Vacation Rentals by Owner

After staying at Shelter From the Storm you know you will be back again..

Guest: Barb (Kingston Ontario Canada)
Date of Stay: 12/28/11 Review Submitted: 01/24/12

My families experience at Villa Las Rocas was one of the best vacations we ever had together. The villas view had me up at 5:30 every morning because I didn't want to miss a minute of one of he most beautiful views you could ever imagine. The villa had everything we needed as we did most of our own cooking and the beds were so comfortable. We spent a lot of time by the pool and at the rancho just relaxing and enjoying the day after our activities. We packed in as many activities as possible all with in a short driving range. There are ample choices of restaurants for both lunch and dinner, including fine dining experiences for those that want a special night out. The time goes by so fast you can't believe its time to leave You would be hard pressed to find any better people and hosts then Donna and Daryl who we enjoyed as much as our vacation. First class accommodations in a natural private environment. We will be back soon...with luck next year...

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

Shelter From The Storm is a rare gem in a gorgeous country.

Guest: azhuetter (Raleigh, NC)
Date of Stay: 08/05/11 Review Submitted: 09/22/11

Daryl and Donna truly went above and beyond to make our stay an incredible one. Not only did they provide excellent accommodations, but they also enriched every other aspect of our stay with their hospitality and knowledge of the area. It's rare to come across hosts like this, they cared very much that we were enjoying our time in Costa Rica and did whatever they could to help coordinate our daily adventures with the local tour companies. They were very attentive to any need or request that we presented to them, making us feel as though we were family. Upon our arrival, we were pleasantly surprised to find a welcome basket with local fruit, coffee, and other items. The villas were clean, quiet, and comfortable. Having breakfast each morning, watching the sunrise and hearing the jungle come to life, all while sitting at our outdoor dining room table was a perfect way to start each day. If you get the chance to have one of Daryl's world-famous margaritas, be sure not to miss it. Winding down in the evenings while sitting next to their open-air bar was a great way to end an adventurous day.

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

Amazing Experience! Can't wait to go back

Guest: MikeS (Oceanside, CA. USA)
Date of Stay: 07/18/11 Review Submitted: 08/30/11

We've done a lot of traveling around the world and this area of Costa Rica ranks with any great tropical get away you can imagine. It has a very safe, laid back vibe everywhere without that tourist trap feeling. Shelter From The Storm came highly recommended to us and we were blown away upon arrival. We stayed in the Monkey House which was perfect for the two of us. We really enjoyed the view of the rain forest from the private balcony and the ocean view from the kitchen as well as the wildlife that roams the property is constant entertainment. We especially liked the Rancho area where we barbecued a few meals and enjoyed the pool and honor bar. The owners Donna and Daryl where very accommodating hosts who pointed us in the right direction for activities, beaches and restaurants. We will most definitely be back, but unfortunately not soon enough. Believe all the reviews here, the place is amazing!

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

Awesome vacation getaway!

Guest: JuneBug_T (Green Bay, Wisconsin USA)
Date of Stay: 06/08/11 Review Submitted: 07/26/11

My husband and I spent 9 nights at Shelter from the Storm in the Monkey House. We enjoyed every minute of this relaxing paradise. The covered veranda with beautiful fresh cut flowers and Costa Rican rocking chairs beckoned us to sit and read or enjoy the jungle sounds and troop of monkeys swinging by from time to time. We visited the Rancho gathering area each night and Daryl's honor bar. Sometimes we would find other guests there cooking dinner on the stainless steel grill and listening to the hundreds of available DVDs. We enjoyed meeting them and exchanging stories from the day's adventures. This property is quiet, intimate, and a true gem off the beaten path. There are only 2 others villas to rent (they are gorgeous), which results in a max of 14 people.....a far cry from the all in one inclusive resorts where guests become numbers. Everything is immaculate from the landscaped grounds to the meticulously appointed accommodations. Daryl and Donna ARE the consummate hosts who have thought of everything a guest could possibly need, starting with a welcome basket of fresh pineapple, mango, cookies, and a pound of Costa Rican coffee. They helped us for weeks before arriving by emailing tips such as renting a 4 wheel drive vehicle from Solid Car and having them deliver to Pura Vida Hotel in Alejuela where we stayed upon arrival in San Jose. Daryl provided candid advice on site seeing and booked our trips: zip line nature tour @ Hacienda Baru, Cano Isle snorkeling, horseback riding to waterfalls, and ultra light flight. We have traveled far and wide, nothing compares to this beautiful place and the legendary Daryl and Donna. We felt like house guests and will never forget the most relaxing vacation we have ever had. I can't wait to go back.

