Christmas at Pina Grande

Guest: Texas Travellers (Austin, TX)
Date of Stay: 12/22/11 Review Submitted: 01/09/12

Wow! We loved Pina Grande with its jungle locale - monkeys and crazy birds awakening us in the morning and the amazing rains falling on the sturdy roof at night. The land soaks up the rain; by morning it was easy to get on our bikes and ride down the dirt road to the main paved road running up and down the coast. Riding a bike is the way to get around here....so easy to take a detour through the trees lining the beach...to pull up at one of the many great restaurants on route....to park and go surfing or shopping. We rode as far south as Manzanillo and north to Playa Negra, the black sand beach abutting the town of Puerto Viejo. I suggest head lamps for bike riding for those who like to stay out after dark. Pina Grande is the perfect home for a family vacation. The open room downstairs is a great place to gather, nice bedrooms, and the kitchen is well equipped. The best grocery store we discovered is about a five minute walk from the house. Costa Ricans seem very happy to be Costa Ricans and it is easy to see why. We hope to return to Costa Rica and if we chose the Caribbean side once again, we would definitely rent Pina Grande again.

Owner response:Thank you for your wonderful review, also full of helpful information to other guests. I am so happy you had a great time!

Recommended for:

aside from being robbed, it was a quiet stay

Guest: Maria (Colorado)
Date of Stay: 07/31/10 Review Submitted: 01/02/12

Out of five stars, I couldn't muster more than two simply because we did not feel safe here after being robbed. Quite frankly, that ruined our peace of mind. This crime was not the fault of the owner, but I base my rating on the overall experience we had while staying at this property. The openness of the downstairs is romantic but also a little unsettling in light of the criminal intentions of some of the neighbors. Pros: -peaceful and quiet -property was exactly as pictured in photos -amenities were sufficient (was wonderful to be able to wash our clothes here) -having two bathrooms was a plus -wildlife and nature surrounds the property and occasionally comes inside! =D -caretaker was helpful -we loved the hammocks! Cons: -the location is very far from everything - a good 45 minute walk in sweltering humidity was pretty difficult for these North Americans - we rented bicycles and used them every day -on our second day we were robbed in broad daylight, and it was too strange how it happened - in the morning my husband started walking to the general store and 5 minutes later I came downstairs to start the coffee. He came back with eggs for breakfast and asked where our two Nintendo DS game systems were. They had been sitting on the kitchen counter when he left, along with all of our DS games, and they were no longer there by the time I came downstairs. In just 5 minutes someone slipped in and out of the house and taken them! Whoever it was must have been watching, waiting for my husband to leave. The house is very far away from town, and quite a walk from the main road. Who could have been lurking in the forest like that??? Needless to say, we didn't feel safe during our remaining 12 days at Pina Grande. Tips/Recommendations: -never leave your valuables out of sight for any length of time (not even 5 minutes!). Don't make the same mistake we did. -since this place is pretty far out, plan on renting a bike or a car -you MUST try the canopy tours! that was the best part of our visit -shop for groceries in town rather than at the nearby general store - you'll get more for your money -take the bus inland for some additional sightseeing - Costa Rica is a diverse place

Owner response:Firstly, I find it very odd that this review was submitted over a year and a half after this guest visited. At no time during their stay or after did they ever mention to me or the caretaker that they were missing anything. A couple of weeks after their departure I received an email from them saying they had gone to Spain and been robbed and needed me to send money. I thought this might be a scam and since I didnt even know the people, couldnt figure out why they would write to me asking for money. This is their email : I'm sending this short email with panic in my heart, the situation of things here right now seems so tensed because I'm stranded already, Apparently I'm stuck here in MADRID ,SPAIN with family because we were held by muggers on MADRID CITY yesterday after shopping at the city mall, our wallets were taken off us which has our credit cards and bank cards in it but we already canceled them now,It's such a crazy experience for me and i was hurt on my right hand, We need help flying back home, the authorities are not being 100% supportive but the good thing is We still have our passport but don't have enough money to get my flight ticket back home, please I need you to loan me some money, will reimburse you as soon as I'm back home, I promise This email and 14 others that were written by the guests prior to their arrival were all written by a woman who seemed to have a lot of difficulty with English, there were numerous grammatical and spelling errors. Lastly, the house is a 3 minute walk to the main road, a 5 minute walk to the Super, and a good half hour to Puerto. There are also several restaurants within a 5 to 10 minute walk from the house. Yes, a bike or even a car are good ideas if you wish to venture further afield.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, families with young children.

