Spending at least one night in San Pedro is almost unavoidable with flight schedules. Hence, traveler's need prepare for the good, the bad, and the really scuzzy! The city's accommodations are geared either towards business travelers with hefty expense accounts, or low-end local establishments. I must have looked through at least 8 options before settling into Hotel San José.

All things considered, it turned out to be quite the asylum; literally! The sterile halls looked like something out of an institution. Everything in rooms has Hotel San José written all over them -- I guess as a reminder should insanity knock, or to distract Norman Bates when stopping to read the shower curtain. Hey, it worked in more ways than one!

Considering other nearby alternatives costing somewhat more or even less, 150Lps/$7.50 is a steal for guests without paranoia of paybacks. The place felt safe, desk workers came across as helpful and trustworthy. Rooms were tidy, and cleaning staff even went as far as to place buckets full of water in the shower -- more than I got in most places during the prolonged dry season. That's your hint to check shower water pressure in even the exclusive joints!

The hotel has 40 rooms on three floors, of which I got to indulge two. First assignment was with a double bed, which hosted a solid nap. All was well until night when discovering bathroom light didn't work. Staff allowed me to raid bulb from an unoccupied room. When finding it was a fixture problem, they moved me to a larger room which had a single and double bed, that were just as comfortable.

Both rooms had ceiling fans, and I transferred the oscillating table fan; not that it was needed. The concrete structure retains coolness. Outer windows are small for keeping out the oppresive heat. Larger, slatted-crank windows open onto the interior hallway, which fostered a wind tunnel breeze. It also magnified noise; certainly not that it was a problem, but rooms toward end of hallways were definitely quieter.

-- Hotel San José is located on 6a Avenida SO, between 5a/6a Calles SO. (504-557-1208) Se hable español solamente. It's about a 3-block walk north towards Parque Central and heart of the downtown shopping district. The neighborhood declines with each block heading south. I definitely don't recommend wandering around after 9:00pm.

-- Tell the staff what time you're departing, and they'll have a taxi waiting. There are no clocks in rooms, or phones for wake-up calls. Plan ahead.

-- Some patrons obviously live full-time in the hotel. Of an evening, it's possible to join the crowd to watch telenovelas in the lobby. There's a reach-in cooler, with inexpensive soft drinks and bottled water.

Another alternative is Super Jugos, south and across the street at end of the block. For 16 or 25Lps, they blend tropical fruit smoothies (licuados), including some with granolas. The passion fruit and mango was a perfect nightcap.