'Casa Sammie' - Very Private Oceanfront Bungalow with Private Pool!

• Our Vacation of a Life Time - Part 2

  Our Vacation of a Life Time - Part 2

  • Guest Felix and Vaun
  • Date of stay 08/22/12
  • Review Submitted 09/16/12
  I don’t know where to begin to describe how fantastic our return to Casa Sammie was!! We love your beautiful casa and all that it brings us in happiness and joy to see Patri, Sammie, Ramon, Gino – to visit Chepe’s again, to mingle with the locals and just enjoy the Tico life. Casa Sammie is by far the best way to spend time in Costa Rica. Lynn and Larry, I thank you so much for the way you have landscaped your property. Anyone considering a stay at Casa Sammie – look no further; it’s the best. With zip line close by, Horse back riding, parks and surfing all close by; it’s an ideal location and a fantastic home to choose. We, being “second time rounders”, enjoyed just living on this trip. We had no itinerary, no game plan except to surf a couple of days. Each day we just enjoyed the village of Tarcoles, sat and chatted at Chepe’s with the locals; bought fish at the co-op and grilled and danced by the lightning of the evening storms. I fed the Iguana every day. We enjoyed the most awesome bat watching from the Gazebo at dawn, it was spectacular!!! We visited the area of Orotino where local fruit stands and street-side chicken is being roasted. My husband surfed in Jaco and we enjoyed a surf competition in Playa Hermosa. We love the village of Tarcoles and Patri has become a friend to us and always made sure we were happy and she is always ready and willing to make plans for you, suggestions for you and will help in any way to make your stay a memorable one. Thank you for making my birthday, celebrated at Casa Sammie, my most special one ever!! A trip to Villa Caletas is a suggestion by Patri last year that was so phenomenal in beauty that we went again. To sit 1,150 feet above the Pacific Ocean and look out over the Pacific, have a beer or wine and enjoy a light bite; we would recommend this to anyone as well. The views are fabulous!! Staying at Casa Sammie will allow you to experience Pura Vida as you should. We can’t wait to go back, and go back we will!! There will be a chapter 3 to my reviews as it is our dream to go back again and to Casa Sammie. ¡gracias Patri for all you do and ¡gracias Lynn and Larry for opening your casa to people like us who verdaderamente amar (truly love) Casa Sammie and the Village of Tarcoles!!! To be continued….. Vaun and Felix :-)

  Recommended for: Families with young children, age 55+, pet owners, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Wow! What can we say except a big thank-you, for taking the time again to let others know how much you love Casa Sammie and Tarcoles. It's great to have guests who enjoy the local culture as much as we do - that's why we decided to buy in that area in the first place, rather than a gated community. You've obviously made many friends and feel at home and we're certainly looking forward to hosting you again in the future. Guests like you are always welcome :-)

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• Perfect place for family gathering

  Perfect place for family gathering

  • Guest Linda N.
  • Date of stay 05/25/13
  • Review Submitted 06/16/13
  Located in the relaxed fishing village of Tarcoles, we found Casa Sammie to be a perfect place for my husband and I to spend a week with our two adult children and their significant others. The howell kept, and clean, and all necessary amenities were provided. We enjoyed the gazebo and spent many evenings there looking out over the ocean, playing games/cards and relaxing after busy days. And we really appreciated having a pool. Surrounded by beautiful and lush landscaping, one or more of us would be in it at all times of the day. It's a quick walk to the ocean, and the beach is great for walking, watching birds (early mornings), and beautiful sunsets. People in the community are friendly, and we enjoyed eating at the local restaurant a few times during the week. Patri is an excellent caretaker, and was very helpful in identifying and making arrangements for activities prior to our arrival as well as during. She was always available but not at all obtrusive. Take advantage of Gino's Tico Tour while you are there. A local fisherman and tour guide, he customizes tours to meet your interests. Ours included snorkeling, hiking, fishing, and the best grilled lobster eaten on the beach during the day. The stories he tells and insights into the community he shares deepen your experience. The house is in a great location, not far from Jaco, the crocodile river (take a tour), and other interesting activities. If you like horseback riding, sign up for one of the Discovery Horseback Tours. We did the Jungle Spa Adventure, and owners Chris and Andrea made it so interesting and fun that it was high on our list of favorite activities. we would recommend Casa Sammie to others and would come again

  Owner response: Thanks so much for taking the time to let others know of your experience and of some of the activities that you enjoyed. We really appreciate it and are very pleased that you had such a good time. You're welcome back!

