Vacation Rentals by Owner

Parfait sur toute la ligne! Perfect in every way!

Guest: FrancoisDube (Montreal)
Date of Stay: 01/14/12 Review Submitted: 01/31/12

Notre séjour a Casa Bonita à été beaucoup trop court! Tout était parfait: la beauté du quartier et de la plage, la beauté de la maison, la propreté des lieux, la gentillesse des hôtes Ludo et Nathalie. Les photos et la description représente tout à fait ce qu'est Casa Bonita! Nous espérons grandement avoir la chance de retourner à Casa Bonita dans un avenir rapproché. Merci de nous avoir permis de découvrir ce petit coin de paradis! Our stay at Casa Bonita was too short! Everything was perfect: the beauty of the area and the beach, the beauty of the house, the cleanliness, the friendliness of the hosts Nathalie and Ludo. The photos and description represent exactly what Casa Bonita is! We sincerely hope to have the chance to return to Casa Bonita in a near future. Thank you for allowing us to discover this little paradise!

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

Had a Fabulous Time at Casa Bonita!

Guest: Cara (Rosetown SK Canada)
Date of Stay: 12/25/11 Review Submitted: 03/21/12

Our family recently spent 3 wonderful weeks at Casa Bonita. We have 3 children so many hours were spent in the pool and in the ocean which was conveniently a short walk. The restaurants in the gated community were all great and kid friendly. Natalie, Ludo, and Sharr were extremely accommodating and made our first trip to Costa Rica wonderful. The zip lining tour was awesome and something that everyone of all ages could enjoy. The estuary tour was great too. The kids enjoyed seeing the many beautiful birds, monkeys, and alligators. All in all we had a fabulous time in Costa Rica and we hope to visit again soon!

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

Paradise it is !!!

Guest: Lizzie (Longueuil, Quebec, Canada)
Date of Stay: 09/24/11 Review Submitted: 01/23/12

We stayed at Casa Bonita the last week of September and the first week of October 2011. This was supposed to be "rainy" season, but we wanted a place to relax by a pool and be near the beach without the hustle and bustle of a hotel. It rained mainly in the evening or at night. We had beautiful hot weather for the entire two weeks. What can we say? Paradise, simply Paradise. The kitchen was the best equipped we'd ever seen in a rental home. We love to cook and did most of our own cooking. The housekeepers, Nathalie and Ludo are the kindest, friendliest and most accommodating people you could ask for; always willing to help and go the whole nine yards to make your stay a rememberable one. And we must not forget Cocoyo, the "pool man" and landscaper. He is so quiet, you wouldn't even know he was there, but what a beautiful job he did. The pool was always crystal clear and the wonderful lush trees and grass were trimmed to perfection. This was one of the advantages of visiting Costa Rica during rainy season - everything was green ! The house was immaculate, the beds were comfortable and I was truly satisfied with the coziness of both the inside and outdoor garden/pool area. Bjorn and Iris, the owners of the home made sure we knew exactly what to expect at their home; made sure we had our pick-up and drop-off at the airport and were extremely patient in answering all our questions prior to arrival. We really didn't do much sightseeing, by choice, as we truly needed a good rest, and this was the ideal spot for us; we came home well rested, tanned, and ready to go back next year!

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

Beautiful place, wonderful, kind & honest caretakers. A great experience.

Guest: Summer (Las Vegas, NV )
Date of Stay: 05/21/11 Review Submitted: 05/30/11

I recently spent a week in Costa Rica, and stayed with some friends at Casa Bonita. It was a wonderful location. Less than 5 minutes walking distance from the beach in a safe, gated neighborhood. Only a few minutes boat ride to the town of Tamarindo, or about a 30minute drive. The landscaping was amazing. It truly looked like a private, tropical paradise. There were cute little frogs & crabs running around at night. Ludo & Nathalie, the caretakers of the property were so incredibly nice & helpful. They were a wealth of information, helped us book tours, & answered any question we had about the surrounding area. They checked in with us daily to see if we needed anything, and kept the house neat & clean while we were out. I definitely recommend this place, it made for a lovely home base!

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

Beautiful home in a beautiful place

Guest: Sue (Newport, RI USA)
Date of Stay: 03/09/11 Review Submitted: 08/05/11

We stayed at Casa Bonita with 2 other couples in March 2011 and found it to be the perfect place to stay. Playa Grande is a quiet place with a beautiful beach and has easy access to a town-Tamarindo-if you desire. It has several good restaurants and a small grocery store so other than an intial trip to the supermarket, we had everything we needed right there. Casa Bonita is roomy with it's 4 bedrooms and 3 baths but we spent most of our time outside on the patio or in the pool on the floats we bought! The grounds are beautiful and the plants provided shaded areas for those who wanted some in the middle of the day. We've rented houses in different places in the world and we all agreed this was one of the best! Ludo and Nathalie were very helpful and Bjorn was great to deal with and patiently answered all my emails. We spent a few days at Arenal before heading to Playa Grande and while in Playa Grande we walked the beach alot and watched the surfers, boogie boarded, zip lined (arranged by Nathalie), ate at all of the restaurants in Palm Beach Estates and did an estuary tour, which you should not miss. We felt very safe in this home and this area. (Our apologies to the neighbors for the couple of times we set the alarm off...) We are headed back to Playa Grande again this winter because we loved it so much but unfortunately cannot stay at Casa Bonita again as there will only be 2 of us going. You can be sure that if this were not the case we would be right back there again!

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

WOW

Guest: pura vida (Nova Scotia)
Date of Stay: 02/14/11 Review Submitted: 05/10/11

There just aren't enough superlatives to do justice to Casa Bonita. With three generations of our family, ranging in age from 2 to 65, this place worked perfectly for all of us. For the 2 year old, the beach and birds, pool and tropical vegetation provided endless fascinations. For the surfers, the waves were consistently good, For the cook, the kitchen was better equipped that many North American ones, as well as a barbecue for fresh fish. All of us watched the sunset on the beach every night--about a hundred metres from the front gate. We spent much of every day in the pool (which included a corner shady spot), and the 5 year old swam several lengths on her own for the first time. For those of us interested in serious relaxation, we had a choice of air-conditioned inside couches, outside patio couches, or poolside recliners. The spaciousness of Casa Bonita means that you're never in each other's way, but can also sit comfortably all together at the large outside table, on the patio, in the living room, or around the pool. The caretakers, Nathalie and Ludo, seems to know everything and everyone you might need, and their English is excellent. This is an utterly charming, private, and cozy spot.

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

Muy Fantastico!!!!!

Guest: Michelle N. (Riddle, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 02/04/11 Review Submitted: 02/15/11

We just returned from Casa Bonita and can not begin to say how truly wonderful it was! This was our first visit to Costa Rica and our first experience using VRBO. I must say it was a little scary at first booking online, however Bjorn was a pleasure to work with, and provided much information and made the experience wonderful. He responded to each and every email very quickly and trust me there were MANY! Thank you Bjorn!! He helped to arrange transportation to and from the airport, we arrived late in the evening, so Nathalie offered to pre-purchase a few groceries for us, until we could get to the store. We re-paided her the following day while enjoying the yummy Costa Rican coffee. The house was exactly what the pictures showed, but what could not be shown was the comfortable feeling of walking into a friends home. It did not feel like we were in a hotel, or a strangers home, but like we were at the home of a friend. It was unbelievably clean, fully stocked, comfortable, secure and beautifully landscaped! It felt like our own tropical paradise! Natahlie and Ludo are truly AMAZING people who made our stay more than wonderful! They have infectious laughs and smiles and made our every request happen. They stopped by daily to ensure everything was good, and to see if there was anything we needed. However they were not intrusive or pushy. The shared with us the names of the different birds, insects, animals, and flowers we were seeing. We went snorkeling, sailing, fishing, and to Lake Arenal and volcano, as well as, the rainforest. On our last day we even had a wonderul massage at the house. What a way to end a perfect vacation. We had discovered that we had forgotten some of our snorkeling equipment on the boat, and Natahlie immediately called the tour company and secured it, we were able to pick it up on our next trip into Tamarindo. We enjoyed many beautiful sunsets on the beach which is only a couple minute walk from the house. There is not enough space or words to fully explain how truly splended our whole experience was. When we left, we not only left behind the beauty of a new found country, but new friends as well. We have traveled many places, but this experience hands down was one of the best! Thank you again Bjorn and Iris for sharing your amazing corner of the world and for having such an attentive house staff, and to Ludo and Natahlie for your hospitality and friendship! Pura Vida

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

Relaxing time at Casa Bonita

Guest: Jen (atlanta, ga)
Date of Stay: 01/02/11 Review Submitted: 01/22/11

My family stayed at Casa Bonita for 2 weeks in January 2011 and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It is a spacious, well-equipped casa with beautiful landscaping and privacy. The pool was a highlight of our stay, especially for our 2 year old granddaughter. The caretakers Ludo and Natalie were terrific, and Natalie was especially helpful when it came to ordering fresh fish and shrimp for dinner! The location is wonderful. It is a short 2 minute walk to the beach and a 5 minute walk to 2 excellent restaurants. The only slight inconvenience was that the 4th bedroom was an entity unto itself yet on the main house alarm system. All in all it is a fantastic property and we would definitely recommend it to anyone who is seeking tranquility in a tropical, natural setting.

