Nice place, great beach, helpful owners...

Guest: Gary (United States)
Date of Stay: 01/26/12 Review Submitted: 02/07/12

We stayed here for 3 nights on the 28-30 of Jan, 2012. It's not super fancy, but everything you need. Amazing windows out of the main room and master, nice pool 50 feet from the front door, great deck and about as close to the beach as condos get here (~2-3 min walk). It's not a really big condo, but the beds, bathrooms and all rooms were big enough to be comfortable. What makes the place is the beach, Ocotal is quiet & beautiful with great tide pools, shelling, snorkeling, and beach walking -- we saw howler monkeys, tons of birds, a humpback, squid, rays, lots of fish & pretty sunsets. There's a pretty beach that you can reach with a short swim (towards Coco) that had 0 people on it. The deck is pretty big & has a great view of the beach and bay and lots of birds (parrots and ~10 other kinds) visiting the tree just a few feet away. We had an issue with the TV and the owners came over w/in an hour or so to take care of it. BTW, if you don't have a car you should plan on taxis to Coco or cooking your meals -- there's a beachside restaurant (Father Roosters), but it's a bit pricey.

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

Relaxing 6 night visit at mellow beach

Guest: Peaches (CT, USA)
Date of Stay: 12/09/11 Review Submitted: 12/19/11

We had a very comfortable and enjoyable 6 night stay. The condo was clean and well stocked with linens, towels and every sort of kitchen gadget/utensil. We had one minor issue which the owner fixed very promptly-- couldn't ask for better responsiveness. (And yes, the condo now has dishwashing liquid and a sponge; and we had absolutely no intrusions from any real estate agents etc -- the only evidence that the condo was for sale was a sign in the window where you parked -- so no problems there at all!) The view from the kitchen table and the outside deck was lovely -- you could see the ocean through the trees which made for a great setting to watch the birds and just relax. And there's nothing better than sleeping to the sound of waves! (Yet Ocotal Beach was very good for swimming, especially for this surf adverse swimmer -- the waves were gentle -- not somewhere to body surf etc. Do bring a snorkel -- surprising number of fish close to the rocks on the condo side of the beach). We would certainly recommend this condo to anyone looking for a good value on a quiet beach. The furnishings are definitely not luxury and the decor is showing some age. But for us, this was all we needed and we would stay again. Also, would highly recommend anyone staying at this unit to have a car (or be a biker) since it was quite a long walk to anywhere to eat (other than Father Rooster)/buy groceries. (BTW, the bread at Panaderia Exquisite on the road from Coco to Ocotal really was delicious!) And many thanks to the owners for providing such a pleasant condo at a reasonable price in this lovely part of the world.

Owner response:Our condo on Ocotal Beach is about two miles from the restaurants, grocery stores, and nightlife of Coco. It may be usefull to rent a car if you plan to eat out a lot. However, at $5 each way, a cab ride may be cheaper and easier. It can be difficult driving the narrow roads after dark.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children.

Mildew, Mold, Dirty and Poorly Maintained – Do Not Go

Guest: worldtravellerruth (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 08/09/11 Review Submitted: 09/13/11

I have rented apartments around the world and have NEVER had such a horrible experience. The photos are deceiving for how the apartment is today (maybe years ago it looked like this but definitely not today). I asked the owners to make changes to accurately depict their current unit and they refused. The whole place reeked of mildew! You walk into the apartment and the reek of mildew is over whelming. One of bedrooms was so bad we just closed the door and didn’t go in. There is mold on the ceiling of one of the bathrooms. The owner acknowledged that there was a problem supposedly with the condo upstairs after we pointed it out and said it would get fixed. However, the mold didn’t appear within the last few days since we rented it. The living room couch cushions are held together by bungee cords – which are extremely uncomfortable needless to say. I’m guessing they tried to hide it by putting an extra cushion on top which does not help at all! The fabric on the couch is floral print and they put a few striped cushions on top. Also, they replaced the dining chair seat cushions with other cushions that don’t fit and are also uncomfortable. The bottom cushions are blue stripes, and the back cushions are floral. Also, the rattan is falling apart. Although the kitchen counter was basically wiped down, the kitchen was in my view disgusting. There was no part of it that was clean every dish, utensil, cooking instrument had to be thoroughly washed before we could use it. The owners acknowledge that they don’t provide dish washing soap to clean the dishes, nor was there a sponge. I can only imagine how many people had eaten and cooked without cleaning it. Then we get to the “security” office. We had decided to relax in our apartment in the early afternoon after being at the beach in the morning. We heard a knock on the door and ignored it at the beginning thinking we didn’t know any one and didn’t want to be disturbed. Well there was another knock and told my husband he better answer it and thankfully he did. Well, the “security office” had given the key to our apartment to a real estate agent with two other people and they were going to walk in any second because it is on the market to sell. The positive is that this condo complex is on the beach, you hear the ocean, and get a peak of it on the balcony and dining room area.The beach had very few people on it, the pools nice. Do yourself a favor don't stay here.

