Hostel Pangea

I've been to Costa Rica on three separate occasions over a period of years, and I've always stayed at Pangea. Some of them actually even recognize me now, which is great. They do give me a hard time that my Spanish is still eh, but totally joking around. :)

So, the hostel is surprisingly nice. Sometimes I'll bunk with others in a dorm room while other times I'll spring for a private. On my last trip back to the States, I was the first person to stay in the master suite, and it was gorgeous! I actually have pics I can post if anyone is interested. It had a nice glass and stone shower, a flat screen tv, and a king size bed. They were still doing construction so it was kind of loud and I lost power a few times, but really...I'm in CR...who cares. :) Basically, all of my stays there (all together adding up to maybe 10-12 nights), I've never had any problems in terms of theft or rude people.

The bar/restaurant area upstairs is really cute, too. You have to walk past the little pool (which I wouldn't advise going in) and up a flight of metal stairs. When I first started going there, you could smoke anywhere, but now they have certain sections. The food is sooooo good!! I highly recommend a batitdo, followed by a few Cacique shots! :)

Pura Vida

This is a great place to stay on your first or last nights in Costa Rica. It's close to the airport and they have a shuttle bus that makes the trip several times a day. They have an outdoor pool and a nice rooftop bar with cheap drinks and computers with free internet access. Most people think this is a bad part of San Jose. I don't agree. There are a lot of nice shops, restaurants, and bars in the area. If you stay at the hostel the whole time you'll really be cheating yourself. Don't be afraid of a different culture. Happy Travels!

The guide books would have you believe that there is such a thing as a 5 star hostel, they made it sound great and emphasized the party atmosphere which makes me laugh when I heard people there giving out about the noise. It is noisy, thats because the guide books were correct in saying that it is a real party hostel. It is.

The prices are very cheap especially if you know what the hell an orthopedic mattress is because I sure as hell don't and I definitely did not notice much difference between them and other mattresses. Then again, maybe the 10 beers and free shots I had at happy hour in the bar above had something to do with that.

Speaking of the bar, they have a roof top bar which they are happy to point out is the only one in Costa Rica. While I dont believe this, it sure sounds good.

The staff were very happy and incredibly helpful and willing to take the time to answer any question you might think of.

I think it would be a great hostel for anyone just showing up to Costa Rica who needs to know their way around or anyone who is on their way home and would love to give Costa Rica a proper goodbye.

Another thing is that they have gotten on board with the whole social resposibility buzz. They sell wrist bands at the desk in aid of a local orphanage, they are pretty cool looking too which is a bonus.

Pangea is slightly more expensive, but it ends up being well worth it if you are new to Costa Rica. Its very easy to connect with fellow travelers, find a traveling companion. or just get advice on things to see from others. WARNING Dont fall for the scam when the taxi takes you to the old Hostel Pangea and tells you its no longer open & then tries to direct you to another spot. Have the address handy & it doesn't hurt to make reservations because they do fill up all year round. All in all the place has everything you need. Restaurant, bar, pool, guided tours, pool table, internet, kitchen, movie room, security, good location, beautiful night view, laundry, and several different rooms, priced to fit almost any budget. Well worth the cost I think.