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

Heaven in the Jungle

Guest: Jesse (Fort Myers, FL)
Date of Stay: 04/22/11 Review Submitted: 05/17/11

We have been coming to the Dominical area on and off, since 1998. The best “find” we have made there is “Shelter from the Storm”. Nestled on a lookout over the Pacific ocean and where the breezes sweep up to cool the mid-day air, you couldn’t find a more peaceful, serene place to relax after a glorious day of zip-lining, horseback riding or stomping thru the many jungle experiences that you can find within close proximity. While there we were treated to a troop of Howler Monkeys right outside our villa, saw sloths in the nearby trees, daily visits from Blue Morpho butterflies, the mournful cries of Toucans along with daily sightings. All in all it was the perfect jungle setting in an absolutely refined, ultra-comfortable, clean and accommodating residence. Daryl and Donna, the proprietors, were masters at caring for all of our many needs while we were there, from booking appointments for rental cars, to on the beach horseback rides, to reservations to the best restaurants in the area. They know what good service means and render it with love and kindness. You won’t find better proprietors anywhere! The villas are extremely well appointed, with touches of Costa Rican culture throughout, including wonderful Boruca masks and gorgeous murals. The Rancho serves as the “watering-hole”, a shelter-within-the-shelter, to lounge on hammocks, cool off in the pool and indulge in a favorite beverage after a long day at the beach. In the world of travel it is always a joy to stumble upon a true gem. Shelter from the Storm is such a find. When the batteries need re-charging….we will definitely be back.

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

Been 3 times here, hoping to go back soon

Guest: Jrothdog (Long Beach, CA )
Date of Stay: 04/13/11 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

This was my wife and my 3rd trip to Costa Rica, each time we have stayed at Shelter From The Storm. 2006, New Years 2009/2010 and just this past April 2011. We now have stayed in all 3 villas as well and each of them is fantastic. It's hard to choose which one I like better, La Cuesta was fantastic but the views from the balcony at Las Rocas were awesome, you can't go wrong with any of them. I've recommended this place to everyone I know that is going down there and currently have 2 friends on their way this summer. Darryl and Donna are the most accommodating owners you could ask for. My wife and I are very interested in finding animals. Birds, reptiles, mammals, all of it. If you're looking for wildlife to view, this place is perfect. We've seen so much just staying there, you almost don't need to go anywhere else. Even though we went out at 6am hiking everyday, that's just what we do, but you can find more than enough just staying here and observing and relaxing. I just wish I already had another trip down there booked so I could look forward to another stay.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing.

Liebevolle Gastgeber, traumhafte Aussicht und wunderschöne Appartements

Guest: TobKie (Ravensburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
Date of Stay: 03/25/11 Review Submitted: 04/07/11

Shelter from the storm ist unsere absolute Empfehlung für die Südpazifikregion. Die Anlage besteht aus drei wunderschönen Häusern mit fantastischer Aussicht auf das Meer (das Ballena Riff, Marine Nationalpark) und ist traumhaft ruhig gelegen. Zusätzlich gibt es einen großen Gemeinschaftsbereich mit Grill, Hängematten, Multimediaausstattung (DVD-Sammlung, Musik, TV usw.), einem sauberen Pool und einer sehr gut ausgestatteten Bar mit fairen Preisen. Wir waren für eine Woche im Monkey House und wir lieben es!!!! Der Wald grenzt direkt ans Haus und man kann von der gemütlichen Terrasse aus Affen, Tucane und viele andere Tiere beobachten. Das ganze Appartement ist sehr hübsch eingerichtet mit Liebe zu kleinen Details (lasst euch überraschen). Donna und Daryl sind die besten Gastgeber, die wir auf all unseren Reisen bisher kennen lernen durften. Sie sind immer hilfsbereit und freundlich, geben gerne Tips und sind absolut liebenswert. We love the monkeyhouse!!! SFTS was by far the nicest place we stayed during our trip through Costa Rica. The sourrounding beautyfull nature, the fantastic ocean view, the lovely and very clean appartements and the owners Donna and Daryl are the perfect combination for a relaxed and unforgettable stay in the southern Pacific area of Costa Rica. Yes we love it!!!

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

Everything we thought and more!

