We had the pleasure of staying in both the Casita Linda Vista and Casa Azul during out 9 nights in Playa Grande. Located atop a hill, the grounds are beautifully maintained and offer the perfect, private retreat. The accommodations are also very well thought out, comfortable, clean and private.
Wildlife abounds here and we awoke most mornings to the sounds of exotic birds and howler monkeys playing in the trees. We also saw armadillos, iguanas and a pizote on the property. It's less than a 10 minute walk to Playa Ventanas and Playa Grande, and although several restaurants are close (Kike's, El Huarto, El Pointe, Cafe Del Pueblo), we recommend renting a car for picking up groceries and visiting other restaurants.
It was in the 90s during our stay, and without AC the accommodations can be rather hot during the day, but the fans and evening breezes keep it cool enough for sleeping at night. The Casita offers enough space for a couple, especially since most of our time was spent outside (imagine a studio apartment, or a standard hotel room with a kitchenette) and we absolutely loved the morning light and privacy. Casa Azul is more spacious, with a separate bedroom, sitting room and kitchen, so it's better for a family of 4, and would be our preference if we were staying more than a week. It also has more "yard", but it's a little less private since it sits closer to the big house.
Kai is a wonderful host - non-intrusive, but available to provide information if desired. He was very accomodating when our travel plans changed. Our return flight was cancelled due to inclement weather back home, and we needed to stay an additional 2 days (terrible, right?). Although the Casita was reserved, Kai offered us Casa Azul without any hesitation.
While in Playa Grande, we scouted out several other rentals that we had considered, as well as some of the hotels, and we could not have been happier with our choice. We hope to return to Costa Rica again year after year, and Casa Linda Vista is the only place we will stay. If you're looking for a private retreat away from tourists, but close to restaurants, beaches and wildlife - this is a great spot!