Doubletree By Hilton Hotel San Jose
A San Jose hotel featuring private balconies and pool views, offset by aging rooms and traffic noise.
The verdict
Pick a traveller type to re-weight the scores and re-rank the rooms around what you actually care about.
Doubletree By Hilton Hotel San Jose serves travelers with rooms featuring private balconies, a pool courtyard, and a location close to Casino M8trix. Guests regularly enjoy the quality of the breakfast buffet and the attentive service from the front desk. However, reviewers consistently complain about maintenance problems, including outdated decor, stained mattresses, and mold in the showers. Noise from Highway 101 traffic and echoing pool crowds is also a frequent disruption. 19811
Every line below traces back to something a traveler actually wrote — open a line to read the original sentence and follow it to the source.
What travelers noticed
- The hotel provides convenient access to nearby spots like Casino M8trix and major transit routes. 1914
- Many rooms feature spacious balconies with patio chairs overlooking the pool and restaurant courtyard. 71920
- The morning breakfast buffet earns steady praise for its wide variety and good quality. 2
- Front desk staff members are consistently described as welcoming, friendly, and attentive. 278
The catch
- While some guests find the pricing reasonable when parking and breakfast are included, others feel rates above $200 per night are overpriced and call room service fees excessive. 20
- Some travelers report clean, comfortable rooms with strong water pressure, whereas others encounter stained bedding, worn showers, and dark decor. 8
Who it's for
- — Guests who want private balconies overlooking the pool
- — Visitors heading to Casino M8trix
- — Travelers prioritizing a full breakfast buffet
Skip it if
- — Light sleepers sensitive to Highway 101 or courtyard echoes
- — Guests expecting pristine, modern bathrooms
- — Anyone looking to avoid high room service fees
Seen on camera
12 moments · 5 videos · Doubletree By Hilton Hotel San Jose
Each moment is pulled at the second a cited reviewer said the words. Play it here, or open the original video at that timestamp.
“A huge plus for parents is that children age 0 to 17 can stay for free. It makes this a very budget-friendly option for…”
youtube.com0:22“here there are some stereo you gotta go up and on restaurant and it's really cool there's some people on it right now bu…”
youtube.com0:51“The hotel offers an American breakfast buffet. This is included in your stay, providing a convenient way to start your d…”
youtube.com0:40“and now we're returning back to the room we're a long way into the room like a lot of hallways and walking not nice”
youtube.com7:00“I ordered some room service which I probably shouldn't have done because it was very expensive it was $85 before a tip j…”
youtube.com6:57“From the moment you arrive, you can expect a smooth and seamless check-in experience starting at 4:00 p.m., giving you p…”
youtube.com0:33“The location of the hotel is perfect. It's manageable wherever you want to go.”
youtube.com8:38“The only thing is is that the rooms were a little outdated, so it needed a little fixing here and there, and the vents i…”
youtube.com8:46“But other than that, the breakfast was great, the stay was great, the staff was great.”
youtube.com8:56“The hotel is incredibly well situated, located just 120 m from the Pruneyard. This puts shopping and dining right at you…”
youtube.com0:14“Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, including in your guest room, which is great for both business and leis…”
youtube.com0:47“coming into the master bedroom nice size King probably like that's got to be a California king”
youtube.com1:52Frames are citations: each one links to its second in the source video, attributed to the creator who filmed it. Nothing here is supplied by the hotel. Creators who want a moment removed can ask and we take it down.
Paying $11 more direct is likely worthwhile if you value Hilton Honors points, status credit, or on-property benefits.
Prices shown are an estimated range, not a live quote — the booking site confirms the real rate for your dates.
This sits inside our estimated range for this hotel.
Confidence: low · modelled estimate, not a live quote. Check the supplier for the real rate on your dates.
Score breakdown
How the 68/100 is built, category by category — each one with the strongest thing travelers actually said, and the source it came from.