An excellent, relaxing, and wonderful stay

Guest: Eamon (Albany, New York)
Date of Stay: 02/19/11 Review Submitted: 05/18/11

We enjoyed Pina Grande immensely on our stay back in February. The house has a wonderful, open layout, and it’s great to just relax in the many hammocks and couches and listen to the jungle. We found ourselves spending more time in the house than we might have initially planned. Woke up every morning to howler monkeys and various birds, it was quite an experience. One does have to be prepared for the openness of it, as some other reviewers pointed out, there is no front door or wall, and the entire bottom floor is open. The open layout creates a great atmosphere; however it does let in some jungle creatures such as lizards and bugs. But we weren’t offended by any of that and enjoyed every minute of our stay. The kitchen was well equipped with everything you would need, in fact it was one of the best kitchens in a house that I’ve rented on cyberrentals. The house is gorgeous, looks just like the pictures. Leo was helpful when needed, but we were mostly on our own. One morning when there was an issue with the water pressure we went and found Leo who was quick to solve the problem and we were up and running in no time. Robin was great in quickly responding to my requests for information, and I really appreciate the attention she pays to potential tenants. The grocery store down the driveway is also well stocked, with both food and drink. The beach at Cocles was great, we spent hours there every day, with a break at Totem Bar for Imperial and food. On our last day we ventured south to Manzanillo to the beaches there, and I would highly recommend taking a look, especially for those who are looking for a more calm ocean. Truly amazing beach with a few local stores. Puerto Viejo was close, about a five or ten minute drive with the pothole dodging, and in town there is a much larger grocery store, as well as every type of restaurant possible. I would recommend a car although it’s not entirely necessary, it does make things a lot easier. However, we did walk to the beach every day, which is about a ten minute walk. While we were at the house we never once felt that the house and property wasn’t secure, and for those that are worried there is a safe in the master bedroom that is reset for each new tenant. The house was well cleaned and taken care of. All in all we had a wonderful time and would highly recommend this house to anyone. We look forward to returning to Costa Rica and hopefully will return to Pina Grande.

Owner response:Thanks so much for the great review, I'm so happy you had a wonderful visit. I am down here for a few weeks enjoying the house and working on a couple of projects to make it even more enjoyable: We are screening in the downstairs, as there are times of the year when mosquitoes are annoying (like now), and feel this will make the house more comfortable for our guests. We are also putting in a two person hottub in the garden, so you can take a long hot soak after your day of strenuous activity in the hammock!

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

Loved this location

Guest: Ghen (United States)
Date of Stay: 03/29/11 Review Submitted: 04/16/11

We stayed for 10 nights with our 2 sons. Great house, great location. Loved the local beaches. Really convenient having the wireless internet option. Store were convenient, people were very nice. House was very comfortable and Leo was great. The owner was very helpful by email, gave good tips for the area and responded very quickly to my many questions. It was just like it looks in these photos. We would return in the future. Love Costa Rica & Cocles. This is a perfect location.

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

Very Charming and Relaxing House

Guest: Pete (Schenectady)
Date of Stay: 03/12/11 Review Submitted: 03/27/11

My wife and I stayed for two weeks in this house. We really enjoyed the house and the nearby beach in Cocles. The house does have a very open touch, there is no door and the living and dining area is facing the open ground. There are three houses in this little community, one is occupied by a retired couple, one is a weekend house from local folks and the other house is also rented. Depending on who is in the other rental, it might get a bid noisy for the house are relatively close together. The location of the house is very good, only minutes to a very nice beach and a little grocery store. However, we would recommend to rent bikes (Leo, the housekeeper can help you with that) for it is a distance to walk. From the house to the center of Puerto Viejo it is a bike ride of about 10 minutes, with nice beach bars to have a stop-over. All in all, we definitely would come back to this place!

Recommended for:Families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+.

Response:

Guest: Maslanova (-)
Date of Stay: 08/14/10 Review Submitted: 10/18/10

Shortly before this guest's arrival the area was hit by a small tremor which affected both the municipal water supply and our own. Water was off several hours a day and our back up tank had crashed to the ground. We have since improved our back up system with a pressure pump and new tank. The sheets and linens were purchased less than a year ago and are as shown in the photos. This guest was immediately contacted by me and I offered to move her to another location. Whgen she returned to the US she called and demanded a 100% refund - we refunded 50% and this malicious review was the outcome. The local grocery store is 500m from the house and the beach is 1000m from the house. We now have brand new bikes for your on-site rental convenience, I myself at 63 and with a bad knee find everything conveniently accessible.

Recommended for:

Wonderful House, great time!

Guest: zita (bradenton, fl)
Date of Stay: 09/05/10 Review Submitted: 09/24/10

Our stay at Pina Grande was delightful. My husband and I and our two sons had a wonderful tgime, the house was immaculate, on-site staff Leo and Martha were courteous and helpful. The kitchen was well equipped, and the bedrooms ,confortably screened and cooled by celing fans. Bedding and linens were confortable and attractive. We woke up each morning to the howls of monkey and calls of Toucans. We recommend a car if you have small children.

