Vacation Rentals by Owner

Awesome, awesome, awesome

Guest: Beatrice P.
Date of Stay: 12/27/11 Review Submitted: 01/09/12

Ditto to the other reviews. We spent 6 incredible days at this beautiful villa. The pictures are just as you will see it. It is kept impecably clean and beautifully decorated. The staff was wounderful. Lina's cooking was exellent. We tried most of her specialties. We also taught her a new tropical drink. We also tried a few of Alan and Susan's suggestions for dinner . The information booklet left for us was very helpful. My husband had a medical problem on New Years day and Elio went out on his way on his scooter to find a pharmacy that was open. We were four couples there for six days, and never ever felt like we were in each others way. The living space is very open yet very cozy. We would like to go back again with our children and grandchildren. It's a great vacation place for a family. I know us four couples will definately make a repeat visit to this amazing location. Thank you Allan and Susan for sharing your beautiful space with us. John & Bee.

Recommended for:

One of our best vacations yet!!

Guest: christie (Keene, NH)
Date of Stay: 06/25/11 Review Submitted: 07/18/11

Beautiful!!! My family of 13 visited the Playa Confresi the end of June 2011. There were 7 children and 6 adults and the house was perfect for us. Not only beautiful but comfortable, clean, and safe. The pool was great for all ages because of the kiddie area and the listing photos accurately reflect the house's appearance and amenities. Lina and Francesca were amazing cooks and very nice to be around and accomodating. The beach was within walking distance(better to go during the week) and Ocean World(also walking distance) was fantastic! We swam with the dolphins- well worth the price and experience. I would also reccomend the jeep sarari to the waterfalls and hiring personal massages that come to the house, book those through Gus. The prices at the grocery store were reasonable, I would suggest converting your money to pesos' first. I hope you enjoy your time as much as we did, we would not hesitate to come back again, and June was low tourist season so it was quiet.

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.

Beyond heaven

Guest: Lisa C. (New York, New York)
Date of Stay: 06/18/11 Review Submitted: 07/03/11

My family wanted a retreat from nyc life, and this was beyond our dream. The house was just gorgeous and well kept. All of the bedrooms beautiful, with equally breakthaking views of the ocean from each bedrooms individule balcony. The cooks were wonderful and accomadating, considering we had three children with us neeeding different food. The house is very good for children, they had a gate for the pool that locked, locks on all the sliding doors, and a wonderfully helpful gate for the stairs leading upstairs and downstairs. The beach was paradise, only a five minute walk at most from the house, with charming eateries lining the beach. Umbrella rentals were very cheap as well as beach chairs, and they would drag them anywhere on the beach for you and set them up. The house provided beach towels and laudry is available in the house, which the maids also do when you have a load ready. The owner was very easy to keep in touch with in the states, and then once we arrived, his house manager was there to answer every question. The pool was very clean and cool, great for the afternoon once the beach got too hot for the boys. Everything you could possibly want, at your fingertips. The view alone was worth twice as much as we paid. Such a great deal for a little piece of paradise. We left talking about eventually wanting our own place there.

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

Wonderful experience!!!!

Guest: Tish (Bronx, New York )
Date of Stay: 03/19/11 Review Submitted: 03/25/11

Good morning Alan! Just wanted to let you know we had a wonderful time at your villa everything was so clean and your staff was so accommodating. We fell in love with Lina . She is a superb cook! Only wished we could've stayed longer. I've stayed in Dominican republic before( punta Cana ) But I must admit this was truly an experience. Your home is delightfully gorgeous! We look forward to returning to casi cielo in the near future. I'm planning to bring more family to share my beautiful experience. Thank you so much for sharing your home with us.

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.

