| Date | Rating | Comment
[Guest Comments: 35 positive, 0 negative]
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| 08/05/09 |
Positive
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Joan.
Our group just returned home after a fabulous week at Villa Corazon Del Mar.
The house is gorgeous. 8 adults, 8 children (ranging from 3 - 12). Each couple had a bedroom and the bigger kids slept in the 5th bedroom upstairs.
Can I tell you, there is really no more perfect location than your villa. On the days we stayed around the villa, we would relax on the rocking chairs and keep an eye on the kids at the beach and the little ones in the pool at the same time! Janet and Tomas prepared our breakfasts and dinners for us on several of the days. Their cooking was great.
We arrived on Saturday, and on Sunday we walked just 3 minutes along the beach, south of the villa, to the first little hotel. Anyone can enjoy breakfast there, so I'd love to let people know their Sunday brunch was great. I did not catch the name of this hotel.
On another day, at low tide, we walked north on the beach to the lava rocks to check out the tide pools. The kids loved it.
The Lazy Lizard Catamaran Tour was so wonderful. While we were snorkling, we followed 2 different kinds of sting rays, schools of tropical fish, touched sea stars and sea cucumbers. And on the way home, we sailed next to a couple of sea turtles. Wow!
Dervin is fantastic. He was our personal concierge all week. He provided transportation for all 16 of us, booked our tours, and became our "go-to" man. We were not surprised to learn he had a degree in tourism. The river cruise, sport fishing, the Conga Trail Canopy tour, surfing...it was all arranged by Dervin. Each tour was fun and amazing. He was invaluable to our group. He even arranged for a coconut flan to be delivered to the villa for my birthday!
At the end of our stay, no one wanted to leave. Thank you, Joan.
I am going to share my enthusiasm about our vacation with all of my friends and recommend your villa.
Hugs, Joan!
Pura Vida.
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Cristina Schaffer, La Jolla, CA
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| 06/23/09 |
Positive
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Hi Joan
Wow!! What a fabulous vacation!! What a fabulous, beautiful, comfortable and relaxing villa. We enjoyed ourselves so much and everyone that came did too Our childern and there spouses came and my brother in law and sister in law came too. Your home was perfect. We could not of asked for anything better. We were greeting at the airport upon arrival by Dervin, and what a great tour guide. We used his services all week long from going on the Conga Trail, dinner at Las Brias, lunch in Tamarindo, lunch at Dervin's brothers resturant, ocean fishing ( caught 10 Mahi Mahi and 1 swordfish, thus we had 2 wonderful meals cooked by Tomas and Janet) surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, lots of shopping and he even had to take our son-in-law to immedicate care for an ear infection, which Dervin knew where to go. Couldn't of asked for a better tour guide now friend to help us enjoy this vacation. The sunsets were unbelievable!!! The thunder/lightening storms were amazing. The last night there we lost power for at least and hour and Tomas cooked in the dark with candlelight and our flashlights and we ate by flashlights. What fun!!
Our childern and us are ready to come back. Thank you very much for the oppurtinity to stay at your villa, what a perfect vacation. I am telling everyone we know that Villa Corazon Del Mar is the only place to stay at in Costa Rica for the perfect vacation.
Thanks again
Helen & Lance Marshall
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Helen Marshall, Chico, Ca.
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| 05/27/09 |
Positive
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| We just returned from our stay at the Villa. There were 13 people in my group and we had a great time and plenty of room. Janet and Thomas were great. Always there if you needed them but never intrusive. The sunset from the pool was amazing. We also used Dervin as our guide and he was wonderful. Very well spoken and educated about the country. Great English too. I would go back today if i could but I do plan on going back again in time. |
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kathie, missouri
230-7728 |
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| 04/07/09 |
Positive
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The most magnigicent, spectacular Villa on Flamingo Beach is the Villa del Corzon. Our entire vacation we were pampered by Janet and Tomas with their gracious hospitality and delicious meals prepared with utmost care and attention to presentation and detail. As caretakers of the Villa, they made our stay an absolutely wonderful, extraordinary experience.
