Top 10 Search Engine Queries About Costa Rica. (With Answers!)

When you’re looking for a place to stay on your next trip to Costa Rica, whether it’s to Playa Jaco, Los Suenos, Hermosa, or Tamarindo, or somewhere else entirely, it may be worth considering a vacation rental. They are a great alternative to hotels and resorts – less expensive, more private, more personal, more spacious, and boast all the comforts of home. Though there are many benefits to renting vacation property over booking a hotel room, there are several things to take into consideration to make sure you get it right.

To make the process easier, just contact us and we’ll offer our local expertise (and better pricing) – showing you where to begin your search, when to reserve your property and what questions to ask the property manager or homeowner before your stay. Start here with Costa Rica Gurus and you’ll be well on your way to finding the perfect house, bungalow or oceanfront villa that fits your idea of a perfect vacation getaway.

1. First Thing’s First

Visiting one, or several, of the many useful vacation rental sites on the Internet, is a great way to start the process of renting vacation property in Costa Rica. They’re often well organized and will help you narrow down the areas that are most appealing to you. But remember – PHOTOS OFTEN LIE or misrepresent the property or beachfront, just like at hotels. So it’s best to browse online and then contact Costa Rica Gurus for an honest, informed local expert opinion and to arrange booking.

Once you’ve chosen a vacation destination it’s time find a place to stay. When searching for a vacation rental home it’s best to comparison-shop. Be sure to keep your options open. It’s important to consider several different rental properties to give you a variety of places to choose from, as well as a variety of prices and available amenities. Looking at comparable properties will give you a good idea of what you can expect from a particular area.

2. The Early Bird Catches the Worm

Remember that the busiest tourists season in Costa Rica is during the best weather holiday months of December, January or February. Many regular vacationers book a year in advance, so it’s never too early to start looking. In many parts of Costa Rica, like Playa Jaco, Los Suenos, or Hermosa, you’ll find creatures of habit that will rent the same house for the exact same block of time year in year out, especially waterfront properties. For the largest selection, start early and be sure to ask about early booking discounts. Sometimes you’ll find that in exchange for the security of having their property rented, an owner and agent will offer a good discount.

Tips Renting Vacation Property in Costa Rica

3. Patience Pays Off

In the most popular vacation destinations like Playa Jaco, Los Suenos, Hermosa, or Tamarindo, supply outweighs demand for most of the year outside of the busiest three months (when a lot of property owners make most of their profits.) For this reason, the closer the high season gets, the more agents and owners are scrambling to fill houses. If you’re flexible about your dates and amenities, you can find significant savings on your vacation rental by searching at the last minute. Just don’t get your heart set on a particular property and remember that this is a game of risk vs. reward.

4. Read the Fine Print

Before making a rental commitment, be sure you understand what it involves. Start looking as far in advance of departure as possible so that you can absorb all the nitty-gritty about terms and rules, physical layout, furnishings, cleaning and repair services (if any), local transportation, proximity to services that you need, financial arrangements and obligations, deposits, liability and property insurance, and whatever other details come to mind. Minimize your risk of unpleasant surprises when you arrive and when it’s far too late to back out. Whether you’ll be staying at the property for two days or two weeks, you want to make sure that you’ll have all the amenities you want and need available to you. And the only way you’ll know is if you ask. More is better in this case, and owners will be happy to provide information and photos to anyone seriously considering their rental home.

5. Check Reviews

Many vacation rental sites now offer reviews and feedback from past guests. Read these reviews carefully and reach out to the homeowner about any questions that might arise from reading these reviews, as the owner may have fixed any problems or changed the way they do thing that may have been reviewed negatively. Reviews are such a useful tool when searching for your ideal vacation property rental in Costa Rica. Past renters can paint a clear picture of what a guest experience is truly like – the good, the bad and the ugly. In addition to looking at photos and chatting with the owners, it’s the most surefire way to guarantee that you’re picking a good place to stay.

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Tips Renting Vacation in Costa Rica

Once again, the best way to ensure that you end up with the best vacation rental in a great beachfront location at the best price is to contact Costa Rica Gurus. We know every rental property in the popular areas and have great relationships with all property owners and management companies. We also get local and industry discounts so our fee will be paid by the property owner – and you’ll still end up paying less than if you booked online!