The central attraction of Holiday Inn San Jose is a beautiful tropical garden containing a large outdoor pool, whirlpool, sundeck and patio lounge, all enclosed by some of the accommodation blocks, though other rooms are in detached buildings and instead have views of the surroundings which include the 101 Freeway just to the north. The hotel is just one mile from the international airport and 3 miles from downtown San Jose - reachable by driving south on 1st St or taking the railway, for which the nearest stop is right next to the hotel's parking lot. The Holiday Inn has no fewer than 512 rooms spread over a 17 acre site, with many other amenities such as a cafe, Italian restaurant, fitness center, convenience store, free airport shuttle, business center, and over 15,000 sq ft of meeting space.

The Staybridge Suites is one of the top rated hotels in San Jose on account of its quiet location, immaculate rooms & public areas, friendly staff, good facilities, and the above average free continental breakfast. The inn also provides a free afternoon reception (Mon-Thu), when snacks and beer/wine are available. There are 114 suites, split into several blocks surrounded by palm trees, lawns and walkways, with an outdoor pool & hot tub at the center. All the rooms include a full kitchen plus dishwasher, together with separate sleeping/living areas. Other services are a free 5 mile radius local area shuttle, fitness center, business center and a convenience store. The location is 1602 Crane Ct, just northwest of the junction of US 101 and I-880 - 4 miles from downtown San Jose and 1 mile from the international airport.

1.5 miles from Norman Y Mineta San Jose International Airport, the Clarion Hotel has a resort style ambience, created by palm trees around the outside and a large central garden at the center, with an outdoor pool, hot tub, poolside bar and plenty of exotic plants. The tropical theme is continued inside at the Bamboo Lounge and the Island Grill, which offers all day dining. The many other amenities include free airport shuttle, free full breakfast, extended free parking, several shops, a business center, meetings space and an exercise room. The Clarion is located just east of the I-880/US 101 junction, at 1355 N 4th St, opposite the Holiday Inn Express.

Like most San Jose airport hotels, the Holiday Inn Express is found a short distance east of the terminal buildings in the triangle of land between I-880, US 101 & Hwy 87 - near to a few restaurants though most of the surroundings are rather industrial. The relatively new inn has 126 clean, comfortable rooms & suites on 3 floors, with an outdoor pool and hot tub by the entrance. Facilities inside comprise a fitness center, business center and free breakfast bar. Complimentary airport shuttle is provided.

Best Western Airport Plaza occupies a pleasant, tree-lined site along Highway 82 (The Alameda), two blocks from I-880 on the border between San Jose and Santa Clara. The hotel is quiet, clean and well maintained, with amenities of free continental breakfast, an outdoor heated pool, and a free shuttle to San Jose Airport (4 miles away). Also nearby are Santa Clara University, Westfield Valley Fair Mall and the HP Pavilion. There is one restaurant opposite and a few more around the university.

Courtyard San Jose Airport offers the closest lodging to the terminal buildings - in a business park just 0.2 miles east, so easily walkable though the hotel does of course operate a complimentary shuttle service. Highway 87 runs right past the hotel yet this is a quiet, comfortable place to stay, with the hotel surrounded by mature trees and centered on a pleasant courtyard garden containing pool and gazebo. Breakfast is served on site at the Courtyard Cafe, while other meals are available from nearby restaurants along Skyport Drive.

Centerpiece of the 186 room Fairfield Inn & Suites San Jose is a beautiful garden containing a pool, hot tub, large patio and many tall palm trees, all of which contribute to the relaxed, resort-like atmosphere, yet the place is moderately-priced and has an older, motel-style design featuring 2 storey accommodation blocks linked by exterior corridors. The inn is situated a mile from the airport next to US 101 - along N First St, which reaches the center of San Jose 2.5 miles south. In the other direction, Highway 101 leads towards the many businesses of Silicon Valley. The hotel provides free breakfast including a hot sandwich.

Marriott's TownePlace Suites hotel in San Jose is situated on the west edge of town, equidistant from the centers of Cupertino, Santa Clara and Campbell - it sits in a semi-residential area alongside busy Saratoga Avenue, one block from I-280. The hotel is aimed primarily at the extended stay market, with 101 clean, modern suites containing a full kitchen, extra sofa bed, and separate areas for living & sleeping. Food for cooking can be purchased from a supermarket just across the street, though the neighborhood also has many restaurants, and there are 2 large shopping centers 1.5 miles east (Westfield Valley Fair and Santana Row). For relaxation, the hotel has an outdoor pool, hot tub and fitness center.

Near the northern edge of San Jose, the Sleep Inn (2390 Harris Way) provides good, comfortable, relatively cheap accommodation with quick freeway connections to nearby attractions - I-880 is one block west, and I-680 1.7 miles east, along the Montague Expressway. The hotel is part of a narrow band of private residences between two of Silicon Valley's business districts but is also within a mile of the many shops and restaurants at the Great Mall of the Bay Area. Free continental breakfast, free shuttle to San Jose Airport, an exercise room and guest laundry are the main services available.