Guest: TJJL (Omaha, Nebraska USA)
Date of Stay: 03/15/11 Review Submitted: 04/14/11

Shelter From The Storm is an amazing find in the jungle overlooking the ocean. We stayed in Villa La Cuesta for 6 nights and it had everything we needed for our family of 4. We had our 11 year old son and 9 year old daughter with us and they had a great time too. The villa was spotless, well furnished and the wraparound outside living area was our favorite spot, whether sitting there early in the morning hearing the jungle wake up around us or late in the evening having dinner listening to the sounds of the jungle at night. The rancho with honor bar, hammocks, sitting areas, library of books and of course the pool was perfect. We spent many hours just hanging out there and sharing stories of our days with Donna, Daryl and other guests. Shelter From The Storm is in a perfect location with amazing beaches just minutes away, good grocery stores just 10 minutes away in Uvita, a great variety of restaurants nearby, horseback riding, ziplining, waterfalls, jungle hikes all just minutes away...you get the idea. If you want an adventurous jungle hike, have Alvin (the gardener at SFTS) take you into the rainforest below the villas to the waterfalls. It was one of the highlights of our trip. When he showed up with his machete and 50 foot of rope we knew we were in for an adventure. Daryl and Donna - they are talked about in many of the reviews and all I can say is I agree with them all. They were so helpful with my many emails with questions before the trip and were so patient and helpful with us during our stay. They had great advice on activities and restaurants and made all the reservations for us for our activities. They were so accomodating to our children and were genuinely conerned about making sure they had a great time too. We left feeling like we had gained new friends. To sum it up, my wfie and I have traveled to many parts of the earth looking for the perfect beach/adventure/jungle destination. We finally found the spot, the Southern Pacific Coast in Costa Rica and Shelter From The Storm. We will be back!!

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

Paradise in the rain forest

Guest: jtfreitas (Natick, MA)
Date of Stay: 03/13/11 Review Submitted: 04/07/11

It's a long trip from Boston to Shelter From the Storm, but when we awoke the morning after our arrival we knew it was worth every minute. The floor-to-ceiling glass doors in the bedroom revealed a landscape reminiscent of Da Vinci, or perhaps a Japanese woodcut. The Pacific ocean, rimmed by the misty lush vegetation of the rain forest mountains was breathtaking to behold. We thought we could stay in our suite the entire day, sipping wine and enjoying the view. And in fact, on that day at least, we did. The proprietors, Daryl and Donna, keep the place meticulously clean and seem to appear magically whenever you need them. On one occasion, I was about to pick up the phone to ask if Daryl would bring some fresh spring water, when he knocked on the door carrying a huge jug on his shoulder. The pool, always clear and fresh, is a wonderful spot to take a dip after a hot day exploring the rain forest, and right next to it is the "rancho," where Daryl keeps beer, wine, and other refreshments subject to a pay-as-you-go honor system. The wildlife is, of course, unpredictable, but on this trip a troop of white-faced monkeys came crashing through the trees next to our veranda like the circus was coming to town. They seemed to be as curious about us as we were about them. There are many more marvels of nature to behold right there at the resort. Everywhere you turn there are bananas, mangoes, coconut trees, and pineapples. Truly a paradise in the rain forest, even if you never leave the property.

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

YES!! SFTS is the right choice.

Guest: Sam1Rudy (Gloucester, Virginia, USA)
Date of Stay: 03/06/11 Review Submitted: 07/27/11

Shelter From The Storm is a definate drop your socks, first class stay. You WILL have a great time, you WILL love the place. I don't think it matters which villa you stay in, the owners have created such a lovely, unique enviroment in each one, you will probably want to try them all just for fun. We stayed in two. And as comfortable and relaxing as each villa is, it is the ambiance of SFTS as a whole that sets it miles apart from the competition. It truly seems as if you have entered a little, mini neighborhood where the inhabitants are all friendly, fun, and laid back. (The way you wish it could be at home) The villas are located in such a way as to afford plenty of privacy if that's what you want. But the center of the "neighborhood" is the Rancho. If you want to take a nice dip in the pool, watch TV, play games, cook on the grill, or have a drink and swap tourist info, it's just a few steps from your villa. And since there are only four villas, it's never too crowded. Now, the true highlight of this lovely neighborhood is Donna and Daryl, the owners. They are the best travel agents, helping with anything you want to do. And there is a lot to do in this area. They are also the most gracious and entertaining hosts we've ever met while on vacation around the world. Simply put, they are great, good fun. I won't waste time repeating what others have said over and over about SFTS, except to say it's all true. Donna & Daryl, we thank you again for an exceptional stay. You have created a small slice of heaven in the middle of a tropical paradise.

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

Great Place, Great People!

