/2 stars. They don't like to give you wash cloths, but if you ask you will receive one. They stated there was a casino on the property. There was, it was a small room with about 20 slot machines and if you win, they only pay you with colones (costa rican money). The rate is about 520 colones to the US dollar. They say in their brochure that you can change your money at the front desk, but what they don't tell you is that they only change the American dollar to colones not visa versa. It was all inclusive & the food was pretty good. A nice variety and on a scale of 1-10, I would rate the food a 6. Unfortunately, we missed the tour to the rain forest & volcano due to Jet Blue getting us there a day and a half late, so I can't rate that. I heard it was awesome.