Villas Estival

Having the pool as a place to gather between wedding events was great for our friends and the little ones, and the nearby beach was a delight. It’s about 100 yards from the main area, smaller, with nice shade and fun waves. Our wedding was on January 4th this year, just after the busy New Year period, when many visitors were beginning to leave, though it’s still a popular beach. We rented all the villas for three days at a better rate for our guests. Everything was fabulous during our stay, and the villas were kept clean. The security measures and cameras helped us feel comfortable coming and going and sharing space without worrying about someone entering from outside the resort. Grounds staff and maintenance were a big help as we brought in tables, chairs, a shade tent, and a dance floor. The big Guanacaste tree on the property made a perfect wedding arch. Check-in was easy, and the maintenance and cleaning crews helped us gather recycling and trash after the wedding night. Sorting out the online reservations took a little effort because friends and family were sharing villas, but it all worked out eventually. Villas Estival is around 40-60 minutes from Liberia Airport, which was convenient for guests traveling from the US.

We spent most of our time on the big back porch, enjoying the ocean view and sunsets. Villa #6 had two bedrooms and two bathrooms, and was clean with plenty of room for five adults. The walk to the beach is fairly flat and easy. It’s a quiet spot, yet Playa Potrero is only a 15-minute walk or a five-minute drive, with lots of restaurants and bars for evenings out. The staff were really friendly and accommodating when we needed anything. There weren’t any condiments in the villa, so bring what you’ll need for cooking. They kindly supplied salt and pepper, which saved us a trip back to the store.

The beachside setting is the standout, just a few steps from the water. We stayed two nights with the whole family in one cottage for ten, and the staff kept it clean each day. The beds were comfortable, the rooms had plenty of space, and we didn’t hear noise from the neighboring cottage. There was lots of yard space for playing, and the pool was well maintained. The kitchenette had everything we needed to cook, including a dishwasher, and the price was reasonable. As I understand it, there are ten villas, kept in good condition, with different capacities for groups of different sizes. I don’t know much about the property’s history, but I’d come back if I get the chance. It feels worth it.

The beach location is excellent, and the resort grounds feel private, quiet, and fairly secluded. The beach itself is open to everyone, so expect a row of cars parked between the resort and the shore. That’s something you have to accept in costaríca, where beaches and rivers belong to the country’s citizens. The resort felt safe to me, and there’s a safe box in the villa that I’d recommend using. Better to be safe. The rooms are very basic. Our villa had no bedside tables or lamps, and no desk. There was only one TV in the shared area and one small TV in a bedroom. The living room furniture could be better, though the dining room was good. The beds were queen and single size; mine was comfortable, and I had no complaints. The AC with split heads worked well, and the hot water was nice and hot. There were no shoe-cleaning mats at the front door or in the bathrooms. We tried to keep things clean, but with the beach right there, it was difficult. There’s one small heated pool for 13 villas, which is a nice touch, though a heated pool may not make sense in a hot place. No maids came to clean our villa until the day before we left, and we had to call someone to take away the garbage. Outlets are poorly placed throughout the place. I needed an extension cord to get power by the bed, and used a plastic box as a nightstand for my book and other things. The bedroom curtain was a roll-down one covering the whole door. That was a bad design: you have to open it completely to get out, leaving no privacy. I’m not saying this is a good or bad place. I’m listing what worked for me and what didn’t so you can make an informed choice before coming. Good luck.