Price

Stayed in June 2025

The rooms smelled like coffee and were musty smelling and the hotel was land locked by busy expressways, but otherwise would stay again! Also I wished the bathroom doors locked. They had no locks on them.

Great accommodations! Very friendly and helpful staff!

Stayed in July 2025

Room a little outdated

Gorgeous and well maintained

Stayed in June 2025

By the bed area had a little smell, maybe the floor, but other than that everything was great.

The accommodation, staff were respectful, and the food.

Stayed in June 2025

We needed to stay only one evening before catching our flight early the next morning. It’s a very large hotel, with several restaurants and a gym equipped with steam and sauna area. It was a lovely stay, very clean and gracious staff. Our shuttle to the airport was complimentary. Would recommend.

Stayed in June 2025

Nice Rooms, well appointed. Beauiful grounds, helpful staff

Stayed in May 2025

Wood-panelled business/airport-style hotel that has seen better days and is right on the edge of the city, next to busy main roads, with no public transport to get into the centre, so you are reliant on taxis (don't try to walk it!). Good only for a stopover if you are heading off the next morning, or for the free shuttle (which needs to be booked in advance) to the international airport.

Stayed in May 2025

The hotel's exceptional staff made my stay truly unforgettable.

On my last day, I found out that the roller bag's chain was ripped out, rendering it unusable unless I purchased a new bag or had it repaired. Fortunately, I reached out to the lobby receptionist, who directed me to the service staff. They kindly provided duct tape to fix the chain temporarily, which was sufficient to get my luggage from the Barcelo to the airport and home. I'm truly grateful for the staff's kind and helpful work. Thank you.

Stayed in May 2025

I was travelling with a large party and contacted the hotel multiple times before arrival to reserve the airport shuttle for us. I never received a response and despite early check in the shuttle was booked. We had to pay $45 US for a private shuttle for our party. The hotel key allows access only to the lobby and your room floor which is great for security but problematic if you are a large party with rooms on different floors. A different wifi password is provided for each room but only allowed 3 guests per password- wifi was also not very stable. Pool closes at 5 pm which is very early when check in is 2 pm.

Location is close to airport. Complimentary breakfast and lounge was great. Master suites are very nice.

Stayed in May 2025

I had requested a room wirh a beautiful city view, but the view I had was passable, not solpecial, but perhaps better rooms with a view were not available at the time.

The hotel was very nicely appointed, with a lovely lobby area, and a clean and comfortable bedroom. Meals were varied, ample and tasty. I also enjoyed the very talented female pianist playing live on the evenings I was a guest.

Stayed in May 2025

The price of food and beverage is a little too high for the quality you actually get, plus do you not really have many options unless you ride a car to go somewhere else outside the property. Same goes for any other extra services, such a massage, be ready to pay for high prices or to seek outside vendors for a good value option.

Overall a really nice, and iconic property. Its surroundings and views give you a perfect balance between an urban location and Costa Rica natural charm. The property does not feel new, but feels clean, well maintained, and the staff is really kind. . The pool area is perhaps the best hidden feature not every gust actually takes advantage of. I would consider booking again eventually.

Stayed in May 2025

Location isn’t close to downtown San Jose.

Very nice hotel providing good value for money. Decent food at the poolside restaurant. Friendly staff and free airport shuttle service.

Stayed in March 2025

All

Stayed in April 2025

Location not ideal if you are walking as there is very little around the hotel. Breakfast can be very busy with Tour groups Food is OK but nothing special

The room was nice as was the lounge access , if you choose this option don’t bother with the half board option .

Stayed in April 2025

The bread I got in an expensive restaurant was NOT EDIBLE. FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, I HAD TO SPIT IT OUT. Salmon was OK. Toppings - no comment. fancy description without taste . There is no Cafe/ Restaurant/ Store outside the hotel. Location is poor neighborhood.

Gardens. Breakfast was good . Staff was very kind especially Angie who upgraded me to huge corner suite. Thanks Angie. I will never ever forget it.

Stayed in April 2025

Front desk was always understaffed. When we requested a mat for the slippery tub it was never delivered despite the front desk having taken the request and assuring us that they understood the request. This hotel is quite a distance from downtown and the nearby on-ramp to the highway was often as clogged as the highway itself, making a taxi ride to San Jose a long, expensive process.

Rooms and beds were very comfortable. The bartender made excellent mojitos and frozen drinks, something that was never true in three other hotels we stayed in Costa Rica! The garden and walking paths were a beautiful oasis with benches to sit on and exotic tropical blossoms throughout. There was live musical entertainment in the beautiful lobby every evening with very talented musicians. The complimentary van service from the airport to the hotel was prompt and the driver was very polite despite our 9:30 PM arrival time and the extreme amount of traffic.

Stayed in March 2025

Reception/ rooms a bit outdated If you have an access to the 6th floor lounge, this is a very average one. Don’t expect too much! We had with our booking a 10 % reduction on the restaurants. The hotel claimed this was not true (though flagged on our Booking document. We sent notes to both the hotel and Booking.com complaints.. no feedback from either til end of our stay.

Possibility for late check out, much appreciated. Rooms are large with big window.

Stayed in March 2025

Both the breakfast and evening buffets we not up to the standard of the other hotel we stayed at in Costa rica. It's possibly a bit dated now. It could do with a facelift

Comfortable bed, spacious room, excellent bathroom

Stayed in March 2025

They didn’t have a game room or board games a must for a family w kids.

Very Nice hotel, with lots of amenities. Great breakfast. Good prices on restaurants, comparing to other hotels that usually are high. During the evenings they have a Pianist, that was really nice.

Stayed in April 2025

Room was nice and big, lovely pool and beds. Food was absolutely awful for half board. Worst I've ever had

Stayed in April 2025

The staff, the property, the facilities are wonderful. The breakfast buffet, while not as abundant as in the past, is just fine. The big weakness of the Barcelo Palacios are the restaurants— the rancho at the pool is good but won’t take a food order after 4 pm— even though the front desk keeps telling people its open until 5. the el bosque bar restsurant—- the food is terrible, really terrible— the sushi restaurant service was really inadequate, some at our table got their food? The others were served literally a half hour later—-thats no good. A hotel of this quality must do better.

Stayed in April 2025

Had to request towels for the room. Not enough were in the room I paid for the food package but will not in the future bc the food at the buffet was not to my liking.

Stayed in April 2025

Check in was very slow, in fact at first they told us we only had 1 room reserved rather than 3! Had to push back to get them to thoroughly check to then find the correct number of rooms. Also dinner buffet was lacking taste and variety! Don’t think I’d book to include dinner again

Stayed in March 2025

Nice, clean, and comfortable place. Lots of traffic noise since its close to freeway. Staff not very helpful or friendly. Weekend prices way too high.

Stayed in March 2025