On recent trip to San Jose in Costa Rica after a fair amount of research I stayed and the Hemmingway Inn, although only a few blocks from the nortorious "gulch" the Hemmingway offered clean and very reasonable rooms with a "tropical" breakfast. Believe, I paid in the neighborhood of three hundred US dollars for ten days. What the research didn't reveal is the clientele at the Hemmingway. What a bunch of characters, both young and old enjoying all that Costa Rica had to offer. A writer from California, a retired oil man from Houston via Thailand, an attorney from Phoenix, a nurse from Vancover, along with a variety of "locals" passing through made for lively conversations and excursions on a daily basis.

Now I understand the directly across the street a new message palor has opened, will certainly investagate further in the near future. So for anyone planning on a vacation to Costa Rica and desiring to stay close to but not in the middle of the gulch consider the Hemmingway Inn.

Curious what the deal with brining chicas back was.. Will they allow guests or even multiple guests?

I just returned from a one week trip to CR and stayed at the Hemingway. True they had a mixed bag of guests ranging from older couples, grundge backpapers, and families suited up for a trip to Disneyland. The staff are nice and friendly,but tend to overbook;which meant that I had to change rooms three times in one week! True the Hemingway had a charm of it's own with the design of a Spanish Mansion,decent beds, and clean facilities, but the largest sacrifice was the NOISE. Noise from all four sides can be heard at all times of the day! I felt a bit subconscious about the noise I was generating with my "guests". Although they will allow guests, they will charge an extra $10 for each one only. If you book double occ for an additional $7 per day you may bring in an unlimited number of guests as long as it is one at each time.
I would not recommend this hotel for our hobbying needs.

I suspected the noise, which is why I avoided it. Whenever I´ve taken a cab to the airport it passed by the place while going down a very busy street. There are a few other such charismatic hotels further into Barrio Armon.