We enjoyed margaritas by the pool (compliments of Tomas, incredible sunsets while relaxing with a glass of wine in the infinity pool, soothing music to enjoy, internet access (if you must) and movies galore for those nights you want to just tuck in for the evening. Upon the recommendation of our hostess, Joan, we enjoyed many local restaurants with the flare of Costa Rican food or many items to please the palate of your liking. Joan also recommended the Lazy Lizard for a day of snorkeling and we were most impressed with the staff and owner, Brian, who made us feel at home and made the experience the best it could possibly be. A trip down the Tempisque River is a must do for the variety of widelife, crocs, birds, monkeys. You name it and we saw it. Don't miss this experience as you can't believe the nature that is out there on the River. Another hit was Joan's recommendation to hire a personal driver, Derbin, who had a vast knowledge of the history and sites of interest in the area that made our trip so much more interesting and full of events that we would not have known about had it not been for Derbin. Fishing, zip lining, walking the beach, swimming in the bay, kayaking, sunning by the pool or just plain relaxing could not have been more enjoyable. Thank you Joan for the most wonderful vacation of a lifetime, and we will be back to visit Villa del Corzon next year.
The Marvins
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Marilyn Marvin, San Diego, CA USA |
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| 03/23/09 |
Positive
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Six of us (3 couples) spent the first week of February at this wonderful villa. Joan was extremely helpful prior to our arrival, recommending places to see, things to do, tour guides (more on that in a moment), even the best insect repellant (though we didn’t really need it during the dry season). We decided not to rent a car and instead hired a gentleman recommended by Joan, named Dervin Suarez (Joan can provide Dervin's contact info) to pick us up at Liberia Airport and drive us to the villa (one hour drive). That was the best decision we ever made as Dervin became our tour guide AND transportation for the entire week. By the end of the week we all wanted to take him home with us – or actually, we wanted to extend our stay in Costa Rica with our new friend. Some of the activities we enjoyed were the Congo Trail Canopy Zip Line, boat tour of the Tempisque River in the Palo Verde National Park (birds, crocs, lizards and monkeys), deep-sea fishing with Dervin, sunset cruise on the Lazy Lizard Catamaran and shopping in Tamarindo. A lot of the driving was on very rugged, dirt roads, so we were glad we didn’t have to drive. It is also a fairly easy 30 minute walk on the beach to Playa Flamingo – lots of restaurants and shops. But we usually got lazy and took a cab back to the villa for $10 US. Best restaurants were: el Castillo (the Castle) bakery & restaurant (5 minute walk) – had live music most nights, filled with locals, tourists and some retirees; Las Brisas – about a 15 minute walk to the north – right on the beach – it’s a hangout for local folks. By the way, all of the local people were the friendliest you could imagine. The Bahia Hotel (3 minute walk on the beach) is a great place for lounging at happy hour, and they have the area’s best generator. And that can be important because there are frequent power outages – so bring lots of flashlights and maybe a few candles with you. Actually, the blackouts quickly became part of the adventure and you really didn’t mind them too much. In fact, it was during an extended outage that Janet and Tomas really came through and cooked us a fantastic mackerel dinner (we caught the fish earlier that day) on their propane stove, lighting provided by a few candles and our flashlights. As others have said, Janet and Tomas are great caretakers – there whenever you need them but they also do their best to leave you alone. It is a great house, plenty of space for all and enough cannot be said about the view from the patio and pool area. If you wanted to, you could very easily spend all of your time just sitting on the patio, reading a book, sipping a drink, taking an occasional dip in the pool, and marveling at the scenery, especially the sunsets. Pura vida!
