Is parking available at the property?

Yes, free parking is available on-site.

What type of breakfast is offered and what are the serving hours?

A complimentary continental breakfast is served daily from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM.

What are the standard check-in and check-out times?

Check-in is from 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM, and check-out is before 11:00 AM. Early or late check-in/check-out may be available upon request.

Are airport shuttle services available?

Yes, airport shuttle services are available for a fee of USD 10 per vehicle (one-way, maximum occupancy 4). Guests must contact the property 48 hours prior to arrival to arrange the transfer.

What accessibility features are available for guests with disabilities?

The property features step-free entrances and wheelchair-accessible facilities in public areas. Specific details about room accessibility may be confirmed with the property.

Where is the property located in relation to key landmarks?

The property is located in the heart of Alajuela, just a 4-minute drive from City Mall and 12 minutes from Parque Viva. It is approximately 3.4 km (2.1 miles) from Juan Santamaria International Airport.

What are the policies regarding children at the property?

Children aged 0 to 17 years old are not allowed at the property.

Gardens House Hostel in Alajuela, Costa Rica

Average nightly price at Gardens House, Airport Juan Santamaría, Alajuela, San José by month, last 12 months (USD)
Month	Average price
January	$35
February	$38
March	$37
April	$38
May	$33
June	$35
July	$31
August	$36
September	$37
October	$32
November	$35
December	$37

What guests think

At Gardens House, Airport Juan Santamaría, Alajuela, San José, travellers highlight warm, family-style hospitality, a calm garden setting, and easy airport access, making it a convenient stopover that feels safe, friendly, and surprisingly homey for short stays.

Rooms are simple and no-frills, with private and dorm options; some guests wished for more furniture or clearer dorm details. Cleanliness and quiet are widely praised, and staff smoothly handle late check-ins and airport transfers. Breakfast draws consistent compliments, and optional home-cooked dinners are well liked. Expect a clean, basic base that works well for short stays.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Facilities are simple, with a pleasant garden/patio and convenient airport transfers; the secure residential setting adds to a quiet, low-key vibe.

Related guest reviews

10

Alexandre

Nov 8, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Le transport de l’aéroport vers l’hôtel était bien organisé, endroit calme et sécuritaire. Excellent déjeuner local .

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10

Andrew

Feb 26, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very convenient and pleasant spot! I had an overnight stay between flights at SJO and Gardens House was ideal. Very friendly owners who served a good breakfast and organized transportation to the airport. Would go again!

10

natalie

Jan 31, 2026

·

Stayed 4 nights

It was like being with family. That is how personable they are with people who are coming & going all the time. That little garden with mini waterfall is so calming & soothing

8

Jeff

Nov 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Good airport option. Not spectacular, but good staff, filling breakfast, and great at organizing the airport pickup. Could use a dresser and more hooks in the room.

10

Michael

Nov 11, 2025

·

Stayed 7 nights

Everything was great. They are very accommodating. Very much enjoyed it. The back porch was awesome.

10

Jared

Aug 22, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Really wonderful hostel run by a lovely family. I stayed in a single room. It’s no frills for sure but that’s what I paid for. Everyone was super friendly and the family will drink with you at the kitchen table. Highly recommend, would stay here again. It was a short walk to downtown alhuela and the hostel itself is in a gated community of sorts. It all felt very safe.

10

Ginna

Aug 4, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The gardens were beautiful! Delicious breakfast! Friendly people! Clean and comfortable room! Close to the airport! 🌟

10

Monique

Jul 23, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Easy airport access. Homey stay

10

Kimberly

Mar 14, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very charming hostel, very homey. You can see a lot of love went into the place. Lots of plants, a tiny waterfall. Had a private room with bath and A/C. The homemade dinner was very good. They provided us transportation to the airport at only $8 for the carload. Would stay here again in a minute.

10

francene

Jun 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The surrounding area is private homes , feels very secure . Very quiet . The staff is very friendly.

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Cleanliness

Cleanliness receives strong praise across rooms and shared areas, though a couple of guests noted minor issues like missed bed-making or spotting a spider/web.

Related guest reviews

10

Sanjay

Dec 31, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean room, with very nice and accomodating hosts

10

Derek

Jun 10, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This place was great , I stayed in a private room, it had a bathroom , was very clean , check-in and out was seamless. It was very quiet, the breakfast was delicious. I definitely recommend this place for anyone considering it.

10

Gerardo

May 17, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

En general Limpio solo Que no Pasaron a tender camas al suguiente dia

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10

Susanne

Mar 28, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Sehr sauberes Hostel, außergewöhnlich freundliche ind hilfsbereite Menschen. Gutes Frühstück.Wir hatten ein Doppelzimmer, alles war tip top. Schöner kleiner Garten, in dem man abhängen kann. Wir waren jeweils bei An- und Abflug eine Nacht dort. Auf jeden Fall zu empfehlen!

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6

Itala

Jan 29, 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

It looks older but that makes it typical. However we saw a spider and some spider webs. Also the room is basic but a luggage table or at least a chair would be helpful

10

Destyn

Nov 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean room, kind staff. Beautiful design

10

Matthew

Oct 7, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Very nice food,clean and quiet.

10

Elizabeth

Dec 15, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Everything was lovely. Beautiful place, very clean and close to the airport. I was travelling solo and it was so nice to meet some of the people travelling like me in the morning and have breakfast together. The staff was so friendly and I had a great night sleep. My room was clean and had a comfortable bed and the shower was good too with plenty of hot water. Would definitely recommend and the price was great too!

10

Maria

Nov 14, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean,friendly staff. The accommodations for breakfast was so sweet of the staff. Also the dog is the cutest thing in the entire place.

10

Adrian

Jul 29, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff were incredibly kind and welcoming. The rooms were clean and the shower was lovely. Absolute steal for the price!

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Rooms are simple and no-frills, ranging from private en-suites to dorms with shared bathrooms; beds are generally comfortable and spaces quiet, but storage and furnishings can be limited and some guests desired clearer dorm details.

Related guest reviews

8

Joerg

Feb 14, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Eine besondere Unterkunft mit tollem Preis/Leistungsverhältnis. Mehr ein Hostel als ein Hotel. Wir hatten ein Doppelzimmer, nicht besonders groß aber ausreichend. Die Einrichtung ist einfach aber zweckmäßig und sauber. Die Eigentümer sind nett und hilfsbereit. Das für jeden einzeln zubereitete Frühstück schmackhaft und ausreichend. Wer damit leben kann, in einer einfachen Unterkunft zu wohnen ist hier sehr gut aufgehoben. Wir würden wieder kommen.

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8

Alejandra

Apr 2, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Great little hostel! Family owned. Pickup for airport was 8-10 dollars. Bed was comfy. Share one bathroom with others. Provide breakfast daily eggs with rice and beans and banana slices. It was really good. Offer dinner for 7dollars which was also good. Theirs a nearby place to get food, a small market and bakery. Only thing was that as a solo traveler Randall offered private travels but was a bit expensive recommend doing the tours with Expedia for about the same price it includes a meal but w

10

Derek

Jun 10, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This place was great , I stayed in a private room, it had a bathroom , was very clean , check-in and out was seamless. It was very quiet, the breakfast was delicious. I definitely recommend this place for anyone considering it.

6

Itala

Jan 29, 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

It looks older but that makes it typical. However we saw a spider and some spider webs. Also the room is basic but a luggage table or at least a chair would be helpful

10

Elizabeth

Dec 15, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Everything was lovely. Beautiful place, very clean and close to the airport. I was travelling solo and it was so nice to meet some of the people travelling like me in the morning and have breakfast together. The staff was so friendly and I had a great night sleep. My room was clean and had a comfortable bed and the shower was good too with plenty of hot water. Would definitely recommend and the price was great too!

8

Jeff

Nov 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Good airport option. Not spectacular, but good staff, filling breakfast, and great at organizing the airport pickup. Could use a dresser and more hooks in the room.

8

Helen

Apr 8, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

It is an excellent Hostel to stay in if you are looking for a quiet location and tranquil hostel that has a lovely little garden to relax in before or after a long flight. It is NOT a party place and does not have a bar. It is reasonably close to the International Airport. The mattress and other items were basic but clean and comfortable. Only the TV in the room was not working well. The woman was kind enough to make me a scrambled egg and piece of toast in the morning, as I did not want to eat rice and beans before travelling on the bus.

10

Jared

Aug 22, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Really wonderful hostel run by a lovely family. I stayed in a single room. It’s no frills for sure but that’s what I paid for. Everyone was super friendly and the family will drink with you at the kitchen table. Highly recommend, would stay here again. It was a short walk to downtown alhuela and the hostel itself is in a gated community of sorts. It all felt very safe.