Casi Cielo "Almost heaven indeed"

Guest: Mimi C. (Guilford, CT.)
Date of Stay: 01/19/11 Review Submitted: 03/01/11

We had an absolutely amazing 10 day vacation at Casi Cielo. We were a group of 5 couples and are expectations were quite high going into this as we had read the reviews and looked at the pictures over and over again but both the villa and the amazing staff greatly exceeded all of our expectations. Alan was fanstastic to deal with. He returned our emails very quickly with any questions we had. He happily arranged to have a band come to the villa for a little celebration. The information he provides covers everything you could possibly imagine and his recomendations we right on. Transfers to & from the airport were arranged for you and were so easy. They were right there waiting for us when we got off the plane.The Villa was beautiful, had beautiful views, and was very clean and really spacious. 10 adults in the same house for 10 days and no one ever felt that they needed a break. Most of us have stressful jobs but all of us were relaxed immediately after arriving. Alan has thought of everything to ensure that you have an amazingly relaxing vacation. You don't have to think about anything! The staff: Lina, Francesca, and Elio were incredible and couldn't do anymore to please us. The food was amazing.The night of our anniversary we were having a little party. Lina and Franchesca suprised us with a cake and made appetizers and decorations out of fruit. We asked Elio if we could have small fire in the really nice brick charcoal grill and where we could buy some wood he said that we didn't have to buy wood that he had some down in back. The next thing you know he is in the back yard with a mecchetti cutting wood for us to be ablee to enjoy a fire. They tought us to dance. They really made our trip. The arranging of excursions was so easy. Gus comes to the villa to go over them with you. The catamaran trip was fantastic. We did have girls come to the villa for manicures, pedicures, and massages. It was so nice to have them done on your own veranda and it was so affordable. We went out for dinner a few times and walked to the casino one night. We always went in a group but never felt nervous at all and we were there during a big holiday weekend where both Friday and Monday were holidays. We are all definitly planning a return trip soon. The only problem is that everyone wants to come with us next time. They'll have to rent other places because there's no way that any of us are staying anywhere but Casi Cielo. Alan Thank you for everything it was amazing!

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.

Awesome!

Guest: Diane (Upton, MA)
Date of Stay: 01/13/11 Review Submitted: 01/27/11

I hesitate to write this review, in fear of revealing to the world this wonderful secret paradise that exists here at Playa Cofresi. Having never been to the Dominican, we had no idea what to expect, but this vacation far exceeded all of our expectations. When first arriving, Puerto Plata was quite a culture shock for me, but after the first day, the culture and the wonderful friendly people of the Dominican brought enjoyment and lots of smiles to our faces. The house is amongst other beautiful homes, but is very close to town where you will see first hand how the Dominicans live. You are not living inside a resort where you are sheltered from the people of the country. I think this is what I enjoyed the most. The house was exactly as the pictures show (gorgeous), and our ride was waiting for us at the airport as promised, although our flight was over an hour late. The staff at the villa were welcoming, courteous and provided excellent service. We all agreed that we wanted to take Franchesca and Leena home with us back to the states. Wonderful cooks. The beach is only a 5 minute walk down the hill, and was very clean with beautiful warm waters. The area to the right is the best area for swimming, but the entire beach is great. I wouldn't hesitate to rate it a 10. Very safe for swimming. There are quite a few restaurants within walking distance that were very good, as well as Ocean World and a casino, which we walked to a couple times during our stay. Although there is a security guard out front all night, we never once felt scared or nervous walking around the neighborhood, even at night. The view from the house was spectacular, I burned it into my memory every day so I could take it home with me where there were 2 feet of snow waiting for us. While there we went snorkeling, rode the dune buggies, rode the cable car to the top of the mountain, and went on the jeep tours. All were LOTS of fun, but the jeep tours were something you should not miss. The waterfalls at the end were very challenging, but a great experience! I would return to this property in a heartbeat, and would not change a thing. Thanks for sharing your beautiful home with us Alan. It was a trip of a lifetime.!

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

The pictures do not do the house justice!

Guest: ENice (Atlanta GA)
Date of Stay: 12/11/10 Review Submitted: 12/31/10

Six of us stayed here in early December 2010 and though it is the rainy season, we had a ball! We want to go back!

