Vacation Rentals by Owner

It's Paradise in Esterillos!

Guest: Laurel P. (Kalamazoo, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 12/17/10 Review Submitted: 12/28/10

December 2010 Hello Katrina, Just wanted to let you know we had a wonderful time at Casa Exotica and Villa Oceana. The homes were even more beautiful than you described and portrayed on the website. The setting and the location of the homes was perfect. We loved going to both Jaco and Manuel Antonio and Quepos plus enjoyed the whitewater rafting on the Pacuare river. The local beaches of Playa Bejuca and Esterillos Oeste were beautiful and great places for the kids to become proficient in surfing after their lessons the first day. We enjoyed local restaurants, the beautiful Xandari and the laid back surf bar, Backyard Bar as well as El Hiacco for fresh fish and El Barco for Pizza in Jaco and El Avion in Manuel Antonio. We also enjoyed the Discovery Spa Jungle tour on Horseback in Hermosa as well as ATV and Zipline excursions and the beautiful beaches of Manuel Antonio. Your home was the perfect retreat to come back to for relaxation by the pool and sharing of stories of our excursions. We’ve never had a more enjoyable family vacation and there’s still so many activities we didn’t have time for. The mornings were truly magical as you described. From 5:45 to 7:00 a.m on the rooftop terraces were amazing times to enjoy the monkeys, birds and all of the jungle sounds and sights and I couldn’t believe we were all up and around by 6:30 every morning…even a few of the teenagers who usually sleep til noon on vacations!. We were able to view the spectacular Lunar eclipse on a fabulous clear night on your rooftop terrace. Gabriel Rocha at Rock Property management was fantastic responding to any questions or concerns and stocking our homes with groceries ahead of time as well as making reservations and recommendations for us. The driver he set us up with Gilberth from Jaco travels was superb and both informative and fun to have with us. I can’t thank you enough for entrusting your beautiful homes to us….we will recommend them to many who we share our stories of beautiful Costa Rica. Best Regards, Laurie Postmus

Owner response:I am so glad you and your large family were able to stay at both our homes and enjoyed it so much. I am particularly glad that you enjoyed our wonderful location and also the early morning hours which are truly magical in Costa Rica. Thank you for sharing your experience with others!

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

Beautiful House

Guest: Cathy (Santa Barbara)
Date of Stay: 08/11/10 Review Submitted: 08/23/10

A beautiful house for vacation. Elegant, very well furnished and comfortable. We stayed at the house next door, Casa Exotica, but had a chance to see this house. It is honestly very attractive. Amazing ocean views from the balconies and fabulous landscaping surrounding the area. We loved it. ~ the Aiellos

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

PERFECT!!!

Guest: cw46 (utah)
Date of Stay: 05/28/10 Review Submitted: 08/05/11

We stayed in this beautiful home last summer. We had such a great time. It was about a 15 minute walk to the beach or a quick drive. The food and local resaurants were amazing!! We had our 6 children and 2 parents. Pleanty of space for all 9 of us. The pool was so nice. It was truly a trip of a lifetime and we will never forget it. Thanks for the amazing time

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

Fabulous time!

Guest: cw46 (utah)
Date of Stay: 05/26/10 Review Submitted: 06/10/10

This house in Costa Rica was perfect. It was a beautiful place to come home to after many busy days. Thank you so much for allowing us to stay in your home!

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

Guest: Matt B. N.Y.
Date of Stay: 08/29/09 Review Submitted: 04/09/10

As a group of 9 law students, we stayed at Villa Oceana for a few days after taking the Bar exam. It was a perfect setting for relaxing. The situation of the house is grandiose and exhilarating. The house had everything we needed, and more. It has a very welcoming feel to it. Definitely European! A dream come true. Matt B., New York, NY. Aug. 09

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Guest: Maureen F.
Date of Stay: 08/20/09 Review Submitted: 04/09/10

Dear George and Katrina, Our family absolutely loved every minute of our vacation. The home was perfect for the 10 of us. Thanks for letting us use the Ping Pong table next door. We appreciate your hospitality. Maureen F., August 08

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Guest: Arthur and Sherri MCN, CA.
Date of Stay: 08/08/09 Review Submitted: 04/09/10

Katrina and George, WOW! What a great place, we had so much fun and felt so special in your home. It is beautiful. The pictures didn’t do it justice! It’s hard to leave! Thanks for the tip on the French restaurant in Jaco, superb food! Thank you again…. Didn’t get to do the sport fishing, we’ll have to come back! Arthur & Sherri McNary, CA - Aug. 09

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Guest: Michelle & JP. LM, Sta Monica, CA
Date of Stay: 07/31/09 Review Submitted: 04/09/10

My husband and our three girls plus all four grandparents had a wonderful family retreat at Villa Oceana. We had seen pictures before as we know the owners well, but we were not prepared for the grand setting and the thoughtful details. My parents in particular have travelled a lot, they said that unlike most places they have stayed at where the pictures look really good but the reality is a let down.At Villa Oceana, the reality is so far better than what we expected! We were so happy to have stayed there. Micjelleand JP LM Family, Sta Monica Aug. 09

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Guest: Dawn & Mark McC and Becy & Jeff M. CA.
Date of Stay: 07/15/09 Review Submitted: 04/09/10

We shared Villa Oceana with another family, it was great! The kids loved it… the pool, horses, views, bird shows, Zip lines, River tours, Quad rides… and colorful restaurants. It was a short 15 min. walk to the beautiful beach, and we were also glad that there were hardly any insects. We followed the owners’ advice to leave all doors and windows open most of the day and we did stay cool WITHOUT the AC most fo the time! We will come back! Becky & Jeff M. and Dawn & Marc McC, CA. July 09

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Gorgeous home! Great Location perfect vacation

Guest: sophie m. (California)
Date of Stay: 03/18/09 Review Submitted: 04/14/09

Our stay at Villa Oceana was simply the BEST! The house is spacious and absolutely gorgeous, beautiful decor, very comfortable and personal. Far nicer than other homes we've stayed in! The pictures don't do it justice! We were so impressed! The VIEWS were amazing! We loved how we didn't have to use the AC much since the house was cool naturally with the light breezes... We had so much fun in the large pool... .. We loved the area too! There's so much to do and it was actually great to be able to choose to go either towards Jaco or towards Manuel Antonio, more variety... The people at Del Pacifico (the ranch where the house is) were very nice and helpful. We loved riding the horses right there in the rainforest and onto the beach! The house manager also helped us with activities, maids etc...We absolutely loved staying in this beautiful home adn recommend it highly! Staying at Villa Oceana made our Costa Rica experience even better! It was hard to leave! Definitely a great vacation home for families!

Owner response:I am so glad you like staying at our home. I agree with you, it is so grand, the pictures don't do in justice... you just have to see for yourself! Glas you like the location, it is truly an advantage to be out of the busy center like Jaco and Manuel, yet so close to them both! Hope you come again.... Pura Vida, Katrina

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

!

Guest: Daniel and Chlo (Pismo Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/01/09 Review Submitted: 04/20/09

This villa is definitely a great deal!. We went this spring with a two other couples. The house sits on top of the world (it felt like!) The views were unreal, in every direction and the light breezes made if very pleasant (didn't t use A/C much). We had fun in Jaco, lots of boutiques and shops there, and in Manuel Antonio too. the Villa is about half way between the two, gives you more flexibiity. There tons of stuff to do: Zip lines, Bird Watching River tours, riding horses on the beach.... the surf was awesome. The house has a relaxed feel to it and is beautifully furnished, very unique. We loved playing Volley Ball in the pool, eating under the Palapa, watching the most surreal sunsets on the roof top.... Everything was very comfortable, nice linens, fun kitchen. We had such a great time. Our stay at this Villa made our trip even more memorable. It was so worth it. We loved it all and will definitely recommend it to friends.!

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

Way beyond what we expected

Guest: sophie m. (California)
Date of Stay: 01/17/09 Review Submitted: 04/10/10

When we first saw Villa Oceana, we knew we had "Hit the jackpot" what an amazing setting and home! The interior is large, full of light and beautifully decorated in a very "feel-at-home" style. The area is beautiful, right on the coast, real quiet and close to lots of fun things to do. Horses are right there at the ranch, very affordable, we did it twice. The manager was very helpful, and also the people right there at the ranch. Our Favorites: Horses & Crocodile tour! Even staying at home relaxing was a treat in such a beautiful setting. We wouldn't recommend it for those looking to party it up, but for families like ours, or a group of friends, this is definitely a perfect situation and we definitely recommend it. PS) We really appreciated how the house stayed much cooler than other places down by the beach. We didn't have to turn the AC on much, the light breezes were much nicer!

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

Perfect house for an amazing vacation!

Guest: Fletcher's (Provo, UT)
Date of Stay: 08/05/08 Review Submitted: 09/15/08

My wife and I along with my brother and his wife stayed in this house for a week. The Murdoch's were very easy to work with and were wonderful at answering any questions we had as well as providing a lot of information for fun things to do. The house was absolutely gorgeous and much better in person than the pictures. The view is breath taking and to hear the parrots as they fly over the home every morning was so much fun to experience. About 50 parrots. The pool was very nice and refreshing and wonderful to have when we wanted to relax. The decor was so perfect for the location and the roof top patio was alot of fun to relax on and watch the storms, the beach, etc. I would highly recommend either of their homes as they are both beautiful. You have 24 hour security for peace of mind and the roads are great in all of that area. We can't wait to go back and stay in the same home again as soon as possible. Sincerely, Jared

Owner response:We are so happy that our guests appreciated both the house and the area. We have put many personal touches to make this home as beautiful as its surroundings. A frequent comment we hear from our guests is that the homes are much better in real life than in the pictures, I guess you''ll have to find out for yourself. Katrina

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

Guest: Sharon and Bruce M.
Date of Stay: 07/16/08 Review Submitted: 04/09/10

We loved our stay at your home. It was the perfect location for us, just remote enough. The house was beautiful and comfortable. Our favorite activities were river rafting, quad rides and horse riding into the ocean! Our grand kids can’t stop talking about it. We want to come back with the rest of them! Bruce and Sharon, Salt Lake City UT. July 08

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Guest: Sharon and Bruce M.
Date of Stay: 07/16/08 Review Submitted: 04/09/10

We loved our stay at your home. It was the perfect location for us, just remote enough. The house was beautiful and comfortable. Our favorite activities were river rafting, quad rides and horse riding into the ocean! Our grand kids can’t stop talking about it. We want to come back with the rest of them! Bruce and Sharon, Salt Lake City UT. July 08

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Guest: Ted C.
Date of Stay: 07/05/08 Review Submitted: 04/09/10

Hi George and Katrina, your home far exceeded our expectations. We did many fun things and also loved just relaxing by the pool and how quiet it is. We did catch the sunrise “Bird show”! We’ll tell our friends. Thank you so much! Campbells, July 08

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Guest: Ann B. CT
Date of Stay: 03/22/08 Review Submitted: 04/09/10

Our week spent in your beautiful home was pure heaven. Thank you for sharing your exquisite, comfortable home with us. We felt as if we had won the lottery! The comforts of your home, the caring people at Del Pacifico and the lush tropical paradise created the most relaxing, fun filled, extraordinary vacation ever! We are so grateful to you and George for sharing your slice of heaven with us. We'll be back as soon as we can get there, and will eagerly encourage others to do the same! Gratefully yours, Ann B., Connecticut - March 08

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Beautiful Area and House

Guest: TravFam (Richmond, VA)
Date of Stay: 03/22/08 Review Submitted: 09/18/08

My family stayed with another family in the house over spring break in 2008 (8 total). The owners were very helpful and easy to work with. The structural aspects of the house are really fantastic. The architecture is interesting, the house is solid, the floors and ceilings are gourgeous. Some of the systems, however, were not perfect. We had an issue with the plumbing ( a pipe burst twice) and the hvac broke down once. The on-site people were helpful, and fixed the problems. The area is just great. The ocean is close with huge waves and a long beach. Horseback riding was right there in the neighborhood. We were able to go deep sea fishing out of the marina north of JACO, and the trip to Manuel Antonio was fun. Really a neat country and this house has a bunch of amenities like the pool, the hammock, the cabana, the swing, the soccer field and security. The grocery store close to this house (just south) is pretty small. The one up in JACO is probably a better pick to stock groceries. Really a quiet place at night, The house has a roof top area to enjoy the stars.

Owner response:The plumbing problem was a tankless water heater that was not calibered properly. We replaced it with a better quality one. The Hvac was fixed and has been working fine ever since. Actually most guests tend to prefer cooling off with the natural breezes which the house enjoys due to its Hill-top location, but the Hvac system is there when needed. There is a great variety of things to do in the area, and many amenities in the house which make it a great place to relax in between acticities.

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

Guest: Patty D. NJ
Date of Stay: 03/07/08 Review Submitted: 04/09/10

“Dear Katrina and George, Our stay at Casa Exotica was truly one of the best vacations we’ve ever had. Not only is your home beautiful, with all the amenities (and more) one could possible ask for, but it is also perfectly located. Perched high above, the breathtaking views, breeze and refreshing pool were simply luxurious. Not to mention, only a short distance to one of the most beautiful beaches where we surfed and watched the spectacular sunsets. We loved being a short drive from Quepos/Manual Antonio and Jaco – all so easily accessible. From the zip-lining and horse-back riding, to the surfing and fishing – we could not have asked for more! Thank you for making it possible – we can’t wait to go back!!!” Patty D.New Jersey - March 08

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Guest: Anne O.
Date of Stay: 02/12/08 Review Submitted: 04/09/10

“The house & the guest house are absolutely gorgeous and very comfortable. What a perfect location to be centered around so much wildlife and wonder. I’ll never forget listening and watching the parrots fly overhead at the end and the beginning of each day, the sound of the kids in-and-out of the pool, and the amazing sunsets (and thunderstorms) from the roof-top patio. “ Anne Orchard, Feb. 08 A

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Guest: Laura, Jan 08
Date of Stay: 01/09/08 Review Submitted: 04/09/10

“We had an amazing time! The house(Exotica) was incredible and way beyond our expectations! All of my family were just raving about the trip. Thank you so much for everything. We were all so sad to leave, we could have easily stayed there another week!” Laura Hollars, Jan 08

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