more playa grande info please imperial!
Mar 26th, 2007 | 01:06 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
more playa grande info please imperial!
hi imperial! tell us more about playa grande.we are heading there in august and are dying to know more up to date info about the area. restaurants/bars/beach/shops(provisions and tourist tatt)our rental is called jims beach house, did you see it??
tell us about the roads and how long it takes to get everywhere.
what about tamarindo. we've read so many conflicting reports re security etc.
cheers
tell us about the roads and how long it takes to get everywhere.
what about tamarindo. we've read so many conflicting reports re security etc.
cheers
Mar 26th, 2007 | 01:39 PM
#2
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Walnutwhip,
A lot of questions and I will try to do my best for you. First things first however, let me know about your group so that I can get an idea about what to recommend- ages / size. This will make th rest of the questions / recs easier
A lot of questions and I will try to do my best for you. First things first however, let me know about your group so that I can get an idea about what to recommend- ages / size. This will make th rest of the questions / recs easier
Mar 27th, 2007 | 12:40 PM
#3
Original Poster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
hi imperial
we are a group of 4 50 yr old teachers from the uk (couples).
we have been vacationing in mexico for the past 3 summers and a combination of europe and the far east for the previous 5 yrs.
we want to experience as much as possible and live to tell the tale!!
and also chill out before the september onslaught!!!
we are a group of 4 50 yr old teachers from the uk (couples).
we have been vacationing in mexico for the past 3 summers and a combination of europe and the far east for the previous 5 yrs.
we want to experience as much as possible and live to tell the tale!!
and also chill out before the september onslaught!!!
Mar 28th, 2007 | 10:07 PM
#5
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Your party will have a magnificent time.
I lived in Surrey for four years, Lightwater to be exact- it is near Bagshot and Windsor. I love England and hope to move back there one day. Anyways, Costa Rica is quite the trip from England! I am not sure where you are flying into, Liberia or San Jose, but I assume it is Liberia.
First thing first, make sure to leave right around 3 hours of time at the airport when you leave. I don't know if it was because the week I was there was an especially busy one or because it was spring break and there were students and families everywhere but the process took just over two hours. SO make sure to plan ahead.
I have heard of many good shuttle services to and from the airport to Playa Grande. When I landed there, I had half of my group go in a prearranged shuttle van and the other half drove with me in my rental car. The rental service that we used was Tamarindo Shuttle. This is $20 per person to Playa Grande -they will try to tell you that it is $15 to Tamarindo and this is true- but then they will tell you that it is significantly harder to get to Playa Grande so it is $5 more per person. So it is $20 per person before tip. We had a drive named Juan Carlos and he was great. Complementary drinks are provided (the local beer, Imperial, or bottled water) The other half of our group, 6 of us, drove in the Suzuki XL-7 that we rented from Tricolor. The car was in perfect condition, the tires were not bald and there was not a problem the entire trip. When you get to the car rental place there (they are all a bit run down and considerably less advanced than the US counterparts) you inspect the car with an agent to make sure that there is no serious damage to it. You do this so that when you return it they cannot blame you for any large scratches or dents that are on the car beforehand. I was warmed to write down every scratch and bump because they would try to charge me extra when I returned the car. This was not the case. Everything went very well- the only thing that they checked was to make sure that the gas was at or near the same level as when I checked the car out. (On that note, gas there is about $4 to $5 US dollars a gallon, so if you are renting, plan that into your charges)
So on the way to our house, Casa Muy Grande in Palm Beach Estates of Playa Grande we stopped off in Filadelfia to get gas and food. We got the gas filled up at a self serve where they take US dollars at the $500 colones to $1 US. Then we went about 100 yards down the road and got enough food and alcohol for 12 people for 8 nights and 9 days from a SuperMercado. This is essentially the American version of a grocery store with very cheap drinks. I do not know if you have a cook in Playa Grande, but if you are looking to make your own meals here and there, it is definitely worthwhile to check out the supermarkets on the way to Playa Grande. Filadelfia is about 2/5 the way to Playa Grande and provides a decent respite before you hit the terribly bumpy roads of Belen. (So grab an ice cream bar and enjoy for a few minutes)—Mind you, if you do nnot want to stop at these markets, and would rather get food on the go, there is a surprisingly decent market in the Palm Beach Estates of Playa Grande. (I was able to look up the villa that you are staying in and it does look beautiful. However, I do not think that I passed it while I was there. Is it in the Palm Beach Estates? Let me know.) Anyways, the market there has all of the essentials- from Rum to eggs.- On the note of Rum, while I was there, I had this local Costa Rican and Nicaraguan rum called Flor de Cana. Mix it wth some local fruit or just have it with some coke and it is majestic. Get the Flor de Cana 4,5 or 18 years aged. Personally, the 4 years was the best for the price.