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• Costa Rica Adventure

  Costa Rica Adventure

  • Guest Harmony
  • Date of stay 05/06/13
  • Review Submitted 05/16/13
  Lets being with how helpful Lynn and Larry are! I called and they answered and helped me over he phone and through email. We were a group of 7 friends that embarked on a 10 days CR Adventure with lots of different parts of our trip. From Mar Y Luna in Golfito to Finca Bellavista to Casa De Sammie. And lets just say Casa de Sammie was the perfect way to end our adventure and relax. The property is amazing. They have before photos and the work Lynn and Larry have put into the house is unbelievable. There are lizards all over, frogs at night, Macaws that fly over the house all day and of course Sammie the dog :) Plus many other local dogs. The pool is wonderful, the rooms are really nice all had working air co in the bedrooms. The tiki lounge had a wonderful breeze in the morning with a great view of the ocean. The ocean is not really a place you go to get in though the river runs into it so it is dark depending on the time you go.but during summer months is clearer. But have Gino take you to some beautiful beaches and or drive to Jaco and you will get your fix. They have a book with all kinds of must do's and Patricia the house manager is there to help you with everything as well. If you rent the extra side house it does not have air co but is perfect for a couple. It does have a fan and with the windows open it does cool down. The pictures are exactly how the property looks except they have had more updates. Wifi works great. The town is fun to walk around and of course to eat some fresh yummy food. Casa de Sammie is a must stay if you are looking to stay with locals and truly enjoy Pura Vida Casa de Sammie is also very close to the famous crocodiles which is a must see. They are usually on the left side of the bridge. If you drive somewhere make sure not to leave anything in the car. We had no problems and the roads were great and we felt very safe. 1 1/2 hours to the San Jose Airport and super easy to get to. If you have a chance go to Jaco and walk the town on the right side of the street there is a coffee shop. Get an ice coffee with chocolate..... omg! Casa de Sammie will be place where we will return, we made great friends and loves the small fishing town.

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

  Owner response: We are so pleased that you had such a good time and that everything went well. Thanks so much for taking the time to let us, as well as future renters, know about some of the features and activities that you enjoyed the most. As we spend time there throughout the year, we try to keep our finger on what needs to be repaired or up-dated and we're pleased that you noticed the improvements. We'd love to have you return any time, and remember that return renters receive a 10% discount (as well as senior citizens!). Thanks again, Lynn and Larry

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• Wonderful time!

  Wonderful time!

  • Guest Keli W.
  • Date of stay 04/20/13
  • Review Submitted 05/06/13
  Casa Sammie was just as advertised. My wife and I enjoyed a wonderful 7 days / 6 nights there. After a couple of days, it felt like coming home in the evening. The gardens are very lush and private, as well as the pool. The raised gazebo is a wonderful place to enjoy the morning's cup of coffee, overlooking the Pacific. It was very nice staying in the fishing village of Tarcoles, as opposed to Jaco or Los Suenos resort. It gave a real Tico feel to our stay. Will stay again soon!

  Owner response: Thanks so much for taking the time to post a review. We really appreciate it and are hoping to see you back at Casa Sammie in the future! We also appreciate the comments that you sent us by email - "It was exactly as advertised, and it was very peaceful to stay in Tarcoles, away from the bustle of Jaco and the insulation (for lack of a better word) of Los Suenos. Patri was great and our trip with Gino was wonderful as well. We look forward to returning."

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• My Dad, Sister, Brother and his wife, and especially my son and I.....

  My Dad, Sister, Brother and his wife, and especially my son and I.....