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

Highly recommended!

Guest: Elisheva (NJ)
Date of Stay: 10/25/10 Review Submitted: 10/31/10

I am writing this review on our last night in Villa Casi Cielo, sad that we have to leave. I chose this villa after corresponding with many homeowners, and Mr. Miller was extremely responsive and helpful. He answered all of my emails promptly and tailored the staff schedule exactly as we needed. The house looks just like in the pictures. It is kept spotless, with a clean pool, a beautiful view, friendly staff, and very comfortable queen pillow-top beds. The maid was friendly and nice, though she did not really speak english. Overall this was a very relaxing vacation and I would definitely consider coming back.

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

Memorable stay at Casi Cielo Villa in the DR

Guest: Zizi and Carl (Reading, PA, USA)
Date of Stay: 08/14/10 Review Submitted: 09/01/10

My wife, daughter, her teenage friend, and I had one of our best vacations in our recent stay at Villa Casi Cielo. You can't imagine a more beautifully appointed and well-maintained property, with all of the amenities, including WiFi and cable, maid service, home cooking, and a magnificent ocean view from poolside and especially from a second-story terrace where my wife performed yoga each day as the sun rose; an especially nice touch are the original Haitian oil paintings on walls throughout the villa. Even though the villa and its furnishings look and feel luxurious, we found it a very comfortable place to relax and unwind for a week. We were especially satisfied with the personal care we received from a local tour guide, who stopped by the villa to help us plan and arrange excursions, for which we were promptly picked up each morning. The catamaran excursion was some of the most fun we've ever had! We loved the meals that the cooks prepared for us at the villa, but we also enjoyed some fabulous inexpensive Mexican meals at Los Charros, to which we walked from the villa. The privacy of the villa gave us the isolation to enjoy leisurely afternoon reading or sunbathing by the pool, but we had no difficulty getting transportation to activities beyond the villa. We found it especially helpful that the owners have developed a 20-page guidebook for renters that anticipates any question or need and that covers everything from shopping, planning excursions, eating out, or dealing with emergencies. We all agreed it was one of the best vacations we've ever enjoyed in a truly spectacular setting and a really good value. We'll definitely go back!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Good House, Poor Beach & Lots of Noise

Guest: Randy (Pittsburgh, PA USA)
Date of Stay: 08/04/10 Review Submitted: 08/29/10

The house was fine, with plenty of room but not central air conditioning. The staff was friendly and attentive, but the beach was a disappointment as it was littered with garbage and was rocky. The waves were not very good and the water contained considerable seaweed. If you rent this property soon, you should be aware that there is a lot of construction in the area and you are often awakened at 7am by the sounds of heavy construction equipment. Airfare was higher than we thought and the airlines are taking advantage of the limited competition to this area. The fees for some of our flights cost more than the airfare. We also had a commitment from the owner as to how we would be charged for additional members of our family. This agreement was not honored by the owner. If you are going to travel to this property, I would wait until the construction is completed and at a time when you can get reasonable airfare.

Owner response:I'm very sorry that Randy did not have an experience up to his expectations. We have lovely trade winds all year in Cofresi and central air not required, none of the homes have central air. We have air conditioning in all bedrooms and ceiling fans throughout. There has been some construction about a quarter mile away, having just returned from the house in August the noise was not intrusive at all. The Sun Village Resort was sold and is in a major renovation and expansion by the new owners. It is due to re-open in January 2011. We have paid a maintenance crew to clean the beach. Week-ends can be problematic because of the relative high usage by locals but by Monday the beach is cleaned. I warn renters of this situation in the communications up-front. The new Resort will improve beach conditions and add other amenities. Air travel has been trying recently, I do except reservations midweek and offer alternate airports to help keep air fares down. Randy did not understand that our policy is that, we lock into the final rental at the 30 day payment and if you miss your flight you will forfeit the rental fee for that day(s), in his case it was $30 for one person. I have made exceptions for more deserving situations. Casi Cielo is a wonderfully family home, great staff and a beautiful location.

