Loving Arenal

Guest: Fred (Bend, Oregon )
Date of Stay: 11/23/11 Review Submitted: 11/29/11

We are at the Sunset bar & grill loving Arenal and your house. The photos you have do not begin to do your awsome setting justice. We have rented cabins before and arrived to cobwebs and dead bugs - your home was crispy clean and after being lost getting there for hours, it was a pleasant suprise awakening to such an amazing view. Thank you for sharing your home with us. We will be back! Fred & Karinda

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+.

thank you for letting us stay in your wonderful gem!

Guest: damaris (california)
Date of Stay: 10/22/10 Review Submitted: 11/05/10

we want to thank you for giving us a peak of what true beuty feel like! your small little casita made us feel welcomed and feel that you dont need to have a big house to enjoy life. the property is amazing and the views are spectacular. caretakers were very hospitable and made us feel welcomed. the local german bakery is great and the local ticos were great to chat with. we will return soon thanks

Owner response:Thank you Damaris, Gaia and Angie said they really enjoyed meeting you! I really appreciate the nice comments! Dan

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

Great House, Awesome View, Rent A Car!

Guest: MikeS (Providence, RI)
Date of Stay: 04/28/10 Review Submitted: 06/21/10

This was a beautiful property in Nuevo Arenal. The grounds are HUGE and the view is outrageous. It is at the top of a hill, so you are all by yourself. The scenery itself is stunning. The house is 2 levels, with a bedroom and loft upstairs, and a kitchen and bathroom downstairs. The layout is funky, but it works. The kitchen is nice, but it kind of looks like it is a bunker. There is a big steel door that opens to the kitchen, and there are no windows. That being said, my wife and I kind of liked it because all of our food was out of our room. A good thing when you are in CR. The bed was comfy, the loft was pleasant, and the main living area was more than adequate. Really nice wood furniture throughout. And the views from the bedroom are great, as the entire house is windows! I wouldn't recommend going here with more than 1 couple, unless you are okay sleeping in the same area. Any sounds in the loft can be heard in the main room and vice versa. If you have kids or other family members, it might be tough to get a free moment alone. The only thing you need to remember here is that a car is most important. It is a steeeeep hill down to the road, and the only thing at the bottom of the road is a restaurant. Which, by the way, is the greatest restaurant in CR. I was here for a month, and this was fantastic. The owner's food could rival the best places in NYC. If you don't have a car, however, you are in trouble. There is no phone in the house, so you can't call a taxi. You can't really walk anywhere, because the roads are narrow, windy and hilly. I walk everywhere, and this location proved nearly impossible. My wife and I had to rent a car on our 2nd day there. It made all the difference in the world. Other than that, it was very nice. A few ants and bugs here and there, but you are on the top of a hill. The place is spotless, so the bugs aren't there because of dirt/etc... They are just there because you are in CR. Can't escape it! 10/10...unless you don't have a car, then you are in trouble. Also, it's a good drive to the volcano, so you aren't as close as you might believe. That being said, Nuevo Arenal is small and nice, and the lake just below you is bliss.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+.

Guest: Scott Cornell (Charleston, WV)
Date of Stay: 01/07/09 Review Submitted: 01/07/09

We had a great time here. The cabin is beautiful, and extremely well maintained. It overlooks Lake Arenal, and provides a great backdrop for some incredible sunsets! I had never rented from VRBO, and wasn't sure how the process worked. Dan was very helpful, and made the process easy. Thanks!

Recommended for:

Guest: Melodee (-)
Date of Stay: 05/06/08 Review Submitted: 05/06/08

Wow ! There aren't enough words to describe the beauty of this cabina and site. Heaven on earth. The flowers, birds and the view. Simply gorgeous. The cabina itself looks like it comes from a magazine. We had a fantastic time and plan to return when possible. This is the perfect romantic getaway. Melodee

Recommended for:

Guest: John And Laurie Eimans (Covina, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/31/08 Review Submitted: 03/31/08

Staying here was a very plesant experience and we wished we had planned on staying longer. All of the amenities were just like promised. The washer and dryer were wonderful after being without one for a week. Waking up with the big open windows all around was just like sleeping outside. There was a real sense of being all alone. After a day out sightseeling it was a welcoming place to make a meal and enjoy the view of the lake from the table for two upstairs. Dan has made his place warm and friendly. Beautiful woods and and great bed!

Recommended for:

Guest: Sherri14 (-)
Date of Stay: 03/05/08 Review Submitted: 03/05/08

This was such an amazing vacation location. We were looking for a romantic nature retreat with easy access to explore the wonders of the Arenal area. My husband and I experienced so much more than we anticipated. The property is immaculately maintained and landscaped with million dollar views. The myriad of exotic flora attracts all sorts of birds and wildlife and excites the senses in every way morning and night. The Reina De La Noche open in the evening all over the area filling the air with an intoxicating pleasantness to stargaze and spot fireflies then lull you to sleep. The hummingbirds surround the Cabina every morning - what a beautiful way to wake up! The first morning walking around the grounds, I discovered I was in hummingbird heaven with so many around me darting to and fro and hovering to check out their new neighbor. There are too many birds to mention, but the Toucan being another favorite, I am happy to say, we got a visit from them as well. We were blessed to enjoy the company of the local monkey troop for six days straight, announcing their arrival by leaping from tree to tree on their way up the mountain while we lounged in the hammock to study and enjoy them, or waking up in bed to the view out the window of the little ones playing while the adults hung out with their legs dangling over the branches. The peacefulness of being on top of the mountain with the awe inspiring views of Lake Arenal and it's surrounding countryside, sunsets and refreshing breezes, as well as the wildlife coming to us, made us feel like we never wanted to leave. We found the Cabina to be extremely inviting and comfortable and could not imagine a better setting in which to experience the nature of Costa Rica. Although there were a few quirks, this is rustic Costa Rica and they were so far outweighed by the positives, I see no point to write them lest I take up room for all the good stuff. The people of this area were very welcoming and helpful also, local and ex-pat alike. The best restaurant (food and atmosphere)for many miles is right at the driveway entrance where the chef, Eyal, applies his exceptional culinary skills and, most frequently, personal attention to his guests. He and Coryn of the Gingerbread Hotel provide superb service in accommodating guests of the Cabina as well. Within walking distance, Jeff & Beth run a kayaking tour of Lake Arenal during which you can take in the view of Volcan Arenal, in additional to their wonderful company

Recommended for: