Reviews for San Juan Del Sur Vacation Rental - VRBO 168406 - 2 BR Nicaragua House, Villa Pavela - Relaxing, Tropical, 2 BR Ocn/Mtn View by Beach

A Relaxing Stay

Guest JK
Date of stay 01/29/13
Review Submitted 02/23/13

We stayed at Villa Pavela for a two week period in early February 2013 and had a thoroughly wonderful time. It was our first visit to Nicaragua and as such, it was a great relief to have such a beautiful, relaxed atmosphere in which to begin our trip. Ela was tremendously helpful in orienting us, offering us driving directions, safety tips and a host of information around how to make the most of our visit. The Villa itself is in a perfect location, situated overlooking a quiet beach only a few minutes' drive from the bustle of San Juan del Sur. We were close enough to town to rent surfboards, shop for groceries, eat out, etc., but were able to retreat to the quiet of Villa Pavela whenever we needed. Having seen the accommodations available in town, I don't think we would do things any differently; Villa Pavela offered us precisely the kind of relaxation both of us were hoping for. The building and grounds are beautifully conceived, with a deceptively simple layout that allowed for privacy, security, natural airflow (a necessity in the afternoon heat) and stunning views. The housekeeper, Eliza, was a delight, showing us around town, answering questions, keeping the home tidy and cooking a fabulous array of Nicaraguan dishes during our stay. We would recommend that other visitors take advantage of her cooking - it wasn't not obligatory, but it was blessedly simple having Eliza look after our dinners and there was nothing we ate in town that came close to her cooking. Playa Remanso was a lovely spot for surfing, snorkeling, suntanning and poking around in tide pools looking for the curious lifeforms that seem so abundant in the area. Although the waves weren't quite as regular or impressive as those of Playa Maderas or Playa Hermosa, they weren't nearly so crowded, making them perfect for beginner surfers. In addition, the beach felt quite safe; the family running the local taco stand were friendly and seemed to keep an eye out on things. Most importantly, the locals we met both on the beach and along the road - though seemingly shy or reserved - would light up whenever we waved or said hello. If you have some Spanish, use it and you'll find the Nicaraguan people respond with genuine warmth. Our thanks go out to both Ela and Eliza for all their help and hard work - we had a wonderful trip and would do it again without hesitation.

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Wonderful Stay!!!

Guest Morgan
Date of stay 12/01/12
Review Submitted 01/05/13

My husband and I recently took our 18 month old son to Nicaragua and stayed at Villa Pavela for two weeks. It was a stunning property and a fantastic place to relax. Eliza and Jairo went above and beyond to make our stay a relaxing one. We wanted to stay forever! Ela makes everything incredibly easy ad straightforward and was always available to answer any questions I had. She too, went above and beyond offering travel advice and easing my mind about some concerns I had about travelling with an infant. We will, without a doubt, be renting this property again. Thanks for everything!

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Awesome location to the Beach and Surf

Guest Anya
Date of stay 11/20/12
Review Submitted 12/11/12

We loved our stay at Villa Pavela. We wanted to be close enough to walk to a beautiful beach with good surf and this IS THE place! Water is clean and warm, surf is beginning to intermediate. It was great. The house is clean and fully equipped with all the comforts you need and want. Hammocks, coffee and tea makers, tupperware, ice chests, Wi-Fi, two bathrooms.. it was great. It has a beautiful view front and back sides.

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Close yet so far away- just what we wanted!

Guest Mama M.
Date of stay 10/02/12
Review Submitted 01/05/13

This was the perfect place for our vacation- we wanted something that was somewhat secluded but also accessible to town. Villa Pavela is located about 2 mins walking distance from a great beach with a little fish taco stand (OMG! the tacos- sooooo good!!!) and fantastic surfing waves, in fact many of the private instructors in SJDS, drive their students to this beach because of the waves. My husband took some lessons and practiced here almost every day. Our almost-three-year-old daughter and I would hang on the beach and play in the sand and water. The bummer about the beach is that there is no shade, so some sort of shade structure for use at the beach, compliments of Villa Pavela would have been a God-send. The patio at Villa Pavela was fantastic with a sweeping view of the hills and water. Every night frogs and cool insects would come out onto the patio and my daughter would watch them with delight. We did pay for the cook to make several meals for us, which was wonderful to not have to worry about. I have some food issues that were not really understood (allergic to gluten and dairy) by her but she tried hard to accommodate me the best she could. We felt safe at all times and enjoyed the stay immensely. The owner, Ela, was a dream to arrange and communicate with. She was extremely helpful and timely in her responses! PS We were a bit nervous about the mosquitoes before arriving but my daughter did not get one bite and the grown ups only a few...which is actually less than normal for me because I seem to be a magnet for the things. I believe the overhead fans on the patio helped keep them at bay.