Recommended for:Age 55+

A Fun Family Gathering

Guest: Cairowes (Ossining, New York)
Date of Stay: 07/24/10 Review Submitted: 08/02/10

An important reason for our choice of Casi Coeli was that there are 4 master suites. This meant that we,our three sons and their spouses could have their own private area. It was also important that Lena and Francesca would be there to do housework and cooking. We wanted everyone to "be on vacation". Alan was responsive to all of our queries and provided more than adequate information about the villa, the sights and restaurants. We are fortunate that our middle son is married to a Dominican. They spend time there with their children every summer. We had our own transportation and were able to go to the market in Puerta Playa, the "go-carts", the funiculare and Playa Sosua. Gus arranged a snorkeling excursion that everyone enjoyed. Lena and Francesca were very willing to cook whatever we or our grandchildren wished. There were 7 grandchildren (ages 15-5). They also kept up with the mounds of laundry. We discovered that the security guards were very grateful for any leftovers in the evening! We loved Stefy and Natale's Italian restaurant. We also enjoyed drinks at night at Alhora as it is right on the beach. We were able to walk to the ATM at the Casino in Ocean World. I would recommend this property to others. It was perfect for families and would also work for couples or singles. I might add that the spaciousness made it very comfortable for my husband (grandpa) as there was always a breeze and there was areas where he could read.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car.

Beautiful Villa with Fantastic Service

Guest: Amy Marie F. (Buffalo, NY USA)
Date of Stay: 05/31/10 Review Submitted: 06/10/10

We just arrived home from our week in the Dominican Republic. We stayed at Casi Cielo and it was beautiful. The villa is everything the pictures show it to be and more. Lena is a fantastic cook and she does everything she can to take care of you. I can't say enough about Elios and Gabino. We went to Punta Rusia for snorkeling at Paradise Island and I had a pretty serious accident while getting back in the boat. I knew that all we had to do was get back to the villa and Gabino would know exactly what to do. As soon as we got back to the villa, Elios tended to my various injuries and Gabino soon arrived. Both gentlemen accompanied us to the hospital and stayed to ensure that I was okay. Had it not been for the two of them, I would not have known how to handle my situation adequately. I cannot thank them enough for taking such good care of me. We felt completely safe during our stay and all we needed to do was to ask and we were supplied what we needed. Although, I ended up with a broken ankle and stitches, we had a really nice time and we plan to come back next year. The owner of the villa sends you a 19 page information packet that provides you with everything you need to know about staying in the villa and in the Dominican. He provides information about reputable taxi drivers and tour guides. The price is amazing for what you get. This is a really nice alternative to an all-inclusive resort for families and people who don't need to be entertained every minute of the day. The luxury of having your own pool is great as well and there is always a nice lounger to lay out on. I highly recommend this property to anyone who wants to have a fantastic vacation.

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

Perfect for toddlers through seniors

Guest: Thor from Brooklyn (Brooklyn, NY)
Date of Stay: 10/31/09 Review Submitted: 11/08/09

Alan has done a very good job creating a perfect private villa vacation experience. He is easy to deal with, and take that from someone who isn't always easy to deal with myself. The house is new and beautiful with thoughtful touches to make it appropriate for people of all ages (ramps, gates, crib etc.). We were 8 adults and 5 kids, and there was plenty of room for all of us to sleep, run around, and unwind. I was not returning to the Dominican Republic for my love of the cuisine. After a week eating Lina and Francesca's cooking, I may have to amend my low opinion of the cuisine. We ate well, and they were lovely people who truly seemed to care about our experience. No hotel could provide warmer service and tastier food. We are going to miss them. The villa is laid out on a private road which is a 5-10 minute walk to the beach. It's only an okay swimming beach, but our party stayed there for hours anyway. There is no traffic, but there are other villas right next door to you. Don't expect total seclusion. We took advantage of the catamaran snorkeling trip and the waterfall safari. They were enjoyed by all, but we probably could have found better prices if we had bargained with other operators. We traded saving a few dollars with Gus coming right to the house and conveniently setting up the trips as well as the massages and beauty treatments. It was a peaceful, beautiful setting for a large family vacation.