Guest: Nash Properties L. (Meredith, NH, USA)
Date of Stay: 02/23/11 Review Submitted: 03/12/11

My wife and I just returned from our first trip to Costa Rica and Panama. Our stay at Shelter from the Storm was one of the highlights of our trip. The property is beautiful, has beautiful ocean view and the villas are clean and in excellent condition. The property also features an ingroud pool for use of guests only. We stayed at both the Monkey House and Villa La Cuesta. Monkey House was fun. To quote another guest "it's like being in a tree fort". Villa La Cuesta was very nice also and much larger. We enjoyed the accomodations at both villas and both afforeded fully equipped kitchens, ocean views, jungle views and wildlife including monkeys and birds. There are lots of things to do in the Dominical area from beautiful beaches to jungle tours and zip lining. There are some great restaurants in the area also. Exotica was by far our favorite restaurant and our 1/2 day trip to Hacienda Baru (jungle tour and zip lining) was our favorite adventure. Donna and Daryl helped tremendously in the planning of our trip and made all of the reservations for dinner and day trips. They went out of their way to make sure that we had a great time. In addition, Donna saved the day when our flight to San Jose was late on our first day. By the time the flight got in, it was too late for us to drive to Dominical. Donna arranged for a room for us at Pure Vida in San Jose which was very nice and very affordable. Even though we missed our first night at Shelter from the Storm which wasn't Daryl or Donna's fault they forgave the charge for the first night. I can't say enough good things about Daryl, Donna and Shelter from the Storm. I highly recommend Shelter from the Storm to everyone. My wife and I will definitely stay there again on our next trip to Costa Rica. Pure Vida!

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

The perfect place to relax and enjoy a slice of paradise!

Guest: Mailburton (Waterloo, Iowa, USA)
Date of Stay: 02/09/11 Review Submitted: 02/16/11

Donna and Daryl are the perfect hosts and Shelter from the Storm will exceed all of your expecations. The towels are plush, the sheets soft and the beds comfortable. No detail was overlooked when this place was built and everything has been maintained with the utmost care. No picture can ever do justice to the amazing views and peaceful sounds from the property. Donna and Daryl can offer exceptional advice on where to go, what to do, and how to enjoy fine meals. They will also leave you to enjoy your peace and quiet if you so desire. You will however want to go some of the excursions that they recommend. You also will not want to miss out on getting a massage while there. Men and women alike will appreciate that experience from Melanie. If you are looking for the most relaxing place ever for a vacation you need look no further. This is it!

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

Perfection-Shelter from the Storm

Guest: Dale and Gayla (South Texas)
Date of Stay: 12/22/10 Review Submitted: 01/18/11

From the moment we arrived, we knew Shelter from the Storm was the perfect place for us to enjoy our two week stay in Costa Rica. In fact, even before we arrived Donna had been a tremendous help in booking our excursions, giving helpful advice, and even making New Year's Eve dinner reservations for us at Exotica. We had booked the Monkey House, which was a great choice for us...the jungle setting, wildlife, and privacy met all our expectations. We found the Monkey House furnished with everything to meet our needs.....lots of fluffy towels, fresh clean linens, a well stocked kitchen...since we planned on cooking most of our meals during our stay. WiFi in our unit made it easy to keep in touch with our family back home. I even enjoyed wearing the monkey slippers while enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning on our porch. Donna and Daryl made us feel very welcome and even surprised us with a wonderful gift of local Costa Rican products to enjoy during our stay. They were always available to answer questions or just for some friendly conversation. The Rancho area was always spotless, the hammocks provided a great place to nap and the pool was sparkling clean, plus it was a kick to float in the pool and watch the monkeys pass by in the trees above our heads. Blanca, the housekeeper and Alex the gardener worked hard to keep everything "Perfecto"! Great job! We had rented a 4x4 Bego from Solid Car Rental and loved exploring the area on our own, our excursion to Cano Island with Southern Expeditions was really first class, the guides were amazing and so informative. We also did the horseback ride with Don Lulos, it was an thrilling ride and a beautiful waterfall. If you are looking for a perfect retreat in the Dominical area, this is the spot! Donna and Daryl are great host......we left feeling like we had two new friends in Costa Rica. Pura Vida!!!!

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

Can't wait to go back!

