Ride On Beach House

The complimentary yoga was such a nice extra, and breakfast was delicious each morning. I liked that it ran until 10 AM. I also tried the chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie one morning, and it was to die for. The staff were all so friendly, and as a solo traveler I enjoyed chatting with both them and the other guests. My four-night stay at Ride On was a real pleasure. The design feels thoughtful, and the rooms are lovely and well equipped. I had a top-floor king suite with high ceilings, a balcony overlooking the hotel, lots of outlets beside the bed, and switches I could reach without getting up. Even details like the privacy film on the balcony doors seemed carefully considered. There was plenty of natural light, and the bathroom felt bright and airy. The bed was on the firm side, which I liked, and came with lots of fluffy pillows and comfortable sheets. The room was very clean, with housekeeping available daily. I did spot a few ants, but hey, this is Costa Rica, they were here first. I took surf lessons through the hotel with Fernando. He's an incredible instructor, and despite having taken many lessons, I learned things from his explanations that I hadn't heard before. The direct beach path is also a great perk, about a two-minute walk. It was a quiet place, and things seemed to wind down around 9 PM, with quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM. I'm a light, sensitive sleeper and could hear some noise around 6-8 AM through my earplugs. It didn't bother me too much, though, since I was so happy there and wanted to make the most of my time.

We had a really comfortable stay at ride on, and the staff were so helpful. We traveled with our two-year-old, and Heather patiently answered our questions and made sure we had what we needed. The beach is an especially easy walk from here. It’s a fun place, and we'd definitely recommend it for a relaxed stay.

I felt so relaxed at Ride On both times I visited this year. I spent a week there in January, loved it, and came back in April. The rooms are clean and simple. There are no irons or hair dryers, which suits the surf-hotel feel and makes it easier to unplug. The Wi-Fi is very good, though, so you don't have to disconnect entirely. The pool is lovely, with plenty of comfortable loungers. You can borrow a bicycle whenever you like, which makes it easy to ride into town. The beach is just down a path, and Safari Surf school is right next door if you want lessons. The staff, including Jeffrey, Jimena, Heather and everyone else, are warm and helpful. Breakfast is delicious, with eggs, rice and beans, fried plantains, and fresh fruit. Coffee is ready really early for a morning surf. My favorite part may be the two sweet dogs who live there, Ramen and Soba. I was so glad to see them again on my second trip :)

We spent a week in Playa Guiones and rented boards from Ride On. Their selection of logs and mid-lengths was great, and the walk to the break was quick and scenic. The kind, accommodating staff clearly care about keeping the hotel in good shape. Being able to use the board storage, showers, and pool after surfing made it a perfect fit for our stay. We'll be back!