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

2010 Feliz Navidad

Guest: Dan,Karole,Katie and Da Boiz (Houston, Tx)
Date of Stay: 12/22/10 Review Submitted: 01/04/11

My family of six ( 3 boys in their 20's, 1 girlfriend) meet in Playa Grande and rent a house for Christmas. We have rented houses at the North End of Playa Grande right on the beach and then on the South End in Palm Beach Estates. Casa Bonita was for sale last year and after spending time in Playa Grande was considering making an offer to buy the home. Bjorn and Iris beat me to it and I am happy that they did, very proffessional with great communication and work just like I would if I was the owner. Thankfully they decided to make it available to rent so we can still enjoy it. It truly is the BEST home to rent in Palm Beach Estates. Totally private with tropical landscaping that is secluded with high fencing and razor wire which you can not see since it is behind the landscaping. My wife felt totally safe while the boys and I surfed during the day and she stayed at the house and enjoyed the peace and quiet. This year we invited my oldest son's girlfriend since he wanted to propose to her which he did Christmas eve on top of the BIG "roca" during the sunset at the North End of the Playa Grande Beach. Welcome to the family Katie!!!!!!!!!!! The beach was a two minute walk and the house has a great pool and patio when you come out of the water from surfing and off the beach and want to relax. Compared to other homes this place is like Fort Knox. If you put valuables in the safe and lock the doors and gate you have nothing to worry about. The Housekeeper Nathalie, Carlos the grounds keeper show up every day, are friendly, get their work done and do a great job without interfering with your stay. If you decide to rent this home please treat it like it was your own with respect, it is in great condition and I would like to enjoy it the next time we come to Playa Grande. If Bernie from Maryland reads this, toughen up your kids, teach them to swim and about the Ocean and how to enjoy the the beauty that is in the power of the waves. Sorry to hear about your computer and valuables, they can be replaced, the positive vibe you get from Play Grande and Casa Bonita should last forever. It's up to you what you and your kids take away from the experience, don't miss the opportunity to make it positive. PURA VIDA.

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

Fabulous week at Casa Bonita!!!

Guest: Cashmere (Scituate, Massachusetts)
Date of Stay: 12/13/10 Review Submitted: 12/30/10

My husband and I vacation no where else but Costa Rica. We have been there several times and always stay someplace different. This trip we wanted to rent a house on or near one of our favorite beach's, Playa Grande. We searched the internet and found Casa Bonita. The pictures do not do it justice, the home is beautiful, the landscape is luscious and the setting is perfect. We were steps to the beach also. Their welcoming staff were great and very helpful and the owners were so easy to work with when setting up our trip. I would recommend this home for anyone wanting to enjoy the beach, nature, PRIVACY and a great time.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, families with teenagers, romantic getaway.

Best Vacation Ever!!!!

Guest: Ryan (New York, New York)
Date of Stay: 11/13/10 Review Submitted: 12/16/10

My wife and kids and I stayed at Casa Bonita in November and had a fantastic time! The house is amazing, in perfect shape and absolutely beautiful. The owners mentioned before that they had renovated a lot and you could tell right away. It is fully equipped and everything worked perfectly. The beds and sheets are much nicer than on the pictures and dinner table is perfect for 2 families. We had bbq's in the evening and enjoyed the house a lot; the garden is by far the nicest in the neighborhood. You can not see nor hear the neighbors. It is located in the southern part of Playa Grande in the community called Palm Beach estate. The house is steps away from the beach so that you can hear the ocean sitting on the terrace at Casa Bonita. Our children loved the house as it has a nice large pool with lights so they can swim in the evening as well. The beach is stunning, definitively one of the nicest we have been. Very cool: you can walk along the beach to the estuary (10min) and take the boat into Tamarindo for $1. Had our coffee on a log at the beach in the mornings, it was so peaceful and beautiful, bring your Starbucks travel mugs! Our children loved to play in the waves at low tide and were fascinated by all the animals we saw. The house managers were always in the neighborhood and very helpful with trips that we booked with them - try the zip-lining, it's awesome!!! Great service! We are definitely going back!

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

Beautiful Vacation

Guest: Francis (Silvercreek, Georgia, USA)
Date of Stay: 11/05/10 Review Submitted: 12/17/10

We were at Casa Bonita for 5 days this fall with our 4-year-old and it was awesome. The house is spacious and has everything you need for a family vacation - including the plastic plates and cups for the kids. Our son particularly liked the garden and pool, we could hardly get him out. The neighbourhood is nice and quiet, which is why we preferred this area over Tamarindo. The only noise is from the ocean, the parrots and occasionally the monkeys! Great surfing, too. Ludo and his wife are very helpful, they take such great personal care of you, including to organize tours if you are interested. We went to the volcano and the Monte Verde area, which was beautiful, a must-see. The owners called in one night to inquire if we were happy - nice touch, guys! ;-) The beach is great and almost always deserted, I loved the long walks on the beach. All in all a very relaxing, beautiful and fun vacation. I can definitely recommend the place and hope to be back soon!"

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

Most beautiful house in Playa Grande!

Guest: Scott (Denver)
Date of Stay: 09/18/10 Review Submitted: 01/24/11

This was my 5th time in Playa Grande and I have stayed in different places each time. I have tried to book Casa Bonita before but it was always booked. Now i know why.... It is by far the nicest villa in Playa Grande. The house looks brand new and is in top shape. Steps away from the beach, you can hear the ocean at the dinner table. I will be back in April

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

Charming house

Guest: Bernie (Maryland, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/29/10 Review Submitted: 08/10/10

We spent 10 days at Casa Bonita in July 2010. This is a very spacious house, very well maintained and with a fully equipped kitchen. Everything was in working order, the air conditioning was wonderful and it has a very nice pool. The beach is only five minutes away walking. This beach is used mostly by the people in the Palm Beach Estates development, where Casa Bonita belongs, so it is not crowded. It is a very nice beach, but the ocean can be rough, it has a lot of waves and it appeals mostly to surfers, so you have to be careful. But there are many beaches 30 min away. I would strongly recommend Playa Puerto Viejo. It is about 6 km from Matapalo and is just like paradise, with lush vegetation coming close to the beach and almost no waves, excellent for kids. There is excellent support at all times from the Property Managers and a gardener is there daily to take care of the plants, and clean and maintain the property. The trip from the Santamaria airport takes about 4 hours on good roads. Only the last 3 Km are on a poorly maintained road. Once you get to Playa Grande it can be tricky to find the house. The owners should provide more detailed directions to the house. There is a convenience store two blocks from the house, where you can buy the essentials, but tend to be a little more expensive than the supermarkets in Tamarindo, 30 min away. The parking space in the house is somewhat small and it can only take two compact cars. If you have more than two cars coming, they will have to park in the street, which brings me to the subject of security. You should not bring any valuables, like laptops or electronic equipment. And put your passports, wallets, anything of value in the safe, under the main room bathroom cabinet. On our last evening in the house, we went out to eat for a couple of hours and somebody broke into the house and stole electronic equipment and other valuables. They could not open the safe. This was the only low point in an otherwise wonderful vacation. The owners were very sympathetic to use and I understand they will now provide a guard. Anyway, just be aware at all times of your valuables and use the safe !!

Owner response:Dear All, We are a German couple living in Canada and the new owners of Casa Bonita. As such, we feel the need to reply to the comments from Bernie. The incident happened right when we took over the house. It certainly came as a shock to us, we felt absolutely devastated and deeply sorry for the guests. Please know we consulted a security specialist that advised us to install an alarm system, in order to eliminate all problems. He told us that all houses in Playa Grande with alarm systems are safe. This was not enough for us: we additionally closed the back door, installed new windows and doors with security glass, and erected a new fence around the property ( although the fence blends in with the hedge, plants and flowers and is invisible to protect the beauty of the garden). We also installed new security locks and a new safe. These security measures may seem exaggerated and very "German" but they are as much for our sake as for the sake of our guests: we have a 3 year-old son and want to feel safe ourselves as much as we want the visiting families to feel safe and at home in our house. We have completed additional renovations of the house to make your stay more pleasant and your vacation unforgettable. We will launch our own website with more details and photos soon. Please contact us for any further questions, we are happy to help. Casabonita137@gmail.com or Tel.: 1 514 4972073 Iris & Bjorn Security Update: We are happy to advise that Palm Beach Estate in Playa Grande (this is the southern tip of Playa Grande around Hotel Bula Bula & Cantarana including Casa Bonita, ) is now a gated community with 24/7 security guards and video camera surveillance. Considerable time, money and effort was made to improve the security in Palm Beach Playa Grande. The entrance has a guard house with guard presence at all times and with vehicle camera systems including access to live camera feeds and remote playback of incoming/outgoing traffic videos. There are several other live cameras placed in different locations of the neighborhood which are constantly being monitored. Other guards are permanently controlling the neighborhood 24/7h . Iris & Bjorn

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