  • Guest One lucky Texan!
  • Date of stay 07/14/12
  • Review Submitted 08/06/12
  I rented Casa Sammie for 3 weeks in July/Aug 2012 and must thank Lynn (owner), Patri (Mgr), Gino (guide and friend), Maria (Gino's wife and our friend), the bunch at Chepe's Bar & Grill and so many others in Tarcoles. My son and I stayed the entire three weeks and were joined by my family for one week during our stay. In mine and my family's humble opinion, the house was phenomenal, it was exactly as I envisioned prior to arriving. The location was quiet, peaceful, and private. The gazebo was tranquil and beautiful and the pool was clean and refreshing, providing hours of enjoyment. Patri was readily available with tour recommendations and handled making all our tour arrangements. If you do not book a tour with Gino and have Maria cook dinner, then you have not "experienced" Costa Rica. Gino and Maria and their 3 boys are now extended members of this family. Maria's cooking will keep you begging for more. Gino welcomed my son and I to play soccer with his team, making our trip even that much more memorable. Chepe's is a wonderful soda near Casa Sammie. Aside from the entire menu being great, Marea makes the best chalupas I have ever had the pleasure of eating. Waitresses, Veronica and Dilania made my son and I feel right at home and were so friendly (as anyone in Tarcoles was). We frequented Chepe's at least once a day while we were there. Casa Sammie was perfectly located for us to use as a "hub" and travel to different areas and experience all Costa Rica has to offer. Deep sea fishing from Los Suenos, SCUBA and white water rafting near Quepos, waterfall rappelling and white water rafting (again) near La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano). Costa Rica is full of beauty any direction you look. Gino's "two beach" tour is one you must not pass up. Hiking, snorkeling, hand fishing, fresh caught lobster lunch on the beach and finish it off with Maria's delicious supper, served under Casa Sammie's gazebo. YUM!!! Lynn, thank you for sharing Casa Sammie with my family, Patri, thank you for working hard to ensure us an enjoyable vacation. Gino, Pura Vida, mi amigo! We WILL return!!!

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

  Owner response: This is a great review and we really want to thank you for taking the time to do it. It gives people an excellent idea of what to expect if they stay at Casa Sammie. We really love the fact that you got so involved with the community and the wonderful people of Tarcoles. We feel that anyone who does that gets a much better idea of what life in the non-touristy areas of the country is really like. Thanks also for your compliments on Patri's help to make your stay enjoyable. She's invaluable to us and we know we'd never be able to do it without her. We also take Gino's tour every time we're there and Maria cooks for us on a regular basis. Yummy!! Best wishes to you and your son. We're so happy you had a good experience. Lynn and Larry

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

• Pura Vida...'Life is Good' in Costa Rica

  Pura Vida...'Life is Good' in Costa Rica

  • Guest JC
  • Date of stay 12/01/11
  • Review Submitted 01/01/12
  If you really want to experience Costa Rica then Casa Sammie is where you need to stay. It is located in the fishing village of Tarcoles. Every morning you wake up to the roosters, macaws and cows not the noise of traffic. As you open the front door you will find Sammie the house dog jumping up and down eagerly awaiting his morning pet. Outside the front gate you will see Ramon across the road milking his cow. You then walk down the road to watch the fisherman mending their nets or pushing their boats out for a day on the water. If you like bird watching then the scarlet macaws were right out front of the house. At times you would see over twenty of them in the trees. It was great for taking pictures. The noise they create is something you must experience. There are a number of places around the house for morning coffee depending on how much sun you want. The pool area is absolutely beautiful with the fan palm at the far end and the plants surrounding it to create your own little oasis. The house has everything you need for a comfortable stay. It quickly starts to feel like home. At the end of a perfect day in Costa Rica you sit in the gazebo and watch the sun go down over the Pacific. To make the stay even better you have Patri ,who manages the house, to help you plan outings or just make your stay more comfortable. A must is the Hotel Vista Golfo zip lining. It was an incredible experience zipping down the mountain over water falls. It was very safe and a lot of fun. Patri made sure we were there on a day that was not overrun with people from the cruise boats. Gino and Maria live in Tarcoles and make you feel very welcome. Maria cooked us several great meals and we spent a day with Gino on his boat and hiking some local trails. We had fresh pacific lobster caught by Gino's cousin while we were exploring the rain forest which were then cooked over a fire on a deserted beach. One of the highlights of our trip! The pictures show the property perfectly. Ramon is great at keeping the pool and property pristine and Patri is a valuable resource to ensure you have an exceptional vacation. Thank you Lynn, Larry and Patri for a wonderful experience.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Wow! What a wonderful review. Thanks so much for taking the time to write it. It certainly gives future guests an excellent idea of what to expect, as well as giving them many ideas on what to do. We also appreciate your comments on how helpful our manager Patri was, as we know we wouldn't be able to keep our guests as happy as they've been without her help. Again, we really appreciate your review and hope you'll be able to return some day. You'll be most welcome. Lynn and Larry