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

Relaxing with great friends!

Guest: Sharon f. (Connecticut)
Date of Stay: 10/11/09 Review Submitted: 10/26/09

We (3 couples) just returned from the villa and had a great time! It was clean and beautiful, the staff was extremely talented and friendly. We elected to have the groceries provided for the first day, which was perfect. We spent a lot of time in the house and around the pool. We walked down to the beach a couple of times and had some nachos and drinks at Desparados, a Mexican restaurant right near the beach, it was super casual but good. We had ice in the Margaritas and they were great and no one got sick. The guys played golf at Dorado, which was a nice course about 20 minutes away. We also went on the Catamaran cruise tour which was excellent. One day we went on the gondola ride 1/2 mile up to the top of a mountain which had a huge Jesus Christ statue on top. There we toured the botanical gardens. It was a nice hike. It was about a 10 minute taxi ride from the villa and something to do for a few hours. All and all I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants a relaxing vacation in a beautiful place with an excellent staff. The owner was easy to deal with and promptly answered any of my e-mails or calls.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Best Vacation Ever - Oct 2009

Guest: YD (Laurel, MD)
Date of Stay: 10/03/09 Review Submitted: 10/13/09

First I have to say Casa Cielo is true paradise! The pictures and descriptions of the villa did casa cielo no justice! The place was absolutely gorgeous and well kept. We loved the layout. This was our first time renting a villa and this is definitely the way to go especially if you are traveling with a large group. We never felt crowded and everyone had their own space. We were a party of 6 adults and a one year old. We stayed from October 3 - 10. We loved how each of the bedrooms had their own balcony over looking the pool and ocean in the background! The view was magnificent especially from the upper balcony while getting an hour message for $30 USD!! You definitely cannot beat that. It was well worth it. Lina and Francesca were awesome! We wanted to pack them up with us! My daughter fell in love with the both of them. Elios, was a great help as well and very friendly. The food was delicious, we are still talking about the homemade chicken salad and chicken soup. We already decided that we are definitely coming back with a bigger crowd around the same time next year! I highly recommend Casa Cielo to anyone considering renting a villa in Playa cofresi. We didn't get a chance to go to any local restaurants. However, we did go to Ocean world and swam with the dolphins and took a catamaran trip. The fellas did the ATV's. I wish to thank Alan for allowing us to have the best vacation yet. We'll be in touch real soon to lock in our dates for next October.

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.

Our Perfect Vacation

Guest: Syrena (Leesburg, VA, USA)
Date of Stay: 07/25/09 Review Submitted: 08/11/09

Our family had a perfect vacation at Casi Cielo and I would definitely recommend this property. We were there from July 25th through August 6th and did not want to return home! The location of the property is convenient to the beach, convenience stores, and Ocean World. All were within walking distance so we had no need to rent a vehicle. The owner was very prompt to answer questions and provided excellent information to assure that our vacation was nothing short of perfect. The property and views were more beautiful than the photos. The housekeepers (Lena and Francesca) were there for our every need. Their service was unbeatable and their cooking was loved by everyone in our family! It was definitely relaxing to have all of the household chores, cooking, and laundry done! This is the first vacation that I (the mom) got to relax! Ellio, the grounds keeper was excellent and ran errands for us. He also went out of his way to give our daughters (ages 6,11,and 11) an education on the tropical coconut trees. This was a very good time! Another person (Gus) came to the property and took care of the planning for all of our excursions. This was great as we did not have to leave the villa or disrupt the children playing in the pool. I even managed to get a pedicure while sitting on the beautiful veranda and enjoying the view. We went out on the catamaran excursion and loved it! The views were amazing and the staff was great! The snorkeling was great and the children really enjoyed the outing. We also went to Ocean World and swam with the dolphins. This was by far a wonderful experience for the entire family and a must do for all ages! They even have a DVD you may purchase to remember your trip. We will definitely return to the Dominican Republic and stay at Casi Cielo! Thanks to everyone for giving our family the perfect vacation!

