Villa Real- Santa Teresa Hills

Skip. The host listed the property as a 2 minute walk to the beach and it was a 10-12 min 4x4 drive challenge. Since we planned to be able to walk we checked out and asked for a refund. He has not done so to make the situation right. Santa Teresa has been taken over by tourists and developers and not your typical Costa Rica pura vida experience. The developers have given zero respect to the locals and it shows. The town is dirty and noisy with atv 4x4 quads everywhere. Not a town for families or young kids. To get to the home you traverse an unpaved uphill rocky dusty road that takes at least 10 minutes to drive. Not at all possible to walk it. Although we had 4x4 car, that is not enough and each time we felt like we were about to get a flat tire we felt it was too unsafe to continue to do this multiple times a day with our family so we checked out and only stayed 1 out of our 4 nights that is how bad it was. We went about an hour away to a much more peaceful Costa Rican resort. Additionally, this home we stayed in for one night was the only place in Costa Rica that did not recycle including the town. That should tell you something as well as a red flag that the developers do not care about preserving the beauty of Costa Rica or the culture of the locals that everyone dreams to experience in Costa Rica. The house itself was nice, but there is a new home build going up right in front of this home which blocks 75% of the view.

We had a pleasant stay at the Villa Real. The pool and outside area was our favorite part of the property; and of course the view of the ocean was quite lovely! The home is mostly as presented in the photos, although there has been a little wear and tear in places; however, this was mostly minor (e.g., bedroom furniture) and the wall paint appears to have been touched up regularly. One of the master bedrooms had a musty smell in the bathroom. However, the pool is beginning to show its age as there are many tiles missing on the edge, as well as on the bottom. The pool was never quite filled so the infinity effect was not present and we could see the gaps in the tiles. The most important piece of feedback we'd like other guests to be aware of is the location. The VRBO map location is inaccurate and, as other reviews mention, it is a 4x4 adventure getting to this property. The road to the house is a very steep (20+% grade in many places) and bumpy (many potholes, dirt and rock road) 1.5 km; it took us about 15 minutes to drive this each way, which was significantly longer and more difficult than we were expecting.

The view was awe inspiring. Good location to town. Concierge was incredibly responsive. Would come back

Gorgeous property with a stunning sunset view, strong WiFi (for those who need it) and a great property support staff. Would stay again! 4x4 definitely needed for the hill.

Thank you Lee for taking such a good care of us and being beyond accommodating. Our group doubled in size after the booking and Lee went above and beyond to make our stay comfortable and unforgettable. The location of the Villa is convenient, the villa is functional and equipped with the basics. The pool is the BEST feature - it is an amazing lap pool. Thank you again!

This villa in Santa Teresa was amazing - we very much enjoyed our stay and Lee was extremely responsive to any needs that came up during our trip.

Great Views

The house, the view, the pool and the outdoor lounge area were phenomenal. Mercedes was incredibly responsive and helpful on all aspects of our stay. I would note, as she states, a 4x4 is a requirement. The road to the house takes some getting used to but once you've done it a couple times it's not a problem. My only pain point is the first time you arrive at the house, it would be wonderful to have some supplies (paper towels, dish rags, dish soap & sponge, etc). The kitchen could also be a bit more stocked with utensils, glasses, plastic cups for the pool area, etc. We have rented many homes and when these staples are supplied you're able to relax more quickly, esp if you're a bit weary of traveling up and down the hill.

This is a beautiful villa with a fantastic pool and stunning views. It feels very new and clean, is well appointed, and is in a great location. Very quiet, a short drive to the beach. You definitely need a four wheel drive to get there, but you really need one to drive around Costa Rica anyway. The villa is part of a small community with a security guard who lives on site so it feels safe. There are a couple of new houses on the lot below the house so you can now see a little bit of rooftop between the pool and the ocean, but the views are still amazing. We were there in February and the sun set right over the pool. Mercedes was also really kind and responsive. She helped us a great deal when another property owner, Soriya, cancelled our rental at the last minute (very unprofessional). To be honest, we are thrilled she did because this property was a dream. We wanted to stay forever and would DEFINITELY rent again!

House was perfect we were a party of 5 and room for more. The pool was a good length great for daily laps. Daily cleaners was a good feature and a guard out front gave us peace of mind. Merecedes was really great to deal with. She was prompt in texting and communicating and very accommodating. The only tricky part was the dirt road from town to the house. Harder with a car. We were fine once we rented ATVs.