The house looked great online. Snug, comfortable and right at the sand in the small community of Playa Grande, close to the action of Tamarindo.
Long walks on the beach, swimming, sailing, surfing and sunsets.
Awesome!!
And then it happened ...
I made my deposit.
I suddenly became sure that this rental house was going to prove a bad choice when I received the owner's confirmation email. It went something like this:
- Don't talk to strangers.
- Don't let strangers in the house.
- Don't leave your electronic devices out on the beach.
- Don't leave your car with luggage inside.
- Don't feed stray animals.
- Lock the beach gate.
- Lock the driveway gate.
- Lock your stuff in the safe.
- Lock yourself in the bedroom.
- Leave the air conditioner on in the bedroom with the door open and we'll kill the breaker for the remainder of your stay.
- Set the alarm at all times
- and don't assume there's any toilet paper.
If I had never been to Costa Rica before, I probably would have cried over my deposit money and found a different place to visit!
After all the stranger-danger, rip tides and plumbing problems I was sure to encounter, I was thinking that alligator camp would likely be safer...
After all, Playa Grande must be full of flea-ridden criminals who steal toilet paper from rental homes!
After the initial shock, I got to thinking that at least half of a three page email was in RED CAPITAL LETTERS, so what (exactly) was actually important?
Like most of the warnings are just common sense, right?
Except for the damnable toilet paper... Vacation rentals don't often come with fully stocked kitchens and bars in my world, but to be assured that I should give up 8 cubic inches of luggage space for a lousy roll of toilet paper was just a little bizarre. We were to get housekeeping services; you know, clean linens, twice weekly personal laundry, but no toilet paper?
OK, I'll bring a roll so we're not looking for leaves to use on our first night...
The place was spotless, the staff was super attentive when you wanted them to be and invisible when you didn't. Outfitted with granite countertops, tray ceilings and exotic woods, this place was absolutely lovely and clearly drained some cash out of a pocket. The safes and separate alarm zones in each bedroom were demonstrated.
And yes Virginia, there WAS toilet paper.
Six days later, I had had a perfectly relaxing and highly enjoyable stay.
No beach-goers tried to kidnap our luggage, use our bathroom or water supply, and the local pets kept the fleas to themselves.
Reminiscing over an Imperial on my last night, I had to have a good laugh.
No expense is spared in this vacation rental in paradise,
but do pack your own toilet paper...