Campbell, Casteel,More,Niemi families from Texas and Maryland
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Rod More, Columbia, MD
410-531-0708 |
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| 01/30/09 |
Positive
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| We just returned from the villa a couple weeks ago and what a great experience!! Our group of 13 consisted of my parents, my brother, my sister (along w/ husband and 5 mth old), another sister (w/ husband and 5 yr. old and 2 yr. old), and my husband our 1 yr. old and myself. The villa was the perfect size as everyone stayed in their own master suite with master bathrooms. The villa was a great place to have little kids. The large great room along with the large dining room was a great gathering place for meals. We had Tomas and Janet prepare 4 meals for us all of which were fantastic. We spent most of our time at the villa in the swimming pool and on the beach. It was one of the few vacations that, as we were leaving, we were all trying to determine a time for a return visit. We had high expectations for the Villa and Costa Rica and those expectations were all exceeded. Joan, the owner of the villa, was extremely helpful in answering all questions and helping us line things up leading up to our stay. What a great trip and we'd recommend this villa to anyone who had thoughts of visiting Costa Rica!! |
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Jenica, Omaha, NE |
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| 12/02/08 |
Positive
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| WE just returned from a one week stay Nov 15 -22, 2008. There were 4 couples and 2 single girlfriends in our group. The villa was absolutely perfect. The photos do not do the villa justice - much more beautiful in person. Very well appointed, perfect location. Easy walk into town to a wonderful bakery, restaurants and grocery stores. We will be back! Janet and Tomas were great and the meals they prepared were delicious! |
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Nancy Nicoll ONeill, Raleigh, NC
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| 06/27/08 |
Positive
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6/23/08
Just returned from a week at the villa.It was great!Two families of 4 (kids 10-12). We lived at the pool and the beach. Surf was good enough for boogie boarding but not so strong as to scare you. Get fishing poles out early in your visit, yellowtail and barracuda are quite easy to catch..just look for the bubbles.
Janet and Tomas were helpful. Arrange for them to cook one night. The power went out an hour before we were due to eat, but no worries. Janet cooked a wonderful meal by propane. Make sure she cooks chicken and get the name of the salsa which rocks.
Plenty of room for everyone. Air conditioning in bedrooms helped. Kitchen is well organized but would advise not using Surfside market and drive up to Brastillo market instead. The road to the villa is rough but its only about 5 min. No problems at all finding our way around. Roads were well marked.
Big positive was the safety factor. Felt very comfortable at any time of the day or night. Sat outside to watch thunderstorms and on clear nights can see a thousand stars. Use of the lock down room was great, never carried passport with us. Agree with using VISA, no one took much else. Be sure to go to bank in Flamingo and pay departure tax before you hit the airport, much more convienent.
All in all, relaxing, well run, beautiful place to stay. Have no worries if you book here. Loved every minute. Thanks to Joan, Janet and Tomas.
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zara navarro, thousand oaks, ca
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| 05/30/08 |
Positive
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This place was absolutely AMAZING!! Better than any 5 star hotel I've ever stayed in. My group stayed at Joan's villa for a week for my wedding.
Perfect place to have a wedding on the beach if anyone's interested! The sunsets were indescribably magnificent!! The house is furnished and everything you need is in the house! Two of my friends are Chefs in London, so we really didn't take advantage of Tomas and Janet's culinary skills, however, I hired them to cook my reception fiesta!! It turned out even better than I expected!!!
Joan is extremely kind and very helpful, as she went out of her way to rescue me during my wedding day because of transportation issues with my wedding coordinator. Nonetheless, Joan was like my guardian angel that day !!! Her acts of kindness reaffirmed my belief in humanity and that even though you might not know someone at all, they can touch your life in the most simplistic way. Thank you Joan for all that you did on my wedding day. You will never really know how much it meant to me.
The pool is absolutely amazing, the ocean waves subtle! Right next to Flamingo Beach, and only a 20-30 minute drive to Tamarindo for fun souvenir shopping, this house is perfect if you want privacy or if you want to have fun in the touristy areas!
Our group was very depressed the night before we left. NO ONE wanted to leave. Can't say I blame them; it was really the BEST vacation all of us have ever had. Perfect for big groups and still had plenty of privacy. We're already planning our next trip back to the Corazon del Mar! |
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Mimi Duong, Decatur, Georgia
404-508-5502 |
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| 04/21/08 |
Positive
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| Wow! What can I say?! Just returned home and already thinking about our next trip. The villa was more than we expected. With 12 of us, there was room for at least 5 more! The sunsets every night were spectacular, as was the moon in the evening. Janet & Tomas are wonderful. The birds, lizards, dragonflies, crabs & frogs, kept us entertained. Music and drinks at the pool...the beach 15 seconds away. Most enjoyable time had by all. |
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Gina Vanderhorst, Hayward, Ca
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| 04/02/08 |
Positive
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A good time was had by all. Plenty of space and activities for all the adults and kids (14 of us).
Tomas did a great job of taking care of us and giving advice while we were at the Villa. We did not use him to arrange all activities. But whenever we needed assistance he was very helpful. Not to mention that he and Janet prepared three dilicious meals for the whole clan. Would difinitely recommend that route for a few dinners at the least.
I will echo the comment of my brother (Brian Vos) about the transportation. Some of the activities would have been nigh unto impossible to find had we been driving ourselves.
Also, they are not kidding about "Visa, it is everywhere you want to be" since at the Banco de Costa Rica you are out of luck with MasterCard. Also found the ATMs to be without American dollars every time we tried them.
All in all a very relaxing and enjoyable vacation. |
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Kent Vos
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| 04/01/08 |
Positive
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Wonderful house. Our entire family - 14 people in 4 families - spent a week. 6 children from age 8 to 15 had no problem having enough space.
Nice options for activities. Enjoyed the Congo Canopy tour and surfing lessons in Tamarindo with Tamarindo Surf Company. Did not rent vehicles and glad we did not. Much easier to get a good driver given lack of clear directions and road signs. Used Riggo (Joan has number) for tranist and he did a great job - speaks very good English.
Don't expect bargains on food and drink. Very resort like pricing. Found Tomas and Janet's cooking both better and much more affordable than local restaurants. Talk to Tomas early and he can give you a shopping list for a great dinner every night. For seafood, check in early and locals may be arranged to deliver. Two markets within walking distance - Super Wendy's and Surfside. We found Surfside much better and cleaner.
One little hint. Have a Visa for cash needs. Costa Rican ATM and banks do not handle MasterCard very well. Made it difficult to get more cash.
Very easy place to relax. Ocean is very temperate and lots of fun. Can't help but enjoy yourself. |
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Brian Vos, Ripon, California
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| 03/31/08 |
Positive
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Your villa was awesome for our family. It gave everyone enough personal space and all the facilities were great. The ocean was a great big playground for the kids, young and old.
Tomas and Janet did a great job. Their cooking skills are fabulous. We all loved the dinners they made and the Costa Rican Tacos were a really big hit. We wondered whether we could take them home with us. They were so helpful in answering any questions that we had or where to find certain things in the area. We had a wonderful week and would gladly come back again. Thanks for sharing it. |
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Don Vos family of 14, Ripon, CA
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| 03/05/08 |
Positive
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| Unbelieveable experience. The house was beautiful. Janet and Tomas were very excellent and made wonderful dinners. Lots to do in the area within walking distance. Would definitely come back again. |
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Jim and Mickey, East Troy, WI
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| 01/23/08 |
Positive
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We had a wonderful time in Costa Rica and your home made our stay absolutely perfect! Villa Corazon Del Mar and of course Janet and Thomas were better than advertised! Thomas helped us arrange many events for us. We did the Zip Line called the Congo Trail and loved every minute of it! We rode horses on the beach and went snorkeling off the catamaran as well as the river trip on the Tempesque River. What a thrill to see giant iguana and feed the monkeys all our bananas. We all enjoyed massages at home, more than once, what a luxury! Janet and Thomas cooked Christmas dinner and New Years dinner for us and now we wish we would have had them cook more. They are so delightful. Our granddaughter age 7, loves to cook and they were so generous with her and allowed her to “assist” them. She now is a master at making guacamole! Two of our adult grandkids received their certification for scuba diving during our stay as well. We spent time shopping and went to lunch at many of the local restaurants. We went out to dinner a few times and thoroughly enjoyed the food. Villa Corazon Del Mar is truly a perfect spot, the home was so much nicer than we have experienced before. The sunsets were spectacular and of course we captured all fourteen of them during our stay! The pool made those photos breathtaking! In addition, having our own king size bed and private bath was perfect! The attention to detail in your home is remarkable!
We are sharing our photos with friends and we hope to be able to come back to Villa Corazon Del Mar in 2009.
We want to thank you for consistently and quickly responding to all our questions and concerns. We were very comfortable knowing that all was taken care of before we left. Thank you for giving our family the opportunity for a truly relaxing and wonderful holiday.
Mary Lou and Gordy Johnson
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Gordy Johnson, Green Valley, Az
(520) 399-2297 |
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| 12/29/07 |
Positive
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We visited this magnificent home in December of 2007. The weather was perfect and the house is absolutely wonderful. A great location, lots of privacy, and you simply cannot beat the superb hospitality of caretakers, Janet & Thomas. Joan (the owner) is a pleasure to work with and will share much valuable information, answer questions, and give some great tips for getting around. She is very prompt and thorough in her responses.
Some of the places we particularly enjoyed were Las Brisas on Weds (amazing how that place fills up with all of the locals - especially the waiters & waitresses that we had seen days prior!), Il Forno in Brasilito (amazing Italian food at very fair prices), the Ice Cream spot in the Italian Village in Playa Potrero, and Mar y Sol (the delicious French restaurant with the most friendliest of waiters) in Flamingo. I also must mention the incredible river boat tour we took on the Tempesque River to hand feed the white-faced monkeys and capture unbelievable photos of the crocs! Paradise.
We cannot wait for our next visit in 2008!
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Jessica, Pittsburgh, PA |
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| 11/29/07 |
Positive
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| The house, the owner, the caretakers, the location, and the locals are incredible. We used the house as a luxurious base camp from which members of our large group could leave for day trips at will or simply lounge in the comfort of the villa. Unlike many vacation rentals, this villa is tastefully decorated and meticulously cleaned inside and out daily. The caretakers are attentive, friendly, and will give you as much privacy and space as you want, but are always nearby if you need something. I would recommend this rental to anyone. |
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Mark D., Atlanta, GA |
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| 11/24/07 |
Positive
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Wow!!! This home is a treat for anyone who is fortunate to stay here. Literally, the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Extremely well decorated, and spacious. Tomas and Janet are simply the best people that you have never met yet. Once you do, you will realize what great people they are.
Music outside while swimming and drinking can't but help relax you while you are staying here. The beach is only a few steps away from the pool.
Joan is very quick in responding to emails, before and after you get to her house. She gave us great advice in what to do while we were in Costa Rica. She is awesome. |
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Steve Klovanish, San Diego, California
760-434-0222 |
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| 10/31/07 |
Positive
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| I would recommend this villa to anyone. We just returned from our trip in Potrero and it was just absolutely awesome. Tomas and Janet are the best and cook some delicious food. Try the Hacienda Guacheplin Canopy Tour just outside of Liberia it is awesome. If you need any info. just contact via email |
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Melanie, Eustis, FL USA
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| 08/16/07 |
Positive
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These are superb accomodations: each bedroom has its own spacious bathroom, the central living and eating area are more than ample, and the outside area and its view of the water is great. This is a new house with no next-door neighbors.
Our group of 10 was there in mid-July, 2007, and included my wife and our college-age daughter and teenage son; our oldest daughter, her husband and 18-mo. old daughter, and good friends from Dusseldorf, Germany and their teenage daughter.
The house is large enough that all of us had the space we needed, whether it was a bedroom, the "common area" or the outside/pool area.
Tomas and Jeanette are gracious and agreeable caretakers.
The house is well located and it's easy to get to the other Guanacaste beach towns and good surfing spots. It's approximately 3.5 hours to the Monteverde Cloud Forest if you want to explore another great part of Costa Rica.
And last but not least is Joan, the owner. She is helpful and very prompt in her responses.
All in all: one great, professionally-managed package.
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John Gustat, Lake County, Ohio, USA
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| 03/17/07 |
Positive
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| We stayed here about a month ago. It is fantastic......beyond words. I don't think you can find a better place to stay! Tomas and Janet are wonderful!!! Tomas makes you feel so safe and secure. You walk out the back door to the pool, and walk another fifty steps and you are at the ocean. It is quite, peaceful, and the most beautful place I have been. I can hardly wait to go back. I have recommended this villa to several people. Tomas and Janet will help you plan your adventures, and even arrange them for you. My husband and I went with my sister, my son, my daughter-in-law and my granddaughter. The place was so big you never got in each other's way. Each room has its own bath, and the kitchen bar is gigantic!!! My only advice is to find the grocery store called Masai. It is very close to the villa, and has a much bigger selection, as well as being much cheaper than the Surfside Market or Wendys. Also, the owner is fantastic to work with, and will answer all your emails promptly. She was very helpful when we were getting ready to go and I had questions about the villa or the area. You can not find nicer people to work with than Joan, Tomas, and Janet. If you have never booked a villa online before and are worried, don't be. This is everything advertised and more! |
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Linda Romero
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| 02/16/07 |
Positive
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We stayed at the Villa Jan 15-29. What an amazing place !!! I would recommend to anyone. The only thing I would let people know is they should bring their own cooking spices, tea bags, etc. Stuff you will need and is small and easy to pack. As some things are hard to find at the small grocery stores and there is nothing at the house when you arrive. It did work out great having the Surfside deliver all our drink and food neccessities to get us started prior to arrival, but with 10 adults we went thru that pretty quick. The Villa was truly our private resort, everything you would want is at the house. The beach is great for walking. Janet & Thomas were very helpful. They cooked us an amazing dinner, this was $70.00 for the group of 12. They made the dinner suggestions and we had to go purchase the groceries early that day for their preparation.
The favourite outting was the Lazy Lizard Catamaran/Snorkel/Sunset Cruise. We wished we had done it sooner, so we could have gone again. It went to beautiful blue water for snorkelling and swimming at a secluded beach. It was also an all-you-can-eat-and-drink event. Worth every penny. We also did the Congo Trail Canopy Tour and the River Boat Ride to see monkeys and other wildlife.
Make sure you do your shopping before going to the airport. Not much to choose from there and no alcohol to purchase for bringing home. |
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Anonymous |
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| 12/07/06 |
Positive
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Thank you Joan! We could not have imagined how wonderful our wedding at Corazon Del Mar would be. The breath taking sunsets by the pool gave us all a reason to just sit and talk,enjoy a glass of wine while the kids played. We enjoyed all of the sights, sounds, and out door activities. Tomas and Janet were more than gracious and helpful. Bartending,cooking,and travel agent, they coverd it all. Our wedding and reception was wonderful!Janet and Tomas prepared a beautiful table and amazing food. They took great care of all nine of us and we are truly grateful.We can't say enough good about the Villa, Tomas and Janet, and the people of Costa Rica.
Thank you Joan for creating such a wonderful place to spend time with family and friends, you have thought of everything.
Very Truly,
Matt & Michelle Baumgarten |
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Michelle Baumgarten, Virginia Beach, Virginia
7579620794 |
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| 11/18/06 |
Positive
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We had a wonderful time. There were 10 of us and had lots of room. Janet and Tomas are the best. I think you should go to this wonderful home if you go to Cost Rica. Contact me if you want more info. Thank you, Shannon
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Shannon, Kennewick, Wa
509-582-8571 |
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| 11/04/06 |
Positive
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My friends and I was there from 10-23-06 till 10-30 we had a great time. The Villa was superior to most that I have stayed at in the 10 years of rent Villas in the Caribe. The Staff are marvelous and can't do enough for you. What a chef Tomas is with the help of Janet his wife.
Joan was great as she greeyt us when we arrived since she was in Costa Rica at the same time. I would definate rent this Villa again.
Thank for agreat vacation.
