Found my island paradise

Guest: mrbru (New York)
Date of Stay: 08/22/09 Review Submitted: 09/01/09

Casa Tamara was a real island paradise! It was incredibly spacious, comfortable, private, and right on the beach! The villa came equipped with everything one may need when traveling, it a fabulous location for a beach and for going out, and the owner is incredibly sweet, helpful, and responsive to whatever questions one may have.

Owner response:Thanks for being our guests. I am glad that you liked the privacy of the house and the proximity to everything there is to do in Rincon. Please come again. Nancy

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

The Best Family Vacation We've Ever Had!

Guest: Kimberlee S.
Date of Stay: 07/09/11 Review Submitted: 07/28/11

We have just returned from a fantastic vacation in Rincon and I wanted to write to thank you before the glow and tan wore off! Last year my husband and I and our two children, 3 and 6 years old, stayed in Casa Serena. We know that you usually rent the houses separately, but we thought that they might work well for a big family reunion. We reserved both homes, Casa Serena and Casa Tamara and were hoping that having our whole family together, but in 4 separate apartments, would not be too much for all of us. It worked out better than we had imagined. Nancy was great to work with and the caretakers were so helpful - they even brought us fresh fruit from their garden. We had our family, our three siblings' families and our parents, 19 people in all. Each couple had a master bedroom with a private bathroom, quite a luxury, and there were enough bedrooms for all the kids. By the way, the beds were super comfortable. The houses are beautifully furnished, had all the amenities and the kitchens were very well equipped. Since each apartment is totally separate, each family had their privacy, when they wanted it and yet we were all together, when we wanted that. Since Casa Serena and Casa Tamara are right next door to each other, we could wander back and forth easily. We did barbeque twice and had a great time having dinner all together. That's all about the houses and the convenience for a big group, but since most people don't come in a big group, I want to say that the main attraction of your houses is the location. We found out last year that your houses are on the best beach in Rincon, maybe in all of Puerto Rico! And the beach is right there. We could roll out of bed and jump into the beautiful, clear, calm water of your Caribbean beach. The older kids loved snorkeling right in front of the house and the water was calm enough for the younger kids. And my parents, in the late Fifties, loved the fact that the water was calm and shallow for a good distance. Also, we were all very happy that you have a fenced in grassy back yard so that the kids could run around without running into the water, and some of us older folks could just sun on the lounge chairs in the backyard. And then the hammocks were a great attraction, the teenagers tended to monopolize them. When we weren't on the beach or relaxing at the house, we enjoyed

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

It is the best beach in Rincon!

Guest: Roger and Sharon (Minneapollis, MN USA)
Date of Stay: 03/12/11 Review Submitted: 04/10/11

Everything about the vacation was perfect, the location, the setting, the food, people and weather. We found Rincon to be a wonderful town, the local people there were extremely friendly and helpful. The location of your house couldn't have been more perfect. It really is on the best beach in Rincon. We spent the entire week doing nothing and all of us came back very relaxed. We would go to the beach mid morning, then eat a late lunch and spend the rest of the day spread out in the hammocks and lounge chairs reading and napping. In the evening we would go out to dinner and then come back to the house and open up a bottle of wine, sit on the porch and talk. We were all so sad to come back, but we are having a fun time showing off our tans! One day we went to St Germaine, but the town was somewhat deserted. We never made it to the rain forest. We have already told our friends about Casa Tamara and will recommend it to others. We hope to some day return. We were never in Puerto Rico before and fell in love with the Island.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.

review of home

Guest: bill (westchester co. ny)
Date of Stay: 02/18/11 Review Submitted: 02/28/11

dear nancy we just returned from our trip to rincon and to your beautiful home - in order of importance i want to tell you first that dealing with you was an absolute pleasure - your home was beautiful and exceeded our expectations - everything was clean - well furnished and well supplied - the bedrooms were nicely air conditioned - the "split system " you use does a great job of keeping the rooms cool - the kitchen had everything we needed and we did a fair amount of cooking - the house was quiet - which we really appreciated - i suspect that the floors must be concrete because we never heard our upstairs neighbors, who by the way were a terrific couple who we socialized with and who eventually joined us at the wedding - the house is well away from the main drag rt 115 and there was no traffic noise at night, your grounds were very nice - the house fronts on the best beach we encountered - the beach is sandy - no rocks - and the water was clear- and very accessible - some of the beaches north of your home where the waves break heavy are rocky - but yours was great - there are some other nice things ,, like walking distance, to the public track - elyse and i used almost daily for exercise and there were classes given in fitness and yoga most mornings - rincon itself was very enjoyable - a nice mix of locals and guests - good restaurants -we walked around town and on th ebeach at night and we always felt safe and secure - so, in all , we will see you again --thanks for everything ,, bill kerrigan

