There used to be a time in Costa Rica when vacation rentals were just a way to save money by families or friends traveling together, and packing in as many people as possible into a house. But not any more! In the last 8 years, there has been an explosion of high end, luxury villas in Costa Rica that not only equal what the big luxury resorts offer, but also add one additional amenity that they cannot provide – privacy.
Whether having a family vacation, a wedding ceremony on the beach with a few close family members and friends, or just three or four couples traveling together, a private villa rental just makes more sense. For instance, the dining area is just for your use, the swimming pool is just for you, the living room, and all outside patio areas are private to you and your guests.
One of the best examples of a luxury villa in Costa Rica is the Casa Oceano Beachfront Villa within the 125 acre Tango Mar Beach Resort and Private Nature Reserve. This truly “on the beach” villa has 6 bedrooms, 5 of them oceanfront with cantilevered balconies, one garden bedroom, 3 whirlpool tubs, and an oceanfront infinity pool that is just 11 steps down the stairs to the warm, tropical, sandy beach. Casa Oceano (and other deluxe villas of this type) has a staff of 4 that includes daily maid service, pool and grounds maintenance, a concierge available 24 hours a day and, if a meal plan is preferred, a full time chef. Amenities include a professionally appointed kitchen with a commercial gas range / oven, LCD televisions in the living room and bedrooms with premium satellite channels, iPod docking stations, high speed wifi, A/C, quality linens, pool toys for the kids, and even boogie boards for the more adventurous beach lovers. Nothing is overlooked. Just imagine yourself walking into your own private residence that you have prepared for your enjoyment and a staff to cater to your needs!
Of course, when you are out of the “house” category and into the world of “villas”, prices are reflected accordingly, and in some cases, you will pay as much or more than staying at a comparable resort hotel. As an example, the Casa Fantastica Villa in Manuel Antonio overlooks the famed Maneul Antoino Park area and Pacific Ocean. This newly constructed, 10,000 square foot villa has 8 luxurious bedrooms, 3 whirlpool tubs, a hotel size infinity pool, a game room, a gym, and a cinema with seating for 30 guests. Villas of this type, and Casa Oceano, can range from $10,000 in the low season to $13,500 in the high season, to $30,000 or more for the premium Christmas and New Year weeks. But the demand is there, not only for the luxury, but for the exclusive privacy.
Even the once sleepy fishing villages of Playas Mal Pais and Santa Teresa, in a remote area of the Nicoya Peninsula, have been discovered by celebrities who come to stay in the newly constructed luxury villas to get away from it all. The surfers who once camped out on those beaches fifteen or twenty years ago, have now returned as doctors, lawyers and business owners to rent the private, luxury bungalows on one of the best surfing beaches in Costa Rica. Lot owners seeing this phenomenon about 7 years ago decided to build deluxe villas to cater to larger groups. The Hollywood celebrity market immediately picked up on the opportunity to vacation in a remote and secluded area where their privacy would not be so easily invaded. Celebrities who have stayed here include model Gisele Bundchen, Leonardo DiCaprio and Mel Gibson, who is now just completing a mountaintop estate overlooking the beaches, complete with a helicopter landing pad. Murray Barnett, the owner of the first, and most popular website in that area, confides, “I have often been asked to sign a privacy agreement to insure that I would not reveal the names of visiting celebrities. In addition, one of the advantages of this more remote and undeveloped area is that most villas are situated on 1 to 3 acre beachfront parcels, which provide even more exclusivity to dignitaries and stars.”
Yes, for a single couple traveling alone, a luxurious suite or private deluxe bungalow is still probably the best option. But, for families and groups vacationing together, the luxury villa market is the one area of the Costa Rican tourism business that has remained steady, even in this economy, as luxury villa guests continue to value not only the outstanding accommodations, but also privacy.
Forgive me because I don’t know the name of the hotel but I think it’s in Madrid… anyway, even if your Spanish isn’t up to much, you’ll soon get the idea – clearly someone has a rather warped sense of humour!
Instead of having your feet scrubbed to get rid of dead skin cells, how about a fish pedicure? This is a practice that first became popular in Turkey before moving to other parts of Asia and on to the US where fish feed on the dead skins cells on your feet. Supposedly, it’s therapeutic although most people trying it seem to describe a mildly uncomfortable tickling sensation. Here’s various pieces of footage for you to ‘enjoy’.
Singapore Airport:
Cambodia:
USA:
Meanwhile, others are questioning the safety of such a treatment. See the BBC article here. If faced with the opportunity, would it be something you’d try?
There’s nothing luxurious here, but I think anyone with a love of travel would find it interesting, so I’m sharing it regardless! First up, a footpath that’s being billed on YouTube as the world’s scariest. El camino del ray is a via ferrata that’s now fallen into a state of disrepair, located in the province of Malaga, Spain. The provincial government has apparently agreed to repair the walkway at an estimated cost of 8.3 million euros; work will commence later this year and it will be around 3 years until completion. Anyway, without further ado, see this amazing walkway for yourself…
And next up we have what is arguably the scariest motorbike trail you’ll ever see. Ligurische grenzkammstrasse is a former military route on the French-Italian border.
If you know of any other routes that are equally extreme or seemingly unbelievable, please share them by posting a comment.
America’s only floating chapel has surely got to be a contender for the world’s most unique church. It can currently be found in Sarasota, Florida, and offers Weddings on Water to anyone looking for a ceremony that’s a little different.
Shown below is footage of the chapel from one of its previous locations, St. Petersburg, FL.
February: A romantic weekend escape to Paris, or a luxurious winter sports break in Portes du Soleil.
March: A perfect month to immerse yourself in magical Morocco. Or indulge in some retail therapy in super stylish Milan.
April: Experience a gastronomic haven in the heart of the French countryside in Burgundy.
May: Glamour and excitement, style and sophistication, yachts, fine dining and Formula 1 Racing at the Monaco Grand Prix.
June: Horseracing, hats, helicopters and of course, champagne at Royal Ascot. Or perhaps make a weekend of it at Wimbledon.
July: Mingle with Royalty at the Cartier Polo Club, the highlight of the British social season.
August: Imagine driving through the breathtaking Tuscan countryside in a Ferrari… what an experience!
September: Hit the French Riviera for ‘Les Voiles de St Tropez‘ – the most beautiful and extraordinary yachts battling for The Rolex Trophy. Or kick back in unspoilt Galway for delectable treats at the Oyster Festival.
October: Wind down in style truffle hunting in Northern Italy.
November: Christmas shopping in probably the most exciting city on the planet – New York. Or how about a sparkling weekend in the Champagne region of France?
December: Soak up the festive atmosphere at Christmas markets in beautiful cities such as Prague, Vienna and Salzburg.
Naomi Whiteley works for the UK-based boutique tour operator Grand Tourist.
Discover Dominica wanted to create a strong visual impression of Dominica and subsequently a very different side of the Caribbean. It is a haven for nature lovers, walkers and those seeking a low key, environmentally aware and active holiday, interacting with local people, landscapes and wildlife. There are plenty of luxurious spas and eco resorts on the island too.
This video showcases key elements to luxury travellers including lush, unspoilt forests, village life, geothermal pools and beach settings.
Stylish travel has always inspired the House of Gucci since it was founded in 1921, and so this theme is further explored in its latest Cruise Collection for 2011. With an elegant voyage very much in mind, Creative Director Frida Giannini interprets the contemporary female wardrobe with faultless nonchalance, alternating between an edgy chic urban attitude and an ultra glamorous spirit.
Having already waited an hour and a half to take off, the Amsterdam Sinfonietta chamber orchestra gave a spontaneous concert on a delayed KLM Boeing 747 at Shanghai Airport.
There’s a new book out from Louis Vuitton with more than 800 photographs that showcase 100 legendary LV trunks and detail the stories behind their creation. See the video below for an insight. The book is available from October 2010.
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There used to be a time in Costa Rica when vacation rentals were just a way to save money by families or friends traveling together, and packing in as many people as possible into a house. But not any more! In the last 8 years, there has been an explosion of high end, luxury villas in Costa Rica that not only equal what the big luxury resorts offer, but also add one additional amenity that they cannot provide – privacy.