An exciting, and restful 10-days: I'm letting friends & colleagues know!

Guest: Lor (Paris, France)
Date of Stay: 12/18/11 Review Submitted: 01/24/12

Well, this was an exciting, and restful 10-days. I'm letting all my friends and colleagues know about that awesome place: coming to visit is a must. First of all, the listing description was accurate regarding the location; and the photos reflect the rental’s appearance and amenities. The property top-notch, and well-maintained--a true tropical paradise--and the owner really goes the extra mile+++ to make the stay comfortable--from offering that a trusted taxi cab pick up guests at the airport, making us feel safe, from the start; to recommending nearby activities, attractions and restaurants, which are conveniently located, and easily accessible, even without a car. The stay was thoroughly enjoyable, including the view, and the refreshing swimming pool. Also, being invited to a Xmas party social, which the owner organized, along with the exchange of small, heart-warming gifts, made that holiday special. The climate is perfect, the property's flowers are blooming, the scenery is too beautiful for words. The biggest surprise was seeing "Tucans" (colorful, native Costa Rica birds), right there, on the property; not to forget the stunning sunsets, just outside of the guest room. Thank you to the owner for extending such stupendous welcome; taking care of every detail; and making the trip a success. ML :=)

Owner response:Dear MLM, Thank you so much for staying at our place! We are so happy that you could have much needed rest, being pampered by local massage therapist, getting to know other guests, and being in touch with nature: birdwatching, working in the gardens, relaxing at the poolside, and lying in the hammock reading and napping. These are the kind of things we neglect in our day-to-day lives filled with work, chores, and all sorts of obligations. I am so glad that you dared to take the time to really pamper your body and soul. Looking forward to seeing you here again soon!

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

CO family escapes the cold

Guest: CO family (Colorado)
Date of Stay: 12/20/11 Review Submitted: 01/07/12

Our family stayed at Casa de Lantana in December, 2011, when we made a last-minute trip to Costa Rica to escape the winter snow. We enjoyed ourselves so much that we kept adding days to our stay. The grounds were beautiful, with mandarin orange trees, coconuts, hummingbirds, and colorful flowers. The house was equipped with a comfortable hammock, a full kitchen, WiFi, and plush towels, so we had everything we needed. Our kids had the best time playing games and splashing in the pool with Hisano's son, whom they adopted as an older brother. They also spent part of every day feeding and "training" the sweet and friendly dogs, JonJon and Coco. Hisano was a fabulous host, helping us with shopping and transportation and welcoming us into her home to share a meal with her family. What could be better?

Owner response:Dear Lissa and the family, Thank you so much for your staying at our casa and your wonderful review. We enjoyed having you very much, and I felt like a mother of young children again! What a wonderful feeling, very rejuvinating! Oh, JonJon and CoCo missed you (and your food) so much and did not eat the dog food we gave them for a few days after your departure. We could not believe that. We hope that you will be back again during the Christmas time this year so your daughter can be the MC for the gift exchange again at our Christmas party with family and friends. Or during the summer vacation so they can go to our local schools for Spanish? Hisano

Recommended for:

Our home away from home.

Guest: Bryan (Edmonton, Ab, Canada)
Date of Stay: 11/05/11 Review Submitted: 12/12/11

We spent 3 fantastic weeks as Hisano's guests and were never treated better. Hisano was an invaluable source of information and provided us with wonderful contacts in regards to taxis, sightseeing, real estate and food. Her knowledge of Spanish came in quite handy as ours was neglible to begin with, then only passable by the time we left. The property is clean and a true paradise. Everything was as advertised and the only thing we were disappointed with was having to go home. We came to feel like we were part of the family and were privileged and honored to be able to spend time visiting with her wonderful mother. It was a treat to pick fresh fruit from the trees on the property and to relax by the pool. The nearby town of Atenas was easy to get to by bus, and was a very pleasant place to shop, go for coffee at Kay's or just wander about. We feel that we have made some true friends while visiting and we are very much looking forward to returning as soon as possible to spend time with some of the most wonderful people you could hope to meet. We would recommend this property to first time visitors to Costa Rica.

Owner response:Dear Bryan, yes, we also enjoyed your visit here and now we are looking at the Christmas tree you decorated for our property, which was beautifully done and our other guests are enjoying that beauty now. They are also from Canada! We also felt that you are like our family. Our dogs also miss you, the time you played with them (and the food they got, too). I hope to see you again during the next snow season, and we can have a Christmas Party without snow here!

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, age 55+, sightseeing.

Exceeded Expectations

Guest: Lisa (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 08/15/11 Review Submitted: 09/25/11

My husband and I rented Casa de Lantana on Hisano's property from mid-August to mid-September 2011. Everything about our stay exceeded expectations. The house was impeccably clean, had many recent upgrades and was well-equipped. The grounds were immaculate, a lovely space to look out on from the large, covered patio. The patio was not prominent in the photos on the site, but was an ideal spot to sit and enjoy the outdoors, even during the rain. Most importantly, however, it was Hisano's personalized care and attention that made our stay. She went out of her way to help orient us, offering much more than advice, but honest friendship as well. Everything about Casa de Megumi merits the highest recommendation.

