Reviews for Playa Junquillal Vacation Rental - VRBO 74203 - 5 BR Guanacaste Villa in Costa Rica, Stunning Villa with 180 Degree Pacific Ocean Views

A gem of a place in Costa Rica

Guest Beverly
Date of stay 12/08/12
Review Submitted 12/25/12

It took me almost 4 hours to find a rental on VRBO for my birthday celebration. And I'm very glad I found Villa Las Palmas Real! Emer, thank you for sharing your home with us. From the moment we exchanged emails & had our phone call, I knew I've picked the right place. The details you provided prior to my visit helped make it a smooth and relaxing vacation. The rocking chairs on the patio was a great welcome on our first day (and during a thunderstorm one night, which was a nice surprise). We had enough beds and space for my friends & family of 7 total. Though it was a bit difficult to sleep at night in the master suites during this summer month since only 1 bedroom in the basement had A/C. It was well over 90 degrees & extremely humid during the day, and the temp wouldn't come down at night. An airconditioned bedroom would've been a nice respite after long days of sightseeing & activities. But its okay, we adjusted & we had extra fans. Suldri took good care of our needs (the daily cleaning & laundry was much welcome). The reason I picked Playa Junquillal is because of its somewhat remote location. I'm not a "resort-type" of a vacationer, I highly prefer the local scene. And its exactly what I got. We rented 2 cars at Liberia airport to accommodate our group; drove to Santa Cruz for lunch and stocked up on groceries; then it was ~1-1.5 hrs of smooth driving to Junquillal until the last 1-2 km of gravel. It was 5pm, so we stopped at Bar Junquillal to watch our first Costa Rican sunset. All the activities we wanted to do were within the neighborhood limits: horseback riding by the beach, estuary kayak tour, snorkeling & fishing, massage at home and others. It was also just a 20-40 min drive to other scenes like Lola's (beach bar/restaurant), Villa DeeVeena (delicious restaurant), Canopy Pura Aventura for ATV, mountain biking & zip-lining activities, and Nibanna Beach Bar in Tamarindo (very Cancun-ish but had very good drinks & even better prices). Barra Honda Caves were ~1-1.5 hrs East of Junquillal and Rincon de La Vieja National Park is just 15 mins north of the airport. Make sure to bring your iPhone playlists, playing cards or even a couple of DVDs to watch to help you retire at night. We got to know a handful of local people just hanging out, and they couldn't have been nicer and more accommodating. Almost everyone spoke English, they take US dollars, and the water is drinkable! Costa Rica truly is a fantastic country. I wish to go back!

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

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Paradise Found

Guest Thad
Date of stay 11/25/12
Review Submitted 01/03/13

This was my first trip to Costa Rica. I had researched the area that we were going to be in but nothing prepared me for what I experienced. The new airport was a great suprise. There are not many airports in Central and South America that are this nice. The drive to Junquillal was spectacular. The many different sights and sounds along the way seemed to get you into flow of life in Costa Rica. Upon arriving at the property we found the most beautiful and well maintained home. The two master suites seem to have been nicely upgraded. The walk in closets were nice to have. Both bedrooms have never ending views. The architects touch in using open screens in the bedroom kept the temperature cool for Costa Rica. The family dining table is a work of art. It is made from a single slab of wood and it has been lovingly cared for it appears. The kitchen is new, modern and very usable. The best feature of the house in my opinion is the deck that wraps around three sides of the house. You can find a comfortable place to read and socialize morning, noon or night. The sunsets that can be viewed from the deck are some of the most spectacular that I have seen. From the deck you can talk to the Howler Monkeys and if you are lucky as I was you will see fire flys darting in and out of the numerous trees on this huge property. We spent most of the time at the house sitting on the deck. During the day we went to the beach just down the road and read books and went fly fishing off the reef in from of the house. The beach was crowded if they were as many as five people on it at one time. The changes in the tides are huge. This creates one of the widest beaches I have been on. We too a drive to see the turtles lay their eggs and we also went to the National Park to go ziplining and inner tubing down a river. The restaurants that we visited were as good and in some cases better than five star dining in LA. Although the home may be in a quiet and semi remote area I alway felt safe and secure. I was amazed when told that the water out of the faucet was drinkable. For such a small country they have made amazing and ongoing improvements for their citizens. This vacation home offers everything that one could hope for. It was truley a blessing to be able to stay at your home.

