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Your stay
The Pandora handbook.
Everything between booking and your first cafecito: who the house is for, how the doors open, what’s waiting for you and who to message when you need a human.
What “women-only” means here
Every room and every bed at Casa Pandora — the private queen room and both six-bed dorms — is for women travellers. The common areas are shared only with other guests of the house.
Our booking listings set the minimum check-in age at 18. If you’re planning a stay for someone younger, message us before you book so we can tell you what’s possible.
Travelling with friends? Book several beds in the same dorm on Cloudbeds, or take the private room for two.
Self check-in, step by step
There’s no front desk — and no waiting for one. Here’s how arriving works:
- 1
Book on Cloudbeds
Pick your room and dates, fill in your details and complete payment in Casa Pandora’s Cloudbeds checkout.
- 2
Watch your inbox
After booking you receive an email with detailed instructions for opening the main door and your room.
- 3
Tell us when you’ll land
Let us know your arrival time in advance — check-in is from 14:00. Arriving late? Message us before you travel.
- 4
Let yourself in
Our smart locks work with a personal code for each guest — open the doors with your phone or electronic key, exactly as your instructions say.
- 5
Need a human? WhatsApp
The team is reachable by WhatsApp and phone (contact hours 8:00–22:00, every day).
For everyone’s safety, door codes are personal and are never published on this website or social media. If anyone asks you to share yours — don’t.
Times to know
- Check-in
- from 14:00
- Check-out
- by 11:00
- Contact hours
- 8:00–22:00, every day
- Hot water
- 24 hours
Arriving late? Automated entry makes it easier, but follow your confirmed instructions and message us before you travel. For anything outside them — early check-in, late check-out, a change of plans — ask first.
Tell us you’ll be late (opens in a new tab)Leave these at home
Every booking includes free access to all common areas and these bathroom basics:
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the house
- Shower towel provided
- Shampoo, conditioner & body wash
- Hair dryers in the bathrooms
- Hot water, 24 hours
- Free luggage storage, any size
Breakfast isn’t served — the shared kitchen is fully equipped, and the barrio is full of cafés.
Kitchen, laundry & the work corner
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Shared kitchen
Fully equipped to make your own breakfast, lunch or dinner. Label your food, wash what you use, and the kitchen stays lovely for everyone.
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Laundry room
Self-service washers and dryers, plus an iron and ironing board — part of the common areas included with your stay.
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Work corner
Desks, plenty of power outlets and high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the house. Video calls? Headphones keep the lounge calm.
Safety-minded, not paranoid
- Smart locks with a personal code for each guest; codes are never shared publicly.
- CCTV in the common areas and outside the house.
- Lockers with combination locks in the shared rooms; free luggage storage for bags of any size.
- Walk Barrio Escalante by day; at night use Uber, DiDi or an authorized taxi.
- Keep your phone and bag close on buses and in busy areas.
- Something feels off? Message the team on WhatsApp. In an emergency in Costa Rica, call 911.
Landing at SJO?
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) is San José’s main airport. Two ways to arrange a ride ahead:
Welcome Pickups
Book through Welcome Pickups, the transfer partner linked from Casa Pandora’s website.
Book a pickup (opens in a new tab)Or ask us for a quote on WhatsApp with your arrival date, flight number and number of passengers.
Build my pickup messageNo pickup is guaranteed until you receive a confirmation. Prices are quoted, never assumed.
What to pack
- Earplugs + eye mask if you sleep light — it’s a city house
- Flip-flops for the shower
- Your charger (Costa Rica uses US-style plugs)
- A light rain jacket — the dry season runs mid-November to mid-April; outside it, expect afternoon showers
- A card for the house (cashless) and some colones for buses
- A reusable water bottle
Before you arrive
Tick things off as you go. Your ticks are saved only on this device — nothing is sent anywhere.
Talk to a human
Call
Messages & calls 8:00–22:00, every day
Best for longer questions and anything you want in writing.
Find the house
The pink-and-lilac buildingAv 0 y 1, Calle 33, 35-N
Barrio Escalante, San José 10101
Plus code: WWJP+RF San José (opens in a new tab)
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Frequently asked
Who can stay at Casa Pandora?
Women travellers. Every room — the private queen and both dorms — is women-only. Our listings set the minimum check-in age at 18; if you’re planning a stay for someone younger, message us before booking.
How does self check-in work?
There’s no front desk. After you book, you receive an email with detailed instructions to open the main door and your room using your phone or an electronic key — our smart locks work with a personal code for each guest. Codes are never published online.
What time is check-in and check-out?
Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out is by 11:00. Please tell us your arrival time in advance — your booking confirmation has the contact details.
I’m arriving late at night. Is that OK?
Automated entry makes late arrivals easier, but follow the instructions in your confirmation exactly and message us on WhatsApp before you travel so we know when to expect you. For anything outside the instructions, ask first.
Can I leave my bags before check-in or after check-out?
Luggage storage is free for bags of any size. Message us with your times so we can tell you where to leave them.
Can I do laundry?
Yes. There’s a self-service laundry room with washers, dryers and an iron, part of the common areas every booking includes access to.
Can I work remotely from the house?
Yes — there’s free Wi-Fi throughout the house and a coworking area with desks and power outlets.
Is it quiet at night?
Guests often describe it as calm, clean and easy to sleep in. It’s still a city house, so if you sleep light, pack earplugs — or choose the private room.
Any house rules I should know?
It’s a smoke-free house, pets aren’t allowed, and parties aren’t either — including bachelorette parties. Common areas have CCTV and the street outside does too.
How do payment and cancellation work?
Rates, payment, deposits and cancellation terms are shown in the Cloudbeds checkout before you confirm — they can differ by date and by booking channel. Casa Pandora is a cashless property.
Can I get picked up at the airport?
Yes, you can arrange it ahead. Casa Pandora works with Welcome Pickups, or you can ask us for a quote on WhatsApp with your arrival date, flight number and number of passengers. Nothing is confirmed until you get a confirmation back.
Is breakfast included?
No breakfast is served. There’s a fully equipped shared kitchen, and Barrio Escalante has plenty of cafés nearby.
Ready when you are.
Book on Cloudbeds and your entry instructions follow by email.
Opens Casa Pandora’s secure Cloudbeds booking engine — pick dates there for live rates.