6

Nisha lorraine

Jun 1, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The owners were nice but i didnt know i had to share a room wit 7 other people that was uncomfortable i ended up leaving and booking a different hotel.

10

Alfred

Aug 27, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

I liked everything. I stayed twice, and upgraded to a private room the second time. They just installed an Air-conditioner. The room had Roku and a large walk in shower with a sunroof. The breakfast is included and the two hosts are extremely nice and helpful.

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Service

Service is consistently warm, personal, and proactive, with late-night check-ins, swift airport pickups, and extra help arranging transport or solving issues; one early transfer hiccup was resolved quickly.

Related guest reviews

10

Julia

Jan 29, 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Great and charming space. We only stayed the night but were treated to great service. Traditional breakfast was delicious; Randall and Gerardo were extremely helpful, kind and accommodating. Would definitely recommend.

10

Julio

Apr 2, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

I arrived at 3 am and the young lady answered my call quickly and came to let me in without any wait. Very polite and kind to be 3 am I’m sure she must’ve been sleeping.

10

jane

Mar 9, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Our flight was delayed and the staff were very helpful in assisting our pick up and onward journey

10

Robin

Feb 24, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The man at the desk was very pleasant and professional. His English was plenty sufficient and he made us feel at home. The shuttle was very prompt and we felt safe there. Would stay again.

10

natalie

Jan 17, 2026

·

Stayed 2 nights

I will go back while traveling thru San Jose. Very friendly staff.It's more like a guest house than a hostel. Family run adds to the feeling of hospitality & safety. Will assist with language deficits.

10

Georgiy

Mar 3, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Hard working people doing things right. One little thing is that my 4:45AM driver did not come, but arranged an Uber in 5 minutes to the airport, which resolved the issue for about $4

10

Alexander

Jan 9, 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Very helpful and personable staff. Literal home cooked breakfast was delicious. The private room was very comfortable.

10

Albert Grant

Nov 10, 2024

·

Stayed 14 nights

Staying at Garden's House Hostel was my best decision on my trip to Costa Rica. The hosts are the nicest people you could meet, and they go above and beyond to give you the best service and accommodations. You get a home-cooked breakfast included, and can also get a homemade lunch or dinner as well (for a slight extra cost - about $6 USD for a full supper, which is much cheaper than ordering from Uber Eats!). They offer transfer services to pick you up/take you to the locations where day trip busses pick you up (for trips to Manuel Antonio Park or Tortuga Island). I cannot say enough good things about this place!! When I return to Costa Rica, this is the only place I want to stay!

10

Jason

Aug 9, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Breakfast was great! The small garden was beautiful. The best part was the friendly helpful staff!

10

Swasti

May 20, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

A very clean room for both of us. Breakfast was good. All the staff were very friendly, although we came almost midnight from the airport, the young lady at the front desk was very kind. We left in a hurry to catch the bus to Puerto Jimenez, my sister in law left her phone in the room. The owner drove to our taxi and caught us in time. Thank you very much for a wonderful service. We will be back there again in a week.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Location

Quiet, safe residential area with easy access to the airport; walkability to main sights or shopping is limited, and rideshares are often used.

Related guest reviews

8

Tanya

May 14, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great people, close to the airport

6

Felipe

Nov 2, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Lugar ok, simples para estadia curta só de passagem não recomendo para estadias longas. Localização um pouco longe do shopping e aeroporto recomendo ir de uber até o local. Café da manhã diz ser continental, mas é bem básico.

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10

Michael

Jan 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location close to Airport

10

Mouhamadou

Jul 31, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful garden quiet neighborhood right by the airport.

10

Elizabeth

Dec 15, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Everything was lovely. Beautiful place, very clean and close to the airport. I was travelling solo and it was so nice to meet some of the people travelling like me in the morning and have breakfast together. The staff was so friendly and I had a great night sleep. My room was clean and had a comfortable bed and the shower was good too with plenty of hot water. Would definitely recommend and the price was great too!

10

Jared

Aug 22, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Really wonderful hostel run by a lovely family. I stayed in a single room. It’s no frills for sure but that’s what I paid for. Everyone was super friendly and the family will drink with you at the kitchen table. Highly recommend, would stay here again. It was a short walk to downtown alhuela and the hostel itself is in a gated community of sorts. It all felt very safe.

