Name: Martino Spa and Resort
Address: 150 Mts E From Zoo Ave, Alajuela, 20113, CR

8/10

Excellent

21 Jul 2026

Antonio

La comida del almuerzo que vende el hotel no es buena..no es sabrosa super cara

Family

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jul 2026

Kurt Steven

The resort was beautiful! I highly recommend to anyone wanting to visit Costa Rica. The amenities were spectacular!

Located at an excellent location, a short drive to San Jose and in a lovely quiet town.

Nearby restaurants have amazing food.

The pool was magnificent, the staff were friendly and hospitable.

Can’t wait to visit again and if I do I will definitely be staying there again!

Partner

4/10

Poor

14 Jun 2026

Ivan

Our room was so old, shower was falling apart, shower head was broken, towels were all broken. The room did not feel clean .

10/10

Exceptional

04 May 2026

Kelly

We loved our stay. Staff was very accommodating. Help with our tours and local suggestions. The restaurant was amazing. Villa was spacious and we greatly enjoyed ourselves.

Family

8/10

Excellent

19 Apr 2026

Alexander

The room is spacious and clean. I didn't like that the TV wasn't facing the bed or the sofa. The staff is friendly. The pool is large and clean. Breakfast is very good. The Italian restaurant is good and has reasonable prices for a hotel.

Family

8/10

Excellent

13 Apr 2026

Teresa

This hotel has very clean rooms, I will say it is very dated. The pool was clean and very nice. Breakfast was very good.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

29 Mar 2026

Ashlan

This resort was so beautiful! The staff were friendly and the food was fantastic. We wished we could have stayed longer!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Mar 2026

Elizabeth

Beautiful spot just outside of San Jose so we could feel like we were already on vacation after our plane landed late. The pool is beautiful, breakfast was great, staff was so helpful- ordered delivery food for us after most places were closed because we were so hungry after long travels. We went to the wildlife center across the street the next day after checking out, before heading on our way. It was really nice and a perfect way to start vacation.

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

25 Feb 2026

Mikhail

Yes

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

16 Feb 2026

Vijaya Lalitha

Clean rooms, friendly staff and nice breakfast with fresh fruits

Leisure Family

2/10

Poor

16 Feb 2026

Patricia

Rented two villas for two nights for ourselves and family.
Falsely advertised. Old and smelly. Shower dirty and door broken. Found bed bugs on blood stained sheets. Got moved to two new rooms only to find same issues. Asked to check out with a refund for second night. Management refused and was not interested in helping us out. Told us to deal with Expedia which thankfully they were helpful. Do not book there. The grounds were the only thing that seemed well taken care of.

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

15 Feb 2026

Thomas

Great staff

8/10

Excellent

15 Feb 2026

Karl

Room was clean and nicely appointed. Staff was pleasant and breakfast was good. Only stayed on night so did not have enough time to fully evaluate.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

23 Jan 2026

Ayana

The staff was great, I had a such a great time and I will visit again!

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

16 Jan 2026

Kurt

Only complaint would be the poor WiFi. Too nice a hotel to not have premium WiFi in the rooms and around property. StarLink??

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jan 2026

Brian

The hotel and services were excellent, my only complaint would be the swimming pool not being heated, it was freezing!!.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jan 2026

Laura

Very clean and comfortable room with beautiful style. The property was also gorgeous and the pool was huge. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Restaurant on site with room service was a big perk.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

29 Dec 2025

Zsuzsanna

Nice hotel, attentive staff. They take your luggage to your room in a buggy. The room was large, it had a little entrance lobby with a fridge and bathroom was OK. Also, it had a walk-in wardrobe. Swimming pool and grounds are a highlight. Very nice.
However:
- place is quite tired
- cable to plug fridge in was too short
- not enough sunbeds by pool and some were busted
- breakfast was just awful
- restaurant is not very good, better off going to a local place up the road
- no hot water, water in sink cold, shower only luke warm
- nothing around except the wildlife rescue centre
Having said that, it was nice for 2 nights. Not sure I'd stay much longer.

