Amazing Beach Front Villa with Infinity Pool

• A-m-a-z-i-n-g V-a-c-a-t-i-o-n

  A-m-a-z-i-n-g V-a-c-a-t-i-o-n

  • Guest Amber Yedinak
  • Date of stay 09/09/12
  • Review Submitted 10/10/12
  It's hard to sum up the trip that we all had, but I will try in an effort to help those who are undecided. The house alone is spectacular. Everything is spacious; everyone has their own bathroom; everyone has room to enjoy or rest at the same time. As far as the house goes it is really indescribable the moments that you can have, when the ocean and pool are calm; when the sunset reflects in the pool water; when you wake up and paradise stares you down. I can spend forever talking about the house and how it really is A+, but I'll just say that the website doesn't do it justice and I wish there was a place where guests can post their pictures for everyone to see how amazing it is. The other 2/3 of the trip that made everything so amazing were Tomas & Janet and Dervin & his services. Between the two, I don't think you can be treated better while in Costa Rica. Tomas is truly there when you need him and disappears when you don't. Janet gives the most amazing massages that soothe more than any I've had in the states, and Dervin with his crew that are so catering, and kind, and eager to do a great job to make us happy. I often think of them and wonder if they know that the Americans who stayed there are so very grateful for them. Our trip of 25 was half at the house and half at the hotel Bahia del Sol (moments down the beach...which also had rave reviews from our crew). It worked out to be an amazing trip for a large group of people, so whether you want a small gathering or more...Joan, the owner (with her relentless patience and willingness to answer all of your questions), Tomas & Janet, the caretakers (with their dedication to the property and service to its residents), and Dervin's company (with his ability to juggle many people's desires, all while speaking a second language)...the Villa del Corazon is the place to be...at LEAST once in your life. I hope this review has done it justice.

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

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• We've already recommended this place to all of our friends! (and some of them have booked it!)

  We've already recommended this place to all of our friends! (and some of them have booked it!)

  • Guest Amy C.
  • Date of stay 03/23/13
  • Review Submitted 04/28/13
  I have repeated over and over to everyone I know that this place is our Tropical Destination of Choice! Joan's home was a perfect setting for our 2-family vacation - the home, the pool, the beach, the little town, the fruit market within walking distance (never have we had so many delicious pineapples and watermelons!), the restaurants just a walk down the beach. It was exotic and at the same time so comfortable and familiar. Dervin and his associates made our vacation unforgettable, and Tomas and Janet were available 24/7 for all that we needed. Everyone we met was so kind and helpful, even if we didn't speak the same language. I will 100% recommend this home for a wonderful Costa Rican experience. I promise you....... you will be back! And the best way I can thank you, Joan, for sharing your wonderful home is by giving you more business..... and I know I have already!!!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, people with disabilities, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

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• Pura Vida with Family and Friends -- and a little bit more.

  Pura Vida with Family and Friends -- and a little bit more.

  • Guest Big Boss Fife's Buddy
  • Date of stay 03/16/13
  • Review Submitted 04/17/13
  My second time to CR, but first time as a vacationer. The family we vacation with submitted a review a couple of reviews down the page, but wanted to add a few of my own notes as well. 1. Dervin's the man. Just contact him and things happen. Enough said. 2. Dervin hooked us up with an excursion where we did a water slide, zip lines, horseback riding and then relaxed in pools. An all day affair. Well worth it. Seems like it ran around $150....give or take $20. Can't really remember. A word about the waterside, however. This is a slide like no other slide. Basically, its up on the mountain, and they gather a huge pool of water behind the slider, then open a gate and the pool of water rushes out at one time taking the rider down the mountain at HIGH rates of speed. I'm sure I'll never see another water slide like that one again. 3. The surf directly behind the house is very nice for boogie boarding. No worries there. But, if you want some epic boogie boarding waves, head to Playa Grande. Again, Dervin took us to a beachfront hotel in Playa Grande where we had a nice lunch. Those that eat lunch at the hotel are welcome to use the pool, albeit rather modest, while the rest of the group heads out to the beach fronting the hotel. Wave after wave after wave after wave......no rest for the weary here. Boogie boarding at its very finest. If you enjoy challenging boogie boarding....this is the place. 4. Promise yourself that you'll allow Thomas and Janet to cook a meal at least once. Guarantee you won't regret it. The rice pudding is insane. 5. Really, the house has everything. Part of the day the ocean is perfect for swimming, and part of the day it's perfect for boogie boarding. The pool is large and clean. The house is large and comfortable. The staff is excellent. It's within walking distance of some small grocery shops, but within driving distance of larger shops. Hope to get back some day.