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

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Wonderful Costa Rica home with great small town feel

Guest LindseyB
Date of stay 02/24/12
Review Submitted 03/05/12

My husband and I traveled to Costa Rica with our parents (both mine and his) for a week long vacation. This home was very welcoming and was large enough to accomodate 3 couples. The kitchen was fully stocked and the ocean was only a short 1-2 minute walk. We were even lucky enough to have "Raul" the doggie guide us to the beach for a tour where we were able to watch howler monkeys enjoying their breakfast! The home is 'off the beaten path' which was nice because we were able to try the local flavor at the restaurants and get a real feel of Costa Rica. The town was very small and quaint but had some of the best food - the locals were also very nice! Since Playa Junquillal is so small and doesn't offer much in terms of restaurants on the beach, we went to other local beachs during that day that offered better surfing (for beginneris) and better food. We found that Play Avellanas was our favorite! Lola's, the only restaurant on that beach, offers wonderful food and great atmosphere. This beach is about 20 minutes from the home and offers great surf (and even beginner board rentals!) Emer, the owner, is also VERY helpful! She had wonderful recomendations and was a huge asset when we were planning our trip. She even recommended a zipline/adventure tour that was by far the highlight of the trip! The only reason this home doesn't get a 5 star review is because I had failed to notice that only one room (in the basement) was air conditioned. With 95 degree weather (and the laundry machine vent blowing hot air in the home), the house was well over 90 degrees during the days. We were able to cool it down at night (80ish), but it was sure HOT! We also had a lizzard sneak into the basement which offered an extra surprise!

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

Owner response: Dear Lindsey, I am glad you enjoyed your stay in Costa Rica and all of the tips were helpful, especially the zipline day trip. For a small town, Playa Junquillal has some amazing restaurants in the area. Only one is beach front but several have wonderul views of the ocean. We also enjoy going up to Lola's and Playa Negra for additional beach front dining. I am sorry that the dryer was on while you were there. Usually it is used only when necessary during the heavy rainy season (Sept/Oct) since we have an outdoor clothes line. Thanks for the feedback - I will mention it to Suldri. It was unusually hot and still during your 2 day visit. The average temperature is generaly 83 degrees in Feb during the day and 73 at night. The lower 2 bedrooms have air conditioning. The upper two master suites have a cross ventillation window system that provides a great cross breeze and usually makes them comfortable. We have both ceiling fans and floor fans to provide additional air movement when necessary. Sorry about the surprise lizard. It is rare to get unexpected critters inside as we have a lot of weather stripping but it occassionally happens in the tropics. Regards, Emer

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5 Star home in Paradise!

Guest Images J.
Date of stay 01/12/12
Review Submitted 01/23/12

If you want to relax on a perfect beach away from it all this house is for you. The beach is deserted and at most might have 1 or 2 people on it when busy. The bar on the beach serves great drinks and awsome food. The house itself is wonderful and has everything you might need. The view from the porches takes your breth away and is a wonderful place to have coffee in the morning and a sunset drink in the evening. The best advice I can give is STAY LONGER, seriously! Try to stay about 4 or 5 days longer than you originally plan, because once its time to leave you wont want to.

Owner response: Thanks for staying at Villa Las Palmas Real! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay! Congratulations on your engagement! It is exciting to have had another proposal by guests at the house!

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Best yet in Costa Rica!

Guest Anonymous
Date of stay 12/09/11
Review Submitted 12/19/11

I spend several days here in December, at the end of the green/rainy season, having visited Costa Rica from Minnesota 10 times prior. This is my favorite location! The home is beautifully appointed (fabulous and fully equipped kitchen, elegant contemporary furnishings, beautiful marble tile; huge spa like bathrooms) and totally connected with the outdoors. There is a wrap-around deck off the main floor (perfect for "sunsetting") and a large deck off the two master suites on the upper level. Ceilings are high and windows run floor to ceiling. The home is situated on more than 6 acres of land with beautiful gardens, and comes with its own caretaker family. The community is small, but highly connected and friendly, with a private "end of the road" feeling. The beach is stunningly beautiful and populated only by fellow home owners (of which there are few!). Don't miss dinner at Villa deVeena -- perfect for foodies. FWIW, the listing and the photos are completely accurate. The home is spotless, and the owner is incredibly helpful, whether a first time or ten time visitor to CR!