Bathroom
78Location
83- “I jumped online to find a reasonably priced hotel close to the SJO airport and came across the Doubletree by Hilton. The price was excellent, it had a free airport shuttle, and it was in a quiet and safe area of San Jose.” 11
- “The location of the hotel is perfect. It's manageable wherever you want to go.” 158:38
Room
72Service
76Bed & Sleep
78- “There was one pair of slippers on the shelf under the nightstand, but they were pretty small. There were 2 double beds on the right side of the room, with a nightstand separating them. I love the mattresses in other Doubletrees I've stayed at and these were the same. I was able to sleep very well.” 7
Where it is, how to reach it
Details checked 2026-08-30
Where it sits
Doubletree By Hilton Hotel San Jose and the 1 other hotel we cover in San Jose. Hover a marker for the hotel; click to open it.
Stay value
How this property reads against the hotels we cover alongside it. Measured on review evidence, not on a nightly rate.
Falls short of what $$ usually buys
Scores 20 points below the mid-range median of 88, across 581 hotels in the same bracket.
- This hotel
- 68
- Bracket median
- 88
- Index median
- 90
Based on 581 comparable hotels.
Which room to ask for
What reviewers say about where to sleep inside this building — by room number where one is named, and otherwise by floor, wing, aspect and position. Every line opens onto the quotes behind it.
- 2 mentions
- 1 mention
No location within the hotel draws repeated complaints yet.
Where travelers agree — and don’t
The topics reviewers split on most. A wide bar means your experience depends on which room you get — or whose opinion you trust.
View the 77 things travelers said behind this verdict▾
Quotes run exactly as travelers wrote them — spelling and all. We trim for length, never for tidiness.
- “That adds ups quickly. They also charge for breakfast! I'm surprised they don't nickel and dime you more with an attendant at the pool selling swimming tickets, charge for ice and god help you if you want clean towels.” 9
- “Hotel Grano de Oro is one of the best, is a small property with a great Restaurant (their chocolate cake is the best I ever tasted).” 10
- “Choice also has free breakfast, while had to pay $25 for the same exact thing this morning.” 9
- “here there are some stereo you gotta go up and on restaurant and it's really cool there's some people on it right now but pretty cool nice” On camera130:51
- “I think I know which DT you are talking about. That one sucks. Not just the hotel, but it's restaurant and service as well.” 8
- “According to their website their rooms don't offer a microwave, but if you pay a higher rate items can be brought to the room. $25 for breakfast seems pretty steep.” 9
- “Yea my wife and I stayed at a cambria, and its basically what you said, maybe a step down, and business otiented. But everything was fancy and we got upgraded to their best room, ritzy bar, good food, felt hoppin.” 9
- “The breakfast buffet was delicious and offered a great variety! It made each morning special.” 2
- “The hotel offers an American breakfast buffet. This is included in your stay, providing a convenient way to start your day.” On camera140:40
- “I spent a week at the doubletree in 2015 for work. It's fine - nothing special. The most notable thing I remember is that the pineapple at breakfast was really good.” 1
- “The star of this hotel is the massive breakfast buffet that is included with every stay. The hotel pulls out all the stops with traditional Costa Rican breakfast-and it's all you can eat.” 11
- “But other than that, the breakfast was great, the stay was great, the staff was great.” On camera158:56
- “as is the poolside restaurant. I ate there a couple of times, and found it to be quite good.” 7
- “I stayed in the Marriott Belen Hacienda or something like that. Suite upgrade cleared and great status breakfast.” 1
- “stayed in August 2025 Our family had an amazing time! Our family had an amazing time! The pool area was perfect for the kids, and the breakfast was a hit.” 2
- “The food itself was the exact same as at choice (though I will admit the quality of the actual cooking at choice free breakfast can vary quite a bit).” 9
- “And you had a host that you were expected to tip for saying "sit anywhere you want" and "how's the food you got from the buffet," I mean the guy was super nice and hard working and I was happy to tip him like 40%, cuz of all the crap he was taking from the other customers (one guy walked out cuz they wouldn't make him a personalized egg white omelet).” 9
- “Reply Share PatrickGoesEast • 2y ago Yes, correct. They said they fixed the AC (at 8pm) and to give it a few hours to kick in. When I returned from dinner at midnight it was exactly the same, stuck at 24c with a whisper of air.” 8
- “I think I know which DT you are talking about. That one sucks. Not just the hotel, but it's restaurant and service as well.” 8
- “Can't beat the pleasant atmosphere, the staff were very friendly, and the food was also very good.” 7
- “A huge plus for parents is that children age 0 to 17 can stay for free. It makes this a very budget-friendly option for family trips.” On camera140:22
- “I mean there's a bar, the staff seems a little more seasoned and professional, and the building seems a little better maintained, but I'm paying double just for the room what I could pay for a quality inn, even without my friends and family discount.” 9
- “We talked to assistant manager, manager, then onto corporate assistant manager and manager. They will not give us our money back for over $500 for a room we didn't even know we had, because THEY TOLD US WE DIDNT!!!!” 8
- “Service and amenities were excellent, and the location for me was convenient, but be aware that you will need transportation to anywhere important.” 7
- “Once we arrived at the hotel the staff already had our reservation pulled up as we had told them which flight we were on. We checked into the hotel quickly and were given our breakfast vouchers.” 11
- “Checked in to the Lynwood Doubletree a few months ago, was there at 2:00 and asked about early check in. Was told it would be $100 even though room was ready, they explained it was their new policy.” 8
- “The floor was a Spanish style tile, which I actually found pretty nice. You may want to keep a pair of sandals handy though, since the floor can be cold and hard.” 7
- “I loved the welcoming atmosphere and the staff was genuinely caring and attentive throughout my stay.” 2
- “From the moment you arrive, you can expect a smooth and seamless check-in experience starting at 4:00 p.m., giving you plenty of time to settle into your modern and comfortable accommodations.” On camera170:33
- “Check with housekeeping. We talked to assistant manager, manager, then onto corporate assistant manager and manager. They will not give us our money back for over $500 for a room we didn't even know we had, because THEY TOLD US WE DIDNT!!!!” 8
- “rship like the Valet Bell Captain, which fostered unprofessional conduct and harassment.” 8
- “The only thing is is that the rooms were a little outdated, so it needed a little fixing here and there, and the vents in there needed some cleaning.” On camera158:46
- “I just spent a couple nights at the one in San Jose CR. They were doing updates to the property. Nevertheless, the hotel was beautiful, clean, and had exceptional staff.” 8
- “My experience revealed a hostile work environment, spearheaded by front-line leadership like the Valet Bell Captain, which fostered unprofessional conduct and harassment.” 8
- “But other than that, the breakfast was great, the stay was great, the staff was great.” On camera158:56
- “Hard to rate. Staff friendly. Rooms clean and big enough.” 9
- “The carpet had stains everywhere, the bathroom had mold around the shower.” 8
- “The bathroom was a comfortable size with a standard size tub/ shower combo, and nice Crabtree & Evelyn bath soaps and lotions.” 7
- “The room was not ready until 9:30PM, and even then with only one bath towel and one hand towel. They also had given us a room with a fridge that had no controls and was not cold enough for the groceries.” 8
- “This place is a dump! Our initial room was outdated, dark and dirty. The carpet had stains everywhere, the bathroom had mold around the shower.” 8
- “I give this place .5 /5 ... the half point given because there was good water pressure.” 8
- “The room was not ready until 9:30PM, and even then with only one bath towel and one hand towel.” 8
- “The bathroom layout is odd in that the counter and sink are in the bedroom, not bathroom.” 9
- “The beds are functionally the same, you get a sink, a bath, DT has a better tv, while quality inn has more plugs for my phone and a desk lamp, etc etc.” 9
