JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED

Posted by tsavdarcamp from AGUADILLA VIA CHARLOTTE, NC on 6/8/08

From a distance, the graceful flora and chalets look like some kind of open-air rehab facility. Indeed, after spending time at Casa Grande, I felt refreshed, re-energized, and re-connected with the simple beauty of nature. If you cannot live without your television or radio, unfortunately this is not the place for you. However, isn’t a vacation about disconnecting your stress and enjoying the moment? The staff was wonderful and friendly. The owner, a transplant from New York, visited the property years ago and subsequently purchased it within six months! He now conducts daily Yoga classes and personally meets all his guests. It is a bit tricky getting there, but once you arrive, you will be glad you made the trek. I recommend arriving before dark (7’ish) to enjoy the surroundings and ensure that you don’t get lost on one of the curvy mountain roads. No need for air conditioning for the mountain air is cool and inviting, even in the summer. Perfect place for honeymooners and cerebralites Teenagers may enjoy the pool, but the lack of media/electronics, may bore them unless they bring their summer reading assignments.

Peace, Quiet, and Beauty

Posted by rnphd from Lancaster, PA on 2/18/07

If you want excitement, action, and luxury, please go elsewhere. If you want quietly overwhelming mountain beauty, gorgeous botanical plantings, serene lounging by a small freshwater pool, excellent food in stunning surroundings, and a respite from tv and radio, stay here. This is an award-winning eco-lodge, which deserves the accolades. We spent hours on our balcony (with the cat who graciously allowed us to share it) looking at the mountains, listening to the coquies, and snoozing in the hammock. It's a quiet, restful place, with extremely friendly and helpful staff members. The workmen showed us the orange, grapefruit, and coffee trees, and were very good natured about our relative lack of Spanish. The young lady at the front desk was extremely helpful when we needed to borrow her phone for a work-related "emergency" back home. There is not always lunch available here, but nearby is a bakery with bread, pastry that is baked on the premises and could put the French to shame, and huge sandwiches made to order. There is also a roadside stand with very good roast chicken and mafongo. Probably not a great place for your average child for long periods, but a wonderful retreat for the rest of us. If you can't live without constant stimulation, this is not the place for you. If you want quiet relaxation and rejuvenation, you should stay here for a few days. You won't really want to leave.