Vacation Rentals by Owner

Chardon, Ohio

Guest: MARK (CHARDON, OHIO, USA)
Date of Stay: 04/23/12 Review Submitted: 05/10/12

My wife and I spent 10 days in this villa at the end of April. We found the home to be very comfortable and the kitchen to be well stocked with cooking and eating utensils. The unit was clean and in good condition. The view from the deck was nothing less than breath taking, especially at sunset. We used the community pool several time and found it to be clean and well maintained. The "Sports Bar" at the entrance to the property was a great place to have lunch and I am sure their dinners are very good as well although we never tried them for dinner. There are numerous excellent resturaunts in the area. I would recommend a rental car if you want to go to the beach or out to dinner, although it can be walked if you don't mind a bit of excercise! I would hesitate to recommend this property for anyone who has trouble climbing stairs. You have to climb a couple flights to get into the villa.

Owner response:Mark: I am glad you enjoyed your visit to my villa and community. We very much enjoy the view from our deck as well and taking leisurely walks through our picturesque community. Playa Hermosa offers owners and guests alike a very enjoyable experience. You are correct that there are two sets of outside stairs to the upper level of the villa; although it should be mentioned that a more accessible way is via the spiral stairway from the lower level to the living room above that is only about 10 stairs, making access to the upper level a bit easier. Regards, Russ - Owner

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great place to stay

Guest: CoupleOfTravelers (Edgewater, NJ)
Date of Stay: 04/04/12 Review Submitted: 04/13/12

This was an ideal, fantastic place to call home for one week. The villa provided all of the essentials necessary, including cookware, many towels, individually controlled air conditioners, and best of all, a very friendly and responsible staff. The villa was within walking distance to the beach, about 15 minutes, and near great restaurants located along the road to the beach. Much better than staying at a hotel!!

Owner response:Carol: I am so glad that you enjoyed your visit to my villa and community. Your satisfaction is my goal and my Property Manager has the same objective. My family is fortunate to have a home in a great area of Costa Rica and happy to share it with you. Please come again. Regards, Russ - Owner

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing.

We Highly Recommend This Villa!!!

Guest: Donna (Middleburg, VA)
Date of Stay: 03/13/12 Review Submitted: 03/26/12

Our stay at Villa Antonelda exceeded all our expectations. We traveled with 3 teens and a 9 year old and everyone was happy with the home, community and Guanacaste area. Before arriving, Russ made sure we had what we needed – managers names, office number and cell, a map and directions. Russ also helped with a company for airport transfers. The villa was clean, everything worked, was as described by the owner, except with even more amenities. We had a washer/dryer and ample supplies to cook with; a kettle, coffee pot, microwave, toaster and blender. There was a DVD player AND WIFI! There were plenty of towels, sheets, trashbags, paper towels, dish soap, laundry detergent, salt, sugar, coffee filters – all the things you don’t want to pack. We didn’t want for anything. The property is in a secure beautifully landscaped gated community with friendly staff. We felt safe at all times and enjoyed getting to know the locals. The community has two restaurants. The pool had waterslides the kids loved and a swim up bar with fresh smoothies for kids and drinks for adults. There was a playground, basketball hoop, a small minigolf course, and a cinema. The cinema folks were so nice, when we were the only guests they let us pick what movie we wanted to see. It was an easy walk to everything in Playa Hermosa (beach, restaurants, and local supermarket). Because the property is elevated, it has a beautiful ocean view, but after you walk down you do have to walk back up - just be prepared. We had no issues with this, but if I had elderly parents with me I would take a Taxi or rent a car for them. The town LOVES tourists. They go out of their way to make everyone feel safe and welcome. A few folks deserve special mention – be sure to stop by Erika’s fruit stand on road to beach for just picked produce. Her husband Mario is a Chef and if there is room you can dine at their home on their balcony – one of the most memorable meals we ever had. Bernal and guides at Tico Tours were amazing. We used them for Arenal Volcano tour, some other half day tours, and airport transfers. Marta is a local taxi driver (phone 8860-3055). She told about the area and after a few trips we liked her so much we paid for her to stay our entire last day with us. We also used Diving Safaris; if you dive, or want to learn, contact them. We had a wonderful vacation staying here and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Costa Rica.

