“A perfect family Christmas holiday at Casa Brisas” Our family of 8: my husband, myself and our three grown children and their spouses were looking for a special Christmas destination this year, away from the cold of the Northeast and Canada, and couldn't have been more pleased that we found the perfect spot, Randy and Claudia’s Casa Brisas. This was the first trip to Costa Rica for all of us and we wanted opportunities for some adventures (like deep sea fishing, surfing and zip-lining) and also a comfortable place for some downtime, away from the crowds and bustle of beach towns. This beautiful home suited our needs perfectly. The setting is idyllic, with views over the Pacific, toucans and other birds in the trees, hammocks to lounge on for reading and a fantastic infinity pool ready to jump in day or evening. The house had 4 large private bedrooms, so each couple had at least a queen size bed and privacy. The decks, balconies and grounds gave everyone a chance to sit peacefully and read or go for a quiet walk. We had originially thought we would be going into town in the evenings for dinner, but in fact, it was so beautiful at the house that after a day’s adventures, we were happy to settle in, cook in the well-equipped kitchen, talk, star gaze, swim and relax. This was good, as the road down the hill into town is tough in the evening. I also cannot complete a note on the house without mentioning, as others have before me, how helpful Randy and Claudia were to our family. Starting with working with me months in advance on planning, Randy gave me many suggestions for tour operators for activities like deep sea fishing and zip-lining that I am glad we booked in advance, as Christmas week is busy. Randy met us at the airport, with the Toyota and escorted us down the coast. He really thought of everything, including had arranging to make sure we had some food in the house for breakfast the following morning. Randy was just a huge help keeping things on track when one of the couple’s flight was delayed and we had to arrange a taxi for them, Randy dealt with the drive and even went into town himself late in the evening to drive the late arrivers up to the house… Try getting service like that at a big hotel!! Having the option to use the Toyota SUV while at the house is a great perk too. My husband and I did rent a car and then used the kids used Toyota for transportation, so we were all able to head out on separate adventures when appropriate or have easy travel room for all 8 of us. Do rent an SUV or other 4 X 4, as you need it on the roads to up Casa Brisas (Randy had warned me). Do not hesitate to book this beautiful home, you’ll have a wonderful time and be glad you did.

“A trip to paradise” Fun, sun, relaxations and truly an education. You can find all that at Casa Tres Palmas. We just spent 6 wonderful days there. The house is everything you need for your vacation. Roomy, well laid out and the pool is the right touch for the end of the day swim after all your beach and zip line adventures. It is truly in between Quepos and Manuel antonio. We actually walk into town one day to the central market. All excursions will pick you up at the house. Tom B. the house manager was excellent in helping us pick choices in daily activities and our wife's loved the fact the there is a maid every day to pick-up and clean up. If you are looking for a nice get away this is the place.

“A week in Paradise!” We stayed one week at the Discovery Beach house. My husband, teenage son, 5 yr old son and two friends with their 7 yr old son. Our stay was fantastic! The house is right on the beach, which is not easy to find in Manuel Antonio beach. The house is absolutely beautiful! Not your typical rental house, it has so much attention to detail in every way. It feels cozy from the moment you walk in. The pool is big and the hot jacuzzi great for the evening time. Monkeys and iguanas come right to the property and it is just beautiful to watch. The service in this house is unbelievable! Sabrina, the concierge, is simply the best! She helped us to organize all the tours and to book the private chef, and just made everything go smooth during our stay. Desiree, the chef, is amazing! She made us feel really pampered, and all her ingredients are fresh. Manuela, the cleaning lady, is such a talented person. She surprised us every day with a different work of art on our beds, which she makes out of towels. One day it was a monkey, other an iguana, and so on. She cleaned the house everyday and did our laundry, too. Juan is the guard and was also very helpful. He made sure that the jacuzzi was hot at night time, opened coconuts for us, and in general made us feel very safe throughout our stay. And of course, Diego and Frida, the dogs, add so much to the whole experience. My sons were so happy to have them around. The owners were so great that even got a new queen air matress so that my mom, my brother and his wife could come and stay with us for a few nights. During those days, we were 7 adults, a teenage boy and 2 kids and we were very comfortable. My only recommendation to the owners would be to add one bathroom to the upstairs, so that the 2 bedrooms upstairs each has it's own bathroom there. There are 2 full bathrooms downstairs, so it is not a major problem, just would be more comfortable :) Manuel Antonio beach is beautiful, and there is so much to do. There is a surf school right next door, and Karahe hotel is also a few steps away, so you can walk to their restaurant for a quick bite. We have been to Manuel Antonio many times, and my only recommendation would be to avoid going during Easter week if you can. It is probably the most crowded week of the year. Other than that, it was really like being in Paradise. We highly recommend staying at the Discovery Beach house if you want to feel pampered while in Manuel Antonio. Thank you David and Evelyn for sharing your beautiful piece of heaven on earth. We look forward to go back to Paradise soon!

“Absolutely fantastic” We were a family of 8 travelling from Canada... 4 daughters aged 12 to 23, son-in-law and boyfriend, plus my wife and I. Everything about the trip was fantastic. The listing was not accurate...because the pictures don't do it justice! Unbelievable size, layout, comfort, etc. and what a view. The monkeys came by most days and the weather was perfect. Absolutely perfect. We were very comfortable with 8 people ...and there was room for more. Alex is excellent in his organizing of all our activities. We tried the horse back riding, repelling, national park tour and catamaran sail. All highly recommended. He organizes for pick up and drop off at the front door. Local restaurants were excellent too. Although cab drivers told us the walk to the beach was either "too long or too dangerous (due to traffic)", we walked it every day without problem. It was a great way to get some exercise after spending a day at the beach. Another thing alex did was organize an on-site meal provided by a local chef (Kukula?). It was one of the best meals we have ever had, and we do a lot of travelling. We didn't rent a car, as the local grocery store was within walking distance, as were the restaurants, and we didn't mind the 20 minute walk to the beach. We flew to San Jose, and alex organized the 2 1/2 trip for pick up and drop off at the end of the stay. The house was cleaned every day (we didn't realize that), and there are laundry facilities on site. We definitely over-packed. This is a flip flop and short/swim suit vacation. We didn't need to wear a sweater at any time during our stay. We will go back and I recommend this for families, couples, etc. The only caution I would have is for those with small children. The building code is no where near the restrictions that we have in Canada, and as such, the area around the main floor, infinity pool and stairs may be a safety hazard for small children. For adults, it adds to the beauty of this spectacular place! A+++

“Comfortable and clean” Close to Quepos, safe area. Private. I left my iPod in the room and it was mailed to me,