Guest: elizabeth m. (Baiting Hollow, NY, USA)
Date of Stay: 12/08/10 Review Submitted: 02/15/11

Shelter from the Storm was fantastic. We stayed in Villa La Cuesta. I thought the pictures on the website were great but they did not do it justice! It was just like the pictures only soooo much better. Donna and Daryl were great. We weren't sure exactly what we wanted to do in Costa Rica before we arrived so we waited til we were settled in and then had them make reservations for us at Cafe Exotica for dinner - fantastic! at Don Lulo's for horseback riding - so much fun! and for a fishing trip - excellent! They've got a whole book of places to go, things to do, helpful info, beach directions, etc., that they keep updated. Tons of info!! The other villas were occupied while we were there and it was interesting to note, although not surprising, that all the other guests had been there before and were planning on returning. You definitely need four wheel drive to get up to SFTS, We used Solid Car Rental in San Jose. Donna recommended them and they were great. We didn't realize that their office is not on the airport property and the taxi guys in the car rental area told us that they had never heard of Solid and tried to steer us to National but we took a cab - basically across the street - to Solid and found out that they shuttle people to their location and that they've got people at the exit with signs. We didn't know to look for them because we believed the guys who told us that they didn't know who/what Solid was. On the way back to the airport at the end of our trip we were very late and they drove us right to the airport in the car we had rented so we didn't even have to unload our luggage. Very nice guys and they charged exactly what they had quoted. No extra or hidden charges. We would rent from them again.

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

Excellent Villa and area

Guest: JimS (Birmingham, AL)
Date of Stay: 11/28/10 Review Submitted: 12/16/10

My wife and I recently had the pleasure of spending a week in Villa La Cuesta at Shelter from the Storm. The property is located on a hillside overlooking the Pacific. I agree with other reviewers that a four wheel drive vehicle makes it easier to navigate the road up to the property, but it really wasn’t a problem for us and I can't imagine not renting a four wheel drive in Costa Rica anyway. If anything, the Shelter from the Storm website doesn’t convey just how nice both the Villa and remainder of the property are. The villa itself looked like something out of Architectural Digest, both in design and in its’ furnishings. La Cuesta is situated in a way to both provide a view of the Pacific and also the rain forest, complete with monkeys and toucans. The Rancho and pool were actually nicer than they appear in the website photos, with the at-cost cash bar much appreciated. Donna and Daryl were excellent hosts. It was obvious that they truly want each guest to have the best possible experience. The only issue we had at all during the week was a malfunctioning doorknob (welcome to the tropics), but this simply underscored how valuable it is to rent from owners who live on property. Daryl keeps spares of everything, so the problem was resolved in minutes. We also very much liked the area, particularly in that each of the nearby towns had their own distinctive personality. Dominical is obviously a surfer’s delight, with funky local bars and everyone gathering on the beach each evening to watch the sunset. Uvita is a more typical Costa Rican town, with a couple of surprisingly good groceries and adjacent to a park with a beautiful beach. Ojochal, just down the road from Uvita, is really interesting. From the highway you would hardly know there is a town at all, but if I not mistaken there are two bakeries and ten or so restaurants, including Exotica and Citrus, lovely places with excellent wine lists and continental menus. You would think you were dining in Europe. We very much enjoyed a horseback ride to Don Lulo's Waterfalls (the Nauyaca Waterfalls) and nature tours at Hacienda Barú, but mostly just chilled at the beach and at the Shelter from the Storm pool. All in all we had a great trip and would highly recommend both the area in general and Shelter from the Storm in particular for anyone who wants to have a great Rican vacation away from the overbuilt tourist areas.

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

Superior accomodations, yet unpretentious - in a word: Awesome!

Guest: Debbie (Melbourne Beach, FL U.S.A)
Date of Stay: 11/16/10 Review Submitted: 11/27/10

When we arrived, we were greeted by Alvin, the groundskeeper. The area had been hit hard by a tropical storm just a week or so earlier and Daryl, the owner, was busy making sure Shelter From the Storm was up and running without a hitch, and it was. Alvin carried our bags and escorted us to the La Cuesta Villa. I couldn't have been happier, it was beautifully decorated with a mediterranean/Costa Rican decor, spacious and immaculate (thank you, Blanca). We had a full size kitchen with all the necessary small appliances, papertowels, dish detergent and a supply of bottled water. There were extra pillows and plush towels. We found a welcome basket with a personal note, a bag of Costa Rican coffee, a pineapple and several other goodies. The balcony was our favorite place to sit and relax and, suprisingly, there were no bugs! We were able to sit on the balcony at night and light the candles that were provided and enjoy the sounds of the waterfall coming from the jungle. Alvin was a wonderful asset to the property by keeping the grounds pristine and perfedtly manicured. He also gave my husband a V.I.P tour down to the waterfall, where he saw a poison dart frog and beautiful birds. The grounds were so well maintained that, other than a downed tree in the jungle, there was no sign of a storm earlier that week. I had been to Costa Rica two other times and this was the first time I had seen toucans. In spite of the downed tree, we were able to enjoy the parade of monkey as they made their way across the jungle. Throughout the day we were visited by hummingbirds and could hear the sound of the howler monkeys bellowing across the jungle. The attention to detail was apparent throughout the villa. We felt more like house guest than hotel guests. Daryl was quick to accommodate us in any way and made sure everything was just perfect. One morning I mentioned I couldn't find a bakery that sold coconut muffins. That evening, he had a dozen coconut muffins on our kitchen counter, freshly baked by Diana. For my husband, one of the outstanding amenities was the "honor bar" - it was well stocked with Pilsens for my husband and the price was comparable or better than what you'd pay at a tico bar. This is just one of the examples of all the added extras Daryl provided without the added charges. For the best ceviche:La Macha. For the real Tico flavor, try Fri night karaoke at La Carreta Sin Bueyes - great chicken soup and a glass of wine, filled to the rim!