Owner response:Hello Donna: I am so glad that you enjoyed your visit to my villa and community. Playa Hermosa and Hermosa Heights are very special and everyone very much enjoys visiting. As you have said, the many amenities add to the enjoyment. I hope you will consider a return visit in the future. Regards, Russ

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great New Year's Eve week

Guest: Pablo A.
Date of Stay: 12/26/11 Review Submitted: 01/07/12

This is a great place, the view is awesome, the location allows you to move to different places and beaches with a small drive, you feel secure in the community, the house is fully equipped and that makes your life easier and finally the people in the staff is very helpful. We had a great time and I will definitely recommend this place to my friends. Recommended for: Adventure Seekers, Sightseeing, Gateway with Friends or Romantic

Owner response:Pablo: We are so pleased that you enjoyed your stay in our villa. We also believe that Playa Hermosa and our community in particular has a lot to offer a visitor, being centrally located between many beaches and other activities, with fine nearby restaurants, a large grocery store just outside the community gate that offers convenient food and supplies, the mini-golf course, spa, movie theater and of course the wonderful pool and friendly staff. We are happy to have met your needs. Please come again soon. Regards, Russ - Owner

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Nice Getaway At Villa Antonelda

Guest: Tamara F. (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 06/03/11 Review Submitted: 06/21/11

Your house was great! We were greeted nicely be the staff and security people. The location was fantastic and we felt very safe. Overall, we had a very nice time at your house and would recommend it to others.

Owner response:I am very pleased that you enjoyed your stay in my villa. Our community is great and our objective is to ensure that you have a satisfactory experience during your visit. Regards, Russ - Owner

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, sightseeing.

Family Get Away

Guest: Lucy (Virginia, USA)
Date of Stay: 04/18/11 Review Submitted: 04/26/11

This villa is a very comfortable two bedroom home. Well equiped 1/4 mile (easy walk) to beach. Owner and property manager very accommodating. While I enjoyed the unit very much I would warm parents of small children, there is a circular staircase to lower level garage and laundry area that is not safe for small children. We had to improvise a gate and block the wrought iron railing. Which is very attractive but tempting for children. Playa Hermosa is very removed from urban areas, so if you are looking for a getaway this is great. Otherwise would recommend a car or being prepared to do excursions and use taxi's if you want to see Costa Rica.

Owner response:I am glad you enjoyed your stay in my villa. Sorry for your concern about the spiral stairway that leads from the upper to the lower level. While beautiful and convenient, it could be a concern for parents with small children, but I am pleased that you were able to easily block it off and eliminate the concern. Regards, Russ- Owner

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Comfortable in Costa Rica

Guest: Walt (Billings, MT)
Date of Stay: 02/04/11 Review Submitted: 03/03/11

First vacation outside of a motel. Having the convience of all amenities of independent living made this trip very memorable and comfortable. Having the kitchen made it a delight to prepare some of the local faire. It was a great trip and this unit made the difference.

Owner response:I'm glad you enjoyed your stay in my community and villa. Hope you will return. Regards, Russ - Owner

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway.

Pura Vida for 20 Days!

Guest: Colorado (Colorado)
Date of Stay: 12/13/10 Review Submitted: 01/05/11

This villa was a beautiful retreat from the tourist beach towns that have taken over the pacific coast. The hermosa heights villas are the nicest in the area and are conveniently located to all amenities. My wife and I and our best friends were here for 20 incredible days and never needed a car. Everything you need is within walking distance and the area is safe, and very friendly. We made incredible memories and new friends along the way. This villa had everything we needed to have a longer lasting affordable vacation in paradise. The managers and owner were more than helpful and made this the easiest vacation yet. We hope to come back, and who knows, it could be once a year? Thank you, Colorado

Owner response:Thanks so much for your positive comments and I am very pleased that your stay in my villa was all that you expected it to be. My Property Manager and I have worked hard to make our bookings easy and to provide the information and support you need to ensure you have a wonderful experience. Please come again. Russ - Owner

