Vacation Rentals by Owner

Read Our Reviews!!! Beautiful Casa Mambo; Beach/Pool/Surf/Wi-Fi/Maids [#348107] | View Property

Playa Grande
2 bdrm, 1 bath, full kitchen, bar, living/dining area w/covered patio, sleeps 6
$125/nt US Dollars
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Traveler Reviews (22)

• We loved our stay at Casa Mambo!

  We loved our stay at Casa Mambo!

  • Guest Anonymous
  • Date of stay 05/25/13
  • Review Submitted 06/13/13
  We had a wonderful time at Casa Mambo. We loved the villa, it was very comfortable and we felt very at home. The pool was great, very tropical. We had it to ourselves most of the time, We loved sitting out on the patio every morning having our coffee, listening to the sounds of nature, and looking at all the tropical plant surrounding us. It is a 5 minute walk to the most beautiful beach. We rented surf boards and boogie boards and enjoyed the surf. There was no beach chairs but we rented some at a hotel up the street. We had some fun times at Bula Bula Hotel, walking distance, bartenders were great! Enjoyed a great meal at Rip Jacks, excellent pizza at El Huertos, and tacos on the beach. Also, went to Playa Flamingo for a day trip and did a ATV tour called On Top of the World, took us up the congo trail and to some beautiful secluded beaches. Thank you to Alyssa and Hank for a wonderful vacation. We can't wait to go back! Pura Vida!

  Owner response: Thank you so much. We look forward to your return soon. Pura Vida, Hank

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Timid Travelers Delighted

  Timid Travelers Delighted

  • Guest snowman123
  • Date of stay 04/30/13
  • Review Submitted 05/12/13
  Wow! Casa Mambo was absolutely perfect for us! We 3 ladies from Texas thoroughly enjoyed our week-long stay. The property is very clean and well maintained and is within a gated community. We never felt uncomfortable about walking anywhere. The casa is absolutely beautiful and the amenities were wonderful! Everything we needed was close at hand. We spent each morning on the lovely covered patio drinking our coffee and watching the iguanas take their morning stroll. The beautiful beach is an easy walk as are great places to eat and enjoy the scenery and/or your favorite tropical drink. Bulla Bulla, a local restaurant and bar was quite lively every evening and there are few other smaller eating establishments also available. There is also a water taxi within walking distance and for a small fee will take you across the river to the small town for shopping. The property manager was also a great help to us in finding the right tours for us and for making arrangements for transportation to and from the airport Thanks, Hank, for sharing your beautiful casa with us!

  Owner response: Ladies, thank you so much for taking the time to write the review. You are welcome in our casa anytime and we hope to have you back again in the near future. Mi casa es su casa! Hank

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/1

• Great Place!

  Great Place!

  • Guest Mary S.
  • Date of stay 04/29/13
  • Review Submitted 05/11/13
  What a great place! This casa was just what we, three retired educators, needed to have fun, relax,and tour CR. From the fully equipped kitchen to the relaxing patio, we found this house to have everything we needed for our week stay. We enjoyed the closeness to Tamarinwodo for shopping and the ability to return to the quiet way of life that Casa Mambo provided. If we return to the country, we will certainly stay here again!

  Owner response: Thank you for the wonderful review.Glad to know that you had such a great time. We hope to have you stay with us again sometime soon. Hank

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/1

• Read this review

  Read this review

  • Guest Leslie C.
  • Date of stay 03/30/13
  • Review Submitted 04/01/13
  The reviews on all the sites can't be this place. I was conned into staying when Hank kept saying just read my reviews many from Texans. Don;t stay unless you see clear pictures. No dishwasher, hair dryer, pot covers, bent pans ready for scrap, plastic glasses, toilet that won't handle toilet paper, no beach chairs , 10 feet from neighbors. holes in blankets, platform couches with three inch cushions . From the other reviews I though it was quality property, but this is much like a motel 8. Hank "I don't have any clearer pics at the moment. Please read our reviews if you are doubtful in anyway. It is a beautiful, clean, and comfortable house. ". It is nicely laid out but and with some care and decent quality furnishing it would be very nice. Can't wait to come back more likely can't wait to leave. Also I noticed many positive reviews from owners immediate area?. Housekeeper, and Alyssa the property manager are very nice and helpful. I was sold by the reviews what a mistake. Hanks response "I'm sorry you feel the way you do about Casa Mambo. Again, you are the first to complain about it. Based on your response, has been no misrepresentation of the property description, it's location, or its amenities. You are certainly welcome to depart early however, no form of refund will be offered. A full refund of your security deposit will be given upon departure assuming the property is left in good condition. " On a positive note the beaches are great plenty of towels. Having great time.

