Vacation Rentals by Owner

Truly A Home Away From Home

Guest: Michelle S. (Orlando, Florida, United States)
Date of Stay: 03/23/12 Review Submitted: 04/12/12

If you are considering this Playa Flamingo rental....look no further. The pictures & description are more than accurate. It's a spectacular place. Your home away from home. This was a our first visit to Costa Rica. We're a family of six which includes dad, mom, two toddlers and two grandmothers. Since we're a big family choosing a rental is just more affordable, practical & convenient. The drawback of staying at a resort is that your accommodation requests are never guaranteed, food costs are very high and unexpected service charges always make their way to your final bill. We'd spend twice as much or more per night at a resort; then one night at a rental property. This 3 bed/3 bath rental is very spacious, clean, cozy, tastefully decorated, has 24 hour security and all the extra amenities were added bonuses. Having two infinity pools with breathtaking ocean views was "divine". While seating in the balcony or by poolside you can see from a distance many exotic birds, iguanas & long-tail squirrels. The real treat for us was that the night before leaving we got to see a family of Howler Monkey's visiting. The property is very close distance to restaurants, shopping, grocery markets & beautiful beaches. Keep in mind, you'll need to rent a 4X4 vehicle to get around. The main roads are very good to drive. However, there are many side streets that are not paved. Many areas conserve the rustic flair of Costa Rica. We managed to visit a different beach each day during our week stay. Every beach is unique and unbelievably beautiful. Also, 5 stars to Blue Water Properties of Costa Rica. The entire BWPCR Property Management staff is highly professional & efficient. They assisted us during the entire planning of this vacation. They booked the property, the rental car, tours/excursions & purchased our groceries prior to check-in. The whole process was effortless. My hats off to you all at BWP. Lastly, the people of Costa Rica are amazing. They're so hospitable, friendly and likable. They make you feel welcomed and most speak English. The food was delicious and fresh. We had some of our best meals at the local restaurants. We couldn't have asked for more during this vacation. Now we understand why the Costa Rican motto is "Pure Vida" (meaning pure life). Our vacation was just that...PURA VIDA. We'll definitely be back! -The G-Family of Orlando, Florida

Owner response:Michelle, we are so glad that you had a great time in our country. Flamingo Cove FF8 is a beautiful condo and the owners have done a great job of keeping it well maintained and fully stocked with all the vacation essentials! It was our pleasure to make your family feel welcome and we truly hope you will come back and see us again in the near future! Best wishes, Becky & the team at Blue Water Properties of Costa Rica

Recommended for:

Our winter vacation

Guest: Howard (Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA)
Date of Stay: 12/10/11 Review Submitted: 12/18/11

The pros: a beautiful location, breathtaking views, and most importantly, Rob Goodell of Blue Water Properties. He was the saving grace of what could have been a big disappointment in Costa Rica, and really helped out in regard to important issues such as transportation, daily excursions and a true, overall concern for my wife and I having a fun vacation. Rob, you are a great guy to deal with. The cons: There is no walkway to a small private beach (the walkway ends at a chain link fence). The private pool adjacent to the condo had small crabs and missing tiles in it. Neither phone worked. The furniture in the living room is very uncomfortable. The downstairs toilet constantly ran. The chain on the inside of the toilet of the upstairs second bathroom was broken. The kitchen was poorly equipped. Thoughts about the condo property as a whole, and not just the inside of our individual condo: if you are renting a car to get to the condo, make sure you rent a 4WD! To clarify, this is not the fault of the property owners, since the property is set at the top of a steep, mile-long dirt road and you have to expect that. It is difficult to get up the hill, though, when the weather is good, and if you experience a rainstorm (which, luckily, we did not), you will have a tough time getting there.

Owner response:Howard, we are sorry to hear that not everything as expected on your vacation. I do want to point out that some things are out of our control as property managers such as the pool area and outside/common areas--we do not manage that area, but we absolutely have mentioned this to the association, to be repaired. Our property management company is amongst the best in the area in regards to maintenance issues and customer service and if problems are reported we always do our best to address those repairs rather immediately. As for crabs, you can get those occasionally in pools here because of the proximity of the beach and the tropical area we are in, but the guards and/or maintenance people should act quickly to remove them to the sand. You can hike down to a private beach, along the border of the property. We did not mention that the walkway leads to a private beach. We have never had anyone complain about the furnishings, but we'll be sure to forward your comments to the owners. We recently stocked the kitchen with brand new pots/pans, so we consider it to be well equipped now. Also, to clarify, the condo is exactly 1 KM or about 1/2 mile from pavement. During the dry season, having a non-four-wheel drive vehicle, is not necessary, but we always suggest a 4-wheel drive in Costa Rica because of beach/dirt roads and clearance. Glad Rob could be of service to you and your family. He is great at what he does!

