Vacation Rentals by Owner

Amazing!

Guest: Joyce W. (Alkmaar)
Date of Stay: 03/10/12 Review Submitted: 03/18/12

We where here with 4 friends (1 couple) and have a great time! - luxurious villa's in paradise - beautiful panoramic views, daytime and nighttime - clean - very nice furniture - nice pool, little bit cold :-) - the best bbq ever - Atenas is a nice (not tourist) town - Andrew gave us a warm welcome and is very helpfull This is the best way to celebrate the last days of a great trip trough Costa Rica. We would recommend this private home to anyone! Greetings from the Netherlands

Owner response:We are very glad you enjoyed our home ....I am particularly proud of our new BBQ and wish I could cook on it every night! Although it is not typical to heat swimming pools in Costa Rica due to the warm day time temperatures we are having a solar thermal heating system installed next month which will provide very comfortable water temperatures. Thank you for the kind words and we hope have you as our guests again soon!

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!Pura vida! In Paradise...

Guest: Nika (Bermuda)
Date of Stay: 02/25/12 Review Submitted: 05/14/12

My Hubby and I, as well as four of our friends, stayed in the Casa Blais, Pica Flora, Atenas, for seven days in February, 2012. This was a lush, restful an exciting stay. We enjoyed our time and we would strongly recommend the Casa Blais to others. First of all, the description was accurate regarding the location and photos reflect the rental’s appearance and amenities. The property is top-notch, and well-maintained, a true tropical paradise and the owners (Christian and Dianne) really go the extra mile to make the stay comfortable and relaxing: from offering a trusted driver pick up at the airport (an excellent driver and fluid in English local Tico – Oscar), to recommending nearby activities, attractions and restaurants, which are conveniently located, and easily accessible, even without a car. The stay was thoroughly enjoyable, including the stunning views, and the refreshing swimming pool and organized trips (with Oscar) to a nearby volcano and beautiful Manuel Antonio National Park. Also, we were invited to a local Pica Flora owners party, trying local homemade food and meeting lovely people, made our holiday special. The climate is perfect (no AC needed), the property's flowers are blooming, the scenery is too beautiful for words. We enjoy morning choir of birds, seeing tucans right there, on the property, majestic iguana on the main house roof, cicadas in the afternoon, stunning sunsets, not to forget the small geckos in our bedroom ( do not be afraid, because in the room geckos=no bugs). Thank you - Christian and Dianne - for extending such stupendous welcome; taking care of every detail and making our Costa Rica trip the most relaxing in years and full of attractions. We are looking forward to visit this true paradise again.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Faboulous Find

Guest: nicole w.
Date of Stay: 01/18/12 Review Submitted: 01/30/12

On our first family trip with 2 sets of grandparents, a 15 month and ourselves, we have found a luxurious villa in paradise. With panoramic views, well appointed accomodations and a fabulous people caring for this villa, I would recommend this private home to anyone. Andrew gave us a warm welcome and has been more than hospitable with our request for guides (Oscar, Alman and Eric are the best). if there was every a issue with the water pressure or the internet server failed he was there to walk us through and get reconnected. Has a wonderful working kitchen with three very comfortable bedrooms with all the comforts of home. Easy access to taxi to take you town to pick up provisions, the medical care was superb. Andrew- thank you, thank you for all your help in making this trip a wonderful memory!!!!! Regards, Nicole, Eric and Alex Wiesen Laura and Yehuda Wiesen Denise Marcellus

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We will be back!

Guest: Annie (Toronto)
Date of Stay: 12/20/11 Review Submitted: 01/14/12

We travelled to Atenas for Christmas with our two teenage boys 16 and 13. We all thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this villa and the community of Atenas. The boys each had their own room and bathroom in their own casita. My husband and I had the huge master bedroom in the main villa. (When the boys got up):), we would meet at the pool which lies between the two structures. The pool and grounds are incredible. The grounds are lush and this provides opportunities for shade during the day even while sitting by the pool. The pool is large and pristine and just the right temperature to cool off. The huge wrap around porch allows you to take in several of the incredible views. My highlight was seeing a toucan in a tree right in front of our villa. The house stays cool throughout the day. We did some of our grocery shopping in Atenas. I loved the fact that it is not a "tourist town" and as a result you blend into the community and yet when we had questions the local residents were very helpful. We did several day trip adventures including two trips to the Pacific Coast which is only 45 minutes away. We have had the good fortune to travel with our children to a number of different locales this was by far the best family vacation. The weather was perfect, the villa was phenomenal, Atenas is a friendly and prosperous community, and many of the amazing Costa Rican adventures are close by.