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.

Casa De Cielo Is Truly Heaven

Guest: Tiffany071 (Sellersburg, IN USA)
Date of Stay: 06/30/09 Review Submitted: 07/20/09

WOW! What a blissful vacation in paradise. Our family did not want to come home. The photos do not do it justice..much better then described. The Villa is very large. With 9 people there was more then enough space for privacy. The views are the best from every room. The pool was perfect with the waterfall. Swimming while watching the ocean with the trade winds constantly blowing was breathtaking. Our family could have spent everyday at the pool. Every need and concern was taken care of by the wonderful staff. Lina, Francesca and Elio were very attentive and truly a pleasure. Every meal was prepared for us and delicious. We were cleaned after constantly and our laundry was done on a daily bases. Believe me when I say we were truly pampered. Anything you would need, they would take care of it. The beach and everything local was in easy walking distance from the Villa...and that included a 2 year old with a stroller. No need for a taxi unless you want to leave the Playa Cofresi area. We arranged to have massages on the second story balcony. Imagine the view, the breeze, your favorite cocktail while having an hour long massage and it only cost 30.00 for the hour. The owner helped arrange for a local Dominican Band to come and play the evening of my birthday. It was so much fun. The communication with the owner was excellent and any question was promptly and pleasantly responded to. We made friends with locals and had great fun in the evenings. One of our favorite hangouts was at Ahoras. Loved drinking freshly made (real squeezed lime juice) margarita while just feet away from the waves of the ocean. Desperado's had very good drinks and Mexican food. Have kids? Do not miss Ocean World. The Casino was fun. If you are concerned about safety, don't be. There are security guards everywhere. At nights there was a guard sitting right out on the road directly in front of the Villa. We took the catamaran trip and it was a blast. The white water rafting was also a hit. If you plan to do any shopping exchange some of your cash for pesos. The exchange at the bank was 35 pesos to a dollar. If you want to pay in dollars, most places exchanged for 33 pesos per dollar. Bring bug repellant spray. Early morning and evenings there are some mosquitos and some nosiums along the beach areas. We have traveled to several areas of the Caribbean and this was one of our favorite vacations. Thank you to the owner for sharing his home with our family.

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

casa cielo June 2009

Guest: three generation group (United Kingdom)
Date of Stay: 05/30/09 Review Submitted: 06/18/09

We had a marvellous time at your super house. It was as good as your description and better than we had expected. Thank you for all the little extra kindnesses, especially for letting my son and his family arrive early (when it cannot have been very convenient for you and your wife), and for doing a great shop for us. My daughter in law said how warm your welcome was. Of course your wonderful Lina, Francesca and Elios are 100% terrific, and Maria the nanny, who was very soon re-named Santa Maria, was a great success with everyone. We hardly left the pool, spent most of our days just having fun together and we had a ball with the grandchildren and their friends. Until now we have tried to go to a different rental house in a different place each year, but everyone agreed your house was absolutely the nicest so far, and we may well get back on your e mail in the not too distant future to see if you have space for us again. Our only very minor problem was with local restaurants, (maybe as we were out of season) lots of menu dishes were not available. I have no problem at all recommending Casa Cielo to anyone and everyone........please feel free to use my comments on your website With very best wishes from a three generation group from Cheshire UK and CT USA

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

A Must Do...Holiday

Guest: Donna, David & family (Thunder Bay Ont. Canada)
Date of Stay: 05/15/09 Review Submitted: 06/04/09