The Comfort Suites hotel provides both short and long stay accommodation for travelers to San Jose, the international airport or Silicon Valley. There are 51 well appointed rooms & suites, all with microwave & refrigerator, plus a full kitchen in the deluxe two room suites. Free hot breakfast is served or for even more choice there is a Denny's restaurant right next door. Also close by (one block) is a stop of the light railway system, so allowing for easy travel into downtown San Jose. Free 24 airport transport is offered, via local taxi.

San Jose's Comfort Inn hotel is situated in a residential neighborhood, 2.5 miles from San Jose State University and the downtown area. Four blocks north, US 101 provides quick access to most area locations including the international airport, 3 miles to the west. The inn is quite a new building of 50 clean, well furnished rooms containing a microwave and refrigerator; the other main amenity is free continental breakfast. Along the main road past the hotel (N 13th St) are several nearby restaurants, but there isn't much else of interest in the vicinity.

In the center of San Jose at 282 Almaden Blvd, the Crowne Plaza San Jose-Downtown is a suitably tall (9 floor), impressive building that offers every necessary facility. It is easily reached, just two blocks from the I-280/Highway 87 junction, and within a short walk of many downtown locations including the McEnery Convention Center (just opposite), San Jose State University, HP Pavilion and the Center for the Performing Arts. A full renovation was completed in 2007, with all new decor and room furnishings. The main facilities at the 239 room Crown Plaza are a restaurant/lounge, gift shop, newsstand, fitness center, sauna, and 5 meeting rooms.

One of the more upscale hotels in San Jose, the Marriott rises 26 floors above the downtown area close to the I-280/Highway 87 junction, a few blocks from San Jose State University and right next to the McEnery Convention Center. Its own meetings facilities are also quite comprehensive, with a 24 hour business center, professional staff, 16 meeting rooms and 21,000 sq ft of event space. Although primarily a business hotel, leisure travelers are well catered for; the Marriott San Jose offers all the expected recreational amenities, plus two restaurants, a gift shop, concierge floors, room service and valet parking.

Many of the 208 rooms of the Holiday Inn San Jose-Silicon Valley hotel have far reaching views to the wooded hills that border Santa Clara Valley - the hotel is right at the southeast corner of San Jose at the edge of the countryside, next to the intersection of US 101 with Hwy 85, and half way between the towns of Edenvale & Coyote. The rather distant location, 10 miles from downtown San Jose, is reflected in the significantly cheaper rates compared to more central hotels, despite the full service amenities, such as a high class restaurant & lounge (the Summit Steakhouse), outdoor pool & hot tub, fitness center and newsstand. A complimentary 12 mile radius local area shuttle is offered, putting guests within range of Santa Clara and all of San Jose, including the international airport.

The southernmost of the two Holiday Inn Express hotels in San Jose has nice new decor but an old-style design with its 57 rooms & suites on 2 floors, linked by exterior corridors around 2 sides of the parking area. At the back, out of sight of the main road, is an outdoor pool and hot tub. The inn lies 3.5 miles from downtown San Jose along Monterey Rd, in a mixed residential/industrial area about half way between highways 101 and 87. It also offers free continental breakfast, a fitness center, sauna and newsstand.

The 2 storey Best Western Lanai Garden Inn is located right next to the main road into San Jose from the south (US 101 - at the Tully Rd exit), in quite a busy neighborhood with plenty of restaurants and stores. The city center is 4 miles north, and all the main sites in Silicon Valley are within 20 more miles. The inn is a fairly average place, offering relatively cheap accommodation, with all the usual services including free continental breakfast, a heated outdoor pool and a microwave/refrigerator in each of the 52 rooms & suites.

Near the southeast edge of San Jose, the 150 room Residence Inn by Marriott caters primarily for long stay guests, in modern suites that have separate areas for sleeping, living, working and eating - including a full kitchen equipped with oven, dishwasher, microwave & refrigerator. The inn lies a few blocks south of US 101 along Bernal Rd, bordered on one side by a residential district and on the other by a business park, yet many of the rooms enjoy relaxing views towards the nearby hills. Free full American breakfast and evening reception are provided, plus leisure amenities of fitness center, outdoor heated pool and a whirlpool.

At 3200 Monterey Rd, the Clarion Inn Silicon Valley is about 3.5 miles southeast of downtown San Jose, though well connected to places nearer the center by the 87 Freeway. There is not much in the immediate neighborhood apart from a few restaurants and a small shopping center. The hotel has 46 fairly standard rooms, plus amenities of free continental breakfast, outdoor heated pool, spa, sun deck and an exercise room.