The Quaint Traveller My favorite area inside San Jose has to be Barrio Amon. Just across the street from Bo Amon are old American favorites like the Hotel Del Rey and the Holiday Inn Aurola, but in Bo Amon there are many bed and breakfasts, which I like a lot better. Bo Amon has been converted into a business district with almost no residential housing. Yet, when I lived in San Jose last year at this time, I was fortunate enough to find one of the few houses for rent there, so I spent a lot of time roaming around Bo Amon. The front desk staff are very cordial and eager to help.
Breakfast is included, and there are phones in the rooms, as well as king-sized beds and hot water.
My other recommendation in Bo Amon is the Hemingway Inn. The taxi director will tell you how much it will cost before you get in the taxi. Teatro Nacional is a big tourist attraction, and it's beautiful. Some of the mountain vistas from surrounding suburbs are spectacular, but as far as aesthetics go I am partial to the coast. However, you can get all of San Jose that you want in about an hour, unless you are a slave to your vices.