Jerry |
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Jerry Stephens, Las Vegas, Nevada
702-878-2995 |
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| 09/05/06 |
Positive
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| We just returned a mere two days ago from a most wonderful vacation in Costa Rica at this amazing home. We felt so lucky to have found such a place. To make the vacation even better my boyfriend of 4 years proposed to me on the edge of the infinity pool during sunset! It was truly spectacular. There were 7 of us which was more than enough room. It was very difficult to leave the house everyday as it has everything you need right there. Not one day went by where we did not sit, wade or swim in the pool for a few hours. Janet and Tomas whipped up a few meals for us including some very spicy Mahi Mahi which was exquisite. He also makes the tastiest homemade Pina Coladas. During the day we went on a few excursions some of which I highly recommend including Congo canopy tours, Lazy Lizard snorkeling/sailing cruise and horseback riding. Our final day we treated ourselves to a masseuse who came to the house, Carlos. Pay special attention to the guest book that comes with the house - great recommendations in there. We went during Green Season (rainy season) which was not bad in the slightest. It did rain everyday but sometimes for 5 minutes and other times during the night - did not effect the trip at all. We loved every minute of the trip! |
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Kate Murphy, Boston, MA
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| 07/29/06 |
Positive
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We spent the most wonderful week
in Costa Rica at this breathtaking
Villa, during the first week of July
2006. Words can not describe the
beautiful surroundings, spectacular
sunsets, and the gorgeous home we
experienced. There were 10 (5 adults
and 5 children) of us in this spacious
home. There was so much to do
here: we rode horses on the beach,
went on a canopy / zip line tour, held
monkeys and snakes, went
snorkeling / sailing on a sunset
cruise, and went white water rafting.
We went to the beach in Tamarindo
and the kids boogie boarded. Of
course we went kayaking and boogie
boarded at our own beach at the villa.
We felt as if we had our own private
beach. It was wonderful. We loved
the hospitality of Janet and Tomas.
They cooked dinner for us a couple
of nights and gave us "cooking
lessons" one night. They are truly the
jewel of the Villa. Joan was very
helpful in our planning of this trip. By
the end of the week, we all felt that
we had a wonderful time and did not
want to leave. We all agreed that we
must return to Costa Rica and
especially to this wonderful paradise
at this villa. Pura Vida, From the Erbe
family, the Toy Family, and Grandma
Barbara. |
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The Erbe and Toy Family, Yorba Linda, California
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| 06/26/06 |
Positive
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Just got back from the Villa Corazon Del Mar 6/22/06. Can't say enough about our first trip to Costa Rica and the villa was absolutely incredible. The view of the sunsets from the negative edge pool were spectacular. Janet & Tomas were the best, in fact, we all wanted to take them home with us. We had them cook several meals and Thomas served us many pina coladas in the pool.
There were 5 couples in our group and everyone was very pleased with their rooms. We had two rental cars and were glad we did because we explored quite a bit and didn't find a lot of places within walking distance from the home. Would definitely recommend going fishing. Our group of 10 went out on the Griphon (51 ft boat) with Jesus and caught 4 sailfish and a dorado.
I also can't say enough about the service that I received from Joan, the owner, while planning our trip.... extremely responsive and great to work with. She even helped us find a fishing boat to accommodate our large group.
We are looking forward to coming back to enjoy this piece of paradise that we have now discovered. |
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Steve & Debbie Peek, Austin, Texas
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| 05/13/06 |
Positive
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We had a wonderful stay at the villa last month. It was perfectly sized for our group, six adults and seven kids (ages 1-7). The highlights of our trip:
* The pool: it was clearly designed with small kids in mind. The shallow end was the right depth for the non-swimmers, and it remained in the shade almost the entire morning. We enjoyed the swim up bar, where we enjoyed frozen drinks more than once!
* Tomas and Janet: They were pleasant and accomdating of every request, but never TOO present. They helped us answer numerous small and sundry questions that made our first visit to Costa Rica easy.
* The location: We enjoyed being right on the beach, a short walk from the hotel and bakery, and close proximity to Liberia and Nicaragua.