Anyways, so the market will supply all of your needs of you would rather not buy bulk in the beginning and just play the meals by the day.
This is enough of the basic information and general go-around. Tomorrow I will write all about my personal tastes of Playa Grande and Tamarindo and where / what to do.
Hope your days treat you well.
I lived in Surrey for four years, Lightwater to be exact- it is near Bagshot and Windsor. I love England and hope to move back there one day. Anyways, Costa Rica is quite the trip from England! I am not sure where you are flying into, Liberia or San Jose, but I assume it is Liberia.
First thing first, make sure to leave right around 3 hours of time at the airport when you leave. I don't know if it was because the week I was there was an especially busy one or because it was spring break and there were students and families everywhere but the process took just over two hours. SO make sure to plan ahead.
I have heard of many good shuttle services to and from the airport to Playa Grande. When I landed there, I had half of my group go in a prearranged shuttle van and the other half drove with me in my rental car. The rental service that we used was Tamarindo Shuttle. This is $20 per person to Playa Grande -they will try to tell you that it is $15 to Tamarindo and this is true- but then they will tell you that it is significantly harder to get to Playa Grande so it is $5 more per person. So it is $20 per person before tip. We had a drive named Juan Carlos and he was great. Complementary drinks are provided (the local beer, Imperial, or bottled water) The other half of our group, 6 of us, drove in the Suzuki XL-7 that we rented from Tricolor. The car was in perfect condition, the tires were not bald and there was not a problem the entire trip. When you get to the car rental place there (they are all a bit run down and considerably less advanced than the US counterparts) you inspect the car with an agent to make sure that there is no serious damage to it. You do this so that when you return it they cannot blame you for any large scratches or dents that are on the car beforehand. I was warmed to write down every scratch and bump because they would try to charge me extra when I returned the car. This was not the case. Everything went very well- the only thing that they checked was to make sure that the gas was at or near the same level as when I checked the car out. (On that note, gas there is about $4 to $5 US dollars a gallon, so if you are renting, plan that into your charges)
So on the way to our house, Casa Muy Grande in Palm Beach Estates of Playa Grande we stopped off in Filadelfia to get gas and food. We got the gas filled up at a self serve where they take US dollars at the $500 colones to $1 US. Then we went about 100 yards down the road and got enough food and alcohol for 12 people for 8 nights and 9 days from a SuperMercado. This is essentially the American version of a grocery store with very cheap drinks. I do not know if you have a cook in Playa Grande, but if you are looking to make your own meals here and there, it is definitely worthwhile to check out the supermarkets on the way to Playa Grande. Filadelfia is about 2/5 the way to Playa Grande and provides a decent respite before you hit the terribly bumpy roads of Belen. (So grab an ice cream bar and enjoy for a few minutes)—Mind you, if you do nnot want to stop at these markets, and would rather get food on the go, there is a surprisingly decent market in the Palm Beach Estates of Playa Grande. (I was able to look up the villa that you are staying in and it does look beautiful. However, I do not think that I passed it while I was there. Is it in the Palm Beach Estates? Let me know.) Anyways, the market there has all of the essentials- from Rum to eggs.- On the note of Rum, while I was there, I had this local Costa Rican and Nicaraguan rum called Flor de Cana. Mix it wth some local fruit or just have it with some coke and it is majestic. Get the Flor de Cana 4,5 or 18 years aged. Personally, the 4 years was the best for the price.
Anyways, so the market will supply all of your needs of you would rather not buy bulk in the beginning and just play the meals by the day.
This is enough of the basic information and general go-around. Tomorrow I will write all about my personal tastes of Playa Grande and Tamarindo and where / what to do.
Hope your days treat you well.
Mar 29th, 2007 | 02:39 AM
#6
Original Poster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
WOW! imperial!!
this is exactly what we were hoping for.
it never ceases to amaze me how many generous people there are who are willing to give there time for others.
many many thanks for your tips!!
can't wait now for the next installment.
by the way, we live in sandhurst berkshire(famous for the military academy) and we know lightwater/bagshot really well.
it's a small world after all...
this is exactly what we were hoping for.
it never ceases to amaze me how many generous people there are who are willing to give there time for others.
many many thanks for your tips!!
can't wait now for the next installment.
by the way, we live in sandhurst berkshire(famous for the military academy) and we know lightwater/bagshot really well.
it's a small world after all...