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

A Balinese Beauty!

Guest: Christian B. (Bermuda)
Date of Stay: 07/25/11 Review Submitted: 07/28/11

I had the good fortune of meeting Nancy and Bob in November 2010 and was amazed by their hospitality and broad knowledge of Costa Rica's flora, fauna and geography. So much so, in fact that I came back and stayed at their beautiful Balinese villa in Pica Flora and fell in love with the place. As a result I have decided to buy the house! For all of you Pica Flora fans, please rest assured that I intend to maintain their sense of style and hospitality and will even be retaining the Partain family to manage the property on our behalf. This house is a gem in a very scenic area and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to purchase Bob and Nancy's gorgeous creation. We hope to make a few subtle improvements over the coming years including the addition of a viewing deck extending out from the pool from which our guests can enjoy the majestic views of the mountains and valleys surrounding Pica Flora. This is truly a dream come true for my Wife and I and can't thank Bob and Nancy enough for building this beauty and, with the help of their son Andrew, helping us to maintain the house in the manner to which our guests have become accustomed. We look forward to sharing this beautiful place with you all in the coming years!

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

Wonderful time

Guest: Ryan (SF Bay Area)
Date of Stay: 05/01/11 Review Submitted: 06/04/11

We recently had the pleasure of staying at Bob and Nancy's property in Atenas and found everything to be absolutely fantastic. First off, the climate of Atenas was amazing and the town itself is a perfect size, with many great little restaurants and markets (the farmers Market on Friday being quite delightful.) The house is beautiful, perched atop of a hill giving it incredible views in all directions. We loved how there was a separate house next to the pool, making it a perfect fit for family, or a group of 6 or so. And the entire space is shaded by a beautiful Guanacaste tree in which every night there was some interesting bird or another perched. Bob and Nancy were very accommodating and helpful in getting us acclimated to the area with great recommendations of places to eat and sites to check out. We are already looking forward to going back.

Owner response:It was a pleasure meeting and having such nice, interesting and fun loving people as Ryan, Sarah and their long-time friend at our house in Atenas. We do hope you will return to stay in our home, and we do look forward to seeing you again. Best regards!

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

Extremely disappointed!!!!!!

Guest: Gerri (Melrose Park, Illinois, Usa)
Date of Stay: 03/28/11 Review Submitted: 04/06/11

My son rented this home for the week of March 28th and invited us to go with he and his family. I personally asked Bob if the house was Air conditioned and had screens. He said no to both; that they were not needed. The weather was around 80 in the day and 60's at night. He said there were ceiling fans. My husband and grandchildren stayed in the Casita where there were no fans. The humidity was oppressive and there were no fans in there. The first night my husband got bit by a bug. The bugs were the size of silver dollars and no screens in any part of the property like the owner said, but screens are certainly needed. We headed up to the Arenal volcano area the next day as planned only we stayed two nights there to enjoy rooms with AC. Then went back to the house for another night stay. That night once again was very humid. I slept on the sofa in the main house because that was the only place there were ceiling fans. In the living room area and the Master bedroom. That night my son got bit by a Centipede while sleeping in his bed. The next day we were out of there and headed to the beach and rented another place for two more nights with AC. We left some of our bags at the house since we were 6 adults traveling. We went back to pick up our bags and headed to the Marriott near the airport for our final night in Costa Rica. The weather was every bit of 90 plus degrees during the day our whole week, everywhere we went and very humid. Maybe we picked a bad week to go, but even if that is true, we certainly would have needed screens to keep the massive amount of bugs out of the house. Ceiling fans in the Casita would have helped as well. So it cost us the rent of the house for a week and one week's worth of hotel bills as well as meals since we bought groceries and planned on cooking most meals at the house. The house is beautiful but can not compensate for the awful experience of staying there. Once we were there we did not want to ruin the rest of our week by getting bit and no sleep for worry of what creatures were coming into the house.The best part of the trip was the enjoyable time of being with my family no matter how much more it cost us. Gerri Mother of the renter