Having just returned home from spending time at the VILLA CASI CIELO we had found the villa to be much more than the pictures give credit. With our party of seven the house is large enough that we all had our space. All of the bedrooms are very large with amazing views. So peaceful, relaxing and totally stress free. One of the most tastefully furnished rental villas we have stayed in. My husband and I enjoyed morning walks, everyone we meet were so friendly. The staff are really amazing. After a few days they felt and treated us like family.A good grocery store is accessible. We rented a taxi and took Lina / Cook and Francesa the maid shopping. I had Pesos and U.S. money. Use the pesos and was able to use a credit card to pay the balance owing instead of standing in line to change the U.S. funds into Pesos. Found a little bar on the beach close to the "Ahora" that sold the best nachos and drinks.(They close early). Visited the "Ahora Beach Restaurant twice, both times not as satisfied as when we went to Chris and Mady's. My family's saying every day when Lina wanted to know what we wanted for dinner that night was "Surprise Us". And that she did, never a complaint. Gus arranged the White Water Rafting,the ride is long but well worth it. Transportation and meals included. Rented a vehicle and driver through Gabino (the Villa manager) one day. Spent the morning sight seeing and the afternoon doing the waterfalls. It's a very quick walk to the beach or casino. From the Villa we watched the fireworks one evening. Never felt the need for mosquitoe repellant, but did see some. We have a lot in the month of June and July so it was not a big issue for us. My family shared suitcases,allowing us baggage room to bring school supplies and clothing to the orphange. Brought lots of younger children clothing and upon my visit there realized the age group 7 - 14 were in greater need. My husband had a small mishap when driving a rented motorcycle. It was night and the light failed on the bike.It resulted in stitches at a Private Clinic.Having out of the country insurance coverage and with Gabino's assistance we were able to ease through the situation.Experience as my husband is at driving a motorcycle having a bike in good running order is a must. There are taxi scooters all around. Very unexpensive to jump on one and have them scooter you around if you feel the need .Best to rent a vehicle and driver.We all had a great time that by far exceeded our expections.

Owner response:Glad you had such a nice time. Thank you for the great review.

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

Fantastic family vacation

Guest: ctfamilly (Wallingford, CT)
Date of Stay: 04/17/09 Review Submitted: 12/17/09

It's been a while since we had our vacation but I wanted to take a moment to compliment Alan and the staff on creating a wonderful vacation experience for our family. First off, the villa is large. We were a 4 adults and 3 children and we could have had another family with us and still not felt cramped. It is also quite beautiful (even better then the pictures). The view from the second floor balcony is second to none. While the main house does not have air conditioners (all the bedrooms do) it was very comfortable thanks to the cool breeze that was consistent during our stay. We've stayed at many villas and this one rates high. Lina is a fantastic cook and made meals the whole family could enjoy. Francesca is a very hard worker and everything extremely well kept and at the same time made great frozen drinks!They beach was a lot of fun for the kids, as was Ocean World, which we walked to. The latter was completely empty so we were able to see everything and basically had the place to ourselves. The waterfall tour, although quite a challenge for the little ones, scored high on the the activity plan. If you stay here, take a walk to the top of the hill. There is a little look out with a breathtaking view. I highly recommend this villa! Thanks Alan, and sorry for the delayed review!

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

Best holiday ever!!!

Guest: Contented Canucks (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/19/09 Review Submitted: 04/19/09

We enjoyed the best 2 weeks imaginable with our 2 families from Canada. This property was everything stated and more. The information package that Alan had put together was very helpful and within one day we felt right at home in Cofresi. Casi Cielo was located perfectly with a beautiful view of the ocean, a gentle breeze, yet only a short walk to the beach. Our teenagers enjoyed the beach and we adults often lounged by the pool. Lina, Francesca, Judy and Elio were awesome and we were sorry to leave them at the end. We had lots of fun with Gus as he organized dune buggy rides, a private catamaran charter to Sosua, the unbelievable waterfall trek, and more dune buggying. This is a very beautiful place, highly recommended, and we hope to be back soon!!!