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• Beautiful Memories,

  Beautiful Memories,

  • Guest FORE!
  • Date of stay 11/01/11
  • Review Submitted 12/04/11
  We really enjoyed out stay at Casa Sammie for the month of November. The home is exactly as we viewed it on the VRBO site, no surprises. Located in a very small fishing village it is a very unique vacation spot. The house is very clean, very comfortable and very safe. The pool and gardens are spectatular and the sun sets very memorable. The location is a little remote from the normal tourist resorts but thats what makes a vacation here so unique. You will probably want your own vehicle to explore and see the sights, although Patricia is very attentive and can arrange any trips you wish. We found having the car enabled us to do things on our schedule. November is the end of the rainy season...usually...but this year was unusual and we had a little rain every day but two. However, the sun came out every morning from 7AM to noon...some times even until 3 or 4PM, enabling us to do the things we wanted before the rain. And our time spent at the house was very comfortable even when it rained...lots of protected outdoor areas to stay dry and still enjoy your time in this paradise. The outstanding things we most enjoyed were zip lining at Los Suenos, a round of golf at La Iguana at Los Suenos, the Arenal Volcano Tour with a stop at the hot springs (take camera and swim suits) and the day at Quepos and Manuel Antonio Park. Patricia will arrange all the tours for you. For the Tour to the volcano she will ensure you get a good English speaking guide who knows the Country, the history and the area, and the guide really makes the trip since there is so much to see on the Tour. When we return, not IF, we would definitely return to Casa Sammie for part of our vacation, and probably split our time in Costa Rica between Casa Sammie and a location further north near Liberia. Casa Sammie was a great central location for seeing the sights in the south west half of Costa Rica but with the road system in the Country it is not an easy commute to the destinations further north. Our day tour to Arenal was 14 hours in total. Many thanks to Lynn and Larry for sharing their beautiful little piece of Paradise with us. Thanks to Patricia for her guidance while at Casa Sammie, to Roman our pool caretaker who was always watching over us, to Sammie our night watchdog and daytime companion, and to the whole cast of support people who do the gardening and housekeeping. It all accumulates to a wonderful experience chocked full of BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES! The Wright's from Stratford, Canada

  Recommended for: Pet owners, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thanks you so much for this fabulous review. It was very honest and gives people an excellent idea of what to expect, especially during rainy season. We hear from Patri that you really made an effort to fit into the local scene, which certainly enriches your experience and gives you a very good idea of what life is like for the people who are there year-round. Thanks again - we're looking forward to having you back! Saludos, Lynn and Larry

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• Wonderfull, fantastic!!!!

  Wonderfull, fantastic!!!!

  • Guest The gang!
  • Date of stay 02/14/11
  • Review Submitted 10/11/11
  Thanks so much Lynn and Larry, it was wonderful meeting you Lynn. There are no words to describe the wonderful time we all had at your amazing place. The resident dogs were wonderful and very obedient, and very enjoyable. To Patrice thanks for all the wonderful service and advise, it was very much appreciated. To Gino and Maria, also thanks to you for everything it to was great, hello to all the children.To describe the place is to hard, the pictures do not do it justice, the grounds are beautiful and wonderfully kept, the scenery amazing, the animals fantastic, Mackaws gorgeous, even the sticky frog and the frog snake, wow. Villa Calenta awesome nothing like it...To many wonderful things to list them all. Once again Thanks to all and for anyone reading this go for it, it was the most amazing vacation ever!

  Recommended for: Families with young children, age 55+, adventure seekers, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Sherry, we really appreciate you taking the time to write this glowing review! It was so nice to have the opportunity to meet you and the rest of your group and we're delighted that you all had such a good time. We hope to see you back sometime in the future! Saludos, Lynn and Larry

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

• Our Vacation of a Lifetime!!

  Our Vacation of a Lifetime!!

