| Planning a Tropical vacation full of lush jungles, | | | | don’t mind a short drive, and still others |
| secluded beaches, and friendly people but not too | | | | think nothing of getting on a freeway to enjoy |
| expensive? Costa Rica is the place to go! But | | | | attractions. |
| where do you stay, a resort or a private villa? Do | | | | If you prefer a vacation without the hassles of |
| you want long lines, crowded pools, kids running | | | | traffic, parking problems, crowds and long lines, |
| up and down the corridors? I think not. | | | | select a villa located in the quaint waterfront town |
| Selecting the best Costa Rica vacation rental can | | | | of Playa Panama, Costa Rica. Visit to learn more. |
| be the difference between a great vacation and | | | | 4. Identify your first, second and third choice of |
| one where you feel like you are doing | | | | dates for renting the villa. |
| without’. | | | | With several dates, you’ll save time when |
| Many vacationers consider the Costa Rica | | | | making arrangements. |
| vacation rental as just somewhere to | | | | If you find a villa that you really want and you |
| stay’ since most of your time will be spent | | | | have some flexibility in scheduling, having alternate |
| in or on the water, or enjoying local attractions. | | | | dates ready allows you to book right then, saving |
| Don’t make that mistake. There is no | | | | yourself the time and hassle of having to |
| reason to settle for less when, with a little | | | | re-check everyone’s schedule and call back |
| planning, you can find a great Costa Rica vacation | | | | — and risking losing those dates in the |
| rental that you’ll enjoy as much or more | | | | interim. |
| than the other parts of your vacation. | | | | 5. Call the telephone numbers for the vacation |
| Remember, your vacation home is where | | | | rentals that seem to meet your needs and speak |
| you’ll be sleeping, waking up, having many | | | | directly with either the owners or the person who |
| of your meals, and resting. | | | | is handling the property. |
| If it rains or is unseasonably hot outside, you may | | | | Be prepared with a list of questions. This allows |
| end up stretched out reading a book to while | | | | you to compare apples to apples, and keeps you |
| away the day or wanting to watch one of your | | | | from forgetting something important during the |
| favorite movies on the DVD — assuming | | | | conversation. |
| there is a comfortable sofa. And when you meet | | | | It also gives you a feel for the person who will be |
| new friends, you’ll want someplace nice for | | | | your contact should you rent the villa and then |
| entertaining. Shouldn’t your vacation rental | | | | encounter a problem. If you don’t get a |
| be a pleasant get-away with the amenities that | | | | warm, friendly welcome to your inquiries, |
| make vacations a real treat? A home away | | | | don’t expect anything different when you |
| from home | | | | have a problem. |
| Here are 10 tips to for selecting the perfect | | | | 6. Ask what amenities are included. |
| Costa Rica vacation rental: | | | | You may learn of something that’s not on |
| 1. The single most important factor is whether or | | | | your list but is perfect for your plans. |
| not you can see actual recent photos of | | | | Does the rental have maid service? Last thing you |
| the interior and exterior of the vacation rental. | | | | want to do is make the beds or clean the dishes, |
| It’s one thing to read a great description | | | | even if there is a dishwasher. |
| — and some of them are quite | | | | Does the rental have a washer and dryer? If so, |
| complimentary’ (sometimes overly so) | | | | you will not have to take as many cloths with |
| - but you need to see what you are getting. | | | | you. Will the maid wash your cloths before your |
| With the Internet, a website is the quickest most | | | | departure? Coming home with a suitcase full of |
| convenient way for you to get information on | | | | clean cloths is certainly a benefit. |
| prospective Costa Rica vacation rentals. If there | | | | Other things to consider: Is there a welcome |
| are no pictures, you’ll know right away to | | | | basket? Will the owner have essential items in the |
| keep looking. Brochures, books and guides are | | | | refrigerator for you, before your arrival? Can you |
| nice, but may have out-dated information. | | | | make arrangements for tours? Are there plates, |
| 2. List the amenities that are important to you, | | | | utensils, pots, pans and other essentials for eating |
| the ones without which you will feel incomplete. | | | | and meal preparation — or will you have to |
| Next, jot down those that are nice to have, but | | | | bring your own? |
| not deal-breakers if not available. | | | | Does the rental have air condition or do you have |
| With these lists as a guide, you’ll be able to | | | | to depend on the winds to comfort you? |
| quickly eliminate those rentals that won’t | | | | 7. Inquire about restaurants, events and activities |
| meet your needs. Your list might include proximity | | | | and other forms of local entertainment that are |
| to the water, the number of bedrooms and | | | | close by. Here’s where your list of |
| bathrooms, type kitchen (full versus fridge and | | | | preferred activities comes in handy. You should be |
| microwave), outdoor amenities such as decks and | | | | able to find links to local attractions, calendars and |
| BBQ grills, ocean views, private pools, outdoor | | | | restaurants on the website of your Costa Rica |
| eating areas, tennis courts and other items | | | | vacation rental. |
| important to you. | | | | 8. Are the owners local or do they have a |
| On your secondary list, you might have things like | | | | management team helping 24/7? |
| a hammock for lazing about, or pool waterfall for | | | | Owners are a wealth of information about the |
| the relaxing sounds. Exterior stereo speakers, to | | | | area and can give you tips on great |
| enjoy your favorite music around the pool. Ice | | | | out-of-the-way places that aren’t in the |
| makers to mix your favorite drinks, especially in | | | | guidebooks. They also care about your |
| the heat of the day. | | | | enjoyment and comfort while at their villa. |
| 3. List the activities that you want to be able to | | | | This can make a huge difference; especially should |
| enjoy while on vacation. A morning activity like | | | | something need immediate attention in the villa. |
| scuba diving, snorkeling or canopy tour then | | | | There’s nothing worse than calling the |
| coming back to the villa to relax may be a high | | | | rental company about a stopped-up toilet and |
| priority for you. | | | | getting somebody’s bored teenager |
| You also need to consider how close the vacation | | | | who’s manning the phones for the |
| rental is to the airport. It is very important to | | | | summer. |
| know how far the rental is from your arrival | | | | 9. How long has the owner been renting vacation |
| airport. Some rentals can take a half a | | | | rentals? |
| day’s drive and after your flight even an | | | | If the owner has worked with rental properties, |
| hour’s drive can seem an eternity. Your | | | | they know what tenants expect and how to get |
| travel time back to the airport at departure can | | | | things done. |
| also frustrate your entire vacation. Enjoying your | | | | If this is a new venture, beware. The owner may |
| last morning of your vacation by a private pool | | | | be in it for fun and have no idea how to |
| instead of traveling for hours to the airport can | | | | prepare the villa so that you can have a great |
| be very important to you. For Costa Rica | | | | vacation. |
| vacation rentals that are only 20 minutes from | | | | 10. And last, when you look at the pictures, can |
| the Liberia International airport visit This will help | | | | you see yourself having a great time there? |
| you in selecting a general location. | | | | If the pictures make you want to go right now, |
| You also need to consider how close you want | | | | and the answers to the questions above meet |
| your vacation rental to be to the attractions. | | | | your satisfaction, you’ve found yourself a |
| Some people feel that a great vacation is being | | | | great Costa Rica vacation rental! |
| able to walk or bicycle everywhere. Others | | | | |