A vacation at a Costa Rica house rental may just be the dream paradise you’ve been looking for. As tourism is a thriving industry in this Latin American country, you’ll have quaint provincial charm, tropical rainforest backdrops, hot yet cool days by the ocean, with all the amenities of a five star hotel, but at a most affordable price. The 1.9 million travelers who visited Costa Rica in 2007 alone can’t be wrong.
You can take the whole family on vacation, and your brother’s family as well, as most of these Costa Rica house rentals are surprisingly big, with villas, condos and townhomes also on offer. These villas and condos usually have two to three bedrooms, and may allow up to ten people to sleep comfortably. If you’re finicky about the bathrooms, you must find out how many there are before choosing your villa, because while some may have three or four at your disposal, others will offer only one or two.
Also check if the rental house you’re considering has air-conditioning, cable TV, DVD player and other items that would comprise an entertainment system, if this is important to you and your family. But then, who would stay indoors in Costa Rica? Most house rentals on the Pacific Coast are already by the sea, but a swimming pool on the premises is still a must.
Like most vacation rental houses, there will be a kitchen in full capacity, and some packages will come with a cook, housekeeper, gardener or groundskeeper, or any combination of these. You can just relax throughout your stay. Of course, there are also self-catering units, where you’ll literally have the house all to yourselves. You could also have it arranged for the cook, masseur and cleaner to come in on specific days, if you wish.
Some of the best vacation rentals can be found on the Pacific coast. There are three provinces found on the West coast of Costa Rica: Guanacaste, San Jose and Puntarenas. Guanacaste on the Northwest, has many beautiful beaches, for surfers, snorkelers and anyone looking forwards to lying on warm sands all day. Popular locations for house rentals in Guanacaste are Playa de Coco, Playa Conchal, Playa Hermosa, and Playa Flamingo. Of course, popular need not mean crowded – beaches in Guanacaste are near deserted. There are more people in Puntarenas, particularly in Manuel Antonio, thanks to the National Park, where you’ll be deep in the rainforest one moment, then right on the beach in the next.
A Costa Rica house rental may range from US$300 to $1,000, while villas are more pricey between $2,500 to $6,000 per week. Rates usually depend on how many you’ll be and what amenities you’ll avail of. For example, having a cook is definitely more expensive than a rental that is self-catered. All inclusive packages that charge per day will usually charge around US$210 for each adult and $60 for children below 12 years of age. These rates are often posted on a per-week basis, although some allow daily rates, so long as the vacationers stay at least three days.
Whether you seek adventure, have sports-minded teenagers or nature-loving tweeners, or you’re simply hoping to find comfort and relaxation, a Costa Rica rental house is quite close to paradise.
Related links:
Finding the perfect Costa Rica House Rental
Costa Rica Hotels – from Laid-Back to Luxurious