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

Perfect Vacation Spot!

Guest tat
Date of stay 07/21/12
Review Submitted 08/01/12

I just came back from a week of bliss at this property. The house is beautiful the owner is very attentive and the staff (Jairo & Eliza) are not only the sweetest most accommodating people but also great cooks! I can`t wait to come back every year to this house. Thanks to Ela, Jairo and Eliza for making this the most wonderful vacation.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

Relaxation at its best

Guest EMMtravels
Date of stay 06/13/12
Review Submitted 06/21/12

My husband, young daughter, and I stayed three nights at Villa Pavela and enjoyed every minute! The house was spacious and spotless (no need for air conditioning with the fans and breeze), the views from the porch amazing, and Eliza made our visit one of the most relaxing I've ever had. She was so helpful with cooking, cleaning, laundry - we didn't lift a finger the whole time we were there. We ate at the house for breakfast and dinner each day to avoid the driving and hassle of finding restaurants. We all three were fascinated with the toads, crabs, and geckos that visited the house. Each day we visited a different beach - you will need a rental car since you aren't within walking distance of San Juan del Sur and you'll want to explore other beaches. Ela was extremely helpful to assist with our travel plans via email as this was our first trip to Nicaragua or SJDS. I highly recommend staying here to relax and avoid the noise and bustle of the city!

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

Most Relaxing Vacation Ever!

Guest Linda
Date of stay 12/16/11
Review Submitted 01/10/12

We have just arrived back to snowy Canada and wanted to tell you that we had an absolutely fantastic time at your villa.It was one of the most relaxing holidays that we have had and that is mostly due to Eliza (the maid). She wouldnt let us lift a finger.We will highly recommend it to any of our friends. Thanks so much and Happy New Year,

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, sightseeing.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Excelent Experience

Guest Kirsten
Date of stay 05/09/11
Review Submitted 05/14/11

We were only for 3 nights at Villa Pavela, But we should have booked longer! What a nice place. The house is comfortable and so complete. Its very clean and Eliza and her husband are very nice people. They are there to help with all your needs and still give you all the privacy in the world. The contact with Ela was very nice and thank you for responding everythime soo fast!

Recommended for: Families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

Great Relaxing Holiday near the beach

Guest Adam
Date of stay 03/13/11
Review Submitted 03/13/12

My wife and I really enjoyed Villa Pavela. It was a real treat being able to walk 2 minutes to the surf and the beach was never busy. The surf is great for beginners to intermediate. The tranquility of the area was great, cows and horses roaming freely on the road, a view of the ocean, friendly people and hot weather. The home is truely unique and really allows you to appreciate the surrounding area. There is a couple that look after the home, and they were very accommodating and helpful. We would stay there again sometime in the future for sure. There are 2 restaurants on the beach, the further one looks run down operated by a young couple, don't judge a book by its cover. He makes fresh fish tacos that are amazing, and if you need some red meat he does a pretty mean BBQ burger too. Great place for lunch or a snack after working up an appetite in the surf. Thanks Ela, we had a great time!!!

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Villa Perfecta

Guest Jimmie
Date of stay 02/19/11
Review Submitted 03/22/11

Myself and my g/f's Nica Familia stayed at Villa Pavella 8 day's-we wished we could have never left! the OWnersand our transaction were smooth and super nice people! The Place-OMG..Outstanding..we luved the way the hosue was designed! it has everything you will ever need and more..the wind comes thru the house at the right place all day..the community is pvt and everone was very very nice the caretakers..Bueno Gente..highly recommend..we will be going back asap!