Owner response:I hardly know where to begin. I was crushed by this harsh review of our condo. We have weekly maid service, and although it may not be spotless, it certainly does not reek of mold or mildew. Cleaning supplies are not stored in the condo as the maids bring them when they come to clean. There is a water stain on the bathroom ceiling that we hadn't noticed before, which will be repaired ASAP. I have replaced the foam in the couch to make it more comfortable. We have also reemphasised to the office that they must verify that the condo is not occupied before allowing realtors to show it. Our condo is nearly ten years old and it may be a bit worn, but we have invested in upgrades and repairs as needed. We've installed a new stove, new hot water heater, new air conditioners in the living room and master bedroom, new curtains in the living room, and recovered the cusions on the living room furniture. Just last week we had the railing on the deck sanded and varnished. We appreciate constructive critisism and will continue to update and improve our rental unit to provide our guests with comfortable accomodations. I'm sorry that this reviewer did not like my decorating style, but the photos are accurate. The photos also show that our condo is less than 100 feet from the beach. Although the foliage limits the ocean view during the green season, it also provides more opportunities to view the natural wildlife. I've always enjoyed having my morning coffee on the deck while watching the parrots, humming birds, iguanas, and monkeys in the trees. We are pleased that many of our guests have enjoyed our home away from home, returned time and again, and posted outstanding reviews. Please come and share our little piece of paradise.

Recommended for:

Amazing Trip in June!!

Guest: Wanderlost (South Bend, IN)
Date of Stay: 06/12/11 Review Submitted: 07/20/11

My family and I traveled to Playa Ocotal in the "green season." This is a lower time for tourism in the area, but that made it perfect for us. We really felt we were able to experience Costa Rica as it is rather than watered down Americanized tourism. The condo was wonderful, just as described, and had all the amenities of home. We made full use of the condo, washing our clothes, cooking dinner, drinking fresh Costa Rican coffee brewed hot each morning and enjoying it on the back deck. It's a short easy walk to the beach, and the beach was never crowded. We chose this beach because we wanted some calmer water since we were traveling with a little one (4). The waves were small, but the undertow was fierce and should be noted for anyone traveling with kids. Still, we had a wonderful time swimming and snorkeling and exploring the tidal pools. We'd often then rinse off with a quick dip in the pool right outside the condo. Further down the road and up a set of stairs is another, larger pool which we also enjoyed with a gorgeous view of the sea from the pool deck. Carol gave us information about her friends' tour company. We are so pleased that we decided to use them to aid us in getting around and seeing the Guanacaste area.. The company employees were so kind and hospitable going above and beyond what we ever imagined to make our trip to Costa Rica memorable. We planned three separate excursions with them at a super fare rate and really warm and personable interactions. We found taking cabs back and forth into Coco, the nearest town with retaurants, shopping, and a grocery, did add up to more than we expected over the week, While we did make use of the fridge and stove in the condo, especially for breakfast and a few dinners, we like to eat out. Had we not had our children along, I might have opted for rent bicycles to save a little money (but too hectic to have small kids riding there). The fare was about $7 USD each way. Still, I was glad we decided not to rent a car - traveling to and from Ocotal to Coco it would have been nice, but overall, I didn't see a lot of street names and signs in CR and I imgine we would have gotten lost more than once if we were driving ourselves on the excursions. We really felt the area of Coco and Ocotal was safe, friendly, and not too touristy. Perfect!! Thanks Carol, Gordy. I'm ready to move, just trying to convince my husband, Either way, we'll be back!

Owner response:I'm pleased that our guests enjoyed staying in our condo, but I am surprised that they experienced a "fierce undertow". Ocotal beach is well protected and generally very calm with mild surf. We often see local families with small children playing in the water. I'm glad that they appreciated our recommendation to use Mardigi Tours to see the area. Many of our friends and renters have had good expericiences with Marvin and Digi.

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

Enjoyed Our Stay!

