On the beach, sun loungers
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Reviews of Beautiful Beachfront property in San Miguel, Guanacaste, sleeps 12

Beautiful Beachfront property in San Miguel, Guanacaste, sleeps 12
Carmona, Guanacaste

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 23 out of 25 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 25 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 25 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 25 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 25 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Lyla

Travelled with pets, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Incredible home and fantastic experience. This place is perfect for those looking for a slow paced, less developed, not trendy, sparsely populated, less wired/connected setting. The spectacular beach is an integral part of the covered outdoor living space. The living space super comfortable with everything you need to prepare meals, relax, and hang out and works for just 2 people but we could easily see 3 families hanging out comfortably. The internet connection is good enough but there's no TV or other electronics, which gives the place a vaguely lost in time feeling. You can really disconnect. The sleeping areas are regular rooms with AC and hot water. Big yard off the beach is also nice. The living spaces and yards sit on a flat piece of land/house is 1 story/no stairs making it easy to navigate. We used the small above ground pool though that requires climbing up and down a ladder but the pool is not really necessary with the beach right there. Jose the caretaker was very nice. While we prepared most of our meals, we did try a few close by spots including the Restaurante San Miquel, which was fantastic -- such a treat to have a restaurant of that quality right there (all the other guests had driven a long ways to get there so make a reservation if you go). We will definitely return to enjoy both the house and location before this little piece of paradise changes too much.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca L., Hollywood

Liked: Cleanliness
Magical and Perfect
We had a blissful month at this house and cannot wait to return. The bedrooms are clean, comfortable, and cool with hot water and good pressure in the bathrooms. Our favorite area was the ranchero with hammocks and dining area. We spent all of our waking hours either at the beach, in the hammocks, or dining together. It made me realize I need this setup at home! The town, people, restaurants, and scenery are beautifully unforgettable and welcoming. Wifi was fast and supported my remote work using a VPN with heavy signal demand. Our group was women and girls and we felt very safe and cared for by José and Bulmar while we were there. José even helped us with a flat tire! If you’re considering this home, book it and enjoy the real Costa Rica. ♥️
Stayed 30 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Graham S.

Liked: Cleanliness
A month in paradise
We booked this property for our first visit to CR with a view to considering the country as a regular winter getaway from Ohio winters. We stayed the first night in San Jose where we met up with our friends two other couples and it was just as well we planned it that way as we had to wait until 7.30pm for Avis to deliver our Mitsubishi Montero 5+2 SUV. I would strongly suggest that you avoid nighttime driving as the last 50kms or so are on unlit, unlined, gravel roads. There are three routes into the property from the main north/south road on the west side of the Gulf of Nicoya, from N to S the first is a steep mountain road from Carmona (the first route we took (and we only took it once)), the second requires fording a river "large stream really" which had water in it the first couple of times but was dry the last time we drove through it in mid March from Juan de Leon, and the southern route from Jicaral which is the flattest run. The property itself is magnificent from the first arrival through the gate, Jose the caretaker ran over to open it as we pulled up, the garden, the flowers, the palms, and you catch the first glimpse of the ocean and the sandy beach. Once we got all the luggage and supplies (from Walmart in Escasu on the way) we were able to start appreciating all La Gobetta has to offer. The open plan rancho is ideal for the location and has seating areas around the bar, a large dining table which can seat 10 two canopies with chairs and tables along with three loungers on the well maintained grassy area between the rancho and the beach. The two burner Propane professional range and the large Propane grill are set up on wheels with the gas bottles so they can be moved around from the enclosed kitchen area into the bar or dining areas to prepare meals. The two side by side fridge/freezers are a little elderly but work well except the water and ice dispensers are out of action. There are lots of ice cube trays and we kept a bag of ice from the local supermarket (there are two) in San Francisco de Coyote a short drive. There is a complete range of pots and pans, a good coffee maker a microwave and large toaster oven, plenty of dishes and cutlery, and a good old fashioned blender (essential for Pina Coladas) and Bulmar keeps it all clean. The water to all the sinks is cold only and the showers use electric shower head heaters which work well. All in all we have booked for two months next year. 5 stars are not enough!!
Stayed 28 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful Relaxation
After getting married on the beach of San Miguel in 2021, we were anxious to return and celebrate our anniversary and just relax. When we stumbled across Carlos's listing, we weren't at first sure of the detached kitchen, dining, common area from the bedrooms and whether it would work for our vacation. But, after staying 9 days, Carlos was kind enough to allow us to add two days to our original plan of 7, we have to say that it was one of the best vacations we have had in Costa Rica. Carlos and his staff, Jose and Brauma, made our stay exceptional. Brauma kept everything clean and Jose brought us coconut water every day. The location was amazing, with the beach just steps away and so easy to get to the warm ocean even for our 90 year old father. And the pool was a wonderful way to cool off. Thank you Carlo We will be back
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bert K., Washington DC

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic place!
We loved our week on Playa San Miguel! The house is right on a beautiful beach with almost no one else on it. The house is great with a fantastic open-air living area and kitchen where we hung out all the time. The rooms are just right - essentially 3 hotel rooms side by side, each with its own bathroom, AC, and comfortable sleeping for four. Property manager and daily cleaning were amazing. Jose brought us fresh coconut water everyday and helped us find and cook clams. This was a perfect stay and we hope to be back soon!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2021

2/10 Terrible

Sean C.