Leisure Self

2/10

Poor

09 Dec 2025

Thelma

El hecho de haber usado Expedia en vez de pagar la cuota que ellos cobran, me dieron una habitación sin agua caliente y la cama tronaba por cualquier movimiento que uno hacia. Era algo ecagerado. Al siguiente dia, solicite un cambio de habitación y me dijeron que todas las camas hacían ruido y que me daba lo mismo cambiar. Al segundo dia de estar alli, por las prisas dejamos la puerta abierta del carro, cuando fuimos a ver en la guantera nos hacian falta $600.00. Sé que fué descuido nuestro pero los empleados revisaron el carro, abrieron la guantera y robaron el dinero que estaba en una bolsa con zipper. No sé porqué dan tan buenas reseñas del lugar pero a mi me fue muy mal. El lugar es bonito pero el staff es pésimo

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Dec 2025

Katie

Absolutely beautiful! Loved everything about our stay.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

20 Aug 2025

Richard

This place is perfectly nice, just dated and not particularly exciting in any way

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

22 Jun 2025

Sherrise

I plan on returning. The hotel is nestled in the heart of San Jose, it's a huge property. I chose it for the decor/culture of Costa Rica. I swam in a pristine Olympic sized pool, I saw several iguanas, and I don't know how many bird species and in the ceiling of my room, what I thought was a mouse, was actually a bird nest with new hatchlings, which was a bit disturbing when I was sleeping. I was offered another room, it wasn't as nice, so I declined. Understanding Costa Rica embraces nature and tries not to disturb the natural habitats so they didn't remove the bird family. I adapted, it wasn't too bad. I will say bring/use insect repellent. There are few screens on any windows (in Costa Rica), which is the norm. Each day there were many insects dead in my room, I used spray to avoid bites. They conserve energy so the main building is open, no a/c just fresh air and fans. The building is open, anything may fly or crawl through the lobby or your room if you have your patio door open.
The staff was beautiful, professional and so kind.
The deep tissue massage was deep.
The food was delicious and not expensive. Not sure if free refills were free, one said no, the others gave them to me. Caesar salad, calamari and a entree with ginger ale was $33.67. If you want to be as close to being a local, I suggest the location. Feels like the ambulance just made me want to sit and enjoy each moment. Bring washclothes they only give towels and hand towels. Older charming resort.

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

16 Jun 2025

alan

Very clean. Staff was extremely friendly.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jun 2025

Jennifer

Beautiful place to stay in the area. Rooms have so much character and has a boutique feel. Breakfast is average, but staff makes up for that with their welcoming atmosphere and warmth.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

24 Apr 2025

David

Breakfast was great! Property grounds are beautiful. Accommodations were comfortable and the kids loved the pool.

Leisure Family_with_children

2/10

Poor

03 Apr 2025

Marco Aurelio

The hotel is very old and has a bad spikie vibe.

lots of cockroaches in the room

They do t fumigate the rooms

I couldn't sleep

I had to leave the hotel

I need a refund please

2/10

Poor

20 Mar 2025

Samantha

If you are not white the workers are not pleasant towards you. False advertisement of gym, spa, and casino. They don’t have any of it. Hotel is really old even the sink makes weird noises and the toilet always leaks every time you flush. Also, workers go in your room to clean even when you do not put up a sign allowing them to. They will turn off your AC and leave windows open for mosquitoes to get in. Free breakfast, more like little finger foods

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 Mar 2025

Connie

Very private, and clean.
Having the ability to make coffee in the room would be a plus

Business_and_leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

23 Feb 2025

Dave

Super friendly staff
Beds were extremely firm

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

16 Feb 2025

karen

This was my first time in Costa Rica. I loved that the hotel was super close to the airport and traveling to other cities was extremely easy using Uber and the bus. But, there were seperate beds and the bed i had was a twin so my partner and i couldnt sleep comfortably together. The worst part was having no water when I needed a shower….and the towels were old. However, the Staff was absolutely amazing!! Each one was very helpful and cheerful too. They were pleasant and made the trip very enjoyable.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Feb 2025

Frank

Beautiful property, it is what I think Costa Rica is like. Just as the pictures show. Wonderful carved doors. Great food.
Very quiet at night.

Business Self

8/10

Excellent

12 Jan 2025

Sadeq

Rooms and beds not clean. They seem to be old need to be changed

4/10

Poor

28 Dec 2024

Leah

The rooms were clean and tidy, front desk was generally kind and receptive but the waitress at dinner was a bit cold and even scoffed when i asked for a box for our pizza (me and my 2 year old daughter). Some signage was misleading about rhe spa and 3am buffet (our flight from san jose required we leave the hotel around 330am), the guy at the front desk said someone would be there to make us a coffee, but no one was there. When we were waiting on our taxi (at 330 am) one of the employees approached us outside making sure we paid for our room... it was a lukewarm experience at best. Was really put off by the waitress, but its a nice distance to the airport.

Family_with_children

4/10

Poor

21 Dec 2024

Kalpesh

Room was not clean and smelly. Bedsheets were dusty.
Room had small flies.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

17 Dec 2024

Nancy

Loved it

Gorgeous hotel. Magnificent pool. Delicious food.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

17 Dec 2024

HENRY

Breakfast was not good, few options and poor quality

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Aug 2024

Christopher

Amazing greenery . It blew me away.Super cozy rooms.

4/10

Poor

23 Jul 2024

Elizabeth

Furniture and room, bathroom was very outdated. Smelled funny inside. Cleaning staff left cleaning supplies. The hotel grounds are huge and it felt very empty. The rooms are large. No shampoo or soap provided and shower had some animal poop. The restaurant staff was ok but not the friendliest. Minimal vegan options at the restaurants. Breakfast was also not the best. Rice and beans had minimal flavor, fruit was good but for a vegan not many other options such as bread or avocado.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

19 May 2024

Duane

This is an older resort but it is well maintained a little far from downtown but not bad at all

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

18 May 2024

Pavel

This is a wonderful resort hotel with a nice pool and good restaurant that serves some of the best pasta dishes I've ever had. Very attentive staff. Well maintained, clean grounds, large rooms with beautiful traditional woodwork. The only negative is our bathroom/shower was a little dated.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

14 May 2024

Cheryl

The property is beautiful and peaceful. The bed was very comfortable.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

20 Apr 2024

Allen

Very quite and room was comfortable had a beautiful pool that we had all to ourselves place was not crowded food was just ok but it was very affordable

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Apr 2024

Yadira

I like the tranquility and security of the place .
The place is very quiet and clean.

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

13 Apr 2024

Rebecca

Beautiful rooms- the website photos do not do this place justice!!

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

31 Mar 2024

Jafeth

Nice place to stay some nights, good comforting beds and the staff is friendly and willing to help.

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

18 Mar 2024

James

Beautiful and Relaxing Resort

Very pleasant stay. The staff was very friendly and went out of their way to serve.
The on site restaurant was exceptional!

Business

8/10

Excellent

15 Mar 2024

Carrie

The grounds and pool are beautiful! The staff is friendly and helpful. There are some deferred maintenance issues here and there in the rooms. I would stay there again.

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

08 Mar 2024

Verified traveler

Beautiful Place

Gorgeous grounds and buildings with friendly staff to match. Facilities appeared to be designed to host large events very comfortably though there were only a few present when we stayed. Great place to go!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Feb 2024

free

Loved being across from animal rescue. Pool beautiful

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

27 Feb 2024

Howard

Club Martino is beyond excellent. This was my tenth and best stay. The pool is magnificent and the crew keeps it spotless even going so far as to scrub the pool deck with soap! The staff is effective, effeciebt and constantly cheerful. The rooms are wonderful with lovely hand carved furniture pieces. The restaurant is reliable and reasonable. Making reservations for next year before I leave.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Feb 2024

Steven

All great at Hotel Martino

Business

10/10

Exceptional

02 Feb 2024

Steven

Clean, comfortable friendly and helpful staff. I was able to check in early thanks to the front desk employee.

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

31 Jan 2024

Robert

Perfect air conditioning, very warm atmosphere, lots to do, the property and staff make you feel special.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jan 2024

Thane

Beautiful and unique property

10/10

Exceptional

12 Jan 2024

brad

Further from city of San Jose but still close. Is truly an older school resort. Great staff.

Leisure

4/10

Poor

03 Nov 2023

Rodrigo

The villa was nice. However, the bed was in such bad condition I had to sleep in the couch outside. The TV had terrible signal, so it was nearly impossible to watch and I had no coffee maker in the room. I did ask for one, but late at night I realized I had no filters, so I couldn't use it.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Aug 2023

Kevan

Love it.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jul 2023

Henry

Gorgeous pool and large rooms. Love the balcony

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jul 2023

David

Excellent place to stay

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

25 Mar 2023

Yesenia

Great!

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

01 Mar 2023

Jennifer

Rooms were clean and comfy, breakfast is fantastic and included, staff are so kind and helpful, cute dogs running around, the pool is huge, clean, and peaceful to lounge around- this is really a gem of a hotel and so close to the airport.

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

23 Feb 2023

Zachary

Easy check in. Resort has dining options on site.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

05 Jan 2023

Susan

We would go back here in a heartbeat -- beautiful grounds. Sitting on the balcony, listening to the birds was paradise. The restaurant served great food. One of the nicest parts was interacting with the generous, good-natured staff.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

23 Apr 2022

Richard

The pool but the Water was not clear, needs maintenance

Business_and_leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

29 Mar 2022

Robert Jonathan

Highly recommended

We had a fabulous stay here. We rented a two bedroom villa and it was spotless, comfortable and much nicer than we thought from the photos. The grounds were immaculate and the Italian restaurant was top notch. The staff were also very friendly and helpful. I can’t say enough good things - it blew my expectations out of the water. Would love to stay there again.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

18 Mar 2022

Ryan c

everything

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

12 Mar 2022

Shannon

Wonderful as always

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

06 Feb 2022

Michelle

The restaurant was very good with lots of delicious fruit for breakfast. We had dinner twice and both times were good. The room was very spacious and clean. The pool was huge! The grounds were well kept, and the property was beautiful. I would definitely stay here again.

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

09 Jan 2022

GARY

I like it.

This hotel has more of a Tico ambience then most 4 star hotels. Also its pretty quiet and i like the restaurant

Self

10/10

Exceptional

16 Dec 2021

David

Lovely hotel worth more than our one night stay

Just an overnight stay and morning at the animal rescue. The hotel is well worth a longer stay. There is a great swimming pool and lovely well-kept gardens. The restaurant served very nice food and the staff were always helpful. The bedroom was basic but big. We couldn’t get the safe to work but I’m sure they would have sorted it if we asked. Given all the time that hotels were closed due to covid I think the staff can be proud to have done an excellent job.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

30 Nov 2021

Garrett

Recent Stay

Good hotel stay overall. Unique property.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Nov 2021

John

Enjoyed breakfast and calzone.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

14 Nov 2021

Jennifer

The hotel was exceptional. The staff were very courteous, it was very clean, it had very nice views. I really liked it and i reccommend it.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Oct 2021

Sylvain

The best comfortable hotel near the airport. 15 minutes only.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

18 Sep 2021

Sylvain

Attention to the customers.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

23 Jul 2021

Vanessa

Great Costa Rican hotel

This was a nice place to stay, and was close to every place we needed to be

Business

10/10

Exceptional

02 May 2021

Lucky

All good

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

24 Nov 2020

Jay

This place is done in authentic classic Italian style, right down to the bidet and old fashioned Italian toilets. It all seems to be well maintained, considering the current state of the world. Would love to go back, spend more time, sample the food, and enjoy relaxing. The staff was very accommodating, considering that we came in late, and were in a rush to get to our room and sleep. It is a huge lovely property. I read reviews that criticized it for being dated. Of course it is dated!!! The hand crafted interior cannot be updated. If you want 21st century, stay at the Hyatt. If you want classic elegance, stay here!

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

14 Mar 2020

Verified traveler

This place is very nice and the staff is super helpful. The facility is slightly too old and some of them are not working quite well. But it's clean and safe.

Business_and_leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

29 Feb 2020

Verified traveler

Probably great in it's prime

While we are not people to need the fanciest 5star hotel ratings, we found that this hotel just felt old and run-down. You could tell that in it's prime it was a beautiful place, had many amenities, and was probably one of the best places to stay. Now, the only bar that was open was the one in the restaurant, all of the others were closed and unused (including the pool bar), the casino that it once had was gone, the grounds maintenance was left go, and the rooms have not been updated in ages. The staff that we encountered (very few) were friendly and the room was clean. The woodwork in the hotel was beautiful and all hand carved. The restaurant (Italian food) was very expensive and had few choices. The included breakfast was good, a selection of fruit, bread, and eggs made to order. It worked fine for staying the one night we were there while traveling, but I would not stay there for any more than just a sleep & move on.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Feb 2020

Verified traveler

The wonderful restaurant staff is one of the main reasons we return to Hotel Martino. William, Onesimo, Jean Paul, and Dixon, are unfailingly polite, friendly, dignified, and responsive. Top notch. Also, the grounds and pool area are beautiful and lush with vegetation. The rooms are large and airy, with carved wood doors and woodwork.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

20 Jan 2020

Marie

Relaxed and lovely

This is an awesome place. Very relaxing atmosphere, lovely pool, adequate workout room. The location was convenient for seeing the sights in the province and city of Alajuela. It is virtually across the street from the famous Animal Rescue Zooave which exceeded our expectations. Several good eateries nearby. We found Rancho Miriam to be exceptional for local cuisine. The staff at Hotel Martino are hard working, engaging and friendly. We plan to return.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

19 Oct 2019

Linda

Great hotel
Great service
Highly recommend
15 minutes from airport
Quiet

Partner

8/10

Excellent

17 Feb 2019

Verified traveler

The wood work in this place is quite impressive. Definitely has an Italian feel about it

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

15 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

Investors and investment needed

Had a confirmed booking for a non-smoking junior suite with a king bed. We were given a room with six twin/double beds. Didn't raise the issue as it was midnight and we'd been traveling since 8AM.

When doing a quick bed bug check noticed the mattresses were fraying and not in great shape. The two sofas in the sitting area were also very dated.

Staff were all very nice, but barring a major upgrade this hotel's best days have come and gone.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

31 Dec 2018

Richard

Great stay near airport... and zoo!

I had a great stay! Staff was friendly and helpful, rooms were clean and comfortable.

4/10

Poor

24 Dec 2018

Jack

The jacuzzi is nothing more than a bathtub with jets in the spa area; and not working. Steam and sauna require a special reservation, not necessarily convienent. Getting the $10 credit for food and beverage is like pulling teeth. There is no discount to zoo ave across the street. There is no in room coffee. They need to update the Expedia description to describe what they actually offer.

4/10

Poor

14 Dec 2018

Verified traveler

overprice, sofa stink as well as the bed. they need to improved

8/10

Excellent

09 Dec 2018

Verified traveler

Property was neat and clean and well managed, pool was kept very clean and rooms well kept. Enjoyed our stay

8/10

Excellent

08 Sep 2018

Verified traveler

We always enjoy our time here. We like watching the birds.

10/10

Exceptional

29 Aug 2018

Ried

Love the classic, old-school woodwork and trim. Very stylish. Never felt more welcomed and cared for at a hotel. Staff at every level were so intuitive and thoughtful. The lasagna was exceptional.

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jul 2018

Verified traveler

Really beautiful hotel and view , really close to the airport

10/10

Exceptional

29 Jun 2018

RIchard

Great Stay

Great service and great pool and resturant

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jun 2018

Cyntoria

Highly recommended

The grounds were beautiful! Check in was fast informative and easy. Very friendly staff. Rooms were very comfortable and plenty to do. It’s very relaxing here.

Family

2/10

Poor

13 Jun 2018

Verified traveler

no maintenance in general and very poor customer s

It is a very old hotel and the rooms do not make maintenance, little lighting in the rooms, very old mattresses, sheets, pillows, shower, etc.

8/10

Excellent

17 May 2018

james

Nice hotel close to San Jose Airport

A very relaxing 2 nights. Hotel a bit tired but staff delightful, pool excellent, food good and rooms very comfortable. Very convenient for Bird Zoo and Airport.

Friends

8/10

Excellent

04 May 2018

Verified traveler

Very Understanding Staff

We checked in then decided not to stay. We were on our Honeymoon and wanted something newer. The staff understood our situation and quickly refunded us our money in full. We appreciated that tremendously!

8/10

Excellent

24 Apr 2018

Verified traveler

past grandeur

Step back in time. A surprise in Costa Rica. This once magnificent hotel still retains most of its splendor. Large flowered grounds with little used halls and ancillary buildings make and interesting walk. You could imagine 5 wedding going on at once. In the room and building I stayed in there was ornately carved wood furniture, All solid wood room doors had different reliefs carved into them. Room was clean ,large and comfortable with a nice terrace and chairs. Breakfast was good and staff helpful and pleasant. A grand swimming pool for laps with lounge chairs and towels. Choose a room not facing the pool as the pool is on eye level with the second floor. I would stay again.

8/10

Excellent

05 Apr 2018

Jenna

Nice area for SJO and central tourist spots

The resort isn't quite up to true resort standards with pool staff, people available to get drinks or snacks poolside, etc., and the \"gym\" isn't an actually a facility; it's more like two machines sitting in a space. Still, the pool is nice and the town/area is pleasant to walk around. It it convenient to San Jose and the airport without having to be in the city spaces.

The major drawback: Don't eat at the resort! The food is mediocre at best and significantly overpriced. I am no chef and I would rather eat my own cooking than eat what they brought for my dinner. Plus, a cockroach fell off of the dinner plate and landed in my wine. They quickly replaced the wine, but it doesn't speak well of the condition of the kitchen.

10/10

Exceptional

19 Mar 2018

Verified traveler

Not your typical chain hotel

The architecture throughout was beautiful. Grounds well-maintained and pool sparkling clean. Quiet spacious rooms. Plentiful gracious lighting at night is a joy to look at. Lots of old-world charm. No pressboard furniture here! Very nice Costa Rican-style breakfast - fresh fruits, bread, cheese, ham, also gallo pinto and eggs if you are so inclined. Loved staying here for a week and would do so again. Front desk very helpful, all staff pleasant. Stayed late Feb 2018.