Owner response:Dear Lisa, Thank you so much for choosing our casa. We all enjoyed you and your husband and appreciate so much for your knowledge of modern technologies and location-independent ways of living you shared with us! How wonderful and free it would be to live like that! It is one of the pleasures we get from doing this business: to meet and get to know wonderful people like you. And, we are so grateful for your friend, who stayed at our place and referred our place to you. We look forward to having you again during your next trip. Hisano

Recommended for:Age 55+, sightseeing, families with young children.

A personal touch

Guest: Ken (Chapel Hill, NC, USA)
Date of Stay: 04/17/11 Review Submitted: 06/06/11

My wife and I stayed in Casa de Lantana for five days in March, 2011, then toured by car for nine days and returned to Casa de Lantana for another five days. We wanted to get a mix of the local culture and the tourist attractions. Hisano was helpful in every way. She arranged for a taxi driver to pick us up at the airport when we arrived and then to stop at a super market on the way to Casa de Megumi so we could pick up a few things. When we were ready to rent a car, she had the car delivered to us, and later picked up, with no delivery fee to us from the rental company. She also drove us around Atenas our first afternoon, explained how to use the local bus system, and helped us plan one-day excursions to a coffee plantation, an orchid nursery, the beach, etc. We also had the option of having home-cooked meals, local cuisine, delivered from nearby, which was a nice convenience on occasion. We found our visit very relaxing and enjoyable. As a special treat, Hisano prepared a Japanese meal for us and other guests one evening. The weather was very pleasant while we were at Casa de Megumi. We hope to return in the future and recommend it highly.

Recommended for:Age 55+.

Orchid Room at Casa Megumi

Guest: Vicki and Howard (Phoenix, Az, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/10/11 Review Submitted: 05/26/11

Since our return to Arizona I have not read other reviews as I only wanted to be influenced by my (and husband's) feelings. Our stay with Hisano, her friendly and helpful son, and delightful mother was wonderful. This was our first trip to Costa Rica and had no specific plans. We relied on Hisano for information regarding directions, sights to see, money conversion, bus schedules, in fact, everything! She was a treasure trove of knowledge and assistance (even lent me a pair of her long pants that I needed). We could have not asked for a more gracious hostess in a an absolutely beautiful setting. I would recommend here place without reservation especially for the first time traveler to Costa Rica. Pura Vida!

Owner response:Dear Vicki and Howard, It was so wonderful to have you both. How adventurous: zip line, Tarzan line, walking-bridge, beaches, nature walk, feeling the ocean breeze at Tambor, driving hours even at night in curvy Costa Rican mountain roads, driving through creeks, and all other things. You are inspirational to all other guests! I can hardly wait to hear from you next time, telling us that you have done white-water rafting and para-sailing, etc.! Hisano

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Charm in the Mountains

Guest: Sally (Scottsdale, AZ)
Date of Stay: 03/22/11 Review Submitted: 04/05/11

Casa de Megumi lived up to the VRBO description and photos. The owner is very hospitable, approachable and friendly, and more than willing to spend time answering questions and making suggestions. On my first day, she drove me into town and pointed out stores, restaurants, the post office and banks. On my last night she invited me for an authentic Japanese meal with her family. She's very personable and a bundle of energy. The property is well-maintained and clean with beautiful tropical foliage, and the nice swimming pool is a special treat. The Orchid suite is fully furnished for in-home cooking and dining, and large enough for a couple to be very comfortable. Bus service into town several time a day makes it possible to be without a car. I enjoyed my time and would recommend Casa de Megumi to others. I loved Antano's restaurant in Atenas.

Owner response:Dear Sally, thank you for staying with us. We really enjoyed your presence and friendly conversations. This year, our garden plants and flowers have been happy with occasional rain already unlike ordinary years. Yes, Restaurant Antano is quite popular because of its beautiful ambiance and friendly staff and they told me the other day that they would move to a more convenient location in Central Atenas by the end of this month, a lot closer to the central park. I hope you will come back again so you can check out their new location. Until then, Manager, Hisano

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, age 55+.

Casa de Lantana

Guest: Winnipeg101 (Winnipeg, MB Canada)
Date of Stay: 01/18/11 Review Submitted: 04/01/11

My husband, Randy, and I enjoyed our stay very much - the casa was very clean & well maintained. Hisano and her family (including JonJon and Coco, the dogs) were very kind, helpful & friendly. At the end of our four week stay, we left feeling like a part of the family. The property is about 10 - 12 km from the bustling village of Atenas but local bus and taxi service is cheap and reliable. We made the trip to Atenas 3 - 4 times a week for groceries, restaurants, etc - we found everything we needed in the shops in this lovely little village. We did not do a lot of local sightseeing other than Atenas (which has a great farmers market Friday mornings) but thoroughly enjoyed relaxing and reading on our large patio or down by the pool and then dipping into the cool clear waters during the afternoon heat. I would definitely recommend this property to family and friends.