Spring Break at Daytona Beach
You’re heard this story before. You search for a place in a small, quiet beach community removed from the tourist scene in Costa Rica. Once you rent the place, the first few days are idyllic. Your kids walk on the beach and start collecting shells. You enjoy a nap or two in the hammocks in the outdoor living space. The gardener comes over and prepares fresh clams in linguine and everything is great until Thursday. That’s when the Costa Rican rich kids show up next door. A dozen of them. They set up an outdoor disco tech and start drinking at noon. They assure you that they will not get carried away and brag to you about their trips skiing in Colorado. But the music never stops. You’re so close to their party that you could drop your fork on their speaker. At dinner, you endure the pathetic attempt of them trying to sing American songs at the top of their lungs on the karaoke machine and all the while the drinking never stops. You think to yourself they will calm down after midnight. But they don’t. The thump, thump, thump of the music drones into the early hours of the morning. You go over at 2 a.m. and ask them to turn it down, then at 3 a.m. and then finally they pass out drunk at 4 a.m. and someone manages to turn off the music. You email your host who is incredibly gracious and kind and who knows the owners and the kids staying there. He’s embarrassed. Tells us this has never happened before. He emails the owners and assure us it will be better. This goes on for three nights and finally, after you’ve had enough, you leave early and ask for a refund for the nights you didn’t stay there. For the next two days you end up in a hotel by the airport catching up on your sleep and thinking about the review you’re going to write. It’s a shame really. Costa Rica is beautiful. They live and die by their tourism and to see these young people embarrass themselves, disrespect us and dishonor their country in this way… well, instead of telling a story of wonder and discovery about Costa Rica to all of our friends back home, I will end up telling this story. It’s one that you’ve probably heard before and I’m sure you will hear again.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on Jul 22, 2021
We appreciate the frank and clear review and we are pleased to learn that, apart from the issue raised by the customer, the place, the setting and the facilities offered are of high standards, almost idyllic! We fully agree with the customer complaints and assure you this has not happened before (as you can read from the reviews from the past years) and should not have happened this time. As expected, we offered our customer not only our sincere apologies but also a refund. The unfortunate event was coincidental with the mid-term vacation (two weeks) of private schools and universities in the country. We will monitor the situation to avoid a similar situation in the future. Thank you for the opportunity to write this reply.

10/10 Excellent

Rilla P., Los Angeles. California

Liked: Cleanliness
Absolutely Beautiful!
We had an excellent stay everything was perfect! The owner Carlos was always very responsive to our questions and needs! Highly recommend this property!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Phil L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Best place I have ever stayed !
This is the most tranquil place, right on the beach! The beach is flanked on both sides with rock pools, full of shells and sea life. Palm trees help shade the beach front in the heat of the day! The caretaker José is wonderful and very attentive and helpful! Boogie boards are provided and a couple of surf boards. Kitchen has everything you need. We lived in the outdoor “rancho” when we were not on the beach. I am trying to figure out how I can get back soon!! Thank you so much!!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Joe L., Eau Claire, WI. USA

Liked: Cleanliness
La Gobeta Paradise
My family of four and four friends from nearby Cartago enjoyed La Gobeta during Christmas 2019. It was a little rough getting here on the road up and down the mountain but well worth it. The outdoor kitchen is so awesome and it is incredibly stocked with ample amounts of silverware, plates, cups, knives, cooking utensils, crock pots, rice maker, two refrigerators, surf boards, boogie boards, four bathrooms(one in each unit and an outdoor one by the kitchen) 3 hammocks, outdoor above ground pool and all of it right on the beach! I have been using VRBO for over ten years and this is one of the best places I have ever rented. Jose, who is the on-site manager brought us fresh papayas, fresh coconut water from coconuts they cut down from the trees and was very flexible with our arrival and departure times. It is a little off the beaten path so please be prepared to be slightly isolated. Wifi was excellent, no TV’s which was okay with us. Dominga made dinner for us our first evening. We thought she made it in the outdoor kitchen but she prepares it ahead of time and delivers it at the requested time, definitely alot of food, just let Carlos know how many people she should cook for. Our friends from Cartago are thinking of making this their new Xmas tradition to rent La Gobeta every year. This is definitely a piece of paradise!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jeanne S.