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

Superior accomodations, yet unpretentious - in a word: Awesome!

Guest: Debbie (Melbourne Beach, FL U.S.A)
Date of Stay: 11/16/10 Review Submitted: 11/27/10

When we arrived, we were greeted by Alvin, the groundskeeper. The area had been hit hard by a tropical storm just a week or so earlier and Daryl, the owner, was busy making sure Shelter From the Storm was up and running without a hitch, and it was. Alvin carried our bags and escorted us to the La Cuesta Villa. I couldn't have been happier, it was beautifully decorated with a mediterranean/Costa Rican decor, spacious and immaculate (thank you, Blanca). We had a full size kitchen with all the necessary small appliances, papertowels, dish detergent and a supply of bottled water. There were extra pillows and plush towels. We found a welcome basket with a personal note, a bag of Costa Rican coffee, a pineapple and several other goodies. The balcony was our favorite place to sit and relax and, suprisingly, there were no bugs! We were able to sit on the balcony at night and light the candles that were provided and enjoy the sounds of the waterfall coming from the jungle. Alvin was a wonderful asset to the property by keeping the grounds pristine and perfedtly manicured. He also gave my husband a V.I.P tour down to the waterfall, where he saw a poison dart frog and beautiful birds. The grounds were so well maintained that, other than a downed tree in the jungle, there was no sign of a storm earlier that week. I had been to Costa Rica two other times and this was the first time I had seen toucans. In spite of the downed tree, we were able to enjoy the parade of monkey as they made their way across the jungle. Throughout the day we were visited by hummingbirds and could hear the sound of the howler monkeys bellowing across the jungle. The attention to detail was apparent throughout the villa. We felt more like house guest than hotel guests. Daryl was quick to accommodate us in any way and made sure everything was just perfect. One morning I mentioned I couldn't find a bakery that sold coconut muffins. That evening, he had a dozen coconut muffins on our kitchen counter, freshly baked by Diana. For my husband, one of the outstanding amenities was the "honor bar" - it was well stocked with Pilsens for my husband and the price was comparable or better than what you'd pay at a tico bar. This is just one of the examples of all the added extras Daryl provided without the added charges. For the best ceviche:La Macha. For the real Tico flavor, try Fri night karaoke at La Carreta Sin Bueyes - great chicken soup and a glass of wine, filled to the rim!

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

Amazing......

Guest: P & M (Parry Sound, Ontario Canada)
Date of Stay: 11/09/10 Review Submitted: 12/31/10

We had one month to travel around Costa Rica and this was by far our favourite place to stay! Daryl's hospitality was the best (unfortunately Donna was away and we were unable to meet her). Whatever we needed Daryl was there to povide it...and more. We found the monkey house so relaxing and beautiful that we didn't have to go anywhere to enjoy ourselves. Even though it was the "green" season the deck overlooking the rainforest was protected and we spend hours out there reading and just looking at the beautiful scenery. We will definitely return!

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

Amazing villas, with breath taking views, clean, with modern amenities and the best people.

Guest: CoreynMeg (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)
Date of Stay: 10/15/10 Review Submitted: 10/30/10

We came to Shelter from the Storm for our honeymoon, and we had the absolute best time, from the breathtaking ocean views, to the monkey's playing in the trees, Shelter from the Storm gave us all the amenities of home, with the rich and beautiful culture of Costa Rica. Donna & Daryl took great care of us, helping us every step along the way with directions, setting up activities and giving us the inside scoop on all the great things Costa Rica had to offer. The villa was amazing, and the location was perfect, close to infinite beaches, restaurants, activities, it was the perfect spot! The pool & rancho offered great options for those lazy days you don't feel like going out, and the local markets allowed for amazing home cooked meals. We cannot wait to go back and see our friends, Shelter from the Storm felt like home and it was the hardest place to leave. Thanks again Donna & Daryl, our stay was unforgettable!