- “Prices were fairly high, but not bad for a hotel restaurant.” 7
- “I've seen rates at this hotel over $200 per night. I think that is way too much, but 30k points per night can be a value if you have Hilton Honors points, especially if the 5th night is free.” 7
- “Hotel Grano de Oro is one of the best, is a small property with a great Restaurant (their chocolate cake is the best I ever tasted). A night could be expensive, but If money is not a problem for you, then I will recommend it.” 10
- “I ordered some room service which I probably shouldn't have done because it was very expensive it was $85 before a tip just for room service the meal was only $40 so with two cokes the delivery fee the service fee and I think a couple other fees it was $85 and then a t and then a tip so it's quite expensive” On camera206:57
- “The breakfast was delicious but cost $30 for 2 adults. It is a beautiful place but I don't want people to be misled.” 11
- “The balcony was very large and had a couple of patio chairs out there for relaxing. The main draw was the view.” 7
- “we have an enormous closet and then there's a door here on the left I'm not going to show you that just yet but we have a really nice living room with the big screen shelvings and come over here we have a balcony that overlooks the pool” 20
- “In each of the 353 guest rooms at this Hilton property, visitors will find a bed with down linens, a minifridge and a coffee maker. There's no complimentary Wi-Fi access, breakfast or parking here, which is a downside for many recent guests, but the central location in San Jose is a major draw.” 18
- “At the back of the room was a large window with a beautiful view out to the pool and restaurant area, and to the right of that, a tall door leading to the main feature of this room, the balcony!” 7
- “On the left side walking into the living area was a long dresser, and a nice sized desk if you need to do some work, with a mirror mounted above it.” 7
- “The room is pretty much the exact same, except most of the Choice hotels I've stayed at have a microwave, and a desk lamp. DT has neither.” 9
- “Room had a mini refrigerator but no freezer compartment. Beds and pillows were comfortable.” 19
- “The wonderful front desk agent had upgraded me to a pool view room, with a big beautiful balcony!” 7
- “The views from the room were breathtaking! Truly a wonderful place to relax and unwind.” 2
- “It had a lounge, and multiple suite options, so I thought it would be a nice hotel. It was the worst Hilton I've ever stayed at, and I checked out after one night since the AC didn't function (in the suite they upgraded me to).” 8
- “Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, including in your guest room, which is great for both business and leisure.” On camera140:47
- “stayed in August 2024 Our weekend stay was magical! Our weekend stay was magical! The cozy king room with a balcony was the perfect romantic setting.” 2
- “Yea my wife and I stayed at a cambria, and its basically what you said, maybe a step down, and business otiented. But everything was fancy and we got upgraded to their best room, ritzy bar, good food, felt hoppin.” 9
- “Best for airport-bound travelers, less so for anyone requiring modern room climate control.” 19
- “The app was not working and they had no express line for Diamond. When I asked about this in front of a big line of people waiting for the desk, they brought a sign out, put it in front of the other agent and says that was now the Diamond express line! Embarrassing!” 8
- “This place is a dump! Our initial room was outdated, dark and dirty.” 8
- “Hard to rate. Staff friendly. Rooms clean and big enough. The bathroom layout is odd in that the counter and sink are in the bedroom, not bathroom.” 9
- “Urban Green Hotel & Suites https://g.co/kgs/d8qeqjN Is a nice hotel with nice rooms and is walking distance from the National Teather, Gold Museum, National Museum and Mercado Central.” 10
- “I jumped online to find a reasonably priced hotel close to the SJO airport and came across the Doubletree by Hilton. The price was excellent, it had a free airport shuttle, and it was in a quiet and safe area of San Jose.” 11
- “Service and amenities were excellent, and the location for me was convenient, but be aware that you will need transportation to anywhere important.” 7