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

Condo with a View

Guest: Tony (Palo Alto, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/03/11 Review Submitted: 06/09/11

Incredible value during their wet and slower season. Million-dollar views as you can see from the photos. Basically had the pool to ourselves during our week here in early June. Becky and the staff at Blue Water were terrific as far as answering our questions and making our bookings (cars, ATV's, Adventure Tour at Rincon). Their restaurant recommendations are good; we tried Happy Snapper and Camaron Dorado in Brasilito, Pleamar in Flamingo and Noguis in Tamarindo; I also recommend Papaya (Pacific Rim cuisine) and Septimo Cielo (affordable Italinian) in Brasilito and Sushi Club (excellent!!) in Tamarindo. A terrific place to unwind or to partake in as much adventure as you want.

Owner response:We are thrilled to hear of your great experience! There is nothing like the peace and tranquility of Flamingo Cove. We hope to have you back in the future as our guests. The Blue Water Properties of Costa Rica Staff

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

Excellent value!

Guest: Linda and Howard (California)
Date of Stay: 01/02/11 Review Submitted: 01/07/11

The condo has a spectacular view from the main living area and master bedroom, clean, well-appointed, great internet access. Nicer furniture and decor than other properties in the area we have rented. Walk to beach is doable but a bit of a work out (which I liked) or a few minute drive. Close to beaches and restaurants. We felt safe and comfortable. Two nice swimming pools. One shallow one just for kids. Blue Waters Properties is wonderful! So helpful with all travel arrangements, car rental and another hotel we needed. Responsive and on top of things. Renting from Adobe (Blue Waters set it up) made life easier as they met us at the airport to return the car. Recommend getting the cell phone through Adobe at $10 for the week. Free local calls and all incoming calls free.

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

Fantastic Time

Guest: James (Long Island NY)
Date of Stay: 05/14/10 Review Submitted: 05/04/11

Loved the Condo. Great views, spacious, nicely appointed and clean! Great location for exploring more of Costa Rica or just hitting the beaches. Good restaurants nearby. Becky and her crew were extremely helpful. They helped us plan our days and answered every question with a smile. Can't wait to get back

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Guest: Joanna Prentice (Prattville, Al)
Date of Stay: 02/09/10 Review Submitted: 02/09/10

This property is everything it says it is and more! Pictures don't do justice to the view you'll see as soon as you walk through the front door. The patio and MB patio are absoloutely breath taking!!!! Both my daughter and son-in-law are full time missionaries here in CR and I flew in to vacation and spend time with them. We had so much fun in the pools and at different beaches in the surrounding area!! We enjoyed every sunset while basking in God's creation!! This is truly a wonderful place to come!! Thanks again Becky for making this possible for us to come!!! You truly were a blessing for us!! God Bless!!

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A Wonderful Time Was Had By ALL

Guest: Cathy and Mike (Swan Point.Maryland USA)
Date of Stay: 01/16/10 Review Submitted: 01/30/10

What a wonderful vacation. From the condo, to the beaches to the restaurants. It was all excellent. The condo is just as pictured and a great place to share with other people. All the sleeping space is upstairs which leaves a LARGE and very comfortable living area downstairs. It is perfectly suited for at least 3 couples or 2 with children. Plenty of bathroom space and a large living and eating area( if you can stand to stay and eat in). Every place we ate was great and my husband said he had the best soup he had ever had in his life (he is 65) at a great little beach restaurant less than 5 minutes away. You have to have a car to get around, but it was very easy to find everything we wanted to do. There is plenty to see and do within less than an hour drive. Unfortunately, we were only there for 4 days and I think you need at least a week to get the full tast of Costa Rica. Can't say enough about how lovely the deck was, sipping wine and watching the sunsets. What a place !!! Mike and Cathy

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

Guest: Stephannie chesley (Springfield, NJ )
Date of Stay: 01/07/10 Review Submitted: 01/07/10

Beautiful place. My husband Bryan and I were very tired when we first arrived to Costa Rica. We were dreading the drive to Flamingo, however, little that we knew the ride from Liberia International Airport was only like twenty five minutes to a half hour from the condo. When we arrived to the place, we were amazed at how beautiful it was. The magnificent views from the balcony in the first floor, the master bedroom and amazingly the shower!!!. Being able to look down at the jungle, the ocean, and the sunset while taking a shower is priceless. This place is so private, and peaceful just what we needed to revitalize our minds and bodies. The Sun hits the pool for the most part of the day, and the breeze in the afternoon allows it to feel great after you have gotten a nice tan during the day, or just simply when hanging out at the pool. The condo is very close to town, with security at all times. Wonderful vacation, we have been in Costa Rica over 10 times for vacation and we love it. We have stayed a many nice hotels, but the privacy, the beauty, and peace we got here we did not get anywhere else before. We absolutely loved our vacation and will definitely go back. PS: The last day in the condo, we so a group of Congo monkeys on the trees, what a treat!!!! Thank you Becky, and please thank the owners of the condo, for introducing this wonderful place to us.

