Holiday Inn Express San Jose Forum

A Santa Ana stop with time for a swim

An international restaurant nearby, fresh fruit at breakfast and a swim before moving on: Holiday Inn Express San Jose Forum gives a Santa Ana stop some pleasures of its own. Shops and an assortment of restaurants surround the hotel, making this an appealing alternative when you would like to spend your first or final nights outside downtown San Jose.

The outdoor pool sits in a small garden behind a privacy fence, with lounge chairs for a pause between outings. Small parrots occasionally visit, bringing their chatter to the garden. The air-conditioned fitness center stays open 24 hours and has television screens; the lobby has computer stations and fresh coffee throughout the day. There is pleasure in giving this stop a little breathing room, rather than spending every hour on the move.

Dine nearby, explore Santa Ana

Complimentary buffet breakfast includes fresh fruits and hot dishes. For lunch and dinner, Indian, Peruvian and Japanese restaurants are among the options within walking distance, and Picnic across the street serves a menu built around locally sourced natural and organic ingredients. There is also a grocery store minutes away.

No other meals are available on-site. Staff can provide menus for restaurants that deliver; a delivery fee may apply even when it is not shown on the menu. Escazu's mall is about ten minutes away by car, while Valle del Sol Golf Course offers another way to spend a free day.

Santa Ana mixes tropical gardens and modern development with traditional vendors selling fresh fruit and artisanal goods. Give the neighborhood a little time instead of treating it only as an overnight address. A walk to a restaurant, a look at local produce or a drive to Escazu's shopping mall can become part of the stop; the mall includes international stores such as Carolina Herrera, Armani, Cartier, Nike, LaCoste, Calvin Klein, Furla and Zara.

A room to unpack, a journey to plan

Spacious air-conditioned rooms combine quality bedding with flat-screen televisions, high-speed internet, oversized bath towels and a desk with a comfortable chair. Every room has a coffee and tea maker. Choose a pillow from the pillow menu, make a coffee or tea and enjoy a little time with your bags unpacked. The pool’s lounge chairs and the lobby’s fresh coffee give you other places to pause between plans.

Santa Ana is better suited to time in the surrounding suburbs or an airport connection than to making downtown sightseeing the focus of every day. Juan Santamaria International Airport is in Alajuela. The airport journey is approximately half an hour, with traffic affecting the time to allow, particularly during rush hour. Arrange transport around your flight and leave room to enjoy the neighborhood while you are here.

The three conference rooms can accommodate a total of 80 people. Audio-visual equipment, whiteboards, flip charts and a podium support meetings, with banquet and catering services available as well. Transportation to Forum 1 and Forum 2 business parks is supplied when needed; coordinate the arrangements when planning a business visit.

Rollaway beds and cribs are available, and some rooms are wheelchair accessible. Pets are not allowed except service animals. With free parking and self-service laundry as well, the hotel leaves you with a comfortable place to pause and enjoy a little of Santa Ana before the next stage of the trip.

Highlights to help you choose

• Santa Ana's nearby shops and restaurants give an airport-area stop a life of its own. Choose this suburb for dining and practical onward travel; it is less convenient when touring downtown San Jose is the main purpose of every day.
• Complimentary buffet breakfast includes fresh fruit and hot dishes. No other meals are served on-site, so plan to walk to nearby restaurants or order delivery for lunch and dinner.
• Indian, Peruvian and Japanese dining is within walking distance, with Picnic across the street and a grocery store minutes away. Delivery fees may apply even when the menu does not mention them.
• An outdoor pool in a small fenced garden and an air-conditioned fitness center open 24 hours let you fit a swim or workout around travel rather than around restricted gym hours.
• Air-conditioned rooms, a pillow menu and coffee and tea makers make the stop comfortable. Rollaway beds and cribs are available; only some rooms are wheelchair accessible, so confirm the right category for your needs.
• Free parking, self-service laundry and lobby computer stations simplify a longer stop. The airport-area journey is approximately half an hour, with traffic affecting the time you should allow.
• Three conference rooms hold a total of 80 people, with meeting equipment, catering and banquet services available. Transport to Forum 1 and Forum 2 business parks is provided when needed; do not assume an airport transfer is included.
• Pets are not allowed except service animals. Keep that rule in mind when comparing accommodation, along with the hotel’s suburban setting and meal arrangements.