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Relaxing with a great view

Guest: Sharon R. (Stacy, MN, USA)
Date of Stay: 08/21/10 Review Submitted: 08/31/10

Me,my husband, two kids and my mother-in-law stayed here Aug 21-26 and had a great time. The view was a mix of the ocean and the many birds who liked to sit in the tree nearby (parakeets, parrots, warblers, owls). A very relaxing place. The villa itself is very beautiful. Loved the tile floors and the whole family rested in comfort in between our trips to the beach and the washer and dryer were very handy. There was a slight problem with the doors when we arrived, but other than that it was fantastic. The security crew and staff were courteous and friendly as well. Playa Hermosa was by far the best beach in the area; clean,shady spots and lots of different things for the kids to explore. I would definitely recommend this property to anyone who wants to see the Guanacaste side of Costa Rica. Liberia is only 20-30 minutes drive away and so many activities are within a reasonable distance. We enjoyed our time here so much, we hope to come back and experience pura vida again in the future.

Owner response:Sharon: Thanks for your overall high rating of your stay in my villa, and am very pleased that you enjoyed your stay. Sorry for the trouble with the sliding door that was not seated properly in its track and the garage door where the electric opener malfunctioned. Repairs to these two items have been completed. Hope you will visit again in the future. Best regards, Russ (Owner)

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Value In Hermosa Heights

Guest: Matt (London, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 08/04/10 Review Submitted: 08/17/10

This place kicked ass! We got a clean and spacious place for $60/night in Villas Hermosa Heights. The community was very quiet and peaceful. We used the place as a home base as we drove our rented 4X4 all over Guanacaste. Loads of great destinations are within an hour or two of Playa Hermosa, and we got to most of them. Playa Grande was our favorite - it's the nicest beach, and rather spectacular during sunset. The staff was way beyond merely courteous and respectful. The head of security was just the nicest guy you could ever meet. The excellent pool has two water slides, and was nice to hop into after a day outdoors. The property manager was great to deal with. We'd come back here in a heartbeat.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Great Place in Hermosa Beack

Guest: desi0 (Los Angeles)
Date of Stay: 03/27/10 Review Submitted: 04/09/10

I stayed with my family of six for 4 days in this villa. It is a high quality home with good security and great amenities such as an ATM Bank machine, theatre, poolside restaurant, sports restaurant and a nice pool area. There is a market nearby and the beach is about 10 minutes away (the way back is uphill and may take a little longer). We were all very happy dealing with the owner and liked the villa. I especially appreciated the excellent service from the owner who took the time to explain everything and the workers at the complex were very nice. Other issues to note is that although you have a very nice view of the ocean, ther complex is on a hill and walking will mean climbing and a good workout. Hermosa itself is a dry forest and was mostly brown at the end of March. It was hot but the 3 AC's worked great. Highlights: 3 AC's that are of high quality huge patio with great ocean and hill view nice wood interior wireless / wired internet (I loved this) in the unit and in the complex great poolside restaurant with personal service large cooler is great for a family beach trip Issues: The main problem we encountered was a lack of water pressure which was surprising given the quality standards of the villa. With six people, using both bathrooms and the clothes washer slowed things down. The unit does not have a dishwasher which was not an issue for us but may be for others. We encountered some car trouble (not related to the villa) and the property managers were very considerate in allowing us additional flexibility in leaving. My whole family each enjoyed the villa and the complex. We consider the price a bargain and the service and amenities were exceptional.

Owner response:This thorough review from another highly satisfied guest is much appreciated. I regret that their family experienced insufficient water pressure due to their visit being during the peak of the dry season, and also during Costa Rican Holy Week when Playa Hermosa is extremely crowded with vacationers on school spring break and holiday, which temporarily overburdens the water supply system in this resort area. At other times, the water pressure is adequate to satisfy the villa's needs. I am pleased that the other positive features mentioned about the villa and the community in which it is located compensated for this inconvenience and resulted in an overall very high satisfaction rating. Sincerely, Russ - Owner

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/24/09 Review Submitted: 08/24/09