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

Better than we imagined!

Guest: Josh C. (Aliso Viejo, California USA)
Date of Stay: 10/06/10 Review Submitted: 08/01/11

My wife and I recently spent our honeymoon here for about 5 days. We stayed in the 'monkey house' and found it to be even better than we had imagined. The property has about 4 other areas to stay as well but we preferred the monkey house as it was up in the trees and had great views of the monkeys coming in the morning and at dusk! The "rancho" was great too, a central place to congregat and "hang out". They have a bar there with plenty of drinks, a BBQ grill, hamock, a little mini library of books, plenty of seating and open air views of the ocean. The pool is also great, not too big and not too small. Also with amazing views of the ocean and occasionally you can see the monkeys going through the trees while in the swimming pool. The nearby towns are quite authentic and makes you feel like you're actually in Costa Rica (the real Costa Rica) rather than some american-ized Cancun resort town. It is not tourist-y at all, which my wife and I appreciated a lot. Why go on vacation to another country/culture only to be handfed the same stuff you get at home!! There are plenty of cool little shops in Dominical and Uvita (in each direction of their property). Plenty of beaches which are not very crowded and lots of other activities to do like horseback riding to a huge waterfall in the jungle, zipline 80ft above the jungle floor, and other interesting sites to see like the butterfly garden. All in all this place is amazing and will give you a genuine experience in Costa Rica. I think that is what most people would like to have anyway - to get away from stressful normal life and just relax in a beautiful and untouched habitat. Thank you for having us we will definitely be back soon!

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

Exceeded our great expectations!

Guest: Mary and John R. (Bend)
Date of Stay: 08/11/10 Review Submitted: 08/30/10

Just what we were looking for for our Costa Rican vacation! Gorgeous property with abundant wildlife and views of the jungle and ocean. Had plenty of privacy and Daryl and Donna were so helpful in making our time well spent. We felt so comfortable and rested when we left. Best vacation ever... will return to Shelter From The Storm soon!

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

Shelter from the Storm

Guest: Bob (Uvita Costa Rica)
Date of Stay: 07/18/10 Review Submitted: 07/20/10

Jungle oasis, surf sounds and view, totally comfortable villa with veranda over the waves. Fun pool and rec room

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

Guest: ktmyz250 (Tigard, OR)
Date of Stay: 01/12/10 Review Submitted: 01/12/10

My wife and I were looking for a place to stay for most of a week while in Costa Rica and I spent hours looking at various places to stay and fortunately stumbled across the website for Shelter from the Storm. What caught my eye was the 100% 5 star reviews, which I must admit I was a little skeptical about at first, but now that we have had the experience of staying there for 5 nights, I completely understand why everyone gave this hideaway 5 star reviews, including us. Daryl is a magnificent host who pays incredible attention to the details of your stay and his property. We really enjoyed the location of Shelter from the Storm, giving great access to beaches, views and adventure--horse back riding and zip lining, as well as a number of other things we didn't do. Just tell Daryl what you want to do and he'll set it up. I could go on and on and on about how happy we were to have stayed at Shelter from the Storm, but I won't. Just take my word that Shelter from the Storm will be one of if not the most memorable place you have ever stayed.

Recommended for:

Perfect

Guest: Robin (Texas)
Date of Stay: 12/21/09 Review Submitted: 01/23/11

We stayed at Shelter from the Storm withou benefit of seeing any internetreview. We knew it was for us as soon as we saw their website. But I have to say--photos can't do the place justice. SFTS is between Dominical and Uvita--which we came to consider a huge plus. Uvita and Ojochal are south of Dominical and offer their own unique benefits. I simply cannot say enough about Donna and Daryl at SFTS. They linked us up with a great tour company, a great car agency, a great restaurant and a great bakery. Nothing they suggested didn't turn out to be anything but an A+. Following our stay at Dominical we went up to Manuel Antonio because everyone talks about Manuel Antonio. Don't bother. Commericial. A tourist trap. We had done a bird walk in Dominical (recommended by Donna and Daryl). The nature walk in Manuel Antonio didn't even come close. The beaches in MA are crowded. We spent Christmas Day on the beach in Dominical--sharing it with about 5 others. The food we had in MA just wasn't of the caliber of Dominicals. And the place we stayed was about the same price as Shelter from the Storm with none of the ambiance or amenities. You simply won't be anything but delighted with SFTS and the Dominical area.