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• Pura Vida with Family and Friends

  Pura Vida with Family and Friends

  • Guest Big Boss Fife
  • Date of stay 03/17/13
  • Review Submitted 03/25/13
  The Villa was Excellent, as advertised. Plenty of room for 2 families, we had 9 kids there and 4 adults, 2 of the kids were 20 and the rest ranged from 18 to 6. We all had a fabulous time. As many have reviewed this house I will just say it is just about perfect. We had great luck with waves right in front of the house and we all spent lots of time on the beach and around the pool. The key to our stay was Dervin and his crew. They were the real deal, knew the area, could get us on any tour, to and from any place we wanted to go and they really helped us organize our trip. They are a 10 out of 10. I could go on about the house and Costa Rica but suffice it to say this was my families second trip to Costa Rica and it was the best. What a great country and great people and great accommodation. Thomas and his wife were great, there when we needed them and invisible when we did not. We had them cook the last day and that was our biggest mistake.......they should have cooked everyday, every meal...it was fantastic. Highly recommending this great spot for anyone who wants a great place to stay and be able to enjoy local flavor. Thumbs up....pura vida.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, families with teenagers, families with young children.

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• Memorable Vacation

  Memorable Vacation

  • Guest Laurie
  • Date of stay 01/12/13
  • Review Submitted 02/01/13
  What an AMAZING vacation!! My husband's parents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with all of their children/spouses and grandchildren (14 total) ages ranging from 16-73. The house was able to accomodate us all very nicely. The house had everything we had hoped and more!! The trip would not have been what it was if it wasn't for Dervin, Pepe and Gravin!! Anything we needed we just made a phone call to Dervin and he made it happen. The dinner at the Golden Shrimp was memorable for my inlaws! The tour to Buena Vista and the Jungle river boat tour were both amazing and highly recommended!! Thanks to Janet and Tomas for making fabulous dinners for us!! Best pico de gallo and guacamole!! The days spent at the house around the pool and beach were also very memorable. Can't wait to return!!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, people with disabilities, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

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• BEST VACATION EVER

  BEST VACATION EVER

  • Guest love vacations
  • Date of stay 12/26/12
  • Review Submitted 01/09/13
  Congratulations to Joan on such a beautiful home! Loved the house. Loved the beach. Loved the area. We are four families with lots of kids. The house was perfect for us. We all had our private space and the kids would gather in the upstairs room for fun and games while us adults would cocktail on the patio for amazing sunsets. We have taken many vacations together. Hands down everyone agrees that this home and this area was the best vacation ever. Janet and Tomas were wonderful. There when we needed them and not there when we were just enjoying our family and friends. We had them cook a few delicious meals. We tried some of the restaurants close to the house.....all yummy. The kayaking, the boogie boarding and swimming in front of the house and in the pool kept all the kids busy. We did go on some excursions, Especially loved the river trip to see crocodiles and white faced monkeys. The catamarran snorkel cruise is also a must. Both are incredible ways to experience real nature. One of our guys even tried fishing from the beach. Zip lining for some. There is just so much to do that you cannot do it all in one week. We have to go back. We came away with great photos and memories. Thank you again, Joan for sharing your beautiful home with us.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, people with disabilities, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