My wife and I stayed here for our honeymoon and enjoyed it very much. The staff at Hermosa Heights were always incredibly helpful and the movie theater was really nice. The Villa has a beautiful view and was very comfortable for us. We stayed in the green season and were fortunate to have it rain only once the entire time we were there. We did not rent a car but were able to walk to the beach and nearby grocery store just fine. The zip line was only a short taxi ride away and was an amazing experience! I would definitely recommend this villa to anyone looking for a fun, relaxing vacation.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/09 Review Submitted: 03/02/09

My husband and I "were at home" in this beautiful villa for the month of Feb. 2009. Every morning and evening we enjoyed the scenery from the spacious deck, looking at the Gulf of Papagayo/Pacific Ocean. This scenery is also viewed from the kitchen, great room, and master bedroom. We were sad to leave which isn't always the emotion felt leaving a vacation site. We certainly hope to return there soon, once again experiencing the quietness, beautiful weather, beautiful beaches, holler monkies which can be heard every morning; we were lucky enough to see them 5 min. from the villa, crossing the road on an electrical wire! Marketing (you'll never eat better watermelon and pineapple any where), great restaurants, beaches, banks,etc. are very accessible to the villa. Every person we had contact with, starting with the owner, who kindly gave us so much information, making pre-arrangements for our visit easy, Juan from J&C Tours who picked us up at the Liberia Airport (30 min.) from the villa; Raul, at Dollar Rent a Car, who delivered our rental car, Ken Short and Rene', property managers; Jackie, who came once a week to do light cleaning, and other guests and property owners. I guess you can tell that we LOVED it!! Costa Rica, its' people, Hermosa Heights, surrounding scenery, and the villa are all beautiful.

Owner response:Mr. & Mr. Owens: I'm so glad you enjoyed your stay. Warm regards and Pura Vida! Russ Ferretti

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/08 Review Submitted: 09/23/08

We stayed at the villa in the end of August. We had a great time, very friendly atmoshere in the community, close to shopping, to the beach, there are a few good restaurants in Hermosa, and only 10 minutes to Playa Del Coco. Villa is very clean and has all amenities for a comfortable stay.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 08/22/08

The villa had a great view, great price, and great location. There is a TV with cable, AC, and pretty much everything you might need. There's a dive charter located maybe a mile or so away next to the beach. The water pressure was a little weak, but it was a lot better than a hotel we stayed at in Central Costa Rica that didn't have hot water at all. The jacuzzi tub was nice too. There are a couple small grocery stores right down the street if you need anything since you have a full kitchen. Anyway, have fun- we did.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 08/11/08

My husband and I recently just stayed at this beautiful villa in Hermosa Heights the last week of July 08. Firstly, the renting process was so easy and the owner is a wonderful person and provided a wealth of information about the villa and community. We were provided with local contacts who met us at the villa for check in and check out. The local contact also provided some great travel tips and suggestions for activities and dining. The Villa and community is very quiet and safe with a garage so there is no problem with parking a rental car. The Villa is beautiful with 2BR and 2BA and a beautiful view from the Master BR, deck and living room of the water and mountains. The jacuzzi tub in the master bathroom was an added bonus after a long day of activities and sightseeing. The Playa Hermosa area is a perfect spot if you want a nice laid back town with a beautiful beach. It also is an excellent loaction to have the ability to explore the entire northern Coastline of beaches as well as the National Parks. We had a wonderful trip and would absolutely recommend this villa to a small family or couple(s). In fact we may be back again very soon :)

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 08/06/08

Nice, enjoyed the stay.

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we loved it

Guest: please (Seattle WA USA)
Date of Stay: 06/17/08 Review Submitted: 07/28/08

Thank you for making available the wonderful rental > in Playa Hermosa Costa Rica. It was a once in a > lifetime experience that my family and I will always > remember, to visit that amazing country. It was a > pleasure dealing with you, and I appreciate your > clear communication and honesty > > I hope that all goes well for you. I hope that the > concerns with erosion and destruction of habitat for > animals in the area of your condo are addressed so > that the beauty and wildlife that drew us will be > there in the future, > Thanks again

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.