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

Unexpected Piece of Paradise

Guest: PatPatriot (Miami)
Date of Stay: 06/11/09 Review Submitted: 01/16/11

Once in a while, we stumble across a place so friendly it feels like home – albeit a particularly stylish home with pool, private terraces, open-air living and dramatic jungle or ocean views. Shelter from the Storm is such a place. After many years of vacationing at either the cliffs of Negril in Jamaica or the Beaches of the Yucatan we found an unexpected piece of paradise just south of a little surfing town (Dominical) on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Shelter from the Storm is a group of intimate villas where the mountains meet the sea. The boutique resort is set amongst a couple of acres of tropical lush gardens complete with swimming pool and rancho. My wife and I stayed in La Cuesta, a Villa offering bedroom, living room & full kitchen plus a spectacularly large wrap-around outdoor patio/living area. Nestled just below tree top level but high above a jungle ravine we viewed a daily assortment of monkeys, tucans and other wildlife. No matter how hot the day La Cuesta stayed cool and protected in the shade. The peacefullness and the beauty were only outdone by the graciousness of our two hosts, Donna & Daryl. Complete with the occaisional cocktail, directions to anywhere and suggestions for a wide variety of activities they could not have been more helpful.

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

Amazing!

Guest: heatherkk (Sacramento)
Date of Stay: 02/07/09 Review Submitted: 02/09/11

This place is amazing! There is a reason why they have gotten 60 five star reviews out of 61 (and I don't know what was up with the 1 bad review, that person was off their rocker!). You wont be sorry you chose Shelter from the Storm, it's such a great location! 5 minutes max to everywhere awesome. Down the road is the small town of Dominical with amazing restaurants and shops. A little ways beyond that is this amazing wildlife refuge: Hacienda Baru, it had a butterfly area and the most incredible hike through the forest (where we saw monkeys) which empties out onto a beautiful beach. There is a great outdoor market down the road, a little ways past that is a fantastic beach Playa Ventana, and just up the road from Shelter from the Storm is a must see reptile house. Now mind you it is Costa Rica, it is not your American Developed, Disneyland get away, (thank God). The roads are generally unpaved and steep, you must four wheel drive around (which I think is fun and exciting) but the best places are always tough to get to right? : ) Now Shelter from the Storm specifically is truly a home away from home. I wouldn't stay anywhere else. Donna and Daryl have made those villas so comfortable and beautiful, they are respectful of your privacy and even booked activities for us like horse back riding and snorkeling! Troops of Monkeys regularly pass in the trees in near reaching distance from the porch of the Monkey house. We woke up every morning to the sound of Toucans and brilliants flowers that covered the property. All the staff were so nice and helpful, we even got to go on a personal hike with the grounds keeper and saw little red frogs and incredible plants. I could go on and on.

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

Incredible!

Guest: itspat (Sacramento)
Date of Stay: 02/07/09 Review Submitted: 02/09/11

This place is absolutely beautiful. The location provides for an interesting view of the local culture and wildlife. You definitely feel secluded but not so much that you have to travel out of your way to have fun. I stayed for 2 weeks and made absolutely no plans, which worked out perfectly. Donna and Daryl had a booklet put together and waiting for us in our room, along with a lovely gift basket full of local products and great wine. Our hosts didn't hesitate to recommend some of the most popular spots to visit, as well as some hidden gems in the area. They booked some trips for us as well (horse back riding, snorkeling off the coast, dinner reservations), I've never felt so accommodated and appreciated on a vacation. The privacy of the area was one my favorites. There were days when I simply felt like relaxing and "staying in," and the rooms as well as the common area were perfect. The pool and the honor bar were always clean and ready for use, and despite there being other groups staying there I still felt like we had the place to ourselves. The other Ticos we met in the surrounding area were equally as inviting and friendly, most of them spoke or at least understood a good amount of English and were more than willing to give directions or advice. Another bonus to this area is the food available. The nearby town of Dominical has a few small restaurants featuring local and "American" food at a reasonable price. Donna & Daryl have many friends in the area and we were treated to some of the most amazing food and service I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Outstanding gourmet dishes served to you in the middle of the jungle, and at probably a quarter of the price you would pay back home. Can't beat that. Donna & Daryl took the time to send me a detailed list of what to bring, what to leave at home, what to expect and what I was expected to do while staying in their villas. (For example, washing off sunblock before laying down on the bed sheets) It's damn nice that their drive way is even paved, most of the roads we ventured on didn't have that luxury. I've got to admit that 4-wheeling it down some of those bumpy dirt roads was good fun once you got used to it. So basically this is a perfect spot for people who enjoy a little adventure and the rewards associated with it. If you're looking for something off the beaten path, this is ideal for you. Keep in mind this is still a fairly undeveloped area - folks looking for 5-Star Disneyland Hotels should

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