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Arenal, Lake Arenal, Lake View Cabina & Beautiful Gardens [#98242] | View Property

Arenal
Cottage, 1 Bedroom + Loft, 1 Bath (Sleeps 3)
$75/nt US Dollars
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Traveler Reviews (13)

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  • Great Getaway

    Great Getaway

    • Guest Mike&Brenda
    • Date of stay 03/19/13
    • Review Submitted 04/01/13
    Dan's place is a private, eclectic little hideaway at the end of a long driveway. It sits on a beautiful piece of property with an amazing view and is bustling with birds, including toucans (which we saw on two occasions during our stay). For the two of us, it was a perfect base from which to explore many other attractions in the area. Great restaurants were moments away and grocery shopping was relatively easy. It is a charming little place that has all your basic needs covered. Dan was great to work with before and during our holiday, and had plenty of information to share about the area. We had a fabulous time!

    Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

    Owner response: Thanks Mike, I appreaciate your visit and your taking the time to send a nice comment!! Dan

    Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

  • Beautiful Getaway

    Beautiful Getaway

    • Guest B&C
    • Date of stay 02/02/13
    • Review Submitted 03/22/13
    We loved Daniel's place in Arenal! His place was our first introduction to Costa Rica and we were just delighted with everything. The place was clean and cozy and the property itself was gorgeous. Daniel himself was incredibly helpful - we were happy with every recommendation he gave us. Thank you so much for sharing your little paradise with us!

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

    Owner response: Hello Barry & Carmen, thank you for the nice comments! It was fun to hear from you while you were there. I posted the picture you sent me on this site as It was nice to see how things looked there while I am up north in the freezing cold!! Thanks again!! Dan

    Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

  • Hidden Gem of Arenal

    Hidden Gem of Arenal

    • Guest Tessa
    • Date of stay 11/27/12
    • Review Submitted 12/13/12
    This place is absolutely perfect. My boyfriend and I stayed for a week in Nov/Dec and never wanted to leave. The house is at the very top of the driveway (a paved one mind you), with a view that is to die for (an in a great location, accessible to everything from major cities to beaches in less than a couple of hours). Clean and well kept, this is the perfect spot to get away from it all. You'll listen to singing birds in the morning, a gentle rain on the roof at night, and the breeze blowing through countless flowers (which are everywhere). The tranquility is tough to describe, so you'll have to experience it for yourself! :-) Like all of the others mentioned, the pictures barely touch on the true beauty of this place. The owner is a dream to get in contact with and has some outstanding recommendations for local spots and attractions. We even ran into the caretake, who graciously accompanied us though some adventures for the remainder of the day. Everyone is remarkably friendly and "Pura Vida" truly sums up their view of life. Yes, there is no TV or Wifi, which we personally LOVED, though if you're trapped responding to work emails like I was occasionally, the restaurant down the hill offers free Wifi (just don't forget to eat there- the food is fab!). It was nice having a washer and dryer as well- which came in very handy when we were swimming, hiking and dining all in one day. If you're on the fence about renting here, don't be. Rest assured it will be your best decision yet. We can't wait to return, though I'm sure we will need to book far in advance to secure this hidden gem again. Thanks so much for everything!

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

    Owner response: Hey Tessa, thanks for the great review! Not living there, I forget how beautiful it is. Thanks again for staying! Dan

    Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

  • Exceptional Place

    Exceptional Place

    • Guest Jess
    • Date of stay 06/20/12
    • Review Submitted 07/03/12
    Our expectations were exceeded by our experience. This is definitely a perfect place to experience peace and tranquility, to have time to connect with nature and have exclusive privacy. Having a background in technology the first couple of days were antsy for my husband but after that just sitting outside in the rocking chair and talking came as something natural. We called it our little piece of paradise for a week. It was really hard to leave but definitely made us want to come back. The town is small but perfect because people are so hospitable and all the small restaurants, shops, bakeries are exceptional. The owner is very helpful with anything his guests may need. All activities we wanted to do (rafting, zip lining, hiking to volcanoes, hot springs, waterfalls, cerro chato, ect) were close enough for us to do.

    Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

    Owner response: Hi Celina, sounds like you did all the fun stuff while you were there! thanks for staying and I hope you can get back soon. Dan

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

  • Amazing View

    Amazing View

    • Guest Pipe
    • Date of stay 05/18/12
    • Review Submitted 05/21/12
    Just as other people stated, the pictures don't do justice to the house. Everything is very clean, and the bedroom is very confortable and beautiful, the property of the house is quite big, with a big backyard that has an amazing view of lago arenal. Daniel has an outside tabel right on the edge of the property which is great for having lunch looking at the view. Also there is a hammock! who doesn't love hammocks? Bottom line, we found everything as described and had a great time!

    Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

    Owner response: Thank you Felipe, I appreciate the nice comments and I hope you can get back for another visit! Dan

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

  • Amazing property

    Amazing property

    • Guest BenCLT_123
    • Date of stay 05/02/12
    • Review Submitted 05/23/12
    This property is really impossible to adequately describe...it's like something out of a James Bond movie...the view is really outrageous...the cabin is meticulously kept up...and the wood interior is really stunning....as everyone else has said the pictures really don't provide a fair picture of the property...the owner was extremely helpful - his detailed emails basically planned our entire Lake Arenal experience for us....be sure to follow all his recommendations as they are spot-on...you really get a good feel for Tico culture in Nuevo Arenal as it really hasn't been taken over by tourists...its a close drive into the bigger city of La Fortuna on the East end of the lake also and about 30 minutes from incredible (FREE!) hot springs - again the owner led us here we would have never known otherwise....booking was incredibly easy...perfect for a couple looking for complete privacy in one of the most unique properties in Costa Rica.

    Recommended for: Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

    Owner response: Ben, thanks for the great review! I am very glad you enjoyed the house and the wonderful Arenal area! It is a great place and I look forward to getting back there again for another stay myself!! Dan

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

  • Loving Arenal

    Loving Arenal

    • Guest Fred
    • 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: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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

  • thank you for letting us stay in your wonderful gem!

    thank you for letting us stay in your wonderful gem!

    • Guest damaris
    • 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

    Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

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

    Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 7/7

  • Great House, Awesome View, Rent A Car!

    Great House, Awesome View, Rent A Car!

    • Guest MikeS
    • 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: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

    Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 13/13

    • Guest Scott Cornell
    • 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!

    Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 10/10

    • 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

    Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 8/8

    • Guest John And Laurie Eimans
    • 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!

    Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 7/7

    • 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

    Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 9/9



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