Owner response:This negative review was surprising after having over 30 rentals during the past 15-months. We have had 10 reviews in total over this period, and all gave a Review Rating of 5. We have never had any previous complaints about bugs, the need for screens or fans, uncomfortable temperatures or high humidity. No one except Gerri has ever complained about bites from insects, although this could happen in any area of the country with or without screens or a/c. We are never bothered with mosquitoes in this altitude. The statement that there are no screens in any part of the house is incorrect. Each bedroom in the guest house has four separate screened enclosures totaling 28.44 square feet located between each bedroom and the exterior open air porch. This provides ventilation even with the large cedar and glass doors and windows closed. If we had only been notified by this party that a fan was needed, we would have taken it out of our storeroom right away for their use. Apparently, Gerri did not enter the bedrooms to observe the screens. Nights in this area usually have temperatures in the 60's as stated in the review. Bed covers are usually required for comfortable sleeping. Only one rental house listed on Home Away in Atenas shows air conditioning and only in the Master bedroom. How could there be a need for an air conditioner in such pleasant weather. The house, with a clay tile roof and high ceilings, is located in the shade of a huge Guanacaste tree. The usual breeze during the day provides a comfortable and cool environment on the inside of the house and on the wraparound porch. It is our opinion that this review with incorrect and exaggerated statements was designed in an attempt to damage our rental business rather than provide constructive criticism. None of these matters were mentioned to us by the other Travelers in the group during contact with them. We have always strived to make all travelers comfortable and to correct any existing problem. We will provide fans in each of the two guest bedrooms to prevent any future traveler from having to request one. We will also install some screens in the main house in case we are ever attacked by "silver dollar" size bugs or massive amounts of bugs.

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Paradise Found

Guest: Paul O. (Portsmouth, RI, USA)
Date of Stay: 02/22/11 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

This was my second visit to this wonderful country and first with my wife and two sons. We stayed in this incredible home that was even more than we had expected. My wife and I stayed in the main house while our two sons enjoyed the luxury of their own private paradise, just on the other side of the swimming pool. The weather was absolutley spectacular! Waking up in this amazing master bedroom tucked in by the long arms of the guancastle tree while the sun rises over the mountains across the valley should be on everyones "bucket list". I can't imagine a more relaxing place to visit. We thoroughly enjoyed the open air feel and never felt the need for screens or air conditioning. This is truly the perfect climate! Bob and Nancy are wonderfully accommodating hosts that are eager to help in any way. Our flight was delayed 24 hours into Costa Rica and Bob graciously offered us an extra night at no cost to us. Paul, Trish, Jack and Ben Newport, Rhode Island

Owner response:Paul, Trish, Jack and Ben It was great having such a nice family staying in our home. We are very pleased that you enjoyed your stay. We have installed some screens in the event some guests feel that they need this protection. We are pleased that we do not need air conditioners, but we do have fans in all bedrooms. We do hope you will return again. Thanks, Bob & Nancy

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

Our family paradise

Guest: Howard (Colorado)
Date of Stay: 12/26/10 Review Submitted: 01/09/11

This was our third trip to Atenas, Costa Rica but the first time we decided to rent a home. We fell in love with the pictures of the home but as others have said - once you arrive it is unbelievable. The home sits on top of a ridge and the endless breeze and lush vegetation keep you cool during the day and evening. My wife and I had the upstairs master bedroom. What fantastic views in all directions. Our daughter, son-in-law and 18 month old grand child had a bedroom in the casita and our son had the other room in the casita. The home is large with lots of outdoor living space so everyone had their space when needed. It is a perfect location for exploring in all directions. Bob and Nancy were wonderful hosts and helped us with all out "tourist" questions. If you are looking for a home in CR that is in the mountains and with the best climate in the world...this is it!

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

You will feel like a Lottery Winner!