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

Owner response: James, so happy you enjoyed your vacation at Villa Pavela. To hear all these positive comments is the best reward for the effort my husband and I put into designing, building and managing Villa Pavela. It was a pleasure taking the time to answer all of your questions. This way, there were less surprises for you and you were able to start to fully enjoy your vacation from the moment you arrived at the Villa. It will be our pleasure to have you stay with us again sometime and offer you our "frequent visitor" discount. Cheers.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

Great Place for the Price

Guest KK
Date of stay 01/14/11
Review Submitted 03/23/11

Great views of Remanso Bay, helpful and friendly caretakers - the place is always neat. I love the kitchen and the roll-up door that opens up to the lanai. We've stayed here with 4 folks and stayed here with 7 adults - it is comfortable and enough hammocks/chairs that everyone is comfortable. I'm sure we'll be back again.

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

Owner response: Our housekeeper, Eliza, will not rest until the house is spotless and our Guests are comfortable. The interconnected kitchen and lanai offer a unique outdoor living experience, especially when bathed in the warm light of the setting sun. You are always welcome at Villa Pavela. Cheers, Ela

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

Guest comment entered by owner

Guest Diane
Date of stay 03/09/09
Review Submitted 03/08/09

Dear Ela We are home now and I wanted to tell you what a wonderful time we had at Villa Pavela and Nicaragua. Your home is fabulous and the 2 months flew by (unfortunately)! If you ever have someone interested in renting, but not sure, please feel free to give them my e-mail address or telephone number. I would be pleased to tell them about the wonderful time we had. Thank you again. Cheers Diane.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

Guest comment entered by owner

Guest Elvina & Chris
Date of stay 11/20/08
Review Submitted 11/19/08

I just wanted to let you know we absolutely loved our stay at Villa Pavela. Nicaragua is a great place! We started most mornings with a quick swim at the beach. We took trips to Granada, Isla de Ometepe and went in to SJDS most days for supplies etc! Louis, the gardener, stopped by everyday for a chat, he is just lovely. My Spanish is very poor, but with his elaborate hand signals, we chatted for hours! Thanks again, we hope to return to Nicaragua one day and will let you know if we do - Elvina & Chris from Australia

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

Guest comment entered by owner

Guest Nicole & Brian
Date of stay 05/21/08
Review Submitted 05/20/08

The house is a wonderful and peaceful retreat and we enjoyed it very much. It's hard to come back to cool rainy weather after waking up to warm breezes and watching the flocks of parrots fly between the trees! Thanks for a great time - Nicole and Brian from the USA

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

Guest Mads Mortensen
Date of stay 03/26/08
Review Submitted 03/26/08

Great experience! It was refreshing to spend some time away from the tourist traps for once. Me and my girlfriend stayed two weeks at Villa Pavela in February. The house itself is clean, cozy and has all furnishings you would hope for (beautiful modern kitchen as well) the beach was a minute away by foot and the sunsets were unforgetable. Again, much recomended to anyone looking for a true relaxing getaway!

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

Guest Jeff C.1
Date of stay 03/26/08
Review Submitted 03/26/08

Just a quick note to say how much I enjoyed my time at Villa Pavela. With a great view of the ocean (and sunsets!) from the hammocks on the terrace, a fairly quiet beach only minutes away and the perfect surf for beginner surfers such as myself it truly was a fantastic place. Accomodations were clean and comfortable, the perfect place to relax after a hard day at the beach. ;) Highly recommend Villa Pavela, hope to return someday!

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/3

Vacation Rentals by Owner

Villa Pavela - Relaxing, Tropical, 2 BR Ocn/Mtn View by Beach [#168406] | View Property

Traveler Reviews (16)

A Relaxing Stay

A Relaxing Stay

Wonderful Stay!!!

Wonderful Stay!!!

Awesome location to the Beach and Surf

Awesome location to the Beach and Surf

Close yet so far away- just what we wanted!

Close yet so far away- just what we wanted!

Perfect Vacation Spot!

Perfect Vacation Spot!

Relaxation at its best

Relaxation at its best

Most Relaxing Vacation Ever!

Most Relaxing Vacation Ever!

Excelent Experience

Excelent Experience

Great Relaxing Holiday near the beach

Great Relaxing Holiday near the beach

Villa Perfecta

Villa Perfecta

Great Place for the Price

Great Place for the Price