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

Owner response: So glad you enjoyed your visit at Villa Las Palmas and the community of Playa Junquillal!

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Worked for us

Guest Bob
Date of stay 12/22/10
Review Submitted 03/02/11

We had a very pleasant stay in Junquillal over the Christmas holidays 2010/2011. The accommodations were perfect for our two families totaling ten people. My favorite features were the vast openness of the living area along with the two tiers of very comfortable decks. The beautiful pre-Columbian artwork reminded us that we were in a special place, but we already knew that. Of course, having an ocean about 1/4 mile away added immensely. That the ocean beach was quiet and uncrowded added yet more. My only complaint, and minor at that, was that the barbeque grill did not work.

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

Owner response: Dear Bob, We are so glad that you enjoyed your stay, enjoyed the spacious house and the short walk to the unspoiled beach. The pictures that Sarah shared from the family Christmas dinner looked like a lot of fun! It is a great time of year to visit with the bonfires on the beach. Thank you for the feedback on the grill. I understand that the tank was out of gas and there may have been some miscommunication about refilling it. I will follow up with the caretaker and his wife to prevent future misunderstandings. Feedback helps us improve the experience for future guests. We hope that you will return again to experince some of the additional attactions in the area. Emer

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Great place!

Guest Windowace
Date of stay 01/15/10
Review Submitted 03/22/10

This was our third time to Villa Las Palmas Real, and as each time before, it was excellent. The upgrades that have been made to the house since our first visits (1999&2001) were nice. The kitchen is fantastic. If you are into sunsets, being minutes from the beach, coffee on the patio while listening to the parrots and the monkeys in the morning and a wonderful laid back community, Junquillal and Villa Las Palmas Real are for you. To top it all off the daily cleaning (except Sunday) by Suldri is great! She does an absolutely fantastic job. I highly recommend this house and this community. Love it, Love it, Love!

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

Owner response: We are so glad you enjoyed your return visit! We get quite a few return guests and are glad you enjoyed the upgrades. We try to do a little each year in addition to ongoing maintenance. We hope it brought many great memories from your 2001 wedding on the beach down from the house! Over the years we have had weddings, proposals and lots of honeymooners! Looking forward to having you stay again someday! Thanks again for staying with us! Emer

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Guest Peggy Schuster
Date of stay 08/04/09
Review Submitted 08/04/09

Staying at Villa Las Palmas Real during our visit to Costa Rica was an amazing experience. We thoroughly enjoyed the house, especially the amazing view of the ocean and surrounding wildlife. This house is truly designed to take advantage of the surrounding scenery. The beach was just a short walk away and we had the entire beach to ourselves. Thank you Emer for a wonderful week.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest Anonymous
Date of stay 02/01/09
Review Submitted 02/12/09

This is a lovely home in which to spend vacation! I go to Costa Rica every year and stay here and have never been disappointed! The house is lovely and fully appointed with ALL the comforts of home, plus the lovely views and tranquil setting. It is a short walk to the beach, where I enjoy spending much of my time. I am looking forward to my next trip!

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Guest Jennie & Marcus
Date of stay 10/14/08
Review Submitted 10/13/08

We had a wonderful time at your home. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful place. It was very peaceful and relaxing. Suldri took good care of us. The views from the decks are amazing and we didn't want to leave. Thanks again, Jennie

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Guestbook Comment

Guest creation
Date of stay 09/01/08
Review Submitted 09/07/08

Thank you Emer for sharing your fabulous home with our family! It is so huge, elegant and well equipped. We enjoyed the monkey's in the trees, beautiful sunsets, ocean views and peaceful setting. We rode horses with Erika on beautiful Playa Junquillal beach. Our son Allen proposed to his girlfriend there - so Playa Junquillal will always be extra special to us. Thank you again, Gary and Jacque

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Excellent

Guest creation
Date of stay 08/20/08
Review Submitted 09/08/08

Thank you Emer for sharing your fabulous home with our family! It is so huge, clean, elegant and well equipped. We enjoyed the monkey's in the trees, beautiful sunsets, ocean views and peaceful setting and the rocking chairs on the patios. We rode horses with Erika on beautiful Playa Junquillal beach. Our son Allen proposed to his girlfriend there - so Playa Junquillal will always be extra special to us. We would love to return. Thank you again, Gary and Jacque

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

Owner response: Dear Jacque & Gary, Congratulations on your son's engagement!! The beach is a very romantic place. We have had honeymooners before but this is the first engagement!! We are glad you enjoyed Villa Las Palmas Real and that it was a special place for you and your family! We are looking forward to your return. Emer

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Guest Stephen & Vivien
Date of stay 01/15/08
Review Submitted 01/14/08

This house was recommended to us by a friend in the U.K. Costa Rica and your house both lived up to our expectations. The house is fabulous, the wildlife from the porch exceptional and the whole atmosphere of this place is brilliant. We mainly loved sitting on the upstairs balcony taking in the views and listening to the sounds. Thank you!

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Guest Poppi, Allen and Ali
Date of stay 01/05/08
Review Submitted 01/04/08

To quote Carole King - "Life is but a tapestry of rich and golden hues, an everlasting vision of ever changing view___"ck. This clearly describes your experience at Villa las Palmas Real and what Costa Rica has to offer. Michael and Emer's hospitality warmth and generosity are insurmanible. The views from the terrace are incredible from sunrise to sunset. The walks on the beach at high tide and low tide will give you an understanding of the magnitude of life and colour. Suldri, Adalberto and Allen have smiles and consistent help which become indelible in your memory. This has certainly been a lifetime's memory to cherish forever. The whole community is totally fabulous. Thank you for all the magic!

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Guest Phillip, Erin, Ava & Ashley
Date of stay 11/15/07
Review Submitted 11/14/07

What a beautiful house you have and how fortunate we were to be able to spend 2 weeks here. We have traveled throughout Costa Rica for many years and feel as if we have found a new home here in Playa Junquillal. There is not a doubt that we will be back! My daughters had so much fun playing with Allen and Suldri took wonderful care of us during our stay. There are so many things to write about our stay but I'll just name a few - bats, monkeys, intersting insects and the Ostional turtles hatching. Your family is truly blessed for having such a wonderful home! Thank you for sharing your home with us!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest Lara Whitley
Date of stay 09/01/07
Review Submitted 09/18/07

We stayed at VLPR for 10 days in late July and had a fantastic time. The house, with its dramatic tropical-industrial design, is perfectly situated on a hill to catch the ocean breezes and views. Suldri was a wonderful caretaker and our boys passed many hours playing with Alan, even though they didn't share a language. The beach at Junquillal didn't produce the hoped for surf, but was fantastic for long, secluded walks; kids' boogie boarding; and bird-watching. In town, we loved the mini-super and swimming at Tatanka, where the friendly Italian owner would let us use his pool for a small fee. (His pizza was great too.) We spent time at Playa Blanca (great for kids' swimming and snorkeling at low tide) and Playa Avellanas (easy surfing and fantastic beachfront restaurant), both of which had light-colored sand and spindly trees that provided all-day shade. We had one problem with the house alarm system and the owner immediately called the CR house from the States and walked us through the solution. All in all, a highly memorable vacation and we would gladly return to VLPR.

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Guest Richard
Date of stay 05/08/07
Review Submitted 05/07/07

We really loved it. It was a great family trip. A big advantage is having miles of beach almost to yourself. It was really good to get your tips before the trip. They all really paid off. The house is really beatiful. One of the reasons we chose the house was because of the reviews.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest Terrie
Date of stay 02/01/07
Review Submitted 02/14/07

A fabulous home and terrific get-away! Enjoyed seeing the whales off of the coast on their migration. Also, the hatching and release of the baby sea turtles on the beach just down from the house. Definitely one of the highlights of my visit. The sunsets were amazing, the ocean was warm and lovely for swimming. Weather was ideal - warm and breezy during my week stay in 01/07. Cannot wait to return! For me, a perfect vacation

Owner response: Dear Terrie, I am so glad you enjoy your annual trip to Villa las Palmas Real! It is a real pleasure to have you there. The turtles are a special highlight for me as well. Emer

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Guest Volker Family
Date of stay 01/31/07
Review Submitted 01/30/07

