“No one wanted to go home!!!” Wow, first trip to Costa Rica and our family didn't want to leave. Between the accommodations at a very reasonable rate and the adventures that Ronda (manager/owner?) set up, our family truly had a great time. The home was so family oriented. Plenty of rooms, great family room that we would all hang after a full day of beaching it. Guest house was the perfect place to put my in-laws - gave us the space we all needed :). I was debating to give this review, because I really want to keep this place as a secret gem for me and my friends, but my hubby told me I was uncool by doing that. So here I am, want to forget all your worries and be pampered at the same time and leave with some awesome memories, this is the place to stay. Don't forget to bring your camera and plenty of sun tan lotion!!

“Near the Beach = fun!” i had a great time with my stay in Costa rica being right by the beach and having the pool right outside. The pool is gorgeous and always warm for late night swims! I am looking Forward for planning my next trip here!

“just as advertised” This is really a wonderful condo, just as advertised it had everything to offer. It is very clean inside and is quite cozy. The location as well is great, just a few mins from town and a quick walk to the beach. I would recommend this place to my friends and plan on returning one day. Thankyou for s a lovely stay. cheryl

“Costa Rican Paradise” We stayed here for 8 nights to attend a friend's wedding at the nearby Westin resort. We are so glad we chose this route instead of staying in one of the bigger hotels. It was peaceful, accommodating, clean and gave us a real taste of Costa Rica. The locals were wonderful and the nearby beach and few restaurants in the area, is all you need to enjoy your own piece of paradise.

“Awesome and Totally amazing!” The Condo: This was our first visit to CR and at the risk of sounding very repetitive, I am going to say it anyway. This Condo is absolutely amazing! We were actually taken back by the views, the weather, and beauty of it all. The condo itself is very well maintained. The beds are very nice and excellent to sleep on. there is usually a very nice breeze that can get strong at times so you need to be careful of the bedroom doors. The condo is relatively close to the beach at say 200 to 250 yards. The local terrain is very hilly and as such it us a little bit of a walk uphill when you come back from the beach. Our Garmin and Trackit Maps didn't show Oceanica on any of the categories so you may have to use the resort right across the street to find it as addresses are not used in CR at all. We give this one 5 star rating!!! Well worth the time to visit. Daphne: Daphne was absolutely the best host you could ever ask for! She provided all the information I asked for and needed. She even graciously helped with the car rental (Economy). Daphne is indeed kind and tremendously gracious. Restaurants: We chose to eat at the local restaurants (locals call them Sodas). There are a good number of these within say 5 miles and all are wonderful. Local CR cuisine is amazing and filling. Even though we do not speak Spanish it wasn't that hard to figure out and order food. Ticas and Ticos are wonderful people. We would definitely go back in a heart beat!

“Our trip was awesome” Our stay at Vista Hermosa was amazing. We had a fantastic time the weather was perfect the people were so friendly. The views were spectacular. There was tons of wildlife all around us, the sounds of the howler monkeys and the birds was so interesting. The house was beautiful everything one need was there. We felt like we were the only ones on the peninsula it was perfect not crowed loved being on the beach by ourselves with the iguanas, pelicans and the monkeys. The beach club was perfect and the food and service was great. We loved our stay and would definitely go back.

“The Best of Costa Rica!” This was my second visit to Villa Encantada! After the first visit in 2010, my daughter decided this was the place to get married! We returned with a group of 30+. The bridal party(14) stayed at the Villa and Glenn helped to place the rest of us in properties close by, including his sister's house up the hill. The whole event could not have been better! Let me say that Glenn is a great guy and incredible host! If you want to experience the best of Costa Rica, stay with Glenn at the Villa! The grounds are as beautiful as the pictures indicate and you can be entertained right on the property. The Tabacon Lodge and Skywalk at Volcanoes National Park are under one hour drive. Shopping and dining in Nuevo Arenal has a true Tico feel and much better than dealing with the big tourist towns. Pura Vida! Thank you Glenn!

“Wow! You'll love the Red Sunset!” Are you looking for a luxury guesthouse near Lake Arenal and Arenal Volcano? If so, look no further and book yourself into the Red Sunset. My husband and I, along with six friends, spent a week in March there. We are so glad we did! We found the accommodations to be everything they were advertised and more. The views are amazing and the house, pool house and grounds will give you plenty of opportunities to relax and explore. While the guesthouse is excellent, the very best feature is the owner/operator Patrick. Patrick met with us each day to help us plan activities and make reservations with the best tour operators. His local knowledge and recommendations were spot on each day, and his help was invaluable. The breakfast provided each morning was a highlight unto itself. Come prepared to eat well – you won’t be disappointed. We’ve never had meals of this quality at similar style lodgings. We also took advantage of the optional evening Chef services. While there were several great places to eat in the Lake Arenal area, all of which were recommended to us by Patrick, you won’t beat the meals prepared by Patrick and his wife. Our favorite was the Chicken Parmesan – sorry, Mom, but it was the best we’ve had anywhere! The Red Sunset was the perfect place for our Costa Rica vacation. We arrived as guests and soon felt like family. We’re glad we chose the Red Sunset!

“Outstanding” Not only was the hospitality wonderful, but the rooms, the location, the pool, the view - Everything - was extraordinary. I hope to return someday soon.

“Great stay, I'd come back.” My brother and I had a wonderful stay. The condo was ideal, the aC a godsend...nice neighbors and location. Tito was a wonderful host/property manager - incredibly helpful with great recommendations. He made my stay relaxing and easy. :) I'd make two minor suggestions - just to have a couple rolls of toilet paper at the house and dishwashing liquid when you arrive. Very minor. Great stay, I'd come back. Thank you for offering your place to stay, and if you or Tito need a reference, please don't hesitate to contact me.

“Paradise Perfection” 5 STAR - Top notch accommodations! We could not have asked for a better place to stay! Clean, comfortable (beds were fantastic) & perfectly decorated. The hospitality both before & during our stay was above average! The beachfront villa had the most breath taking view & private lagoon style setting with black sand that glistened from the sun like gold just steps from the front door. The 3 tier pool was spotless & the grounds were impeccably groomed! Paradise on the Pacific!

“Great villa and location” We had such a wonderful, relaxing stay at Casa Margarita. The villa is spacious and clean, with a great terraced outside area with beautiful views, and a nice pool for cooling down. Lounging after a day at the beach, looking out at the sunset over the Pacific (with a cocktail in hand) has to be one of life's great experiences! Pete and Maggie were very helpful in terms of advice and tips in advance of our trip out there. We went snorkelling, fishing, diving, went on the zip line tour, and spent lots of time on Samara and Carillo beaches (both quiet and beautiful). The wildlife was also a real highlight - particularly the monkeys and hummingbirds

“Amazing value for a slice of paradise!” My girlfriend and I stayed here last summer (July 2013) for 1 week and it was a great experience. The condo is fully equipped with all the amenities you need (stove, oven, dish washer, fridge, washer, dryer, outdoor BBQ, shared pool), it is very clean, ideally situated near the beach and the town of Tamarindo, and it is spacious enough for several couples or even a large family to sleep comfortably (large balcony, 2 bathrooms). It felt like an actual home away from home! (cliche I know... but it's true!). It's a great value and just a few minutes walk from all the town services (bank, pharmacy, shops, tour guides, surf shops) and plenty of great restaurants. We saved a lot by staying that's for sure! Getting to the condo was really easy, there's a shuttle service that picked us up at the airport and gave us the keys, which we returned to them at the end of our stay. All the neighbors were very friendly and some even gave us great advice on what to see and do. Whether you're a group of friends, couples, family, this is a fantastic place to stay at while in Costa Rica and there's no shortage of things to do, areas to explore or beach to simply relax on. Tamarindo is a gem of a place and we are definitely going back and when we do we are definitely staying here again!