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Thank you for your kind comments! It is always a joy to have interesting and interested guests here at VILLAS CASA LOMA! Recently we have had a number of guests who have used our compound as a home base while taking shorter trips to the Monteverde Cloud Forests Preserve, Arenal Volcano and Lake, Tempisque River, etc. It is exciting to see the photographs of the abundant wildlife taken on their trips... Now we have our own little wildlife tour available here in our own "back yard". We cleared out the road leading into the back and top of our property, so we are almost daily seeing lots of unusual wildlife and birds! Our second pool is now in operation, too. Lots happening here. We had a pod of whales frollicking in the bay out front the other day! ... Lots of things to see and do here! More restaurants, shops, land and sea activities, touring opportunities, too! Happy trails and PURA VIDA! Tom and Igor

We're working hard at making the perfect vacation spot even more perfect! There are a huge number of new restaurants, shops, destinations for day trips and super-interesting places to go and check out the wildlife - and the locals, too! Day and overnight trips are fascinating, with a wide variety of volcanos, tropical dry forests, cloud forest preserves, endless beaches - each with its own "character" ... We are alway happy to assist in pointing out interesting places to go. Sorry that you had "an incident" with the local "traficos" (traffic police)... That could happen anywhere, of course! Costa Rica IS serious about traffic rules and security! ( For this we are grateful. ) Hoping to spend more time with you on your next visit to our little corner of Paradise. We are always happy to see retuning guests... They become like our family! Come on back down and share with us the warm weather and special warmth and charm of this lovely country and its delightful people! PURA VIDA!! Tom and Igor

Thank you Jeff for your kind words. Since you left - we had monkeys visiting us several times and also many parrots - Wow! Our guests loved that! Everybody also loves our 2 large, warm, tropical pools and the spectacular sunsets over the Pacific Ocean, and the spectacular New Marina! Even more excellent restaurants opened since you left...Many of our guests like to use one of our 2 BBQ's...As the saying says - Pura Vida!

Thanks so much for your comments, Mark! It was a joy to have you all here in our little corner of Paradise! We were happy to be able to have so many of your wedding party as guests, too! We really pride ourselves on being able to offer flexible accommodations ... Your visit went by too fast! You obviously had a good time and made the most of your stay. There is so much to see and do in this area that it could take a lifetime and you would not be able to do it all ... We really enjoyed the chance to visit with "the wives" at the pool on Saturday. Sorry you all had to leave so early on Sunday a.m.!... Controlling ants in the kitchen is an ongoing battle due to our tropical climate! I will be mindful of your comment, however, and will take extra control measures.(Every once in a while they pay us a visit.) ... We are working on being able to accept VISA payments, but as Canadians it is quite complicated for us to get onto their system in Costa Rica. (We try to compensate for it by keeping our prices as low as possible.)... We will be delighted to see you all again at any point in the future! Come on down! The climate here is absolutely wonderful, as you have experienced! ... PURA VIDA! Tom

We are looking forward to your return visit next winter! Thank you so much for your kind comments! Since you departed, another dove has taken up residence by your "outdoor living room" and is in the process of hatching her eggs. We are spending as much time as we can just enjoying the super views from the terrace and trying to spot new species of birds. We have managed to get through our birthdays unscathed and are now in the midst of Easter Week, with lots and lots of interesting musical happenings in the community. Life continues to be full and rewarding here in our little corner of Paradise. We look forward with pleasure to your return. Thanks again! We miss you. PURA VIDA! Tom and Igor

Thank you for your thought-provoking comments , Catherine! 1) There are separate, private telephone lines available for each Villa. They are available to anyone who wishes to use them, provided that a deposit is made to cover useage. You did not reqest this. 2) It is clearly stated in all our promotional material that Internet service is available, but only in certain areas and in some Villas themselves - not everywhere. We had email communications with you about this prior to your arrival. It was not a problem for you at the time! 3.) The upper swimming pool was closed to replace the interior finish. This is normal maintenance work, and did not in any way restrict you from enjoying our second pool, which in fact was closer to your Suitel This pool was being restored for only about 11 days.(There was no chance of putting off this work because of problems with leakage and possible contamination.) We told you initially that it would be out of commission for 2 weeks and we managed to have it back in service in considerably less time - unlike what you have implied. 4) "...resulting noise, mess and many labourers often made it impossible for me to use my computer except at night perching on the grass in the company of work dust and mosquitos" is an inaccurate and sad commentary. The lower pool was available at any time for you - as was internet connection around that pool area. (Mosquitos are not a problem here!) Most of your concerns seem to be based on your need for privacy - which we made every reasonable effort to suppy. 5) The bed issue was another of your last-minute issues.It should never have come up! We had told you - and you understood - there was ample accommodation available for your 2 sons on a queen-size futon in the living room. At the time you agreed. 2 days before Christmas it was no longer to your liking! We were able to make other arrangements in order to accommodate other - paying - guests to whom we had made prior committments. 6) The "noise factor" at New Year's Eve is something that is very difficult to control anywhere! This is Latin America. We did not know you or any of our guests before you/they arrived here. We have done our best to accommodate everyone's demands. Of course, we regret that you continue to be dissatisfied! We certainly turned ourselves inside out for you and regret that you felt the need to vent in the way you have. Perhaps Latin America - esp. over New Year's week - is not a place for you to be. PURA VIDA!

Thank you, Allison, for the positive part of your review. The rest…well the truth is the truth - only if the whole truth is told - and not just parts of it…Unfortunately, Allison did not tell the whole truth – she only told a part of it, and this can be misleading. 1) The only smell in the unit was from an antibacterial and antiviral disinfectant that we used for the guest’s protection 2) We rent our units with or without the optional A/C. Ms Allison rented the accommodation without the A/C and she was told in our correspondence with her – in advance several times: * (A/C not included) * *Optional: + US $ 10 / day / each A/C unit - (if required) * When she arrived she changed her mind and wanted the A/C – so of course that the employee told her that there is a charge for the optional A/C that has to be paid…She refused to pay it – so, I told the employee to give her the A/C without her paying for it in advance and at the end of her stay I wrote to her: " By the way - you owe us the US $ 100 for the use of the optional A/C which is $10/night per each unit There are 2 A/C units = $20/night X 5 nights = $ 100 However, since you are saying that we did not fulfil all your expectations, we decided NOT to charge you for the A/C " So, in the end, they did NOT pay anything for the A/C – but she doesn’t mention that fact in her review… 3) She was told (in our mutual correspondence) several times in advance things like this: " We are NOT a hotel - we do not have a Reception, so one of our employees will wait for you "… " Yes, my workers are there - BUT - They only speak Spanish " " The best to call or text is BAYRON or EMILIO " " On the main floor of Villa 1 - (where you will be staying on the 2nd floor) - lives an American gentleman who is bilingual, so he can help you with translations and local knowledge as to where to go, etc " 4) The pictures are of the interiors of this unit and also of exteriors – including the views of the neighbouring houses and countryside. Nowhere it was (or is) written that picture of the neighbouring house with the infinity pool is a picture of this unit! When she asked about it – she was told: " Yes, that pool is on our property (Villas Casa Loma) but it has been sold since." So, in the end, I can only repeat what I said at the beginning - The truth is the truth only if the whole truth is told and not just parts of it… Unfortunately, Ms Allison decided to tell only a part of the whole truth which makes her review quite misleading.

Thank you for your thoughtful Review, Linda. You make it all worthwhile!! 30 years and still going strong! Every one of our accommodations was designed and built with an eye to comfort dictated by weather conditions. We are delighted to hear that it has, apparently, worked. Spectacular views, convenience to good shops and the finest restaurants, wonderful beaches and related activities are but a few of the delights to be found here. Mornings and evenings are often a special time here in our little corner of Paradise: Birds of all sizes and colors and tropical wildlife abound - especially in the early and late parts of the day. We pride ourselves on paying tribute to the topography as well as the weather conditions that we were fortunate enough to find when we first arrived here. We did not arrive with the arrogant notion of "taming" nature, but rather to complimenting it. Natural materials - including local natural stone and tropical woods - are used wherever possible in the many retaining walls and in the construction of of each of our Villas. Great care was taken to create "quiet areas". Walls of glass are judiciously incorporated into the buildings to permit endless beautiful views . All of this has been done in a conscious effort to create a soft, quiet and gentle environment in which to rest, entertain and socialize. We're looking forward to your sixth visit next year! Costa Rica is missing you ! PURA VIDA!! Tom and Igor

Wonderful guests make for wonderful memories! Thanks so much for your visit here to our little corner of Paradise! We only wish that it could have been for a longer period!! Sitting high above the Pacific Ocean ensures lots of spectacular vistas, and we are certainly not shy of views! Sitting by one of the pools under palm trees, watching nature, the stars and sky is always a special treat. It's fun to join friends and visit a variety of excellent restaurants, bars, and shops in the area - or to simply explore the gentle countryside. Nature is always just a glance away. We recently were visited by a small flock of colourful parrots and it is a common daily occurrence to site a wide variety of birds and even little foxes, coatimundi, deer, manigordos and other animals of the forest roaming our private adjoining preserve. For our more active guests, there is sailing, fishing, surfing, stand up paddle, white water rafting, golf, tennis and of course swimming. Have a taste for exploring and adventure? Try nearby waterfalls, extinct volcanos, horseback cross country rides, mud baths and jungle tours to name but a few activities readily available in our immediate area. We pride ourselves in being able to offer so many activities - all in a gentle, quiet and convenient setting! We are looking forward to your return to our little corner of Paradise. COSTA RICA IS MISSING YOU, Jim & Elaine! PURA VIDA! Tom and Igor

Thank you for the kind words! Costa Rica is missing you! We are certainly waiting for your return - (hopefully for a longer stay next time). Currently, we are busily trimming trees and flowering plants and thinning out some of the more aggressive palm trees to ensure even better views of the hills, sunsets, and ocean. Now that you have an idea of the variety of accommodations that we have to offer here at Villas Casa Loma you will have a better idea of what will suit your needs on your next visit. Surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, sea kayaking, fishing, and sailing are but a few of the many ocean activities to be had easily here - while resting in the shade of a palm tree or covered terrace are clearly excellent options. Do it all - or do nothing at all...The choice is always yours here in our little corner of Paradise! We anticipate seeing you again soon here at Villas Casa Loma. PURA VIDA!! Tom and Igor

Thanks to you all for your visit! This was your fourth visit, and this time you brought some relatives, too! We really had a "blast" and got a great kick out of meeting them. We seem to be developing into a destination for family get-togethers - and what better place than Villas Casa Loma! Lots of room to spread out - and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere, too! Your active family certainly took in the sights and were constantly on the move. One of our favourite memories is from the day we all loaded into a couple of vehicles and did an amazing day trip to Nicoya and Nosara Beach, stopping at Guanacaste's only coffee processing plant for a tour and an interesting side trip through the hills to the indigenous village of Matambe. Our final destination of Nosara was crowned by spectacular views and a great beach-side meal. We certainly enjoyed the day! We'll certainly do it again and again! We hope that you and your family will return again soon, too. There is so much more for you all to see and do here! We're looking forward to your next visit to our little corner of Paradise! PURA VIDA!! Tom and Igor

Thanks, Tessa, for your Review of Villas Casa Loma. We always appreciate it when our guests point out the positives - and negatives - of their visit. On the positive side, we are delighted, of course, that you and your extended family had a wonderful time here in Guanacaste. There is so much to see and do and always new and exciting experiences for all ages and interests. As you pointed out, there are many fine beaches and superb restaurants close to our property. One can certainly eat one'sway through the area and still have lots more restaurants to visit after a two-week stay! Some are adjacent to lovely beaches which also create a memorable venue for our spectacular sunsets, too! Las Catalinas, Coco Loco, Sugar Beach, Tiki's, The Beach House and Costa Rica Sailing Club are but a few. Life is good here. So much to see and do - both on land and in the ocean! Scuba diving, sailing, fishing, horseback riding, sightseeing, birding, exploring are but a few great experiences offered here in the Gold Coast of Costa Rica. On the negative side, we want to thank you for pointing out that some kitchen utencils were not to your standard. (We will look into this, I assure you.) Electric stoves here are, unfortunately, a bit slow. (This seems to be a general problem due to a somewhat weaker electrical current than what you are used to up North.) As always, we try very hard to meet our Clients' needs and apologize for any perceived inconvenience. Overall, it would seem that your visit was both a restful and happy one for you all. We look forward to being of service to you on a future trip to Costa Rica and send our warmest best regards to you and your family. PURA VIDA from our little corner of Paradise! Tom and Igor

Hi Maggie ! Wow ! Cannot wait for you to come back again. Thanks for the kind words and most especially for your friendly visit here...Hopefully it was just the beginning of a wonderful , fulfilling love affair with this warm and gentle country. We are really happy that your time spent here met - or exceeded - your expectations and look forward to sharing more great memories with you in the future. As the saying here goes: "Costa Rica - No artificial ingredients !" PURA VIDA ! Tom and Igor

Helena: It was great to have you and your family visiting us again! Next time, we hope you will find more time to relax and unwind... (As you know, this is a perfect spot for that!) Every time you come down there are new and wonderful restaurants to tempt you, as well as great shops to capture your imagination. We look forward to your next visit and hope that you will have time for some serious painting, reading in a quiet spot on your private terrace or relaxing by the pools and visiting with your many friends here. Too much to do. Too little time to do it in! Come on back soon... You are missed and always welcome here in our little corner of Paradise. PURA VIDA! Tom and Igor

Your comfort and happiness is our reward, Alan! It was a pleasure to have you visiting us again this year! We are sure that you will be able to see plenty of whales around Cape Cod, so perhaps they are not as exciting for you to see cavorting just offshore here. However, as you have discovered, we have a wide variety of birds and beasts including caymans, crocodiles, parrots, spoonbills, turtles, iguanas, jungle cats, monkeys and a wide variety of other wildlife to see... And don't forget the volcanos, hot springs and freshwater lakes, rivers and waterfalls! Explore and tour or just relax and read a good book in a quiet nook around our property. The choices are unlimited -and always available. We're looking forward to seeing you -hopefully next year again. (We'll be sure to tell Willy that you appreciate his efforts in keeping the pools in A-1 condition!) PURA VIDA! Tom and Igor

Well, you have just scratched the surface a tiny bit...Next time, there will be opportunities to visit more national parks, beautiful beaches and rain forests. Don't overlook a side trip to nearby Nicaragua, too! For some really unforgettable experiences, visit Isla Ometepe on Lago de Nicaragua. This is the largest volcanic island in fresh water in the world and has 2 volcanos - Concepcion (active) and Maderas (inactive). This lake is the largest in Central America and Concepcion is the most perfectly formed active volcano cone in the world. And don't overlook a visit to Granada - the first European city in mainland America. All this just a short distance from Flamingo and well worth the visit. Again, there is so much to see and do here! Do come back for the cultural experiences offered by our area and for the historical and touristic value as well... We look forward to seeing you both again soon! PURA VIDA ! Tom and Igor

Hi Michael & John - You didn't mention the 700 stair workout that we just installed! The view from the top offers fabulous views from the top of our mountain! The perfect exercise for a healthy body and spirit... As always, your visit was a treat for us. We enjoyed hearing firsthand reports on the goings on in the area. (It is a great way to be informed - and we are always happy to pass on the latest information to other guests here.) We think that this property is about as good as it gets! ... The perfect spot for relaxing by the pool or on your private patio, reading a book or visiting with other guests. Also a safe place for walking/jogging on the beaches and roads in the area. Birding, horseback trail riding, surfing, sea kayaking, stand up paddle, touring... So much to do to keep fit! There is always something for everyone here in our little corner of Paradise! Always something happening: Mar y Sol just opened another great restaurant right on Flamingo Beach. The perfect venue for lunch on the beach or an early sunset drink. We are looking forward to seeing you both again here soon! PURA VIDA! Tom and Igor

Another great visit. Just too short! The next time you will have to try the 700 steps up the mountain that we have installed for good exercise and great views of the surrouondings! We had no idea when we did these that so many of our guests would use them for morning workouts or for evening sunset vistas. We really enjoyed your visit once again and are still talking about how much you managed to pack into such a brief 10 day stay! We have yet to try the mud baths at Rincon de Vieja, but it is on our "to do" list. Thanks for the tip. Weather here continues to be fantastic. Quite a few more birds here this year, somehow. (That is great!) Thank you for the comments about the spacious accommodations and the website accuracy. Greatly appreciated! Come back again soon...You are both appreciated and special! PURA VIDA! Tom and Igor

Thank you so much for your kind words, Simon and Karen! We really enjoyed your visit here... You are right: Your trip was too short! However, you both got the most out of a brief week's stay. More to come... There are always plenty of things to see and enjoy in the area, as you discovered! Fortunately, we are well placed for conveniences, such as beaches, surfing, outdoor activities and a wide variety of terrific restaurants with a broad range of tasty food and wonderful events. Turrialba, Arenal & Rincon de Vieja volcanoes are all well worth the visit too, and all accessible to our compound. (You may have read that both Turrialba and Rincon de Vieja recently displayed some seismic activities, which were quite spectacular!) The river cruise on Tempisque River is another “must” for wildlife watching, and recently we had a family visiting here who experienced t Leatherback turtles laying eggs on the beach at Playa Grande! Wow! sincerely thank you both for choosing VILLAS CASA LOMA as your vacation destination this year. We and the staff are all sending you our best wishes and look forward to your return to our little corner of Paradise. PURA VIDA! Tom and Igor

Thank you for your kind words! Happy memories are what we strive for... Perhaps the next time that you come down, you will be able to bring a few of your musically talented friends and do a few "gigs" in one of the restaurants in the area. It is becoming a popular thing to do here. We just harvested our first crop of cashews and discovered that you can make a delicious juice from the fruit, as well as baking and husking the nut itself. Great fun! Weather continues to be fantastic here and the pools are a great place to cool down after a strenuous day of sightseeing, birding, etc. Looking forward to seeing you both soon. PURA VIDA! Tom and Igor

We are glad that you had a memorable vacation here at Villas Casa Loma. We also enjoyed your company. The time just seemed to fly by! There is so much to see and do here... Lola's Norte has become a favourite restaurant and beach location for many of our guests who want to while away a lazy afternoon under the trees. A few days ago we saw a couple of pods of whales breaching and cavorting in the bay just in front of our property... Really exciting! We thought of you sitting on your terrace watching the boats and scanning the surface for signs of the whales. Just this morning we harvested some of our own guava, oranges, papaya and guayabana fruit for a tasty breakfast with Costa Rican coffee... Delicious! (This is something that we cannot do up North - that's for sure!) The season is now in full swing, with many of the local restaurants offering musical evenings. As you know, there is a real party mood here for those who want it, yet it is so easy to find peaceful places to dine and relax if that is your preference...Something for eveyone. The staff here - Willy, Ernesto, Lorena and Maria - join us in sending best regards. We are all waiting for your next visit here in our little corner of Paradise! PURA VIDA! Tom and Igor

Thank you for your kind comments! It was a pleasure to meet you all here in our little corner of Paradise...Visiting by the pool, exchanging ideas and information is always rewarding. We are so happy that you enjoyed your accommodations and also the property and surrounding areas. Costa Rica is full of wonderful sights, sounds and experiences. Since your recent departure, we have spotted a couple of pods of whales breeching just off the coast in the bay below your Villa. Of course, the howler monkeys, butterflies and colorful birds are constant companions in our gardens, too. The next time you come here, we hope that you will be able to sample Lola's Norte for some wonderful fish and chips - (M-m-m good!) Of course, the choices of good restaurants in the area are almost unlimited. The Coconut Beach Club is another fun spot too. Well worth the visit. We are always happy to supply information on excursions and things to see and do here. Again, the choices are almost without limit. Perhaps next time you will have a chance to go on the Tempisque River cruise and try you hand on one of the zip line canopy tours. Bring your senses of humor and adventure! You'll always have memorable experiences here at VILLAS CASA LOMA. PURA VIDA! Tom and Igor

Hey Erika & Kajo! It was a great pleasure to have you both visiting and sharing our tropical paradise. We are delighted that you had a good time here! So glad that you were able to relax and enjoy the facilities of Villas Casa Loma and the surrounding area, too... We all sure had fun! As you discovered, there are a wide variety of beaches, restaurants, shops, farmers' market, land and beach activities - all within minutes of our property. There is never a time when one can ask oneself: "What am I going to do now?" ... Now that the new airport terminal is open in Liberia, it will be much quicker to clear your plane and find your way back to our little corner of Paradise the next time you come... We will be very pleased to see you both here again ... Come on back! The birds and animals are waiting - and so are we! PURA VIDA,! Tom and Igor