Vacation Rentals by Owner

Right out of a design magazine

Guest: P&A (Vancouver, BC, Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/27/12 Review Submitted: 03/12/12

My husband and I and our two daughters, ages six and two, spent 10 days at this absolutely spectacular property. We've stayed in some amazing villas elsewhere in the world and not only is this one comparable, I can honestly say it's one of the best. The layout of the home is perfect with grand common spaces yet private rooms to retreat to. The decor is stunning yet not stuffy or too fancy. Marta is a wealth of knowledge and Jesse is a wonderful chef and all around helper. We absolutely hope to return with our daughters and our closest friends. I highly recommend this property.

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

Great family vacation

Guest: MMKM (Washington DC)
Date of Stay: 12/21/11 Review Submitted: 02/11/12

We spent two and a half amazing weeks in El Salvador. The house was conveniently located, great views, steps down to beach, very short drive to restaurants (who were amazingly accommodating -- stayed open late on Christmas Eve for us!!). We brought out 2 year old and our 6 month old and had a ball. They loved the private pool, we had fun building sandcastles on the beach and exploring the rocks. My son and I were up for every sunrise (beautiful) and the sunsets were amazing. Jesse cooked and cleaned for us. She took us grocery shopping and to the fish pier to buy fresh fish. She was amazing with our 6 month old daughter -- I was able to eat 2 meals a day without a baby on my lap!! The owner was fantastic -- she found us a car seat for our two year old, arranged to have a crib for the baby, pre-bought a few staples for the baby and offered to take us around once we got settled. We had some friends join us and everybody had a quiet place to sleep and relax. Truly amazing experience all around. Great country, incredibly kind and helpful people, lovely house, responsive and accommodating owner and Jesse truly made this a great vacation.

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

Perfect Paradise!

Guest: robnkar (Oregon)
Date of Stay: 02/26/11 Review Submitted: 03/23/11

My husband and I and another couple stayed here for two nights, and we absolutely loved it! It's a very beautiful place, the private pool and outdoor seating is also lovely! The beach is beautiful also. Marta provided excellent service for us, and went above and beyond to make sure that we were comfortable and had everything we needed. She even took us into town to buy some groceries! We were also provided with a personal maid who was so sweet and did anything we wanted done, and more! Yes, we couldn't have been more pleased with the overall vacation. Thank you, Marta!

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

Excellent choice for el salvador

Guest: marikim (boston)
Date of Stay: 12/26/10 Review Submitted: 01/04/11

Our family of three was looking for a beach rental at Christmastime with perfect weather, this it is! The house is very clean with excellent furniture and bedding The typical western ammenities are appreciated such as microwave/ up to date kitchen etc Water supply is both hot and cold and water for drinking is needed and avaiable Home is set on a bluff over the beach and you can see the sunrise from the bedrooms Airconditioners also worked perfectly Home is in a guarded complex and no security concerns were present and the beach is private and since you cannot walk there due to the cliffs from other beaches you have the beach to the residents of the facility- most of the time by yourselves We used Fausto the driver and this was easy- it would also have been safe to rrent a car to find the house which is about 40 minutes from the airport. Area beaches have all needed ammenities/ surfboards/ lessons and many local eateries exist. We bought local fish and cooked it as well with local bread etc El salvador is a great place for low-key surfing- excellent choice with teenagers

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Lovely, convenient spot!

Guest: Brenda (Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 11/15/10 Review Submitted: 01/31/11

Beautiful grounds, well kept, and great location. Not too far from the city or from more secluded spots on the beach. Would happily stay here upon my next trip to El Salvador!

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

Fabulous Property!

Guest: Ken & Dot Hazlin (Mystic, CT)
Date of Stay: 10/29/10 Review Submitted: 11/27/10

We recently returned from a one week stay at this lovely home in the Xanadu community. Everything about the house, location, and El Salvador in general exceeded all our expectations. Marta attended to all our needs and was always there for assistance (especially with the language barrier we had), and Jessie took wonderful care of the house. Our taxi driver, Fausto, took us to the many sights nearby including Rutas des Flores, Volcano, Mayan Ruins, and was always so friendly. The location of this villa atop a hill overlooking the ocean was spectacular, with both incredible sunrises and sunsets every day. The layout of the house was just lovely and true to the pictures on the site. We would return to El Salvador and to Xanadu in a heartbeat, and look forward to the time when we are able. Terrific choice for a couple or family!

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

Matthew didn't stop us

Guest: Leah (Portland, Oregon )
Date of Stay: 09/17/10 Review Submitted: 09/30/10

We had a great time in a great house, even though it was a bit rainy. The house was better than the pictures and perfect for families. Jessie was as sweet as could be and Marta was always available for us if we needed to call. Use of WiFi and phone was an added perk that was really useful. We want to come back already, but we'll wait until the storms have passed.

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

More to write!

Guest: BrianWhite (Maine but NC now)
Date of Stay: 08/01/10 Review Submitted: 10/21/10

Like I was saying plenty to do. Surfing which my brother and I did at Kayu. Very nice place where you can rent boards and also eat if you want. I am not an experienced surfer and I had to be very careful and at one point had to get out because it was just too dangerous. So if you are not that good i suggest watching from the restaurant while eating at nice breakfast! We also went zip lining which is back up towards town heading back to San Salvador. About 10 or more zip lines, inexpensive and very fun with a free soda at the end. Some others went on a dirt bike tour which they said was very exciting. There is plenty more to do and you can find things to do in a 3 ring binder in the house. I just recently found out that there is a waterfall somewhere near Xanadu that I did not know about because if I did I would have gone but I hear it is breath taking. There are also other restaurants that are very good and there is another area that is fairly new where the big fishing dock is heading back into town. Minimal parking fee across from the police station. I would recommend this House for everyone, it was truly a time I will not forget.

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

The Perfect House in the Most Perfect Area

Guest: BrianWhite (Maine but NC now)
Date of Stay: 08/01/10 Review Submitted: 10/21/10

Ok, first off let me just say that my entire time here was absolutely fun filled and amazing. I recently rented for a week this past August and had about 10 people staying comfortably during that time. 4 rooms with very comfortable beds and a couch that slept 2 more in the living room area. We did a lot of cooking in the house and on the grill and is perfect for big meals seeing as there is more than enough seating whether it is inside with the cool central air or outside which is filled with the ocean air. The kitchen table is so far the coolest table I have seen and eaten on, I absolutely loved it. For the food we drove to the grocery store which is about 7 miles or so to the center of town, it never gets boring driving here because of the landscape obviously but also the cows that think they own the road! Great pictures! Back to the house where we spent a majority or our time. The pool area is great, I remember the first time I came up the stairs from the drive-way to the house and just saw total heaven and relaxation. Whether it is soaking up the sun by the pool or laying down in what I liked to call "The Valley of the Hammocks" under an outside fan was just wonderful. You could fall asleep to the waves rolling onto the black volcano sanded beach, which happened to me often! To cool down you could obviously hop into the shower, but outside there is a good sized pool that was very clean and an outside shower that is another awesome experience. There is so much room for activities and there was so many good moments in this House! For example, a couple nights we would all put on hats and emulated the carnival that is very popular at weddings here and took tequila shots! I actually got married right before I came to the Xanadu house so my friends loved the carnival in ours so they wanted to keep doing it. I also grabbed a pinata when I was in town because a friend had a birthday so we hung it up in the tree out in the backyard and celebrated. The property was very clean inside and out. Maintenance stopped by and trimmed trees and swept a little and occasionally cut down some coconuts that we delicious with a little rum! Near Xanadu I would suggest eating at Betos which is very close, they have english menus and the owners are awesome! The beach is unbelievable, black sand, very secluded and private and if you dont like ocean water there is a pool also. Carolina is very easy to reach, very nice and helpful. There is plenty of stuff to do surfing at...

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

Wonderful Get Away

Guest: Ron y Elsie (San Salvador, El Salvador)
Date of Stay: 03/31/10 Review Submitted: 04/06/10

Very relaxing and nice ocean view. We really enjoyed the fine details of this casa. Thanks Marta for having us. We enjoyed our walks to the beach and sunrise views. Definately recommend to all. Que dios los bendiga.

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

Discovering Xanadu

Guest: Le Grec (Sept-Iles,Quebec,Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/27/10 Review Submitted: 03/25/10

Our vacation in El Salvador can be described as magical. The property we rented was located on the Pacific Coast. The beauty of the location and the surrounding landscape was at times spell-binding. We had access to a pristine beach all to our selves. The waves and currents are quite strong. One has to be an experienced swimmer to venture out. If one is lucky and the time is right you can observe sea turtles laying their eggs in the sand. Unfortunately, during our stay we were not lucky. Nevertheless, the view of the Pacific was magnificent. The home is actually located on a bluff over-looking the ocean. The ocean colors change through-out the day going from royal blue to emerald green. Before sunrise one is awakened by the songs of exotic,colorful birds. At sunrise I would sip my coffee sitting next to the pool watching the sun rising in the horizon. A lush vegetation surrounds the home. Diverse fruit trees, coconut and palm line the residence providing shade. The home itself was tastefully decorated. All the necessary amenities were provided. We felt as if we stayed at a friend's home rather than a rental property. Altogether, we were 6 adults and 5 children. However, there was ample room for everyone to do their own thing without bothering one another. The home was very clean. All the rooms were air-conditioned. We had the services of a grounds-keeper an two wonderful ladies in charge of the domestic duties such as cleaning and cooking. The staff was courteous and friendly. I should also mention that there is a 24hr security service. The property is in a gated community. Noone can enter the complex with-out permission and there are constant armed patrols of the grounds. Near the end of our stay we met a charming American couple. They provided us with useful information which made our stay even better. If you are looking for a place to get away from it all and leave behind the hectic pace we are accustomed to as North Americans this can be your little piece of hidden paradise. For those, who want a little more action, be it a night-life or perhaps want to try surfing, it is possible. Located nearby are several beaches where surfers from around the world hit the waves.There is also a good choice of cafes and restaurants that cater to patrons looking for good sea-food or an exotic drink. This was my first visit to El Salvador. My family and I plan to return next year. I hope the home is available.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Fantastique, a dream house.

Guest: JC2012 (San Salvador and Montreal)
Date of Stay: 02/27/10 Review Submitted: 03/15/10

My family and my brother´s in love had a wonderful time at your house. The place is amaizing, the beach, the sunrise, the sunset, everyting is beautiful. We saw a gorgeous full moon at night. This is so spectacular. I will recommend it to all my friends in Canada and the United States.

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

Guest: Brian87 (Vancouver, Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/06/10 Review Submitted: 02/06/10

Stayed at the house for the month of January 2010. Have visited and stayed in different areas of El Salvador and this house is perfectly located for travelling, beach, etc. Only 45 min from airport and San Salvador. The house is well equipped, well located and well staffed. The owners are friendly and extremely helpful. Miss the house already and have scheduled kore time next year!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/02/10 Review Submitted: 01/02/10

Great house! we just walked in the door from a one week stay and wanted to add a comment to confirm what others posters have said - great house, beautiful sunsets on the beach, roomy, airy, clean and very well-maintained. Thanks for sharing your home with us.

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Guest: JP Cart (Newport Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 11/30/09 Review Submitted: 11/30/09

This house is absolutely perfect for a surf trip! I recently stayed for 10 nights with 7 guys and could not have asked for more. The pool was great for beating the heat, and each bedroom has a fantastic air conditioner. Clean, beautiful and safe. There is a quick path down to the private beach. The break there was fickle and closes out easily, but we scored one really fun day at it. All the other breaks are within 20 minutes. I highly recommend it, feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.

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Guest: Dee16 (Virginia)
Date of Stay: 10/06/09 Review Submitted: 10/06/09

Surf Paradise Zunzal was awesome!!!! My husband and I were born in El Salvador, but had not returned for many years. This location was perfect our family enjoy our stay. Jessi is #1, she is the best. She made our vacation on of the best we have had in a long time. Thank you Jessi!! Hope to return soon!

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Guest: Robert, Debra, Danika & Mike (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA)
Date of Stay: 09/01/09 Review Submitted: 09/01/09

We had a wonderful stay at Surf Paradise Zunzal! This beach home is exceptionally nice - Spacious Rooms, Very clean, Air Conditioned Bedrooms, Great, well-appointed Kitchen with everything you need to make meals. I also appreciated the Bottled Water the owners supplied. Layout of the home is unique with bedrooms separate from living areas. And each bedroom has its own private bath. The tropical plants and flowers are beautiful. It is truly paradise. We look forward to visiting Paradise Zunzal again!