Owner response:Dear Bill, Thanks for choosing our home for your own place away from the action during this week of preparation and celebration of your daughter's wedding. I am so gratified that it served you well and that you were able to enjoy your time in Rincon. Please come back again when you can truly relax. All the best, Nancy

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

Three Weeks in Paradise!

Guest: Marla Okrant (-)
Date of Stay: 01/08/11 Review Submitted: 02/21/11

Three weeks in Paradise! Dear Nancy, We really had the vacation of our dreams! Casa Tamara was super... I don't think there was a thing we needed that wasn't there! Beds were very, very comfortable! The porch, yard, and beach were divine... being back in New Hampshire is such a rude awakening! Thanks for checking in on us when the power went out. We located the candles and flashlights you told us about, and had a delightful dinner by candlelight! Hector and Gladys were amazingly helpful. They checked in on us from time to time, always answered our calls -and were so pleasant and nice! All in all, we loved Casa Tamara and our Rincon vacation. Thank you for sharing your wonderful house with us! Best, Marla

Recommended for:

Everything it claims to be

Guest: eric (mass)
Date of Stay: 05/01/10 Review Submitted: 07/18/10

I had my family vacation hrer in May 2010 ,there was 15 of us all my kids and spouses and blessed with grand kids also . I would like to say it was our first vacation together and the best time of my life the location the house itself it was almost sureal .There was something for everybody to do or not .Everything was there steps outside our door . View there website its all true ,we would go back again.

Owner response:Dear Eric and family, It was a pleasure to host your whole family for your birthday, and especially to meet you all, a lovely family. I am very glad that you enjoyed your stay and please come back for another family celebration. I appreciate your mentioning that our website is accurate as this is always a concern of prospective guests searching for a vacation rental. thanks again for sharing our home. Nancy

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

We Wanna Go Back!!!!

Guest: SkipDel (Thomaston, CT USA)
Date of Stay: 04/10/10 Review Submitted: 05/17/10

We Want To Go Back ASAP!!!!!! To say that Nancy Renee's Casa Tamara vacation house on the beach in Rincon, Puerto Rico is an island of unforgettable relaxation and restful enjoyment would be an understatement!! The 6 adults (three couples)who spent over a week there in April found the local people to be very friendly and helpful(we got lost, ran into a local who knew where we were staying, and said, "follow me!!!" and we made it there!!) The accommodations at Casa Tamara were more than ample. The spacious kitchen(with large eat-in area) was open to the living room which gave the appearance of openness and spaciousness. The three bedrooms, two with private bath, and the third bath in the hall worked well for the three couples. Air cnditioning? Such, but we did not need it! The ceiling fans kept us cool, both day and night. The constant lapping of the ocean waves on the beach, which is a 10 second walk from the covered back porch/deck, calmed nerves and helped in the regeneration process. After all, isn't that what vacations are for??? And if you wanted to read your favorite book or two, please do; the covered porch/deck has a very large table on one side and a barbie on the other, making it excellent venue for eating in!! There is plenty to see in the area as well!! From the famed lighthouse where the Caribbean meets the Atlantic, to the neat little restaurants, there is plenty to keep your mind off the office!!! Of course, nature's symphony was there as well, as could be attested to by the crowing of the roosters and the barking of the local doggies...but that made the lapping of the ocean waves on the beach just that much more welcomed!! Return? You betcha!! The three couples are already planning their return visit to Casa Tamara next year. So watch out roosters, you might end up on our barbie one night!!

Owner response:Thanks for choosing our home and enjoying your visit. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!

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

Just what we needed!

