Vacation Rentals by Owner

Surf`n chill`n in Nosara

Guest: Scandies (Oslo)
Date of Stay: 01/09/12 Review Submitted: 01/23/12

We have just returned from our stay in the beautiful Nosara area. We were 4 Scandinavian couples on the search for surf and a chilling out location. We stayed for 8 nights at Casa Cristal a remarkable property close to every thing yet private enough for relaxing to the full. We have been enjoying the pool area, the outdoor kitchen and even had a couple of fun ping pong matches as well. We would recommend this house to every one that want to relax close to the surf and the beautiful surroundings of Nosara. We hope to be back next year.

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

Our Stay at Casa Cristal

Guest: Nosara Stay (Caledon, Ontario Canada)
Date of Stay: 12/26/11 Review Submitted: 05/19/12

We were 2 couples traveling with our young adult children (4 of them plus partners). There was 11 of us all together. We had an excellent time on our family trip to CR and the kids absolutely loved it! This home was perfect for us. Everyone had their own space and yet, we were together all the time. I believe one of the kids described it as having our own private hotel. Great description. It is within very close to all of the amenities and the most beautiful beach around. This home is beautiful, by the way. We had everything we needed to make our vacation stay seamless. The people that have been hired to care for this home are excellent. They care about the place and the tenants and speak very highly of the owners and their family.

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

Perfect. Simply perfect.

Guest: Gavin (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 12/18/11 Review Submitted: 01/04/12

We just returned after one week at this house in Nosara, and we could not have hoped for a better experience. The property owner is super helpful in planning and making sure everything goes well. The house is possibly in the best location in Nosara, nestled amongst the trees just a few minutes walk from the beach. You can easily walk into the town and to many of the nearby restaurants, or to the surfboard rentals just down the street. The layout of the property is what makes it perfect for large groups and multiple families. The outdoor kitchen is the social hub with plenty of room for cooking and seating for everyone. As it sits right next to the pool you can cook and watch the kids without any worries. And if you want some peace and quiet you can retreat to one of the nice bedrooms. And the upstairs with the "outdoor" bedroom of the rancho is a draw for the kids. We had three families for a total of 11 people, and we still had room to spare. The property itself is immaculate and just as it appears in the photos and description. The beds are comfortable and the bedrooms all have fans and air-con for those nights when you need a break from the heat. The house is surrounded by a high fence so it always feels safe once at home. And lastly, the property manager Rebeca is great. Rebeca speaks English so communication is not a problem, and Rebeca always replied quickly to phone calls and emails before, during and after the trip. Rebeca helped us with shuttles, canopy tour bookings, trips to see the turtles and more. Someone like Rebeca can make the difference between an "OK" stay" and a great one. I can't recommend this property highly enough. If you have never been to Nosara or CR before, I can't imagine a better introduction to this area than a stay at this house. What are you waiting for? Go!

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

Casa Cristal -- Perfect Location. Doesn't get any better in Playa Giones..

Guest: Pablo (Los Angeles, California)
Date of Stay: 07/22/11 Review Submitted: 08/14/11

Casa Cristal exceeded all of our expectations. Walk to the beach, surf was fun - 78 degree water, Costa Rican people were great. We had a great time. Hope to make it back.. Already having Costa rica withdrawles. Truely this location can't be beat. Thank you for making it easy.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Perfect Location, Perfect House

Guest: CP (Boulder, CO)
Date of Stay: 06/05/11 Review Submitted: 06/20/11

We spent a wonderful week in this house. It was absolutely the best location in Nosara. Every bedroom is en suite, which was great for our family and friends. Pool is awesome, beds are super comfortable, ping pong and outdoor kitchen -- with stereo system - made for fun siestas and evenings. Owners accommodating and easy to work with, I would recommend it to anyone hoping to visit this beautiful town.

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

Perfect Location, Perfect House

Guest: CP (Boulder, CO)
Date of Stay: 06/05/11 Review Submitted: 06/20/11

We spent a wonderful week in this house. It was absolutely the best location in Nosara. Every bedroom is en suite, which was great for our family and friends. Pool is awesome, beds are super comfortable, ping pong and outdoor kitchen -- with stereo system - made for fun siestas and evenings. Owners accommodating and easy to work with, I would recommend it to anyone hoping to visit this beautiful town.

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

Wonderful property...perfect in every way!

Guest: Carrie (Killingworth, Connecticut USA)
Date of Stay: 04/09/11 Review Submitted: 05/03/11

Sadly...we returned back to chilly Connecticut on April 19th from a week at Casa Cristal del Mar. What a great vacation we had and a fantastic property this is! We enjoyed every aspect of the "living outdoors" feeling of the Rancho. The bedrooms were very private and comfortable and property was very tastefully decorated and super clean. The property manager - Rebecca, was fantastic. When we were not at the beach we were "home" enjoying the pool, making smoothies from the abundant fresh food available in the village and playing ping pong. All of the comforts of home...in paradise! We took surfing lessons through Esteban and Drew at Nosara Tico Surf School. They are true pros. No comparison to some other lessons we witnessed on the beach. We went horseback riding with Fausto. They brought the horses directly to the house for a 2hr sunset ride on the beach and through the nearby village of Playa Pelada. We also went ziplining with Miss Sky. We had a great time! The guys are funny and very welcoming. Enjoyed many of the local restaurants - Guilded Iguana, La Luna, Cafe de Paris, The Beach Dog Cafe (many many time) but also cooked some meals at the house. We are already planning a trip back to Playa Guiones! One suggestion: it would have been nice to have a couple of bikes with big baskets to run around town with. The village is very close, as is the beach. However in a pinch - fruit run, bread from Cafe de Paris, etc...the bikes would come in handy. We will definitely recommend this property to others and will stay here again. PURA VIDA! and thank you Donnelle & Gary for the opportunity to rent your beautiful home! - The Sassi family

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

Exceeded expectations

Guest: JB from Michigan (Harbor Springs, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 03/20/11 Review Submitted: 04/28/11

We took our children and grandchildren to the house for a week in March and had a great time. The owner was knowledgeable and very helpful in planning the trip. Highlights of the house for the family were the pool and the ping pong table. The weather was very good so we didn't really use the "family room" with the TV much and that was just fine. We were concerned about the outside kitchen with bugs etc. but it worked out very well and the fans kept us cool in the shade even when the temperatures went up. The beach town area was close enough to walk to so you really didn't need a car. Our favorite restaurant was La Luna, sort of a funky place with a great location and good food as well as some unique children's and women's clothes for sale. The photos were very accurate and the rehab the owners did during 2010 was a quality job. I have already recommended the house to another family, but must also comment that the roads getting to the beach area are a real issue, meaning they are hardly better than hard plowed midwestern corn fields. Four wheeled vehicles are advised in almost all seasons. I would come back to this property if I return to this part of Costa Rica. The natives were all friendly.

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

Guest: Richard & Marisa
Date of Stay: 02/05/11 Review Submitted: 05/18/11

We have rented this house throughout the years since 2003. We have always loved this home for it's layout and ability to accommodate larger groups. Each bedroom is equipped with a full bathroom. Since the Weaver's remodel, this house is amazing! We were very impressed by the way they utilized every part of this home and property. The sense of design, decor, and landscaping have made this home a perfect tropical retreat. We also give them 5 stars for hospitality as the house was equipped with everything from forgotten toiletries to first aid kits. One of the highlights is the 2-story open-air rancho with a fully equipped outside kitchen. This design separates the entertaining area away from the bedrooms which give them more privacy. . This is a great Nosara property. We also love the proximity to the beach and the area's other ammenities.

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Beautiful Vacation Destination

Guest: Tiffany (Boulder, CO)
Date of Stay: 01/22/11 Review Submitted: 02/02/11

A group of 11 of us jus got back from staying in this beautiful home. We absolutely loved it. It it set up perfectly for multiple couples or groups of people. We had 3 married couples and a smattering of singles and it was great, The open air kitchen/dining/living space was perfect for such a beautiful environment. The pool was the center of all activity and refreshing on hot Costa Rican days. There is ample space for privacy so even with a large group, this feels like a getaway. If you are considering a first time visit, know that it is a great benefit to being able to cook your own food here. There are restaurants nearby, but why leave when you are staying in such a beautiful location? Awesome proximity to the beach. Coconut harry's beachfront surf shop is right on your way. (highly recommend these people: they are honest and helpful and will absolutely NOT try to rip you off in any way). I felt completely comfortable with the owners of this home the whole time i was planning this trip. Can't wait to go back. Pura Vida! Tiffany

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

Guest: Donnelle & Gary
Date of Stay: 11/26/10 Review Submitted: 11/27/10

We just returned from Casa Cristal de Mar late last night. We spent day and night for over a week making sure everything is operating just right and adding all the final touches. We are so excited about the upgrades and it was very hard to leave such a beautiful and relaxing home. New professional pictures and video coming soon. Pura Vida !!

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Guest: Owners
Date of Stay: 02/04/10 Review Submitted: 02/03/10

Well, we are back for a quick trip to check on the house. Had to squeeze in a week between clients. We have not been here since May. Had a great surf session this morning. Nice, glassy waves with offshore winds. Could not have been better. We have owned this house for 10 years and our family is so connected to Villa Las Olas. Incredibly relaxing. Please come and enjoy our little piece of paradise. Pura Vida!

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Guest: Peggy & John
Date of Stay: 11/22/07 Review Submitted: 11/21/07

What an awesome place to spend some time surfing and relaxing and playing and sleeping. Waves varied from very small to overhead, but were consistently a very friendly break that was enjoyed by all. House is an awesome place to recover rest and refuel for the time in the waves. Playa Guiones is truly a special place. Thanks for sharing your beautiful house with us. We will return!

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