Review – My stay at Hilton San Jose La Sabana was worth the points premium

Hilton San Jose La Sabana – Costa Rica

San José, Costa Rica’s lively capital, offers a wide range of hotel options for the points enthusiast — from Marriott and Hyatt to IHG and Hilton. Having already secured my Marriott Titanium status earlier in the year, I decided to leverage my Hilton Diamond status for this stay and chose the Hilton San Jose La Sabana, a modern high-rise property overlooking the city’s National Stadium.

Hilton San Jose La Sabana – Exterior

National Stadium views from balcony

With a strong 4.5 (Excellent) rating on TripAdvisor and a redemption rate of 50,000 Hilton Honors points per night, the property immediately caught my attention. Thanks to Hilton’s “5th Night Free” benefit, I was able to book five nights for 200,000 points total. While other nearby Hilton options included the Hilton Garden Inn Sabana (30,000 points per night) and the Gran Hotel, Curio Collection (also 50,000 points per night), the Hilton San Jose La Sabana’s executive lounge happy hour and 24-hour sauna made it the clear choice for this trip.

Side Note: Amex Canada is currently offering a 50% bonus when you transfer MR points to Hilton Honors. Ideal if you need a top-up towards a premium redemption.

Booking and Getting There

The hotel is located in the La Sabana district, a prime neighbourhood close to La Sabana Metropolitan Park and San José’s National Stadium. It’s about 20 minutes from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO).

I flew Air Canada direct from Toronto (YYZ), landing at 21:30. The hotel offers a shuttle service that costs 19,000 Costa Rican colones (CRC) — approximately $38 USD or $55 CAD (based on the exchange rate during my visit: 1 USD = 500 CRC, 1 CAD = 350 CRC). While Uber would have been cheaper (around $15–20), I opted for the convenience of the hotel shuttle given the late-night arrival.

For my return to the airport, I did use Uber at $22 CAD, though it’s worth noting that Uber operates illegally in San José. Passengers are asked to sit in the front seat to avoid suspicion, and drivers risk fines of up to ₡1 million CRC and vehicle confiscation. Passengers themselves face no penalties, but it’s good to be aware of this dynamic when using ride-hailing services in Costa Rica.

First Impressions and Check-in

The hotel reception is located on the 18th floor, offering an elegant first impression. The space features three gold-colored check-in counters, a chandelier-style backdrop, and large glass windows framing panoramic views of San José.

Main Reception – 18th floor

Seating in Lobby

Jose, at the reception, handled my check-in with remarkable professionalism and friendliness. I received a complimentary Diamond upgrade to a corner king suite, typically double the cash price of the room I booked. During check-in, I was briefed on the property’s amenities:

• Gym and Sauna (31st floor) – open 24 hours

• Outdoor Pool – also on the 31st floor, open until 10 PM

• Executive Lounge (17th floor) – open 6 AM to 8 PM, with Happy Hour from 6–8 PM

• Breakfast Restaurant and Lobby Bar – both on the 18th floor, adjacent to reception

This immediate overview, paired with the impressive views from the reception area, set a positive tone for my stay.

Hilton San Jose La Sabana  – Corner Suite

My corner suite on the 28th floor was spacious and thoughtfully laid out. Upon entry, a powder room with a toilet and sink was to the left. Ahead, a living room with a glass-top dining table for four, a sofa bed, and a second couch provided a comfortable lounging space. The room featured a flat-screen TV, coffee machine, two complimentary water bottles, and a mini fridge (no microwave). The décor was modern and minimalist, though somewhat bare, with no artwork on the walls.

One Bedroom Corner Suite

The bedroom included a king bed, a second TV, ample closet space, an ironing board, plush robes and slippers, and a small workstation with an ergonomic chair. The ensuite bathroom offered his and hers sinks, a walk-in shower, and high-quality amenities.

Bedroom – Corner Suite

King Bed with Ensuite

Ensuite Bathroom

The balcony, accessible from the living room, was the highlight — offering sweeping views of San José and La Sabana Stadium. During football season, guests can even catch a game from their rooms. Overall, the suite struck an ideal balance of comfort, functionality, and panoramic appeal.

Hilton San Jose La Sabana – Executive Lounge and Breakfast

The executive lounge on the 17th floor serves light snacks and beverages throughout the day, with a Happy Hour from 6–8 PM daily. During my stay, the evening spread included prosciutto, burritos, Thai-style chicken, tomato soup, plantain and pita chips with dips, grilled vegetables, and assorted breads.

Hilton San Jose La Sabana – Executive Lounge

Lounge Seating

Drinks were plentiful — Costa Rican beers, red and white wines, sparkling wine, and a variety of spirits (scotch, rum, vodka, gin, tequila), along with coffee, tea, and sparkling water.

Executive Lounge – Drinks

Executive Lounge F&B options

The lounge itself was a calm retreat with comfortable seating, two TVs (muted with captions), and excellent service. A special mention goes to Indo, the evening attendant, who offered excellent local insights on things to see and do in San José.

Lounge Seating

Private Area – Executive Lounge

Breakfast

Breakfast was served on the 18th floor in a bright dining space with white walls, marble counters, and soft leather seating, offering a beautiful mountain view backdrop.

Breakfast Restaurant

Breakfast Seating

The buffet featured both local Costa Rican dishes (rice and beans, fried plantains) and Western options (scrambled eggs, sausages, pancakes, oatmeal, meatballs in tomato sauce).

Breakfast Buffet

A made-to-order omelette station was available, along with pastries, brownies, donuts, danishes, cold cuts, cheeses, smoked salmon, yogurt, chia pudding, and jello. Juices, coffee, and a bottomless mimosa station complemented the offerings. Guests could also dine out on the balcony overlooking the city. The breakfast staff were consistently warm and attentive, ensuring a pleasant morning atmosphere.

Mimosa Station at Breakfast

Other F&B Options

Beyond breakfast and the executive lounge, the 18th-floor lobby bar offers light meals and cocktails throughout the day, while room service is available 24/7. The on-site restaurant menu includes international fare, blending Latin and Western influences.

Lobby Bar – 18th floor

Gym and Pool

The 31st-floor gym is impressively equipped, with free weights, pulley machines, medicine balls, treadmills, ellipticals, and stationary bikes. Complimentary water bottles, towels, and apples were available.

Hilton San Jose La Sabana – Gym

Inside the adjoining bathrooms are lockers and saunas, both open 24/7. The only minor downside was that the shower near the sauna was out of service during my visit. Just outside the gym, the rooftop pool offers stunning views of the San José skyline, very similar to those from my room balcony.

Pool with Panoramic views

Takeaway

While the nearby Hilton Garden Inn Sabana could have saved me 80,000 points over five nights, the Hilton San Jose La Sabana justified the premium. The executive lounge, rooftop pool, and 24-hour sauna made the stay well worth the additional points, especially for a leisure visit.

The property overall feels like a solid upscale 3-star (or light 4-star) hotel. I would rate my stay an 8/10, with the staff earning a perfect 10/10 for service across all departments — reception, breakfast, and lounge.

My only real disappointment was that Hilton Gift Cards (in USD) were not accepted for incidental charges, even after escalating to the Hilton Diamond desk, which was unable to provide an explanation. For a global brand, that inconsistency remains frustrating.

Despite that, I would absolutely stay here again — especially for a relaxing, amenity-rich stay in San José with stunning city views and genuinely outstanding service.