Looking for Group Vacation ideas

[asnpcwiz]

Hey guys,



I have a group of people who want to vacation together. Looking for ideas for a villa rental. Looking to do something beachy and somewhat close to the US (like the Caribbeans, so we don't have to travel far). Looking for something that can fit 10-12 people. Please let me know if you have any ideas/suggestions.



Also, I was looking at the Costa Rica deals that can accomodate 12 people; however, I'm unsure how I can fly into TMU. Anyone know how that can work?



Thanks,



Bob

[bonniejoy03]

Hi Bob. Do you want activities (night life, casino, etc.) That will help determine the island. Are you looking at the villa at Tango Mar in Costa Rica? We stayed at the hotel Tango Mar so if it is the same, you fly into San Jose Costa Rica and then take a local plane to the beach. There is Travelair and Sansa. I wouldn't recommend driving. Give some more ideas of what kind of destination and we can put ideas together.....This will be fun!!

[asnpcwiz]

Yes, I'm looking at both the group packages, Tango Mar and Tambor Beach. They both canaccommodate12 people. My main concern is that we have people flying from all parts of the US. I need to make this simple so that no one will mess up. How much are the local flights to TMU? How often do they fly? Do we just buy tickets when we arrive or do we buy ahead of time? I'm assuming they are just small jumper planes? Any information you can provide would be great.



This will be the first time to Costa Rica for all of us. The challenge once we arrive is to get rides for all 12 if we decide to do something together. I'm sure group tours and sightseeing will be cheaper if we bargain with people...having 12 members and all. Any suggestions you have for night life would be good too, although I think most of the partying may happen at the villa at night.

[bonniejoy03]

Hi A. Look at nature air. (www.natureair.com. It used to be called Travelair.) The fares look like around $100-300 depending on the type of ticket you purchase. You can purchase online. Because of the group size I would definitely purchase before you left to assure you were all together. Most people would fly into San Jose Costa Rica and overnight it there and fly out the next day on Nature air. This would help to assure that your whole group (or sections of your group) could travel together. Night life at Tango Mar would be small. I believe Hotel Tango Mar is still there but it is a small property. (they did have an executive golf course and tennis courts in the past.) Some people might rent a jeep but the roads are very rough. If you go here, you will be more isolated than you would in a more populated area. So/......really think about what your group wants for activities. I am not sure if this villa is related to tango mar but here is the website for you to review. http://www.tangomar.com/

[kyshel]

I would add that perhaps some of your party may want to come in thru LIR (Guanacaste), schedule permitting and I would certainly use the LL property contact for their recommendations for transport. I think there are 2 airlines servicing the country for short hauls.

[Captajohnx]

Hopefully you will check back for updates. We stayed at Tambor for a week. We 'captured' " Casa Pacifico" for a week about 5 years ago. I forget how much we paid, but IIRC it was about 5500 for the week. We got it on an auction on LL. We got it in the hump period at the end of October, befire the rates went up. It rained for about 10 minutes each day at around 1 P.M.



We had the cook and housekeeper for the week included. The food was done on an honest method of receipts and repayment. This was the most honest couple we have ever met on a vacation. No hassle, no BS, no theft by deception. Claudia and Jose were tops. I think our food and drink bill was 1,100.00 for 8 of us for one week... (all food, booze and snacks) We all chipped in, and rounded up to 200 PP to include the tip. Not bad for a week of drinks snacks and fun!



We all flew into San Jose the day/night before and stayed at the Marriot. We prearranged to have Jose pick us up the next morning in the house minivan. It held all 8 of us plus luggage comfortably. We had preagreed on the price of 700.oo for this service. It was neat to take the trip 'across country' to see the sights. (However, it was even more lovely on the flight back to see it aerially.)



It is about 100 to 130.00 PP per way to fly there from SJO to Tambor (or vsa versa) One note: the puddle jumpers have a 35 lb weight limit on baggageper person (total) They will make you unpack and leave stuff there if they are over weight. They actually weigh the bags at the airport!



