Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where is Casa Azul located?
2. How many bedrooms, and how many can it sleep?
3. Do I need a car? How far is it from the beach?
4. What are the amenities? Is the house air-conditioned?
5. Is the house staffed?
6. How do I know if the property is available for the period I want it?
7. How do I make a reservation?
8. Is there internet?
9. Is English spoken in Manuel Antonio?
10. What do I need to bring with me, what about the currency, driving instructions, etc.?
11. How is payment made?
12. What is the cancellation policy?
13. Have there ever been any reviews of the house? Have any guests ever posted comments?
14. What about tours and excursions?

Where is Casa Azul located?

The area of the Pacific is commonly referred to as "Manuel Antonio", located in the Central Pacific area of Costa Rica. Actually, the name "Manuel Antonio" refers to the national park at the end of the road from the town of Quepos. Our house is located in a development that sits very high on a hill overlooking Quepos and the port of Quepos, on the same road to Manuel Antonio Park.

How many bedrooms and how many can it sleep?

There are a total of four bedrooms. 1) King Bed with private bathroom 2) Queen Bed with shared bathroom 3) Queen Bed with shared bathroom 4) Full-size Bed with small private bath (this is a small bedroom, on the poolside level of the house. It is less-desirable than the rest of the bedrooms (not connected to the rest of the house), but it is cute, has a nice view - perhaps ideal for a teenager or for those who may want more privacy. We do have a crib, if you let us know in advance.

Do I need a car and how far is it from the beach?

Don't let anyone fool you. This is a very hilly area of the Pacific. Walking up these hills is very difficult and it is the last thing you will want to do after a day at the beach. Almost everyone rents a car. We recommend renting a car when you enter the country, and driving to the beach (only 2 hours thanks to a new highway). You will be grateful at not being dependent upon cabs. All the beaches are about 5 minutes from the house. You could also use the car for a day trip to Dominical or Jaco, both known for surfing.

What amenities does the house have? Is it air-conditioned? Is smoking permitted?

The house is air conditioned, and has a private pool, deck chairs and towels, propane barbeque, washer/dryer, kitchen with pots, pans, blender, etc., dvd player, all linens, hair dryers, car port, and everything else you will need for a wonderful vacation. Please smoke outside because we have guests that are allergic to smoke and, if you do smoke, we will deduct an extensive cleaning from your deposit.

Is the house staffed?

Apart from daily maid service and pool-cleaning(except Sundays), we have a professional manager, Tom, who greets you upon your arrival, shows you the town and the house, and can arrange for all the tours you may desire (though, you can always reserve those tours/boat charters in advance if you are planning to be there in a busy time). If you really want to pamper yourself, we have a chef (not a cook, a chef!) available for $125/day plus cost of food. Otherwise you can use the kitchen to cook your own food or seafood catch, or dine in one of the great restaurants nearby..

How do I know if the property is available for the period I want it?

On our site, we have an Availability Calendar which we update daily.

How do I make a reservation?

We are not a big operation. We only have one house and, because of that, the house is beautifully and carefully maintained. We also make the reservations system simple. Just fill in the Rental Agreement, on line, print it out and send it with a check. All the instructions are on the Agreement. To be fair to all, we are not able to hold the property until we get the signed rental agreement with the check. Please make sure you mark your calendar so that your second and final payment is not late.

Is there internet?

While there is telephone, cable TV, and DVD in the house, there is no internet service. There are several internet cafes in town, less than a few minutes away.

Is English spoken in Manuel Antonio?

Tom, our manager, is from USA. Everywhere you go in Manuel Antonio there will be people who speak English. If you need to use a cab, either look for one with a written sign on the outside that says that English is spoken, or work with Tom to coordinate.

What do I need to bring with me, what about the currency, driving instructions, etc.?

We send all of our guests a multi-page orientation letter that answers these questions and many others. We are also available by phone or email.

How is payment made?

Payments are by personal check, mailed with your rental agreement to the Washington, DC agent's address that is indicated on the rental agreement. You pay one-half with your rental agreement and the second half not later than two weeks prior to your arrival. You also pay a $500 damage deposit which is returned to you the first Thursday after your departure; provided that there is no damage to the house.

What is the cancellation policy?

See the Rate and Terms tab on our site for all policies.

Have there ever been any reviews of the house? Have any guests ever posted comments?

We are very proud of the many guests who have taken time to post their thoughts. See the Guestbook on our site.

What about tours and excursions?

There are many, many activities. During the busy season, we recommend that you confer with Tom, our local, on-site manager, by email before your arrival to get you reservations for the best operations. To name just a few: horseback riding, surfing lessons, rain forest and zip line tours, ATV (all terain vehicle) tours, white-water rafting, nature walks, spas, sport fishing and chartering, and many others.