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

Amazing Villa - A+++

Guest: jujubees12000 (New York, NY)
Date of Stay: 12/23/08 Review Submitted: 01/26/09

We had an absolutely wonderful time renting Casi Cielo from 12/23/08-12/28/08. We were a party of 13 (12 adults and one infant) and the house was so large that we never felt on top of each other. The villa is incredibly beautiful and we kept on discussing how we would not have changed anything ourselves if we had designed it on our own. Each of us were impressed by the views and loved how we each had some own privacy with our own balconies. We especially appreciated the crib in the room on the first floor and how there was a high chair set up for the infant. Lina, Francesca and Elio were all extremely professional and we loved their cooking. I don't think I have ever been so pampered in my life. Lina took care of our dietary restrictions and we very much enjoyed the lunches (salads, bean dips, sandwiches), drinks and dinners (fish paella, fish in coconut curry sauce) she prepared for us. We went out one night to Chris and Maddy's and one night to Papillon. Alan and Susan did a remarkable job mapping out the area and making dinner suggestions for us. We spent most of the time just lounging by the pool but did make it to cofresi beach at least once per day (to do some swimming). The beach is extremely quiet but the water and sand were just beautiful. We never had a chance to make it over to Ocean World but would like to do so on our next trip. Gus took care of us very well by organizing trips (ATV and waterfall tour were amazing) and massages for us and Gabino was extremely helpful, coming to the house on a regular basis to make sure everything was ok. We flew into Puerto Plata (35 minutes away) and out of Santiago (about 1.5 hours away). We would not recommend renting a car as taxis are readily available Overall our experience was amazing and we would love to return to your villa at some point in the future. Thank you so very much for sharing your house with us.

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

Casi Cielo lives up to its name.

Guest: Debra & Gary (Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 09/21/08 Review Submitted: 10/28/08

We had the distinct privilege of being the first guests to stay at Casi Cielo. The house is absolutely beautiful, and the view from the house is amazing. We’ve rented self-catering villas in Europe and on other islands in the Caribbean, but this is the first time we’ve ever had the luxury of a full time cook and housekeeper. The villa staff, Lina and Elio, treated us like royalty and we very much enjoyed Lina’s cooking. She took extra care to meet our special dietary restrictions so we didn’t have to worry about our food allergies. The beautiful pool with the waterfall was perfect for lazy afternoons, and oh yes, don’t forget that incredible view – Cofresi Beach and Peninsula Esmeralda with its beautiful towering palm trees, and just to the right Mount Isabel de Torres. We were even treated to a fireworks show from the nearby resort one night. Gabino, the local villa manager, stopped by the villa frequently to check on us, and Gus came by several times to offer local tours and spa services. We opted for the catamaran snorkeling tour and the waterfall tour. Both were great, but be warned that the waterfall tour is for the more athletically inclined (I didn’t make it all up the way to the top of the falls). We took their advice and didn’t rent a car. Taxis will pick you up at the villa and airport transfers are available upon request. We also hired a private guide to drive us to Sosua and Cabarete beaches one day. Each beach has its own character and flavor, but they are all beautiful. Gus also arranged for a wonderful massage at the villa. It’s a short walk down the hill from the villa to Cofresi Beach, and in September we almost had the whole beach to ourselves. We tried two of the restaurants at Cofresi. We loved the Rum Punch and Langostinos & Steak at Chris & Mady’s. We didn’t like food the Ahora Beach House, but maybe we just hit it on a bad night. We felt very safe the whole time we were in the D.R. The villa owner was wonderful to work with and happy to answer all our questions. The house will easily accommodate a large family or two or three couples. There are two flat screen TVs, three indoor living areas and furnished balconies off of every room, all with fabulous views. If you are looking for a luxurious place to relax in paradise at a very reasonable price, we highly recommend Casi Cielo. Thank you to Alan and Susan for sharing their fabulous vacation home with us. We hope to return soon.

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.