  • Guest Felix and Vaun
  • Date of stay 07/15/11
  • Review Submitted 07/31/11
  We just returned from our 2 weeks at Casa Sammie and our only wish is that we could have stayed longer!! The casa and landscape is beautiful; we spent hours upon end in the Gazebo, enjoyed the pool and people. We could not have had this special time without Patrice. She is the most gracious host and became a true friend. Whatever we asked, wanted to do; she was there with suggestions and made arrangements for us at any time. Our vacation plans included surfing; a dream to surf in the Pacific for my husband and he enjoyed the surf in Jaco. However having breakfast in the Gazebo one morning we watched as 3 horses grazed in the frontage; we decided we wanted to go horseback riding. By noon, thanks to Patrice, we had a time to go and went to a fantastic horseback riding adventure that included mud bath, waterfall, landscape...it was a special time. Zip line too, within hours we had choices of where to go and when. Thank you Patrice for everything you do to keep everyone happy; we certainly appreciated it and looked forward to seeing you when you came down our little road. This property is at the edge of the rain forest and with that said, we were blessed with good weather. Although rain it did, we did not experience rain at any time that interferred with our plans. We enjoyed going to sleep to the sounds of a real rain forest and light rain, people only dream of things like this. I would suggest to anyone that chooses Casa Sammie to take the time to visit a few places we did and were suggested by Patrice, Villa Caletas has the most stunning views!!! We had a couple of beers and ordered a light bite but you don't have to eat there to walk around and enjoy the beauty. El Coral was very good and Chepe's Bar was a regular stop for us, they make the best rice and hand made tortilla's. We bought fish from the local co-op and Chepe's rice and it made for a 5 star dinner in the Gazebo watching the sunset!! Our last night was at Tico Tico and was so lucious. We miss Casa Sammie so much and fell in love with resident dog Lizzie and loved all the resident dogs. It's so nice to go away on a vacation and have happy smiling (they do smile) dogs greet you upon your arrival. Thank you Larry and Lynn for allowing your Casa to be visited by guests and thank you so much to Patrice who made our stay personal and one that we will always remember!! We will be back :-)

  Recommended for: Age 55+, pet owners, adventure seekers, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thanks so much Vaun and Felix, for taking the time to write such a great review. We're so happy that you enjoyed yourselves & hope to have the opportunity to host you again sometime. We're very lucky to have Patricia in Costa Rica, managing things for us and taking care of our guests. Couldn't do it without her! Lynn and Larry

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

• "Beautiful Non-touristy Spot"

  Guest comment entered by owner

  "Beautiful Non-touristy Spot"

  • Guest Cindy and Dave
  • Date of stay 02/01/11
  • Review Submitted 04/02/11
  Thanks so much for this lovely email, Cindy and David! Lynn and Larry "Hello possible travelers to Casa Sammie in the town of Tarcoles. If you want a non-touristy spot that is still within driving distance to most anything you want to do, this is it. First, it's a wonderful, private house. The raised gazebo overlooking the ocean is perfect for sunsets. Relax with a drink or even plug in a laptop. Next, the back covered patio looks out onto the gorgeous pool. There is a grill if you want to cook some fresh fish from the fish market on the corner. The grounds surrounding the house are a well-manicured jungle, giving the house a wonderful, "outside privacy" experience. Inside the house is comfy, cozy, and well-appointed with all appliances. There are 3 residential dogs who live there too! How wonderful to go on vacation and have pets supplied also! By far the most wonderful day my husband and I had was our boat trip with Gino, a local fisherman who also takes tourists out on day trips. He took us to a private beach to see butterflies and a waterfall. Next we went to another beach for snorkeling. We topped off the day by "hand line" fishing, and all caught several red snapper. If he takes you fishing you WILL catch fish!! His wife Maria is a great cook, as well as an artist, who paints beautiful greeting cards for sale. Patri is the Property Manager, and despite her full-time job of property management and volunteer animal rescue, will be available to assist you with anything from how to speak Spanish, to where to go, or what to do, (food, activities, hikes, zip-lining, etc.),or a sunburn remedy (Milk of Magnesia!). This was our personal vacation/journey. The photos on the website are good, but to actually go to Casa Sammie is so much better." Patri replied - "Thank you so very much for the absolutely glowing review. Will certainly show it to Gino y Maria and translate the praise you have both extended to them. You were fantastic guests to have and that always makes our jobs that much easier. Your dogs are all fine and they would certainly, as we would, love to have you both back one day soon in the future. Again, our gratitude for your beautiful comments. Regards from your amiga in CR, Patri"

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Payment is usually accepted in the quoted currency ($) unless the currency and the amount is specifically agreed in advance with the owner / advertiser.

Additional information about rental rates:

Fees and Taxes:

• Cleaning $30