We loved it!
Playa San Miguel is a wonderful, unspoiled beach and a great place to relax! We have been there twice, with our children and then with friends, and all enjoyed it immensely. The surf is wonderful for boogie boarders and surfers who are less than experts. The beach is very long and flat, making for very forgiving waves and loads of fun. The house was perfect for us. We had 3 couples and the bedrooms were roomy and private so we each had our own space. The common area was fantastic as we were outdoors all day long yet could still be comfortable and in the shade if we so desired. The kitchen was convenient and functional and well equipped. Bulgar and Calvin take wonderful care of the property! The area is very remote which we love, and yet there are a few restaurants close by and a couple of small grocery stores 10-15 minutes drive away.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

Steven S.

Beautiful and secluded beach vacation
Beautiful property with gorgeous secluded beach. It’s a longer drive and a little difficult to get there but when you do it’s great. I would recommend hiring Dominga for meals. The food she prepared was delicious and way cheaper then eating out.
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Shayna C.

Heaven on Earth
We absolutely loved our stay at La Gobeta. After reading the previous reviews, we knew we were going to be in a secluded area of Costa Rica. It was such a relaxing week with our family. There were 12 of us that traveled together. There are 3 rooms that sleep 4 people each. The open air living was awesome. We played in the beach and relaxed in the hammocks every day. We drove into Samara twice during our stay. The drive was so beautiful but 4 wheel drive is definitely recommended. The kids loved the small pool at night while the parents sat around and talked. Marvin was so welcoming and the meal service by Gulmar and Dominga were outstanding. We brought cards to play in the evening. It was so nice and relaxing to not have a TV to distract us. We will definitely be back.

8/10 Good

cynthia b.

Immaculately kept property.Outside living area was perfect! Inside needs updates.
We had a wonderful time at this home in San Miguel! The owner, caretaker, and housekeeper were gracious and helpful- suggestions for day trips, restaurants, and gifts of fruits we’d never heard of! We went to playa Coyote, Punta Islita, and Playa Carillo- but none as beautiful as the beach and view from our front yard! We loved the Cabana where we spent most of our time off the beach- cooking, reading. Wish we had one at home. The house itself was laid out more like a motel, with three bedrooms/bathrooms with separate entrances, and no where to sit inside. This was a great first trip to Costa Rica- hope to return!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

Mary-Ann K., Lacombe AB Western Canada

Quiet and lovely location on the beach....well equipped kitchen and comfortable beds!
Our family of 8 adults had a wonderful time at Carlos lovely beachfront paradise. Great family time lots of time spent in ocean and pool, played yard games during day and enjoyed card and board games in evenings. Had a fire on the beach one evening. We really enjoyed the meals Dominga cooked and delivered each evening. One morning Chico took us fishing and we had fresh caught fish prepared by Dominga for dinner that night....so good! For our family the property worked really well and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. Thanks Carlos for all your help! One thing to be aware of if this is important to you is that internet connection can be a bit spotty....wasnt a big deal for us at all.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2018

10/10 Excellent

Kehau M.

Costa Rican Beauty
This is one of the best secluded, untouched gems of Costa Rica. The accommodations was awesome, the outside kitchen/Rancho is perfect for multi families and the beach was literally a few steps away. Marvin and his wife are very helpful and polite and the owners Carlos and Alejandra were amazing. If you want perfection, its here!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2017

10/10 Excellent

Brenda W.

Well worth the drive!!!
Our family of 12 (2 parents; 5 adult children; 5 spouses/partners) just spent 9 magnificent days at this beautiful beachfront property!! That meant four of us to each simple but completely clean and workable bedroom/bath combo and lots of room for all of us in the spacious free-standing kitchen and open air dining space. We had the gorgeous beach almost completely to ourselves for most of our stay and had the surf and boogie boards going almost non-stop. The volleyball net also got tons of use as did the small but super appreciated above ground pool. Bulmar and Marvin made sure we had everything we needed housekeeping and maintenance wise and we ordered most of our breakfasts and dinners through Dominga, a local and very talented chef! We ate, happily, in a couple local restaurants, visited the little grocery stores in San Francisco de Coyote often, discovered a glorious local bakery and enjoyed a fishing trip with a local fisherman, arranged by Carlos. We also did one day trip to Curu National Park, but mostly we were content to rest and be restored on the property! The drive from San Jose definitely took awhile, especially as we drove through the night, but the location was WELL worth the wait and we'd go back again in a heartbeat! What else is there to say? Book this property!!
Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2016

10/10 Excellent

Joaquín B.

Liked: Cleanliness
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Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022