  Owner response: FRAUDULENT REVIEW. Please take the time to read all of our reviews and see that there has never been a negative review on Casa Mambo prior to this unfortunate and obviously fraudulent review. My family and I have worked very hard to make and keep this a beautiful, lovely get away as described by all of the rest of the reviews. I can only say that I am working to have this post removed and hope that you will take the time to read all of the rest of our reviews. Sincerely, Hank

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/3

• Perfect place for our first time to Costa Rica!

  Perfect place for our first time to Costa Rica!

  • Guest JillO
  • Date of stay 12/16/12
  • Review Submitted 05/07/13
  We absolutely LOVED our stay at Casa Mambo! We snuck in a pre-Christmas trip and it was perfect for our family 4. Close to the beach, the kids loved the pool in the afternoon. It was quiet, peaceful and we can't wait to get back! We rented boards at Frijoles, my kids learned to surf in the warm water, I did yoga at Rip Jack, we saw a leather back turtle laying her eggs. I did not want to come home! Thanks to Hank and Alyssa for everything!

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

  Owner response: Thank you for taking the time to write a review and I am happy to know that you had such a wonderful time. We look forward to having you back again in the near future. You are welcome anytime. Best Regards, Hank.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/1

• Casa Mambo is an awesome place!!

  Casa Mambo is an awesome place!!

  • Guest Craig P.
  • Date of stay 08/06/12
  • Review Submitted 08/30/12
  Me and two buddies rented out Casa Mambo for two weeks and had a blast! The house was excellent and the maids were great too. We had air conditioning in each room which was just another great perk of this place! Would highly recommend for anyone who is looking for close proximity to the beach and world class surf. The waves are great all summer with off shore winds in the morning and barrels up and down the beach. The store is right next to the house and the food at both Restaurants (Los Malinches and The Great Wallitinis) is awesome. We can't wait to go back again next summer

  Owner response: Glad to know you guys had such and incredible time and thanks for the great review. Just let me know when you are ready to come back down! Pura Vida, Hank

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/5

• Home away from home!!!

  Home away from home!!!

  • Guest Tehren W.
  • Date of stay 05/29/12
  • Review Submitted 06/24/12
  Wow. What a great place. We were thinking of going to Mexico, but after hearing of the travel warnings, we looked into Costa Rica, since many of our friends have been lately and loved it. We were looking for a place to totally relax, away from the hustle and bustle and we found it! From the minute we arrived, we were in true vacation mode. The house is great (very clean and lots of natural light) and had everything we needed. We felt like we were at home. Each morning we ate at the market near your place on our way to the beach (which is a really short walk), rented surfboards/boogie boards from Jerry (so nice!) and then to the beach. The beach, shells and waves were fantastic. We saw lots of monkeys, iguanas and some really cool birds. The kids loved hanging out at the swimming pool in the evening (which was literally a few steps from the patio), and walking to Hotel Bula Bula for some of the tasty (and STRONG) Waltinis. Everyone is so nice around there and made us feel so welcome. Love all of the teak wood throughout the house. You guys did a great job on the place. We can't wait to visit again. Thank you so much for making the rental process so easy too!!! We highly recommend to others!

  Owner response: Thank you so much for the excellent review. Glad you had such a wonderful time in Casa Mambo and we welcome you back anytime! Our house is your house. Hank

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/4

• Just right for our trip...

  Just right for our trip...

  • Guest Jennifer
  • Date of stay 03/26/12
  • Review Submitted 04/01/12
  Great property - just what we needed. This was a trip wtih my 13 year old daughter - the house had everything we needed. With the beach so close, the pool at the property, little market and a couple of restaurans nearby, we could have never left Playa Grande at all - but it was really easy to go visit some of the other nearby beaches as well, so we did! I'd love to come again for a longer visit with our other kids!

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/3

• Casa Mambo rocks!!

  Casa Mambo rocks!!

  • Guest Rocky
  • Date of stay 03/02/12
  • Review Submitted 03/24/12
  We stayed at Casa Mambo for 7 days and never wanted to leave. We are already trying to figure out a way to get back there soon! It was like we were in our own home. We had everything we needed made available to us. There were wonderful places nearby to eat, drink and relax. The beach was within perfect walking distance and there was a small grocery around the corner for basic needs. Alyssa the property manager was amazing and so very helpful with anything and everything we needed. She went above and beyond our expectations when we needed her help! Thanks again Hank, will be back as quickly as we can make it! Pura Vida:-)

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

  Owner response: Raquel, thanks so much for the great review. Alyssa is a wonderful property manager and a great person. We are thankful we have her. I look forward to having you back to Casa Mambo soon. You are always welcome! Hank

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/3

• Time to lay back and relax

  Time to lay back and relax

  • Guest sunny
  • Date of stay 01/08/12
  • Review Submitted 06/13/12
  We had grand plans of taking day trips outside of Playa Grande but once we got to Casa Mambo we didn't want to leave. Partly because it is much harder to get around then we expected but more so because after only a few hours we knew there was no need to go anywhere. We loved meeting the other families staying in the nearby homes and since we all had children the pool became a social gathering and made sone great new friends from all over the world. Alyssa is available to help plan anything you may need or answer any questions. There is a great little grocery store just a few steps away along with two restaurants. More restaurants are only a short drive away. Rip Jack Inn has outdoor yoga. That became a daily must for me and if you want you can walk there from the beach about a 20 minute walk. They also have a delicious all day menu. I wish I was back there now.

  Owner response: Thanks so much for the wonderful review. Glad to know you had such a great time in Casa Mambo and in Playa Grande. We look forward to having you back again soon. Hank

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/3

• tranquility plus

  tranquility plus

  • Guest folktraveler
  • Date of stay 06/20/11
  • Review Submitted 07/04/11
  We are just wrapping up a 15 day stay at Casa Mambo. Being teachers, we needed a "Chill Out" location and did Casa Mambo fill the bill! June weather was wonderful. The rains came but they cooled things down, lasted a while, not all the time. The temp was great as well, just right. The Casa has everything one would need, is safe, clean, functional, in a cluster of six similar structures around a pool. The plantings are lush and lovely. The area of Palm Beach Estates where Casa Mambo is a neighborhood of beautiful yards and houses and it is a short pleasant walk to the beach. at Playa Grande the water is 80' f , perfect. We rented a vehicle for part of our stay and visited beaches and communities from Playa Panama to the north down to Playa Samara to the south. We believe our decision to stay at Casa Mambo and Playa Grande was perfect. June is quiet here. For most of our stay we have been the only guests in 6 house property that CM is part of. That meant we had our own pool. The availability of groceries, and a few good eateries within a one block distance was an added bonus. There was just the two and we didn't go off on a mad dash to zip line, bungie-jump, crowd the dance floor, white-water rafting cram it all in to a few days.. we re-cooperated, explored, read, swam, snorkeled, napped, floated in the pool... now we are off for a week to Lake Arenal. WE highly recommend Casa Mambo and salute the owners for picking Alyssia as porperty manager. She is a helpful and bright young ex-pat from the states that was and friendly but not effusive. Pura Vida Stan and April

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

  Owner response: Salute! Glad to know you both had such a wonderful time in Casa Mambo. Thanks for the great review and please come back again soon. I hope you are enjoying your trip to Arenal! Enjoy your summer off and I hope to hear from you again soon! Thanks, Hank

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/4

• Wonderful place to stay

  Wonderful place to stay

  • Guest Tama
  • Date of stay 03/27/11
  • Review Submitted 04/03/11
  Just got back from a week in Playa Grande. Your place is the perfect location. Can walk to the beach or to dinner. Love the bar at Bula Bula across the street. Was very hot while we were there so loved having the pool. Went zip lining, diving and on the estuary tour. Alyssa is a wonderful manager. She helped us set up our activities and was always available to answer questions. Thanks so much!

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

  Owner response: Tama, glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay at Casa Mambo. Yes, Alyssa is a great Property Manager and we are so glad that we have her with us. We look forward to having you back again soon. Pura Vida, HAnk

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/4

• Great Place

  Great Place

  • Guest Mandy
  • Date of stay 03/19/11
  • Review Submitted 04/02/11
  I recently spent a week at Casa Mambo in Palm Beach Estates and loved every moment of it. The area is peaceful and well maintained and the house was everything we were looking for. We did most of our own cooking and found the kitchen well equiped. The house was very clean, comfortable and the A/C in the bedrooms was fantastic! I wanted to stay longer and hope to return soon!

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

  Owner response: Thanks Mandy! Glad to know you enjoyed your stay at Casa Mambo so much. Would love to have you back again anytime. Pura Vida! Hank

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/4

• Paradise......ahhhhhhhhh

  Paradise......ahhhhhhhhh

  • Guest Living Life
  • Date of stay 01/06/11
  • Review Submitted 01/16/11
  This has become my favorite vacation spot! It's a true "get away" and adventure in one. The house was clean and tastefully decorated. Built-in furniture (very comfortable) and beautiful wood cabinets and trim. This is one of 6 houses on the property with a shared pool. Double French doors open onto the patio, which we kept open all day. The staff is friendly and helpful. We fed the iguanas fruit in the morning, and birds fly down for crackers and take them right out of your hand. We placed a plate of leftovers out at night to see what would come around. A mother and baby raccoon came by nightly for the free meal! I spent an entire day walking around with my camera. The bugs, the animals, the flowers & trees,….wow! The beach is a 5 minute walk; the estuary (where you can fish) is a stone throw away. There's a little grocery and eatery right around the corner. One night, through the turtle museum, we were guided onto the beach to watch an endangered Leatherback turtle lay her eggs. (They are huge!) We went horseback riding through the jungle and saw howler monkeys in the trees. We took a sailing/snorkeling trip out of Playa Flamingo. You can walk down the beach and take a water taxi over to Tamarindo for some shopping (make sure you're back in time to get the last taxi of the day!). We drove inland and went zip lining through the trees. We drove to a neighboring town and ate at a restaurant on the beach (it’s literally in the sand, with the local pig named Lola sleeping nearby). There is so much to see and do! This was my second trip and it's never long enough. The people are friendly and helpful (and most speak English in Playa Grande). Take a Spanish book along if you venture out and don't speak the language. The beach is beautiful, un-crowded, and full of life. Local restaurants have great food and the staff is always willing to help guide you. You can schedule excursions through the local hotels. We even went to a local festival and bullfight (no worries…they don’t hurt the bull). A bunch of crazy nuts get in the bullring and taunt the bull. A few of them did get hurt though. Go figure! Whether you're looking for adventure or some R&R, you will find it here. I love the villa, the surroundings, the beach, the people, the towns, and the country. It's a feast for the eyes and senses. I'll be back this summer with my son after he graduates. We can hardly wait!

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

  Owner response: Glad you had such a wonderful time and enjoyed your stay at the villa. We look forward to having you return again very soon! Thanks, Hank

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/7

• Wonderful trip to Playagrande, Costa Rica

  Wonderful trip to Playagrande, Costa Rica

  • Guest Buddy
  • Date of stay 01/01/11
  • Review Submitted 01/06/11
  We're writing to let you and others, who may be looking for a great vacation, to know what a wonderful time we had in Playa Grande. Your Villa, pool and well kept grounds were so nice and right in the middle of every thing we had hoped fo find. The National Marine Reserve, in which your villa is located, provided wildlife, monkeys, parrots, iguanas and all kinds of floura and exotic birds. We especially enjoyed hand feeding the blue magpies (with the tassels on their heads). Whenever we were dining on the porch, they would fly in and sit on our shoulders until we fed them. The beautiful beach, the estuary, the three great restaurants, and the small grocery store, all within walking distance were so convienent. The majority of Costaricans spoke enough english so that we had very few problems communicating. After the first week, we rented a car and took a trip to one of the active valcanos. We also went repelling (thru the tree tops) and to Flimingo for a dinner cruise. The captain caught a yellow fin tuna and after snorkling for a while, we were treated to some fresh sushi. What a trip. Thank you for renting us your beautiful rental home. We shall return. Buddy and Lynne

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

  Owner response: Looking forward to having you return again soon!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/5

• C'était extraordinaire. It was fantastic.

  C'était extraordinaire. It was fantastic.

  • Guest Huguette
  • Date of stay 12/17/10
  • Review Submitted 01/20/11
  C'était extraordinaire. Beaucoup d'espace dans la maison avec toutes les commodités. Très grand patio. À quelques minutes de marche de la magnifique plage de Playa Grande. Nous y sommes demeurés 20 jours. Nous y retournerons sûrement. Excellents services de la part de la "manager" Alyssa et des femmes de ménage. It was fantastic. Which nice place. We hope to come back next year. I want also to underline the excellent job of Alyssa and the cleaning women. Gracias y hasta el proximo año puede ser.

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

  Owner response: Merci Beaucoup! I am so glad you enjoyed your stay at our villa in Playa Grande. Thanks so much for the glowing review on the villa, Alyssa, our Property Mgr, and the maid service. Yes, Alyssa does a top notch job and her crew does as well. I look forward to having you back in Playa Grande very soon. Pura Vida! Hank

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/4

• We just added drapes and curtains to all windows

  Guest comment entered by owner

  We just added drapes and curtains to all windows

  • Guest Hank
  • Date of stay 12/15/10
  • Review Submitted 12/30/10
  Since the photos were taken, we have installed drapes and curtains throughout the house for your privacy.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/2

• Fabulous Property - Best Value in Playa Grande!!

  Fabulous Property - Best Value in Playa Grande!!

  • Guest Robin
  • Date of stay 12/01/10
  • Review Submitted 12/15/10
  Thank you for introducing me to Playa Grande! Your property is beautiful and walking to the beach was a great way to start and end each day. We soaked up the sun, sights and sounds and look forward to returning - definitely recommending your home to friends and family! Gracias para todo!

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/3

• Wonderful Vacation Get-Away!

  Wonderful Vacation Get-Away!

  • Guest Nicole & Tim Braley
  • Date of stay 09/06/10
  • Review Submitted 01/16/11
  What a wonderful vacation get-away! There was 4 of us, 2 couples, and we had more than enough room and we just loved our stay. In addition to all the wonderful amenities nearby, such as the swimming pool, awesome restaurants, and beach!, we just loved the peace and tranquility of this unique and homey bundgalow in the forest. We saw lots of wildlife and the local residents were so hospitable. We definitely will return. Thanks for the great vacation!

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

  Owner response: Please come back again soon and thanks for the great review. Hank

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/3

• Great stay in Playa Grande

  Great stay in Playa Grande

  • Guest Kelly
  • Date of stay 06/22/10
  • Review Submitted 12/27/10
  Our family of five had a great time staying in this beautiful Villa in Playa Grande. Plenty of room for everyone and all the comforts of home. Just a short walk to the beach with great surf. My kids loved swimming in the pool, collecting shells on the beach, and bogey boarding in the warm water. The estuary tour and seeing the howler monkeys should not be missed. Close to all the action in Tamarindo if you are looking for nightlife, but plenty of peace and quiet if you just want to relax. We definitely want to come back when the leatherback turtles are hatching. Thanks Hank for a wonderful vacation!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with young children, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/2

• Can't wait to return!!!

  Can't wait to return!!!

  • Guest Tehren W.
  • Date of stay 01/01/10
  • Review Submitted 01/07/11
  We took our children, ages 8 & 11, and created memories of a lifetime. The villa is beautiful and in the PERFECT location. We walked to the beach every day for surfing & boogie boarding, took a sailing trip to a private beach, went ziplining, walked to restaurants, cooked a few of our own meals and took in the sights and sounds of Costa Rica. Monkeys and iguanas were everywhere! The shelling is fantastic. There were literally thousands of live sand dollars on the beach. We love the teakwood cabinets throughout the villa. They're beautiful! Thank you for your attention to detail and for introducing us to a beautiful country, and a truly awesome place to stay. We will definitely be booking another trip soon!

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

  Owner response: Glad to hear that you all had a wonderful time. We look forward to having you back again soon. Thanks for the great review! Hank

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/4

• Costa Rica trip

  Costa Rica trip

  • Guest Yvonne
  • Date of stay 12/26/08
  • Review Submitted 01/03/11
  You never know what you might see. Beautiful colors everywhere. You might find an iquana ready to be fed, or monkeys in the trees, and beautiful birds for sure. The weather is perfect. The food is awesome and includes fine dinning as well as casual and it is all affordable. There is so much to do within walking distance. Surfing, shopping and great night life or fishing trips. If a private place on the beach is what you want, you can find that too. I highly recommend The Townsend's home for families, couples or friends get together. All ages will enjoy.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/3