We stayed 11 night in August with a family of 12 (6 adults, 6 teenagers). The accommodations were exactly as noted in the written profile. The communication was perfect, the home gorgeous and clean. If you aren’t satisfied…that may be you more than the home. We travel a fair amount and this rates up there for Vrbo accommodations. The space was more than enough for everyone to spread out — loved the messy teens in the other house! The only thing unexpected was that the third bedroom (the non-master off the pool) in the main house has the bathroom outside the room next to laundry, not inside the room like the other two rooms in the main home - not an issue as everyone has their own bathroom per room, but different than the other rooms. I may have missed that note in the profile.
An absolute must is golf cart rentals and a car. The Hacienda Pinilla property is huge and it’s warm so walking to the beach club isn’t feasible. There is so much to explore on the golf carts and the kids loved the mobility.
Make sure to visit Tamarindo - great shopping and some excellent food (Pangas, Bamboo Sushi, Patagonia were memorable).
Ironically, after too many recommendations from locals and visitors to list, we finally went to Il Rustico (Italian, no less) and the night was perfection from ambiance to spectacular cuisine — a howler monkey watched from the tree! This restaurant is a 15 minute golf cart ride away headed to Playa Avellanas. If you make it a bit farther you should check out Lola’s for an afternoon cocktail/visit or surf lesson.
Don’t bother researching excursion providers. Mergie/Joel have vetted all providers. Tell them what you are interested in and go that route. Prices are same.
A small, private, well appointed gym just opened up while we were there that is part of the gated community Ficus Villas are in, this was better for us as the Hacienda Pinilla beach club gym was often busy.
Pool at house was excellent and we spent a ton of time both at the beach club pool and in our own.
Pura Vida! Thank you, Joel and Mergie. It was wonderful!