Guest: Alabama Travelers (Alabama)
Date of Stay: 04/06/11 Review Submitted: 04/15/11

The views from the balcony were wonderful. The sound of the ocean was very soothing. We loved the swimming pool right across the street. It felt great after the walk up from the beach.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with teenagers.

Great spot, great accommodations

Guest: Sarah (Maine, USA)
Date of Stay: 03/11/11 Review Submitted: 04/15/11

This condo is clean, with deck almost overhanging the beach. Quiet and relaxing, with plenty of space. The deck has super-comfortable rocking chairs. Staff at the entrance to the complex was friendly and we felt very safe. The pool and grounds were always clean and appealing. Property owners were very helpful - even picked my college-aged sons up at the airport, brought them to the condo and supplied them with food when my flight was delayed 24 hours! Bring your own snorkel gear if you have it (or rentals are $10/day). Snorkeling is good here! Rental car was a plus, as town and surfing beaches were an easy drive.

Owner response:We live a 20 minute drive from the condo and therefore, we are able to assist our renters as needed. We can stock the refridgerator, arrange airport pick-ups, and offer suggestions on activities in the area. If our renters do experience any problems while here in Costa Rica, such as an accident with their rental car or losing their passports, we can help direct them to the appropriate authorities.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Costa Rica Beach Fun

Guest: Arlal (Spokane, WA USA)
Date of Stay: 12/25/10 Review Submitted: 03/01/11

This was my third visit to this condo and it is just perfect for a family or group of friends. It is steps from the beach and the view from the condo is a constant pleasure. Twice we have had my grandsons with us and they were so busy playing on the beach, in the waves, hiking the hills and watching monkeys. They also played with native children and were greeting others in Spanish after a few days. We loved walking everywhere especially to three nearby restaurants where the beach view was outstanding. We decided this trip was so much more educational than a trip to Disneyland.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

Terry and Jacque Quantrille

Guest: Terry and Jacque (Anchorage,Alaska)
Date of Stay: 06/15/10 Review Submitted: 09/24/10

The condo was everything i thought it would be and more, it was clean and we all felt safe and secure there, the caretakers are doing a very professional job to any of our needs or questions, we all loved the beach or pool being so close, we truely enjoyed and have very fond memories of our vacation to Costa Rica we will be back to further explore the country. I really want to thank Gordy and Carol for going above and beyond to make sure we had the very best time and experiences while in Guanacaste, and thanks for hooking me up with Marvin and Digi of Mardigitours.com they were the best it was very assuring to go with them on our Nicaruga experience having a guide that knows and speaks the language was priceless, and the river boat tour was over the top, I recomend every one that goes to Guanacaste to stay with Gordy and Carol and tour with Marvin and Digi thakks for everything again.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with teenagers.

Los Almendros

Guest: Gary & Amparo (Tucson AZ)
Date of Stay: 05/27/10 Review Submitted: 06/28/10

My wife and I had a good time at Los Almendros in Ocotal. The location to the beach was excellent and the beach itself was very peaceful and relaxing. The pools were outstanding as we were the only ones there to use them. The views were gorgeous thru the trees from the condo and also the surrounding area. The staff was always very helpful. The condo itself was layed out nicely and had a nice patio w/ views and sounds of the crashing waves.. Overall I would definitely recommend this condo for its peaceful location and proximity to other beaches. The LR furniture was a little lacking in comfort and some of the appliances were a little oudated (coffee maker). Also it would have been helpful if there was a tourist book with all the activities available in the area for guests. Other than that we enjoyed the area along w/ all the little shops and tico restuarants in Playa del Coco.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

Pura Vida!

Guest: Kellyyy (McLean, VA)
Date of Stay: 05/15/10 Review Submitted: 05/26/10

Costa Rica was amazing and so was the condo! Beautiful view of the beach and everything you needed was very close by. Great location in terms of being close to Coco so you are near bars, restaurants, grocery store, etc. yet perfect that you're away from the downtown feel and really get a vacation feeling! It was my first time being on a black sand beach and it was beautiful! The condo had everything we needed (i.e. music! dvds, books, blender, cups, utensils, etc.) and was up to par with anything I could've asked for. It was very clean, homey, the beds were very comfortable and having two bathrooms was very nice. Also the two pools were great and veryyy convenient to the condo. Lastly it was great having a guard around 24/7 to make you feel very safe. Overall the condo and trip were an A+ in my book and all of us will surely be going back to stay there again!

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