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Wonderful vacation

Guest: cdrcos (Minnesota)
Date of Stay: 01/02/10 Review Submitted: 01/26/10

Spent a fantastic week at Flamingo Cove. Agree completely with all of Alecia31’s comments. Definitely need a car, the unit is about a half mile from the main road and about 3 miles to Playa Flamingo and 2 miles to Brasilito. Becky, the rental agent, was wonderful and extremely helpful. Our flight was delayed by 8 hrs. due to mechanical problems in Chicago and one call to Becky resulted in a call to our car rental company and, because we would arrive in Liberia after closing, arrangements for a shuttle to the condo (about an hour ride) and delivery of the rental vehicle the next day. Her recommendations for activities and restaurants in the area were spot on and she and her staff made the arrangements. Our two college-age girls went to the all-day adventure at Hacienda Guachipelin (zip lines, horseback riding, river tubing, lunch and thermal bath) and loved it. It is about 1.5 hours away and they don’t provide transportation and we didn’t want to drive there, but Becky arranged for a car and driver to take them, wait and return, for a reasonable cost. When we arrived, some of the basic supplies in the unit were missing, but Becky got them there quickly. Ditto for a couple minor repairs to a chair and patio door lock. The unit has most everything you could want, TV, ipod dock stereo, washer/dryer, although it could use a few more/newer cooking tools. All in all, a great condo with great service in a very scenic and interesting part of Costa Rica.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

STOP LOOKING ! There is nowhere else to stay !

Guest: Mark, Chuck & Garry (Greensburg, PA/USA)
Date of Stay: 11/28/09 Review Submitted: 01/06/10

Wow ! What you see is what you get plus SO MUCH MORE !! The pictures on this site simply do not do justice to the property. It is absolutely beautiful. If you want peace, privacy, and relaxation in a stunning tropical paradise this is the ONLY place to consider! We never missed the spectacular sunsets from the living room balcony. Imagine breakfast on the balcony with tropical fruits and a great cup of Costa Rican coffee, while watching the monkeys and the numerous humming birds that literally swarm the flowering tree by the infinity pool. Paradise. Being in the travel industry, I was hesitant to relinquish my control, but Becky and Blue Waters crew were there every step of the way from arranging our rental car, GPS and cell phone, as well as our hotel and zip line tour at Arenal. We even named the voice on our GPS Becky ! This group is so knowledgeable and gave us great tips on local restaurants, attractions, banking, grocery shopping...EVERYTHING!! Special thanks to Becky and Lourdes....and Heiner, THANK YOU for staying until 8pm on a Saturday night to give us the keys and to escort us to the property. This is the ONLY place to stay and we won't be back soon enough.

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

Guest: Jimmy & Annie Johnson (San Antonio, TX)
Date of Stay: 08/22/09 Review Submitted: 08/22/09

This condo is absolutely AMAZING! The views are incredible! After running around all day, it was wonderful to come back to our little paradise overlooking the ocean. It was so peaceful. The hike down to the private beach was awesome! It was like we were the only people in the world down there. Our boys spent every minute they could in the swimming pools. "Thank You" Becky. You, Lourdes, and the rest of your staff were very helpful in making our trip run smooth. WE LOVE COSTA RICA & WE LOVE THIS CONDO! Thanks again!

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Guest: Cynthia Ganey (Las Vegas, NV)
Date of Stay: 08/17/09 Review Submitted: 08/17/09

We did have a great time!! The condo was just perfect! I loved running there...from the condo down to the beach....seeing the monkeys, the big iguanas and the little crabs running around all over was so cool and was so different than anywhere else....I loved those monkeys!! You and Lourdes were great and provided all the information we needed on additional activities. It was a great family vacation....thank you again for everything!

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Secluded, beautiful and clean vacation getaway

Guest: Alicia31 (St. Louis, MO, USA)
Date of Stay: 07/27/09 Review Submitted: 08/06/09

My husband and I spent 5 nights here after visiting Arenal. We picked up the keys without any difficulty and were amazed at the beauty. The pictures of the place are precise! We loved waking up to our ocean view and looking out to the ocean from the shower! Drinking a glass of wine in the evening from the balcony was amazing. We would definitely recommend a rental car. You can easily drive to Flamingo Beach, Playa Conchal and beyond. It was about a 20 minute drive to Tamarindo or Playa Grande, Tamarindo was more touristy if you want to see more people. My only disappointment is that the pictures make it look like you would walk down stairs for 100 meters to the beach. The stairs dead end at the property line. You can access the beach during low tide and need to wear tennis shoes, not flip flops. The beach overlooks flamingo cove, playa flamingo was a short drive from the condo. Beautiful and secluded, we would definitely return!!!!!! We would also recommend the catamaran sunset tour that leaves from playa flamingo!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.