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Guest: Pam Ferguson (Lake Forest, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/16/09 Review Submitted: 07/16/09

We had a wonderful vacation at this house. Marta was so helpful and informative, while Jessie made us feel comfortable while staying at the house. This house is spacious and laid out really nice. Plenty of bedrooms and a nice size kitchen to cook if you want to. We took our 19 year old grandson and a couple of his friends for this surf trip and they loved the area and the several local spots for the surfing. The El Salvadorian people were nice and friendly. The country is really lush with vegetation and we enjoyed the natural environment without the influence of tourism. What a treat! Only recommendation is do not rent a car from Alamo. You can email us for more details. Otherwise a great trip. Thanks for sharing your home!

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Guest: Carlos Carmona (Rio Rancho, NM)
Date of Stay: 03/14/09 Review Submitted: 03/14/09

Wonderful! We were there Christmas 2008. Weather was incredibly pleasant, even when it rained unexpectedly one night for a few minutes. Watching and hearing the rain fall on the vegetation that surrounds the house was such a delight that it was one of the most memorable part of our stay. The house is very spacious, comfortable and clean. The area very secure and peaceful. We had the beach almost to ourselves. Fancy and humble restaurants near by. Our favorite was the La Ola Restaurant which was practically next door. We spent our last evening there, eating seafoods by candelight, looking out at the open sea as we watched the sun set and hear the waves splashing below us. Thank you for the most relaxing and breath taking vacation we've ever had. We highly recommend this place. We would definitely come back.

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Guest: Tiffany Bateman (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/07/09 Review Submitted: 03/07/09

This house is gorgeous! Bedrooms are set up in a way so your doors open into the back garden. The kitchen and dining room/living room are huge and great for cooking, eating and chilling. There is a girl who cleans and cooks for you 3/7 days. She is there for the entire day. The weather was hot, hot, hot, and sunny. Lying by our pool or walking down the stairs to the private beach were our daily exertions. There weren't many people there in February so we had the run of the place. It's a gated community and is very safe. Outside of the 'gates' there is a bus you can catch to the nearby beaches or into town, La Libertad. It costs $0.35. A hot meal for a fair price! The beaches are great for restaurants, surfing, or watching surfing, and the fish market in La Libertad is very cool. Take your camera. And watch out for the back splash when the fishermen are filleting their catch. We bought fish and they were cooked for us back at the house; delish! Also, great produce in town and wicked papousa's. The people of El Salvador are genuinely nice and helpful. As a group of girls traveling, we didn't feel bothered. The jungle that you travel through from the main road to the nearby beaches feels like something from Apocalypse Now. We went into San Salvador for the day. Good shopping at the markets and mall. The taxi driver is very nice and reliable. The owners are personable and helpful. Overall an awesome stay and I highly recommend El Salvador to even the unadventurous traveler.

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Guest: Wendy30 (Toronto, Ontario. Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/02/09 Review Submitted: 03/02/09

We've just returned from spending 9 days in beautiful El Salvador. Went with 3 friends and had an unforgettable holiday. The house left nothing for want. We felt safe (we are 4 girls) and free to explore. The community is extremely well tended and we were thankful for our private paradise! The owners and neighbours went out of their way to help make us feel welcome. While exploring or just sitting by the pool, we would turn to eacother and say "I can't believe we're here" because of the beauty surrounding us. Thanks again to Marta, Dan and Betsy. Oh, almost forgot, we saw humpback whales while at the neighbour's pool!

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Guest: Terry Cruz (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 02/22/09 Review Submitted: 02/22/09

A serene getaway place by the sea! We wanted to stay forever. The house is beautiful with a most unique dining set. It has all the modern conveniences, including excellent seafood restaurants close by. You can take a nice, quiet stroll down to the private beach and watch the sunset as you wade on the surf. There is also a stairs, conveniently located a few steps from the front of the house, if you would like to take a shortcut. We can't wait till we come back, hopefully for a whole month!

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Guest: Gabe Venturelli (Santa Barbara California)
Date of Stay: 02/09/09 Review Submitted: 02/09/09

We had an amazing vacation...muchas gracias! Easy to get to from the Aiport. Amazing tropical surroundings and the most comfortable furnishings, convenient to all local beaches, and 2 pools! So very relaxing....gated community with a private beach. We'll be back!

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Guest: Elizabeth Nagy (Sherman Oaks, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/06/08 Review Submitted: 09/06/08

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this property. Beautifully furnished,clean, and very safe. The booking process was very easy. The owners are very professional and went out of their way to make our stay comfortable and set us up with a nice cab driver who we used throughout our stay. Would definitely recommend this place. Feel free to email me if you have any questions!

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