10

Monique

Jul 23, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Easy airport access. Homey stay

10

ALEXANDER

Apr 9, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Easy to get transportation and very close to the airport.

8

Henry

Sep 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Not in an area that is walkable to main places

10

francene

Jun 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The surrounding area is private homes , feels very secure . Very quiet . The staff is very friendly.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Dining

Home-cooked breakfast earns consistent praise for taste and portions; optional dinners are inexpensive and well liked.

Related guest reviews

10

Matthew

Sep 13, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

I love this place. The free breakfast is always great. I had dinner for 6 dollars,chicken, rice,beans and a salad. It was amazing. Friendly owners and about 10 minutes to SJO. Highly recommended!!!

10

Julia

Jan 29, 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Great and charming space. We only stayed the night but were treated to great service. Traditional breakfast was delicious; Randall and Gerardo were extremely helpful, kind and accommodating. Would definitely recommend.

10

Keri-Lyn

Feb 4, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This is a perfect stop off to and from the airport. Clean and comfortable. The breakfast is simple and delicious. Good coffee. The owners are very kind. Cheap airport transfer. Highly recommend.

8

Alejandra

Apr 2, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Great little hostel! Family owned. Pickup for airport was 8-10 dollars. Bed was comfy. Share one bathroom with others. Provide breakfast daily eggs with rice and beans and banana slices. It was really good. Offer dinner for 7dollars which was also good. Theirs a nearby place to get food, a small market and bakery. Only thing was that as a solo traveler Randall offered private travels but was a bit expensive recommend doing the tours with Expedia for about the same price it includes a meal but w

10

Matthew

Dec 30, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Safe,quiet neighborhood. Free breakfast and very tasty and reasonably priced dinner options. Excellent staff. Clean and comfortable. Pura Vida!

10

Alexander

Jan 9, 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Very helpful and personable staff. Literal home cooked breakfast was delicious. The private room was very comfortable.

10

Albert Grant

Nov 10, 2024

·

Stayed 14 nights

Staying at Garden's House Hostel was my best decision on my trip to Costa Rica. The hosts are the nicest people you could meet, and they go above and beyond to give you the best service and accommodations. You get a home-cooked breakfast included, and can also get a homemade lunch or dinner as well (for a slight extra cost - about $6 USD for a full supper, which is much cheaper than ordering from Uber Eats!). They offer transfer services to pick you up/take you to the locations where day trip busses pick you up (for trips to Manuel Antonio Park or Tortuga Island). I cannot say enough good things about this place!! When I return to Costa Rica, this is the only place I want to stay!

10

Jason

Aug 9, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Breakfast was great! The small garden was beautiful. The best part was the friendly helpful staff!

10

Ginna

Aug 4, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The gardens were beautiful! Delicious breakfast! Friendly people! Clean and comfortable room! Close to the airport! 🌟

10

Kimberly

Mar 14, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very charming hostel, very homey. You can see a lot of love went into the place. Lots of plants, a tiny waterfall. Had a private room with bath and A/C. The homemade dinner was very good. They provided us transportation to the airport at only $8 for the carload. Would stay here again in a minute.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
1	2	3	4	5	6 $34	7 $31
8 $28	9 $31	10 $29	11 $31	12 $31	13 $31	14 $31
15 $30	16 $29	17 $31	18 $31	19 $31	20	21 $38
22 $38	23 $37	24 $28	25 $38	26 $43	27 $38	28 $37
29 $38	30 $30

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1 $38	2 $43	3	4 $43	5 $38
6	7 $38	8 $38	9 $38	10 $38	11 $38	12 $38
13 $38	14	15 $29	16 $38	17 $32	18 $29	19
20 $38	21 $38	22 $38	23 $32	24	25	26 $38
27	28 $38	29 $38	30 $38	31

Gardens House, Airport Juan Santamaría, Alajuela, San José

Prices for Gardens House, Airport Juan Santamaría, Alajuela, San José

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Shared Dormitory, Quadruple Room (4 Beds)

Basic Double Room

Private Classic Room

Basic Shared Dormitory (8 Beds)

Basic Shared Dormitory (3 Beds)

Guest reviews of Gardens House, Airport Juan Santamaría, Alajuela, San José

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Gardens House, Airport Juan Santamaría, Alajuela, San José

Prices for upcoming dates