Guest: Evan (Naples, FL.)
Date of Stay: 10/18/10 Review Submitted: 10/28/10

If you want to feel exactly how it will be when you win the lottery, this is the place to stay! Trust me, it's better in person, even though it looks great in the pictures. As soon as I arrived, the "WOW" factor kicked in and never left! The detail on the house is incredible, everywhere you look. It is a green oasis, surrounded by butterflies, toucans, and hummingbirds. If you can't relax here, you can't relax. You will want for nothing as Bob and Nancy have equipped this home with everything from a cofee grinder to a BBQ grill. Bring your bathing suit, and a toothbrush and you'll be good to go. My wife and i came for a week, just so i could wind down from a very stressful year, and this place did the trick. It was peaceful and beautiful. We ended up cooking breakfast every morning and sitting out on the porch watching the toucans play. Bob and Nancy suggested great places to dine out, among them were Don Tadeo's sports bar in town, and Alida's Italian, which was one of the best Italian joints i ever ate at. Bob also gave us directions to pick up the new highway to Escazu ( Or you can go to Jaco). We were able to drive from the house to the Multi-plaza mall in about 35 minutes, and it was an easy drive ( for Costa Rica!). Also, the drive from the airport to the house is only about 35 minutes. The weather in the Atenas area is spectacular, and this house is bright, airy, and open and is able to take full advantage of the perpetual springlike weather. Stay here, and you'll be buying lottery tickets like crazy once you get home!

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

Home Away from Home

Guest: Stan (Monterey, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/04/10 Review Submitted: 08/04/10

Bob and Nancy are wonderful hosts: they were helpful as we adapted to Costa Rican traditions and made superior restaurant recommendations. This home is a beautifully designed piece of art: the photos on VRBO are accurate, but the real thing is even more stunning. The layout was ideal for our group of 6. We rented the home for ourselves, our 24-year-old daughter and a friend, and another couple. We had space for privacy and space for wonderful time together: meals, yoga, cribbage matches, and watching the World Cup final. The pool is a nice size for exercise and relaxation. The walk from Pica Flora into Atenas is beautiful and the cab back up the hill is reasonably priced. Bob recommended other breathtaking hikes just out of the gate. We highly recommend this property and look forward to returning!

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

More than you can imagine

Guest: Leslie (Kentwood, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 06/14/10 Review Submitted: 06/24/10

Our family stayed for a week at this home in Atenas. I can tell you it is better than you can imagine. Our group included me and my husband, my two teenage children and my sister and her son. There was plenty of room for all of us to have our private space. The views from the house are spectacular. The city view at night is breathtaking. The views as I woke in the morning took my breath away. We enjoyed our time in Atenas. We could walk to town in about 30 minutes. We generally took a cab. We took a local cab which was recommended by Alida the pizza place in town. The cost to take a trip to town was about $5 rountrip. My husband and I went to a restaurant in Atenas called Mirardor El Pueblo. It had a beautiful view of the city. We also went to a place called Guanacaste which had a nice variety of food. Atenas is a quiet town where you can get good food and ICECREAM and pastries. We took a day trip to Manual Antonio. Walter was our driver. He was absolutely wonderful. He also took us to the airport. He charged us $40 one way to the airport. If you want a nice quiet vacation there would be no need to ever leave Atenas. But you can also get to anywhere you want to go from there. The food is less expensive in Atenas vs more touristy areas. We also took a bus to San Jose. We left from Atenas. It took about 1 hour and 15 minutes and only cost about $1.25 one way. Before you go if you don't know spanish, learn a few phrases and you'll be ok. Learn your money conversions. Wonderful vacation, beautiful home. And Bob and Nancy were helpful and friendly. Highly recommend this place.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

A Delightful Stay

Guest: NickVA (Arlington, VA)
Date of Stay: 03/27/10 Review Submitted: 04/18/10

We found this home gorgeous, wonderfully spacious, comfortable, clean and well appointed. We stayed a week over Easter and found the house perfect as a base for exploring Costa Rica. We took one overnight trip and several day trips to the coast, the rain forest and other attractions. The house was great to return to in the evenings, where cool, breezy nights make for perfect sleeping weather. The pool, verandah, gas grill, and well-equipped kitchen were most welcome for relaxing and preparing meals with ingredients from well-stocked grocery stores just a five-minute drive from the house. Also, the house, high on a ridge, offers great birdwatching and views. Atenas itself is a pretty and peaceful town, with some nearby attractions of its own. One favorite was Zoo Ave, just 20 minutes from the house, east on Hwy 3. It's a wonderful zoo, well-shaded and with a huge array of animals in their natural habitat -- a good introduction to wildlife to watch for in the national parks. Owners Bob and Nancy Partain were friendly, very responsive to our questions about the house and area, and supplied us some delicious fresh bananas, mangoes and a papaya from their garden. Neighbors we met while walking about, were American expats or long-term renters, and also friendly, asking about our travels and suggesting places to visit. Highly recommended.