Some of our favorite things:Surfing at Avellanas & Junquillal. Costa Rican coffee on the veranda in the mornings. So many butterflies, the song of birds that awaken us. The howler monkeys which Alan & Suldri showed us. Bran looking after us on Molly’s beach. How comfortable the house is. Spanish music, great food at the local restaurants and friendly ticos. I especially found the trees interesting and the wonderful library. Thank you so much for sharing your house with us.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest Jane McClellan
Date of stay 12/01/06
Review Submitted 12/13/06

Fantastic! Beautiful! Relaxing! What a wonderful experience. The house is amazing and very comfortable for all 6 in our party. The caretakers are great and Braun the dog is a great asset to the property. I highly recommend the property for rental and hope to visit again very soon.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest Aesha
Date of stay 11/01/06
Review Submitted 11/28/06

What can I say but PURA VIDA! Las Palmas was more that I could ever imagine and as I mentioned to you, because of your "ambassadors" on site: Bran(?) to Alan y Soldren , the stay was magical. I can only imagine what happy years your family has spent there, and everything from the pictures to the way the furniture is set up shows that this is a home with love in a country that showcases it very well. And for that reason, I will be back again and again and again. Until next November, gracias a ustedes por todo.

Owner response: Dear Aesha, We are so happy you enjoyed your visit. We always appreciate repeat guests and look forward to welcoming back you many times in the future. We also appreciate the referals to your friends. Our neighbors in the community still ask about you! Pura Vida! Emer

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Guest Tom
Date of stay 08/22/06
Review Submitted 08/21/06

We enjoyed our stay and the house, etc., was everything as was promised. Suldri did a great job with the house, everything worked properly, etc. The beach was great, and we had it to ourselves. We currently have 2 German Shepherds from the kennel that had the best working dog at Westminster in 1998 (or thereabouts), but I feel that Bran has one of the best temperaments I've ever encountered in a dog -- certainly better than ours. Overall we felt that we had a great time, and would recommend this villa to a friend. Sincerely, Tom

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Guestbook Comment

Guest Ellen Brezinski
Date of stay 05/01/06
Review Submitted 05/04/06

We were very lucky to find this wonderful vacation rental. The house lived up to the owner's descrpition and our expectations in every way (right down to the monkeys in the backyard)- a truly beautiful home. I worried about how far it would be from the beach, but it was just a little stroll down the street. And what a wonderful beach - quiet, beautiful with amazing sunsets.

Owner response: Dear Ellen, We are so happy you enjoyed your stay and that it met your expectations. Pura Vida! Emer

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Guest Jack
Date of stay 03/11/06
Review Submitted 03/10/06

It was a good time. It is a wonderful little corner of the world you have there.

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January '07

Guest Terrie
Date of stay 01/01/06
Review Submitted 01/28/07

I enjoyed a wonderful vacation recently. The descriptions provided as well as the photos are completely accurate. The home is lovely - spacious and accommodating. We cooked in several evenings and were very impressed to find that the cooking utensils that I needed were readly available. Sunsets are amazing as well as star gazing from the balconies. It is a short walk to the beach. There are very few people on the beach, which makes one feel that they have their won "private beach." The water is lovely and warm. The caretakers were kind and friendly. They were able to answer questions that I had and to assist me with finding things the first few days. I will go back many times. This home is one of my favorite places to visit.

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Guest Brenda
Date of stay 05/24/05
Review Submitted 05/23/05

We had a really wonderful time at the beach house and enjoyed the company of Bran, Sudry (sp.?) and Allan. Chloe especially enjoyed the giant toads and land crabs, and had fun collecting seashells, playing in tidepools, and snorkeling. The howler monkeys kept their distance- though they did awaken me a couple of times, they were never close enough to the house to actually spot. We also had some great meals- fresh fish and lobster- at the small soda on the beach owned by the guy from Florida. We also visited Rincon de la Vieja, Monteverde, and Arenal. We got a great picture of a quetzal, and also spotted toucans, macaws, a sloth, plenty of howler monkeys, and various other forest creatures. And, of course, the highlight for Chloe was the horseback ride/canopy zip line tour at Arenal. I hope your father had a good time in Chicago. If he hasn't left yet, please give him our regards and thank him for the use of the house. I assume he won't be returning to C. R.immediately, so thought it would be best to send this to you to pass along. Thanks for all of your assistance with the exchange and travel advice.

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Guest Tim
Date of stay 05/14/05
Review Submitted 05/13/05

We had a fantastic time at VLPR. The house is truly magnificent, the pictures do not do it justice. The housekeeper and caretaker were extremely helpful and friendly. It is fairly close to some excellent restaurants (including some of the best Italian food I've ever eaten). We woke up every morning to an incredible view of the ocean. Playa Junquillal is the best place to stay if you are interested in luxury living close to the world-class surfing breaks of Avallenas and Negra (closer than Tamarindo, I think.) It is very tranquil and.. was the best vacation I've ever had.

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Guest Suzanne & Mitch
Date of stay 01/24/04
Review Submitted 01/23/04

I want to thank you again for the use of your home over the Christmas holiday. We really enjoyed ourselves and just love your home, what a great place to be able to retire. I bought a new digital camera and am still learning to use it, as soon a I can figure it out I will e mail you the great picture I got of Bran.

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Guest N/A
Date of stay 07/01/99
Review Submitted 06/30/99

Hello! Joe and I are remembering our honeymoon at your Villa las Palmas Real almost a year ago. What a lovely trip we had! We enjoyed hearing from you recently too. I thought I would send you my email address so you could use it if you ever need to give someone a reference. I'll be happy to tell them of our good memories and fondness for your beautiful place on Playa Junquillal-- and the wonderful, remote setting. We'll be travelling a lot this summer. I wish one of our destinations was Junquillal!! We could use a vacation!! Cheers, Karen

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Guest Dan
Date of stay 05/18/99
Review Submitted 05/17/99

Wanted to let you know your home was great! We didn't spend a lot of time there, we were at Playa Negra most of the time but what time we were there in the evenings, etc. it was wonderful. The view is absolutely incredible and we were in heaven waking up every morning hearing the waves and watching the sun light up the clouds. Thank you so much for your help and the use of your home in Costa Rica. The best vacation I have ever had! Regards,

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Guest N/A
Date of stay 04/10/99
Review Submitted 04/09/99

We have returned to the US after a very happy and successful trip to CR. The highlight was staying in your lovely home in Junquillal and enjoying all the the area has to offer. We took full advantage of the activities in the area including kayaking, horseback riding on the beach, hiking, boogie boarding and surf boarding (we rented surf boards from the Hotel Iguanazul and a shop in Playa Negra). We also went to the fiesta in the small community beyond Playa Negra, sat on the corral fence and watched the bull riding. It was a bit exciting for me when the first bull came out of the chute. All I wanted to do was run the other way! We should have some great pictures from that adventure... with the whole family atop that fence. Suldri and Adalberto could not have been nicer. Suldri was very prompt each morning about coming over to sweep up, clean up dishes, etc. Although she had no English, our son Tyler was able to converse with her and get our basic questions answered. We had hoped all week to see the howler monkeys and they arrived the last two days. The noise they make at sunrise is unbelievable. Our daily routine very much revolved around the daylight hours. We rose with the birds and the monkeys and tended to fall asleep by 9:00 p.m. The entire group arrived home very well rested and entirely relaxed. It was sad to return to reality. It was hard to depart for the US but all of us have vowed to return to Costa Rica and experience the beauty and variety of the ecosystems once again. Our thanks to your for the rental of your home and all the helpful advice you have given. I will happily share the information about your home with friends and family. Wishing you a Happy Easter and a quick return to your home. Please give our regards to Suldri and Adalberto. Sincerely, Judy

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Guest Kate
Date of stay 01/28/99
Review Submitted 01/27/99

Back in snowy Canada. Just a quick note to let you know that we have returned, happy and relaxed, after our wonderful vacation at your beautiful house. We loved spending time in the surf (my parents believe this is the best way to feel young), cooking delicious meals (especially with Suldri to help with the dishes), and having lots of space in the house to relax to our hearts' content without getting in each other's hair too much (quite a feat for a houseful of seven adults!). We appreciated the hospitality of the hotels, especially Alessandro whose motto seemed to be "it's always happy hour!" and we enjoyed a delicious meal at La Puesta del Sol. We loved discovering the monkeys everyday in a different tree, my father took the opportunity to perfect his imitation howl. We also had the pleasure of watching a leatherback return from her nest to the sea as we were swimming one afternoon. We were told that a sighting during the day is very rare. Well, thank you so much for your attention to all our questions and concerns, and for such clear directions and instructions. We had an unforgettable vacation, thanks in large part to having such a beautiful place to stay in such a beautiful country. Thanks again on behalf of the whole family,