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

NO HAY AGUA=there is NO RUNNING WATER

Guest: ELLE (FLORIDA)
Date of Stay: 08/14/10 Review Submitted: 09/02/10

I write this review to inform potential visitors.The house is absolutely too far away from anything, unless you have a car,willing to pay for a taxi each time(there are no phones or internet there), rent a bike(rocky,uphill dirt road) or walk(heat/rain). It has a gate, which locks for cars, but the walking gate is always open;the fence around the property is a joke;doesn't prevent anyone from entering on foot. The house is open and too big to call cozy; the feeling is rather spooky n isolated,the bedroom view is of the caretakers wood shop and his laundry.LOLThe safety is questionable as anyone can enter and remove anything at anytime-which happened.(there is a padlock on the TV cabinet,a deadbolt for the fridge and washer/dryer,but only a latch type lock for the bedrooms;the safe deposit box doesnt work.The owner seemed to have built several houses on this land in hopes to sell them, and is renting them out in the meantime n that is really the feel one gets.The pictures shown here are much nicer than the real thing - do not expect bright clean colors,sheets and towels are well worn and dull.We arrived at 10:30pm,pitch black,no lights leading to the house,lighbulbs broken in the house,no running water,dirt on bedding,and of the three houses on the property, we were the only ones there! - talk about creepy!!!To give u a reference as to the safety.there is an Italian family living in front of this house;their gated fence is over 10ft n they have two doberman pinchers.During the time we visited there was a water restriction imposed by the city.NO HAY AGUA between 6pm-6am,and again 10am-5pm.That means you will not have ANY water between the hours I just listed,becasue the owners cistern has collapsed.After the first night of this,I tried to contact her n she apparently told her caretaker to inform us if we move out,she'll refund our $,but he insisted he didnt know how to get a hold of her. Consequently we stayed, and after many emails the owner eventually refunded half.All the other petty annoyances added up,the owner being unpleasant and the caretaker of questionable trustworthiness, there are many nicer and more reasonable n safer places to stay.I count my blessings for meeting nice local people who made our stay safer and enjoyable. CR has gotten very expensive, PuertoViejo not being the quaint village it once was,drug trade is rampant, police checks frequent.Two things remain excellent 1.ceviche at PuraVida2.the natural beauty of the rugged coast. U decide

Recommended for:

Vacation @ Pina Grande

Guest: Anita (New Jersey)
Date of Stay: 06/26/10 Review Submitted: 08/14/10

My mother, daughter and I had a most wonderful experience during our stay at the "Pina Grande". I read the review from the Michigan guest and I can"t help but wonder how in the world their mishaps could have happened. I felt totally safe at this beautiful home and the caretaker Leo is meticulous in every facet. The gate mentioned left open was certainly not the case in our experience...in fact it was a running joke that everytime we left or returned that my daughter was the offical gate-keeper, meaning she had to get out of the car each time to unlock the gate. There is also a safe box located in the house that is coded and secure that we put our valuables in. In addition, the owner of the home was most helpful, easy to reach with prompt replies. I sincerely hope that if anyone is considering a stay at this piece of paradise reads this commentary because I certainly can't wait for the opportunity to go back.

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

Absolutely beautiful home, however, we were robbed

Guest: Nate (Michigan, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/21/10 Review Submitted: 08/06/10

The first four days of our well planned trip to Costa Rica were incredible and absolutely as expected. However, on our fourth night, while we slept, intruders entered our room and removed our belongings. We awoke to a wide open upstairs formerly locked bedroom door. When we walked downstairs, we found the remaining of our belongings strewn across the floor and in the dirt in front of the house. All of our electronics, cash, and some clothes were gone. We woke the caretaker up to call the police - he phoned the police at least five times and they never showed up. When we talked to the owner of the home, she suspected that maybe we had brought this upon ourselves. Between the four of us, and the thirty plus countries we have visited, we are all very familiar with proper travel etiquette and what is safe. Ultimately we moved to a new hotel and the owner was less than helpful in arranging this move to a place where we felt safe. While this place is described as a gated community, it is only that in technicality - there is a fence around the houses however it is never locked and there is no one guarding it. Also, the storage cabinet in our room was missing the lock - the owner said the lock had been broken. The door to the bedroom could easily have had a dead bolt lock but it did not. The intruders had easily jimmied the door open while we slept. While this may seem hard to believe, we did an all day adventure tour, and fell asleep quickly, early, and apparently deeply. I would only recommend staying here if further safety precautions are taken. The owner informed us that nothing like this has ever happened, however, upon talking to locals after the incident it seems theft is common in this area, these particular rentals even, and the owner has been a victim of personal theft herself. If this break in had not put a damper on our vacation I would say this is a great place to stay.

Owner response: This home has been on the rental market for 2 years, and this is the first incidence of theft we have had. I have never been the victim of a theft in this house. I deeply regret that my guests had this happen to them. We even reimbursed them the balance of their stay, which they failed to mention. My caretaker told me that subsequent guests have had no trouble whatsoever. Costa Rica is a third world country and we hope that our guests will excercise reasonable prudence,and excercise caution in who they bring to the house. To increase security in the house, we have installed a safe and deadbolts on the bedroom doors, and motion detector alarms will be installed in September.

Recommended for: