Hotel Casa Alegre in Costa Rica

On a trip to COSTA RICA in March ’08, my wife, Sandra, and I stayed four nights at Hotel Casa Alegre (Santa Ana, Costa Rica; phone 506 2 235 5485, www.hotelcasaalegre.com. Note: there are no street addresses, but the website has directions to the hotel).

Santa Ana is a quiet, small town a few miles out of San José (which we thought rather dirty and poorer-looking) and only 10 miles from Juan Santamaria International Airport. The town has a picturesque town plaza and church.

The hotel is in a quiet neighborhood but a short walk from the shopping area, several banks and simple restaurants.

The rooms are large but basic, very clean and comfortable, and the price includes a very good breakfast made to order. We paid $64 plus $10.49 tax per night for a standard double room.

There’s a small, unheated swimming pool enclosed in a pretty patio dining area.

The people who run the hotel are very friendly and helpful.

— JOHN HICKS, Tehachapi, CA