- “I stayed in Hilton Garden Inn La Sabana a few years ago and wish we would've stayed in the downtown hotel. The HGI was great and clean, but not a very exciting location.” 1
- “The location of the hotel is perfect. It's manageable wherever you want to go.” On camera158:38
- “Crazy, I know! It's important to note up front that the location of this hotel is ideal for your arrival to, or departure from, Costa Rica, or if you are spending a couple of days in San José (I don't recommend more than a couple days in San José), or if you are in Costa Rica for work.” 7
- “The hotel is incredibly well situated, located just 120 m from the Pruneyard. This puts shopping and dining right at your doorstep.” On camera140:14
- “Near the airport AC, lots of people in and out doing what we did which is land somewhere before flying the next day. Comfortable but didn't feel much like we were out of the US.” 10
- “Half of the hotel faces out to the large pool area which can be so noisy from daylight until after ten. Those facing the pool, all, will never know quite. The design causes a huge echo and you can hear everything, every conversation, every child scream.” 9
- “Highway 101 is loud on one side of the building. The room was switched to the quieter side.” 19
- “There was one pair of slippers on the shelf under the nightstand, but they were pretty small. There were 2 double beds on the right side of the room, with a nightstand separating them. I love the mattresses in other Doubletrees I've stayed at and these were the same. I was able to sleep very well.” 7
What we still don't know
What we can’t tell you yet, said plainly. These close as we read more coverage of this hotel.
- Nothing reliable said about room types.
- Nothing reliable said about floor level.
- Nothing reliable said about building or wing.
- Nothing reliable said about which side it faces.
- Nothing reliable said about position on the floor.
- 15 sources carry no publication date, so we cannot tell how current they are.
Ask about Doubletree By Hilton Hotel San Jose
Answered only from the coverage cited on this page. If nobody has written about your question, it will say so rather than guess.
How much we read
Deep coverage · 19/100We read 0 sources for this property, covering 0 traveler mentions, boiled down to 0 traveler insights worth knowing. Last checked 2026-08-30.
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Sources
Everything quoted on this page, grouped by traveler insights, outlets, and video & podcast. Counts beside each group show everything we’ve read of that kind; no one kind can carry the score on its own.
6 of 6 summary lines above are traced to specific quotes. The rest summarise the read as a whole rather than any single document.
View all 20 cited sources▾
Everything quoted on this page.
- 10Hotel recommendations in San Jose : r/CostaRicaTravelreddit.comForum thread2025-01-27Ageing7 quotes used
“Hotel Grano de Oro is one of the best, is a small property with a great Restaurant (their chocolate cake is the best I ever tasted).”
Read originalreddit.com - 8A terrible Hilton propertyreddit.comForum thread2024-06-10Ageing26 quotes used
“I think I know which DT you are talking about. That one sucks. Not just the hotel, but it's restaurant and service as well.”
Read originalreddit.com - 11Doubletree by Hilton San Jose Airport Hotel Reviewpuravidamoms.comReview site2023-01-16Ageing7 quotes used
“We arrived pretty late at night during the rain, and the shuttle driver was quick to load our bags and offered us an umbrella so we wouldn't get wet when we got into the shuttle.”
Read originalpuravidamoms.com - 1which hotel should i choose? San Jose, Costa Ricareddit.comForum thread2022-03-04Ageing4 quotes used
“I spent a week at the doubletree in 2015 for work. It's fine - nothing special. The most notable thing I remember is that the pineapple at breakfast was really good.”
Read originalreddit.com - 7Hotel Review: Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Cariari San Josétravelrealized.comReview site2019-01-31Ageing19 quotes used
“Prices were fairly high, but not bad for a hotel restaurant.”
Read originaltravelrealized.com - 2Doubletree By Hilton San Jose Hotel • 2026 Room Ratessanjose-hotels.netReview siteDate not stated5 quotes used
“I loved the welcoming atmosphere and the staff was genuinely caring and attentive throughout my stay.”
Read originalsanjose-hotels.net