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• House Needs Updating

  House Needs Updating

  • Guest Frequent Traveler
  • Date of stay 12/06/12
  • Review Submitted 12/21/12
  Booking: 5/5 The booking process was very easy. Joan was very helpful in answering any questions we had and the ability to take credit cards was quite helpful. Location: 3.5/5 Playa Potrero is a dusty little beach town with few options for dining and activities. The supermarket in town is thin and if you want to get anything beyond the basics you’re going in the car. The drive to flamingo is 10 minutes and the drive to Tamarindo is 30-40 minutes. Looking back we would have looked at staying in Flamingo or closer to Tamarindo. The upside is the area was very quiet. The House: 3/5 The house is nice but there are drawbacks to consider. The layout is nice overall and is good for one large family or multiple families. The pool is nice and is great for kids. The main drawback is the condition. It’s getting dated and in need of upgrades. During our visit, both the A/C in one of the bedrooms died and the dishwasher didn’t work as well. They were fixed within two days but on a one week vacation that’s annoying. Also the front left bedroom constantly smells like sewage and the answer to fix it was to add more glade. The towels are in rough shape and furniture and appliances are showing some serious wear. For the money paid you should expect better. The Beach: 3/5 The beach is very quiet with no crowds The sand is black and soft and the water is very warm but cloudy. The downside is there are lots of dogs roaming the beach that take care of their business on the beach and it’s everywhere!! The surf is also weak in that area which may be a plus for some. My point is this, if you are expecting some beautiful white sand beach with clear blue water go to flamingo. Dervin: 5+/5 Dervin Rocks! Even if you are not staying at this house use him. His website is www.yellowfinsportfishing.com/ and use him for everything in the area. He is the ultimate concierge and the rates he negotiates are very competitive and he is extremely friendly. Tours, taxis, food or dining he is your go to guy down there. If you going to this part of Costa Rica call Dervin. Overall: 3.5/5 Would I go back to Costa Rica? In a second! It’s a beautiful country, friendly people, and easy to get to. Would I stay in this house again. Not likely. The location is far from ideal, the house needs updating, and the price is high for what you get. Based on the above you may still want to stay there but I would consider all the factors above before deciding.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, families with young children.

  Owner response: I was very dismayed to read this review. Sadly and unfortunately this gentleman had a bad experience in the villa and it caused a negative exaggeration in his discription of the villa and it's ammenities. We experienced a drain problem in one of the showers. All homes require repairs on ocassion. As always when repairs are needed they get our immediate attention. Costa Rica suffered a large earthquake a couple of months ago. There was some damage to the drain in this shower. It took awhile for the problem to show up. This problem is being corrected. I take great pride in the 60 great reviews listed on this site. In fact the guests who are staying in the villa right now emailed me yesterday. I quote: "Hi Joan, I want to congratulate you on such a beautiful house. My family and I are enjoying it very much" She then went on to ask to reserve the house for next year. One such exaggeration are his comments on the price of the rental. Other villas that are beach front that offer the same capacity of sleeping are simply more expensive than mine. I ask a fair price and offer a great value! Calling my beach a black sand beach is rediculous and false. We are a soft lite brown sand beach as most beaches on the Pacific Coast including Tamarindo. The photos on the site show it exactly as it is. Tomas rakes and cleans our beach every day for the comfort of our guests. I have never experience dog poop all over the place. Our water out front is the safest in all of Costa Rica. No rip tides or dangerous currents as there are on many of the beaches in the area. Most guests appreciate our location. We are outside the hustle bustle of the larger towns. Yet, close enough to enjoy the ammenities they offer. Potrero is quaint and offers the Costa Rican experience.There are pleanty of activities and restaurants close. I always replace towels, sheets, glasses and all the items that either wear out or break. Last year I replaced all the inside towels with 20 sets of new. I believe in his review he must have been complaining about the beach towels that I provide. This is an extra that is not provided by most houses. New ones are arriving the first week of Jan. In October of this year I recovered all the couch cushions. They can't possibly have deteriorated in two months. It is my highest priority to ensure that my guests have a great experience in the Villa Corazon Del Mar.I hope you will consider the other 60 reviews and come and stay with us!

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• Three Family Vacation

  Three Family Vacation

  • Guest Nicol
  • Date of stay 07/09/12
  • Review Submitted 08/26/12
  Wow what a wonderful trip and a wonderful house! We were three families ~ my parents, sister & brother in law with their four girls, my husband and I with our two girls. The house was comfortable and enjoyable! The sunsets were amazing! Joan did an incredible job in providing information on anything we needed. Yellow Fin Sporting (Dervin and Gravem) are highly recommended and a must if you stay in Playa Potrero. Tomas took care of all our needs....at one point the ac went out....it was taken care of immediately! Truly an experience we will never forget!!! Note to Joan - Thanks so much for sharing your house, provided services and amentities! You have allowed us to have the PERFECT Costa Rican vacation!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with teenagers.

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• Truly awesome 50th birthday adventure!

  Truly awesome 50th birthday adventure!

  • Guest Sdavids
  • Date of stay 06/24/12
  • Review Submitted 07/08/12
  We have been reading reviews of Joan's villa for over a year when we first started looking for a VBRO in Costa Rica to celebrate my 50th. We read review after review but really had no idea how amazing Joan's villa is. First of all... as always, the pictures do not do the house justice. It is a more amazing house than pictured and is great for a large group. We had a total of 10 guests the first week and 9 the second week. Each couple had their own bathroom! Nice! Even though we all had our own space, we sincerely enjoyed the kitchen, living room and, most of all, the beautifuly infinity pool! Janet and Tomas were really great and helped us with everything! We asked them to cook for us and it was a wonderful meal of fist we caught same day! I would recomend Janet giving you a massage, mani or pedi, for she is very good at these skills and has reasonable prices for the work she puts into the events. The significant plus of staying at the house, however, is the fact that, per Joan's suggestion, we hooked up with Dervin and Graven for our transportation and excursions. Dervin's company is "yellowfinsportfishing.com" and they were awesome! Graven picked us up from the airport and it took only seconds for us to be impressed with him. Dervin and Graven work with most of the guests from the house and you will not go wrong working with them on all of your excursions. They offered to pick us up and take us wherever we needed to go. They did the little things that made our trip the most amazing vacation by bring us birthday cakes, going grocery shopping with us, and planning the wonderful excursions. They pointed out all sorts of animals and birds, and stopped on a dime for us to take photos. The whole experience was superb and worth every penny! On another note, we adopted a house dog while we were there and named him Henri. He is the most loyal, playful and friendly Shepherd mix and he followed us up and down the beach every day. We have so many pictures of him hanging out in the water and we really enjoyed his company! Thank you Janet and Tomas for adopting Henri! Overall, our expectations of Joan's home and our Costa Rica adventure were significantly exceeded! Thanks to Joan, Dervin, Graven, Janet and Tomas for a forever memory!

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

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• Wish there were 6 Stars!

  Wish there were 6 Stars!

  • Guest Jr
  • Date of stay 06/08/12
  • Review Submitted 06/19/12
  Great location! Non commercial feel. Great staff. ---everything in the profile is accurate (perhaps understated). Would recommend to anyone...and already have!

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

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Easter...$7000/wk Christmas.,$8500./wk New Years $8500.wk Thanksgiving $4500.wk
High Season: $4200.00 per week January, February, March, April
Medium High Season $3900.00 per week June, July,August,November, December
Low  Season ... From $2900/week. May, Sept.(after Labor Day week), Oct.
Rates are for occupancy of up to 10 people $25.00 per person per day for over 10 
Three night minimum will prorate rental rate
25% deposit required to book dates. Fee is non-refundable

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