Guest: DC Family Travelers (Washington DC)
Date of Stay: 03/21/10 Review Submitted: 05/14/10

We just got back from PR last week and can't stop thinking about how fabulous it was. I got off our flight into DC and burst into tears, we had such a good time. The place was perfect for us (and our friends, who stayed in the villa next door). We all loved the proximity to the beach and the surf was just right for the kids (ages 9, 8, 7 and 4). The big boys boogie-boarded and snorkeled, while the 4-year-old loved playing on the sand for hours at a time. We really enjoyed being able to make all our meals at "home" and that everything we needed was in walking distance. We also appreciated all the suggestions made in the binder the owner left (and sent to us prior to our trip). We can't wait to come back next year!

Owner response:We are so glad you enjoyed our home and your vacation in Rincon. Please come back soon.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Go to Rincon and Stay at Casa Tamara

Guest: D. Lighted (Boston)
Date of Stay: 04/17/10 Review Submitted: 04/26/10

We just got back from Casa Tamara (April 2010). It was the perfect location for us - two couples and our two teenaged daughters. The water was just the right temp - not too hot, not cold at all. We had the option to hang out on the beach or when the sun was too much we could hang in the backyard or the patio and still get the ocean breezes and hear the surf. My wife and her friend enjoyed getting fresh fruit and produce from the roadside stands and trying (and succeeding!) at making local cuisine in the well-equipped kitchen. I don't understand why there were not more people on the beach (not that I'm complaining, just wondering) - Rincon deserves more love from the travelling public than it is currently receiving. I generally don't tend to return to places I've been to, more because there are so many places I'd like to see, but Puerto Rico in general and Rincon in particular could well be exceptions. For what it is worth - we have recently been to Puerto Morales (south of Cancun) and to St. John V.I. and while those places had their merits, I much preferred the friendly laid-back vibe of Rincon. Nancy is personable and professional as are her local caretakers.

Owner response:Thanks very much for being our guests, enjoying our home, our terrific beach and our laid back town. It is definitely an ideal place to relax. Please do come back again.

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

Wonderful time, wonderful place, wonderful value

Guest: Mary and Connie (Green Bay WI USA)
Date of Stay: 03/27/10 Review Submitted: 04/16/10

My sister Connie, her husband Greg, and their two children invited me to join them on their vacation this year (3/27/10 to 4/7/10). All of us had vacationed on Vieques before but never on the main island of Puerto Rico. What a delight to spend our vacation in such comfortable accomodations with the beautiful Caribbean at our doorstep. Our plan was to spend a week in Tamara and then, after Greg flew home, for Connie, the kids, and I to move down the beach to a hotel for our last several days of vacation. Nancy knew of our plans and when Serena unexpectedly became available after our stay at Tamara was over, she let us know it was ours if we were interested. We were!! The kids, ages 4 and 6, schlepped the foodstuffs through the backyard from Tamara to Serena while Connie and I did the heavy lifting and we were resettled in less than an hour. Casa Serena, though smaller than Tamara, was just as nice in every way. The kids had a blast. The ocean waves were just big enough to thrill them and we celebrated my sister's son's birthday on the spacious, Tamara patio (complete with presents, cake, homemade decorations, and pizza (the birthday boy's dinner of choice). The kids were relieved that the Easter Bunny knew of their whereabouts and that he had hidden their Easter baskets in Casa Tamara and scattered Easter eggs in the back yard for them to find. If future renters happen to find any stray eggs, you'll know how they came to be there). We had such a fun time in both casas - enjoying the tropical surroundings, beautiful beach and sunsets, great meals on the patio - my sister is a wonderful chef - and the peaceful surroundings. We shopped for groceries and inexpensive island clothing (some real bargains) in a little mall just 3 short blocks from the properties and had some great dinners out at The Rincon Inn and Rincon by the Seas. Had we stayed longer, I'd have many more fun adventures to report - Rincon has so much to offer. But our goal was relaxation and great times with the kids and we had both! Your property caretakers, Hector and Gladys are lovely people. You're fortunate to have such dedicated employees. Thanks for everything Nancy. You have two beautiful, well-managed places. We will enthusiastically recommend Casa Tamara and Casa Serena to others. Greg, Connie, Elena, Max, and their Auntie Mae

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