Costa Rica Bali Oasis, 4 Star Luxury, Privacy, Pool, 360 View

• living on a cloud

  living on a cloud

  • Guest Baltimore, MD
  • Date of stay 07/13/09
  • Review Submitted 01/12/10
  "I have the difficult task of explaining what it feels to live on a cloud, literally, because the clouds swiftly surround this piece of land from time to time for just a few moments and you exist for a small time with the sky. The rolling hills that extend into the horizon from the property's backyard spoil your appetite to taste other adventures Costa Rica has to offer...why visit a cloud forest when you live in one? And, the beauty of this home absolutely ruins your patience to stay in any other vacation home less exceptional than this house. This house sits furthest out on the best slice of land in the community so no other rooftop adulterates the view of the magnificent Atenas mountains. You feel like you are the only person in the world with the safe satisfaction of a small, friendly community of home-owners right behind you. The decor of the house is minimal and craftful and every turn offers another opportunity to enjoy the goodness of life. And that's all before leaving the house! The drive from Atenas to San Jose offers panoramic views of Costa Rica Pura Vida and you find yourself downtown in less than an hour. The drive to the Pacific side (Jaco/Manuel Antonio) provides equally impressive views ending in beautiful beaches and national parks less than 90 minutes away. Local fruit and vegetable stands abound in either direction, so there is always a chance to buy the best avocados on your way to and from home. The location of this house gives you the best chance to experience Costa Rica's coasts, volcanos, and local life and still be home to grill yourself a nice steak and take in the gorgeous city lights from a far, far distance. The stars and moon at night, are of course unparallel. I should stop here for fear of seeming unauthentic, but it's all true. Come experience it for yourself. You'll leave a different person." Thanks so much for opening up this sweet serenity to my family Diana, and best of luck with future renters.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

  Owner response: michael jean, thanks so much, it was great to have you and your mom and baby. i hope we see you again. to everyone - michel jean planned to stay for a week and ended up staying for 3!!! xdiana

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• Loved it!!

  Loved it!!

  • Guest Don
  • Date of stay 03/28/13
  • Review Submitted 04/08/13
  My family and I loved the house!! The listing description and photos were very accurate and the house had all the comforts of home. Great place to just relax by the pool, catch up on some reading...or take a 30 minute drive to the coast. Its central location gives you opportunity to do some exploring. The owner, Diana, and Leticia, the property manager, were great to deal with and answered all my questions.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers.

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• Wonderful Home

  Wonderful Home

  • Guest G & C
  • Date of stay 02/26/13
  • Review Submitted 03/14/13
  Our 1 week stay was interupted by some health issues, necessitating our staying close to home but with the beautiful villa's facilities, we didn't miss touring at all! Lounging by the pool, watching sunrises & sunsets, following the birds & animals (even the loud MOO that woke us the first morning!), temporary adoption of the caretaker's cats, and the total privacy to just relax more than made up for the sudden change in plans. Diana answered all of our naive questions in advance, Leticia was a bilingual Godsend & became a friend, there whenever we needed her, and Jaime always appeared when we needed a hand but didn't realize it. Atenas is a somewhat quaint small town with all the amenities we needed. Roads ranged from good to bad, requiring a 4 wheel drive vehicle with manual transmission to handle the peaks & valleys, and especially the end of the driveway to the villa. The drivers everywhere scare the daylight out of you, especially the dirt bike riders who zip in & out of traffic at full speed. Although the main language was Spanish, the people everywhere in Costa Rica were friendly & helpful & tried to understand our English. If you want to truly get away from it all, Bali Oasis is the place to go!

  Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway.

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• Ontario Canada

  Ontario Canada

  • Guest Martin L.
  • Date of stay 01/09/13
  • Review Submitted 03/13/13
  This is our seventh time to Costa Rica. Jaime, Carolina and Leticia were great to deal with. The house was very nice. Just a couple of things to keep in mind. 3500 sq ft. must include the pool, deck, balconies and walkways. No pictures of the second bedroom - very small 9 Maybe 9x10. Pool is cold - maybe think about negotiating getting it heated during your stay. The owner was something else to deal with. Our certified cheque( which is still in the mail system somewhere) did't arrive within a week and we were questioned whether we were going to commit or not. After evidence the check was in the mail we did a wire transfer and re-issued another check for the remainder - paying the rental in full months in advance. Got an e-mail from the owner two months later asking if we are commiting and going to pay. -WOW. We received an e-mail from Leticia upon leaving stating the owner will send the deposit within 10 days - no big deal- waited 22 days and contacted the owner. Got a response stating - I FORGOT and can you give me your address - Really. Costa Rica is beautiful and Atenas is a great hub to tour the country. If any of you golf - try Cariara golf course. In shore fishing for Rooster fish is good. Rent a car and enjoy the country - try to drive within the daylight hours - 5:30 - 5:30.

  Owner response: Dear Martin et al, i'm glad you had a great impression of Leticia, Jaime and Carolina and the house, and that in some way they made up for my shortcomings as a property renter. When you rent from vrbo/homeaway you get a private residence not professional lessors, so sometime real life gets in the way of my being an accountant. Your money DID get lost in the mail from Canada, so it interrupted my normal accounting procedures, so i apologize for that having affected you in such a significant way...it seems as if you are the only tenant in 3 years that has had this experience, so it seems as if you are the exception to the rule, although your awarding of stars was a bit harsh. And wow, we would have been happy to help you with the pool temperature... Thanks for your input, and hopefully, we will learn from it. diana

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• Been there twice and going back if I can...

  Been there twice and going back if I can...

  • Guest Jodi A.
  • Date of stay 12/28/12
  • Review Submitted 02/09/13
  I first rented this house in March 2012 and loved it so much that I went back for New Years. First of all, what they say about the climate in Atenas is what drew me - I love the fauna and flora of the tropics but I don't love the heat. This house is up in the hills and never too hot. The weather is just perfect for the indoor/outdoor living this house affords. In March there were migratory birds filling the valley - it is hard to sleep in in the morning because the sun and birds are calling you to wake up, but it is so pleasant I couldn't wait to get out there (and I am not usually a morning person). In December, there weren't the variety of birds in the valley - but still gorgeous to watch the hawks soaring above - and the bushes were now filled with bright flowers around the house. The house was perfectly laid out and outfitted for two couples traveling together - the sleeping areas are compartmentalized and separated. Both have wonderful bathrooms, one with an outdoor shower. The house is SO private that clothes are definitely optional. Carolina who lives in the casita next door makes the best salsa on the planet and has a smile to match. Leticia, the English speaking property manager was there to meet us and took care of my guests on our second visit when my flight was delayed - all is pura vida at this house. Dreaming of going back soon...

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• Thanks again, Diana and Leticia for a wonderful stay

  Thanks again, Diana and Leticia for a wonderful stay

  • Guest joan h.
  • Date of stay 01/25/13
  • Review Submitted 02/03/13
  Great! Save us another week next year!!! Hope we can come back.... PS I returned the CD I "borrowed" last year (by mistake)! And thanks for your generosity- it shows all throughout the house.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, age 55+, girls getaway, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway.

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• Mountain Getaway

  Mountain Getaway

  • Guest Sara D.
  • Date of stay 12/09/12
  • Review Submitted 12/23/12
  This is a beautiful property at the end of the road in a gated community (you need a vehicle that can manage the slope). Very private with views of the mountains, farming communities and distant cities - great for relaxing and star gazing. The central living space is very elegant and the master bedroom is as well. It is very open and one feels immersed in the environment. The pool was a bit chilly (it IS on a mountain top). The nearby communities hold many attractions, although not ideal for beach access, Highly recommend this property and would return.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, sightseeing, romantic getaway.

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• Morning Paradise

  Morning Paradise

  • Guest Paul L.
  • Date of stay 08/01/12
  • Review Submitted 09/05/12
  The pictures don't do this paradise in the mountains justice. The house is truly special and situated among wonderfully inviting and accessible hosts. The morning's are incredible, with an early sunrise, 270 degrees of lush valley, and peace. The village of Atenas has a delicious bakery, a full supermarket (with incredibly helpful staff), and places to eat with loads of local flavor. It's hard to identify the main attraction of our trip: the house, the people, the mountains...But it doesn't matter. It was all wonderful. Many thanks to Carolina, Leticia, and Diana.

  Owner response: Hi, Paul, We were so delighted to have you and your entire family as our guests and to hear that you enjoyed your stay as much as you did. it's a great place for a family get together, since there are so many communal lounging places around the veranda, pool, living room, kitchen, etc. We have had couples, families, honeymooners, business guests who were in Costa Rica for a couple of months, and the house seems to fit everyone.....we are glad it fit you and all your siblings!!! All the best to you, Diana

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• Beautiful views!

  Beautiful views!

  • Guest Adventure!
  • Date of stay 08/29/12
  • Review Submitted 09/03/12
  We just returned from a fantastic visit to Atenas. I must admit, however, that we spent the bulk of our time in this wonderful home, relaxing and staring at the view. It is well equipped for cooking. The home is beautifully decorated and comfortable. The support system from Carolina and Leticia is first rate. We had not one disappointment in a short visit.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, sightseeing, romantic getaway.

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• Nature Lovers Paradise

  Nature Lovers Paradise

  • Guest paul d.
  • Date of stay 07/01/12
  • Review Submitted 07/25/12
  What a pleasure it is to stay in this house! The pictures fail to do it justice. As nature lovers, we felt we were in heaven - the daily assortment of butterflies, moths and birds was astounding. The flowering plants on the grounds are a haven for butterflies of all sizes and colours as well as hummingbirds. Flocks of green parakeets flew past each morning, not to mention the predictable daily visits of Oropendolas, Toucans and Tityras. We easily could have spent our entire vacation on the porch in the rocking chairs occasionally jumping into the pool. Jaime and Carolina kept things running smoothly. When we had to leave to go back to our "real" lives, it was with great regret. This house is a true escape, and we'll gladly return.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

Early Green  June 27-September 7, 2012    $1050/week ($l55 extra night)
Green Season September 8 - November 9, 2012  $900/week  ($120 extra night) 
Thanksgiving   November 11 - November 24, 2012  $l400/week ($200 extra night)
Peak           November 25 - December 22, 2012   $1300/week ($150 extra night)
Holiday Peak   December 23 - January 5, 2012    $l500/week  ($200 extra night)
 High Season   January 6 - april 26, 2013     $l300 per week ($l90 extra night)
 a 50% non refundable deposit is required to secure your reservation

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.