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Guest N/A
Date of stay 01/07/99
Review Submitted 01/06/99

Hi, Back in Canada (up to my ass in snow). Enjoyed the vacation immensely. Weather couldn't have been any better - only one day of overcast and a few sprinkles. The house was perfect. Adalaberto and Suldri very accommodating. Had New Year's Eve dinner at Villa Serena and then attended the festivities at the Playa Negra hotel (trying to get our gringo pelvises to perform the latino dances).Good fun. Wish we could have met you. We were quite comfortable in the house - all the conveniences we required (and more). We've done a fair bit of property renting over the years and yours is right up there as far as being well equipped and comfortably decorated. Unfortunately many property owners "sanitize" their homes to protect themselves against theft or misuse (possibly rightly so) but it leaves the property with no sense of character and often inadequately equipped. Not the case with yours. Once again, thanks and all the best in 1999. Bob, Maureen, Robert Jr., Christina, Jessica, and Matthew

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Guest comment entered by owner

Guest N/A
Date of stay 04/02/98
Review Submitted 04/01/98

We, my husband and I, and the rest of our family want to wish you a happy new year 1998, and thank you so much for letting us rent your beautiful house in Costa Rica last summer. The house and the nature in Junquillal made it a very special holiday to remember for many years in the future and with great happiness. We want you to have a little thing made of glass from Norway. Your good neighbors Bobby and Roger told us that your job had a connection to fine glass. Next time you are going to Villa Las Palmas Real, please say hello to Bobby and Roger from us and to Mrs. Sandra Leung Tam and the Italian couple at restaurant La Puesta del Sol (it was my favorite place to have dinner). And to Hutch and Vance and not to forget Marlin and her husband Rafael. Greetings, Brit, Neely Evile, Geir, Enile, Tor and Anita and Terje

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Guest comment entered by owner

Guest Carl
Date of stay 02/21/98
Review Submitted 02/20/98

We had a wonderful, relaxing week at Villa Las Palmas Real. Your house is beautiful, tastefully furnished and the kitchen very well equipped. Our days quickly fell into a routine. For breakfast and lunch we put two rocking chairs and end tables out on the veranda and basked in the beginning of the day. Early each morning we took a walk along the length of Playa Junquillal, or at least the portion your house faces. The beach made for very enjoyable swimming (which we did after breakfast) and then sat at the pool at the hotel. The afternoons ended with a drink on your veranda at sunset. Dinners at Puesta del Sol, Villa Serena and Coco Flotante were quite good. We never tired of gazing at the scene before us from different vantage points afforded by your house. The caretaker couple were friendly, helpful and unobtrusive. Food shopping in Santa Cruz was fun. We already have thoughts of returning next year, if the house would be available in mid-February, and would like to know what the rental rate would be for two weeks. Encolsed is a watercolor sketch of the view, in case you need a reminder on some snowy night. Thanks again for making it possible for us to have a very enjoyable vacation.

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Guest comment entered by owner

Guest Michal & Frank
Date of stay 02/21/97
Review Submitted 02/20/97

We want to add a brief report on our adventures at Las Palmas. It is, as you well know, a beautiful house and we enjoyed it wonderfully. But as important as the beautiful view, super furnishings were so were the additional guides to the surrounding communities and beaches. We followed your instructions and enjoyed doing so to the hilt. It was a great place to stay, and a mix of beach and writing opportunity for me that was ideal if a bit too short. Perhaps next year we can fit a trip into the house's available schedule. Our thanks again for the chance to use your lovely house and for the local intelligence which gave us an opportunity to feel very comfortable in the area. If you are ever in the San Francisco area, we would be delighted to meet you and return a small fraction of the hospitality you extended us.

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Stunning Villa with 180 Degree Pacific Ocean Views [#74203] | View Property

Traveler Reviews (36)

A gem of a place in Costa Rica

A gem of a place in Costa Rica

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Paradise Found

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Wonderful Costa Rica home with great small town feel

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5 Star home in Paradise!

Best yet in Costa Rica!

Best yet in Costa Rica!

Worked for us

Worked for us

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Great place!

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Excellent

Excellent

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January '07

January '07