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

Wonderful Retreat

Guest: Rosemary Mattick
Date of Stay: 02/13/10 Review Submitted: 03/16/10

This is a wonderful retreat where you can relax and enjoy your family and friends. The house is a beautiful, well-cared for home with a gorgeous tropical garden. The birding was fabulous!! The village of Atenas is centrally located which made driving and site-seeing easy and fun.

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Guest: Michelle and Barry Klein (Central New Jersey)
Date of Stay: 01/24/10 Review Submitted: 01/24/10

Pica Flora is the perfect vantage point from which to explore Costa Rica. This amazing home is just minutes from downtown Atenas, a quintessential Costa Rican community where the spirit of the people is infectious. Wake up every morning to a spectacular mountain sunrise, brew yourself a cup of Costa Rican Joe, open the entire house up to let in the perfumed breezes, grab a fresh picked banana and pick a spot on the wrap around porch to see and hear the beauty around you. By noon you can swim in your private pool and feel the perfect 85 degree warmth on your face as you plan the rest of your day. Go downtown and have a bite at one of the restaurants. Alida was our favorite. You can grocery shop at one of the markets and truly immerse yourself in the culture. The kitchen in Casa 14 is fully equipped and a pleasure to cook in. We enjoyed having a beautiful home to do as we pleased and relax in. The views, the privacy, and taste for true Costa Rican life were ideal, as well as the proximity to all this country has to offer. We took several excursions, some day trips, some over night and we were always happy to return to Pica Flora because it felt like home.

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Guest: John Frykman (Minneapolis, MN)
Date of Stay: 01/18/10 Review Submitted: 01/18/10

Truly lovely home in a great community. Bob and Nancy made our arrival a completely stress free experience, meeting our cab at a nearby location and guiding us to the house approximately 3 km away. Throughout our stay, they responded quickly by phone to any question regarding the house, the community, or Costa Rica. The view from the house is spectacular, especially at night. Huge master bedroom on the 2nd floor has panoramic windows to view the surrounding landscape. The swimming pool is wonderful for a bracing dip at the start of the day. It is well maintained several times a week by the Partains' service, who also maintain the rest of the exterior. We particularly enjoyed walking to Atenas from the house (virtually all downhill) on our daily trek into town. Atenas is a very clean and friendly community. Lots of places to eat a Costa Rican (Tico) meal. A cab ride back home is around $3.00. Atenas is handy to nearly all of the attractions of Costa Rica. If you choose to take bus transportation, there are departures from Atenas virtually every hour throughout the day to Alajuela or San Jose in clean, comfortable buses for a fare of about $1.00 or so. From either city, you can travel to every corner of Costa Rica very inexpensively. If you are adventuresome, you can rent a car in Atenas very inexpensively and drive yourself. We stayed for 10 days, and were sad to leave. Very laid back vacation for us on this our 2nd trip to Costa Rica in 3 months. We do intend to return to Atenas!

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Christmas in Atenas

Guest: Judi (Royal Gorge, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 12/25/09 Review Submitted: 01/09/11

Our stay at this Atenas Home was awesome. Great neighborhood. Love the bali-style - it's like living outdoors in total luxury. The weather in Atenas, especially at the altitude of this Atenas Home, is a perfect climate. A/C isn't needed. I highly recommend this house for your next vacation!

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

Guest: Rosemary
Date of Stay: 03/13/09 Review Submitted: 03/27/10

This is a wonderful retreat where you can relax and enjoy your family and friends. The house is a beautiful, well-cared for home with a gorgeous tropical garden. The birding was fabulous!! The village of Atenas is centrally located which made driving and site-seeing easy and fun.

Recommended for: