Tamarindo

"Just got back from a week in Tamarindo, Costa Rica at the beautiful Diria Condo. There were two couples, and was so nice for each of us to have a master suite! Perfect Location... We could walk Tamarindo Beach, around to Playa Longusta Beach, take the boat across ($1 each way) and walk on Playa Grande Beach (be sure to take water with you and LOTS of sunscreen). The views were just beautiful from the balcony. The sunset photos I took with my cell phone on the beach were just beautiful, though pretty sunset from the balcony. The first morning that the "nature alarm clock" went off I sat up straight in the bed and screamed (and hit my husband awake). Sounded like an old furnace in a horror movie, but ran out to the balcony to see it was the howler monkeys playing in the trees and eating some type of berries off of it. There were around 5 that hung out there each morning (one with a baby that was fun to watch play). They did leave a gift of poop on our lower balcony... LOL!!!! The condo did have everything we needed... Joel even got us an ice chest before we arrived and we used it every day (the Imperial Light is close to taste of Coors Lite and the Lemon Rock is close to Bud Light Lime). Also you can get Cokes, Fanta, bottles of water, milk, etc. at the grocery store (and bags of ice). The worst thing was the 106 steps from the pool/town level, up to the top bedroom. I did thankfully prepare for the trip by going to the local hospital 3 weeks prior and started walking their stairs. Otherwise after the first day there I would not have been able to walk... LOL!!! HINT... DO IT!!! We rented a car from Dollar Car Rental (they picked us up at the airport and shuttled us to their place to pick up the car). Got a 4-wheel drive SUV. As you will read, it is true that a lot of the roads are not paved, dirt, rocks, and we were so thankful for the SUV, but never had to use the 4-wheel drive. We drove to Borinquen and did their 2-in-1 Adventure for $60. 4-wheeler ride (or horses), overlook, waterfalls, and best 12 ziplines in the world! From condo could walk to everything in town. Lots of places to eat. Even went in the casino for 30 minutes and our group won $675!!!! The beach is beautiful, but there is a riptide, so be careful! The Costa Rican people were so nice and we made some new friends who begged us to come back!!! You MUST go visit Costa Rica!!!"

"Me and my son stayed in this villa for one week. The villa was large and absolutely beautiful. I viewed some vacancies in this same development and none showed as well as this one. Lots of nature noises (birds, ducks, monkeys) if you like that. You MUST have a rental/car. Although the Marriott is in proximity, it was nearly impossible to walk to in the sweltering heat...and the beach club is simply out of reach by foot, especially in the heat. And you'll definitely want a car to get in and out of town...or prepare to be gouged by Marriott transfers/taxis. Going in and out of the security gates was a bit of a hassle (I thought), but if you're concerned about your safety, then put this one on the list. No shady characters are getting in there! :-)"