For the moderately adventurous, ask the locals how to take the "Monkey Trail" back to Liberia. It cuts the trip to the airport to 45-50 minutes, is passable during dry season by all manner of vehicles, and has fantastic views at the top. |
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Brad Nabors, Houston, Texas
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| 05/07/06 |
Positive
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| Casa Corazon del Mar totally exceeded our expectations. The house nicely accomodated our large group of family and friends.We enjoyed the beach,the pool and the sunsets were gorgeous. There's lots to do and see plus the local restaurants are great! Pura vida! |
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cyndi flaherty, Saco.Maine
297-282-4422 |
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| 04/05/06 |
Positive
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| We loved Costa Rica and this house and will definately travel back! There were 7 of us in our group, 6 adults and my daughter that is 2.5. The house was perfect - we spent alot of our days by the infinity pool and for little ones it could not have been any better. The house was absolutely breath taking and Janet, Thomas and their daughter Glilia made our vacation. We used the boogie boards and kayaks a few times, Janet and Thomas made breakfast almost every morning and Thomas made drinks by pool side one late afternoon. This was not just a vacation it was an experience. My daughter spent most of her days with Glilia and we learned so much about the culture and the language. By the end of the week, we were all picking up enough Spanish to get by and that was a blast. The entertainment room upstairs was great for movie nights but we spent most of our time downstairs enjoying the amazing view and sunsets. We did rent an SUV and it was great to have the flexibility to go places but you really did not have to leave once you got the house. We did goto Tamirindo 2 days - the guys tried surfing and the girls did some shopping, we hit the Casino and went on a boat tour to see the monkeys and aligators in their natural environment which was fun and relaxing. This experience was one that you would definately come back to year after year. Typically when we vacation we will try an island or a destination and then move onto something else the next year. This experience was the first time we ended our vacation saying what week can we come back next year. Roads were the only drawback - made it hard to really take off for day trips - we wanted to see the Volcano but it would have made for a very long day with 7 in a car and a little one - but again with a house like this you don't have to leave. |
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Kristen Styers, Apex, North Carolina
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| 03/06/06 |
Positive
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| We traveled to Costa Rica with my extended family, a total of 12 people including two children ages 6 and 8. We absolutely loved the house and pool. We did leave to explore (Tamarindo, Brasalito, Playa Conchal, Playa Flamingo and Playa Pan de Azucar, some in the group took the volcano tour and some traveled further south for surfing). Every time we said it wasn't really worth leaving the house. The house was very large and comfortable for our group. We loved the pool and there was ample seating around the pool area. We ordered groceries from Surfside and were very pleased to arrived to a stocked refrigerator. Delivery charge was minimal. It's definitely a service I would recommend. The Super Wendy is very convenient and we went there almost every day as we cooked most of our own food. Janet and Tomas were very friendly and helpful. They directed us to the local fresh fish market. We bought and grilled our own fish. It was delicious. Our group loved Esteppe Azul (awesome ceviche and whole fried fish). You can also walk there from the house. It is located at the Flamingo end of Potrero bay. We ate good food at the Bahia Potrero hotel and the Castle bakery, both within walking distance. We loved the ocean kayaks and boogie boards. We all used them every day. Although we rented 4WD cars, we truly weren't prepared for the condition of the roads. It certainly added a sense of adventure. We did not have any issues with illness during our stay. We all said it was definitely a trip we would do again. My only recommendation, bring at least one flashlight. The power goes out often and it is VERY dark. Fortunately, we had several in our group who had the forethought to bring flashlights. Please feel free to email me if you would like any other information. |
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Kim Hotaling, New Market, MD
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| 03/06/06 |
Positive
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| Great house. We were shocked when we walked in. 4 couples - 8 people total and had more room then we could have asked for. Pool was great. Many things to do around the house. Perfect adventure for the adventuresome. |
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Michael Maurice, Atlanta, GA
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| 03/02/06 |
Positive
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| Great House, right on the beach with unimpeded 180 degree view, sunsets were magical. My daughters loved riding horses on the beach right up to the house. 3-4 great restaurants in Potrero and Flamingo. House keepers Janet and Tomas were the nicest. If festival in Brasalitto during visit - go see the bull riding. House had very large bedrooms and separate baths all new and very nice. Only negative were roads were in tough shape to get to Potrero due to very wet summer. It is Costa Rica. |
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Anonymous, Boston, MA |
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| 01/03/06 |
Positive
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| Just returned from the Villa and it was fabulous. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Everything said on the web site is true. We hated to leave. |
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Beverly Muraski, Dayton, Oh
937-433-2023 |
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