Owner response:Dear Winnipeg101, Yes, we also feel that you were like our family; and our dogs miss you and your treats very much. After completing the stone walls alongside the drive way, we started making back garden walls to enable more flowery type of plants. Although our calendar is booked pretty well early next year, we certainly hope you can come to visit us again. Until then, please take care. Hisano, Manager

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

It was truly a blessing to be at Casa de Megumi

Guest: Gosia (brooklyn)
Date of Stay: 11/18/10 Review Submitted: 03/24/11

Check out my entire article and review on: http://www.stewardshipreport.com/index.php/single-mom-traveling-central-valley-costa-rica.html But here is what I said about Casa de Megumi: After many dedicated nights of research, I found a two bedroom house on www.vrbo.com, which is a comprehensive site for vacation rentals all over the world. In my opinion, when staying for longer periods of time and traveling with children, a home type of environment is the best option. The property where we rented our house is Japanese owned and is called ‘Casa de Megumi.’ In Spanish and Japanese, it means ‘House of Blessing’. ‘Casa’ means house in Spanish and ‘megumi’ means blessing in Japanese. Finding a Japanese run vacation rental in Costa Rica was a great coincidence for me because of my recent Japanese-oriented past. I lived in Japan for a year and a half, was pregnant in Japan for five months, and it was the last place I traveled to before going to Costa Rica. Since I have a profound fascination with all things Japanese, Casa de Megumi was automatically kindred to me. Moreover, once I got to know the earnestly helpful owner of the property, Hisano Bell, a Japanese woman from Yokohama, I knew in my gut that Casa de Megumi was the right place for us to start our Costa Rica adventure. Hisano became like a travel guardian-angel for us in the Central Valley. Even before we arrived to Costa Rica, Hisano and I were in constant contact. She had all sorts of provisions made for us, like getting our groceries before we landed. When I sent Hisano my gorcery list, I forgot to put coffee on the list but Hisano provides local Costa Rican coffee for her guests; I did not even have to worry about that. On the evening we arrived, we enjoyed a traditional Tico meal that Hisano arranged for us with the cook at Casa de Megumi. Hisano’s thoughtfulness was endless. She would even drive us into town occasionally and offer knowledgeable travel tips, like where to exchange money for the best rate. That is what I call Japanese service and hospitality. The Japanese people pride themselves on how well they serve others. When I was living in Japan, I learned a lot about providing sincere quality services to my clients, students and anyone I chose to help, paid or not. These same qualities of good service that I observed in Japan were the same qualities that Hisano shared with us. The coincidence of Casa de Megumi was a true blessing.

Owner response:Dear Gosia, we still talk about you and your daughter and your relationship with our dog JonJon! It was such a blessing to have you and your baby here, as we had some shared experiences about Japan and its culture, while at the same time both of us were interested in this beautiful country Costa Rica. As a mother myself, I am very impressed by your adventurous spirit to travel alone with your daughter, in a very graceful manner with lots of smiles, tenderness and love for all of us. I am so happy to learn that we played some parts in your adventure and joy in life here. Hisano

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

You will fall in love with Hisano her adorable family and Casa de Megumi!

Guest: Rafiji (Stratford, On, Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/23/11 Review Submitted: 03/08/11

After reading the amazing reviews garnered by Casa de Megumi my family and I attempted to book into the Casa de Lantana, the two bedroom house located on the property. Unfortunately due to it's fantastic hospitality, rooms and service, Cassa de Megumi was completely booked. What happened next for me was truly amazing and I will never forget my experience with Hisano her family and Cassa de Megumi. Although Cassa de Megumi was completely booked Hisano went out of her way to help me. I never asked her she just offered. She found my Mom, Dad and I an amazing place to stay at a wonderful price. Once we arrived and settled in Hisano and her adorable Mom came for tea. She brought us maps and much needed advice on tours that myself and my two senior parents could enjoy together. She set up Skype for me as I did not have a cell phone, she wrote down how to ask for a taxi in Spanish and called the cab company and explained who I was and how they could find me when I called. She drove us down town and drove around numerous times showing us where to find restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, emergency facility's etc. She arranged the most wonderful tour for us and we had an amazing time. She invited us over for a fantastic lunch and we just fell in love with Hisano and her adorable family. We got to see Cassa de Mugumi and were amazed at how wonderful it is and the extraordinary value it offers. We did not get to stay with Hisano this time but I have learned my lesson and will book many months in advance the next time I am going to holiday in Costa Rica, probably even a year in advance to make sure I get my reservation. Hisano say's that when you stay at Cassa de Megumi you will be treated as a blessing well I didn't even get to stay there but I was still treated like a blessing. Hisano is a lovely sole who truly cares about people. I was truly blessed to meet her and her family. I highly recommend Casa de Megumi.

Owner response:Dear Rafiji, Thank you for your kind words and it really was a blessing to have met all of you here in Atenas. I am so happy that you enjoyed your vacation in Atenas and in Costa Rica. It is my pleasure to meet wonderful people through my vacation rental business, like you and your parents. I really hope that you will be able to stay here next time, so I can show you all other things you may be interested in doing. Now, in our garden, mangos and bananas are maturing on the trees in the blue sky! Hisano, Manager, Casa de Megumi VR

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, sightseeing.