Flying in to San Jose and catching the plane out is harrowing. The planes must be back to San Jose by dark, so the last flights to the coast are around 1 or 2 P.M. so if your flight gets into SanJose around noon you have to HURRY to the seperate air terminal (I hate to actually refer to it as a terminal!) for the domestic flights. It is way easier to fly in and stay the night and fly out on the domestic flights early the next morning. (Also you are not as worn out flying and getting to your nice home all tired and exhausted after a day of flying) Sort of gives you a night to rest up before your vacation really starts!



This was truly a vacation of a lifetime. The management company was building another luxury home adjacent to Casa Pacifico, called Casa Oceano. I would not hesitate to stay at either.



In closing, I can repeat a comment made by one of our friends on the trip: " You know when you stay at a resort, and you wonder 'Who stays up there in the big mansion on the cliff overlooking it all?" Well, It was US at Casa Pacifico! Do I want to go back? Yup. I just haven't found the time or the group of friends who want to go at the same time.

[bonniejoy03]

Absolutely great review. Thank you. Were you able to use the facilities at Tango Mar? We had stayed at Tango Mar in the 90's a few times and loved it. It was before Costa Rica became discovered!

[Captajohnx]

We were able to walk to the TangoMar hotel in about a minute, maybe two after a couple cocktails! We were allowed to use the plungepool there. There were tennis rackets at the house if we wished (too strenuous.) The absolute worst thing about the week at Casa Pacifico..... the noisy waterfall in the pool kept me awake at night! (Until I found out where the switch was for the darned thing.) There was nothing quite so amazing as being out in the pool at 7:00 in the morning, chatting over coffee and tea then hearing those magical words "Breakfast!" I actually got to know what stage the tide was in the ocean by the different sound of the waves crashing on either the rocks, the seawall, the beach, or the outer jetty!



Here is our week in recap. Although we had plenty of fun, NONE of this was planned. Claudia and Veroniq helped us with ideas for our entertainment.



We went for walks up and down the beach, swam. We walked all over the Tango Mar compound. It was interesting to see the front, back and the insides of the development. There were still several houselots for sale.

One day some took a boat tour to 'tortugero parqe" went snorkeling there, spent some time on the beach. Went to the wildlife refuge while on the boat ride to Tortugero.

Others went deep sea fishing (sailfish, and some inshore fish) not sure what they did, although they did catch fish (I'm just not into those things.)



Went to Monctezuma(sic). This is (at least was then) a sleepy little surfing village west of Tambor. The word rastafarian comes to mind. Had a wonderful lunch, and drinks there. Not much to see, just a couple of touristy shops, and some old time simplicity of what CR was like in years gone past. This was where I found Cubans that seemed real.



One day we asked Jose to take us with him to see the 'town' where he got the groceries from. I forget the name, but we certainly didn't blend in with the locals, but a good time was had by all. Jose even let us stay for a little while, before we had to lug back the next round of groceries in the minivan to go 'home'. (Much more interesante than TangoMar)



We all went Ziplining. It was an hour (or so) drive. Had an absolute blast! My wife had never done anything like that b4, so she was a little nervous at first, but once everyone saw it was safe and fun we all had a blast.



One day we corralled 7 horses and went horseback riding. OK, we didnt really have to corral them, when we got to the corral they were already saddled! That was fun. But (since I was the mas grande sized of the bunch) I got the largest horse. Whoa to you uninitiated. Did you know that horses just LOVE the beach? And Horses are verrrry verrrrry competitive. And they will go about 1000 MPH on beach sand! I didn't! I was trying to squeeze my thighs together, and yelling at the horse 'Whoa' (my sum total of TV show horse education) to slow down. (Didn't work) Apparantly yelling at a horse only makes him go faster. But we did have fun. Later that night we secretly helped one guy propose to his GF on the beach with a romantic sunset horseride for them both. The horses were all decked out in flowere leis and garlands. Romantic even if I do say so myself!



On Wednesday we walked to TangoMar for cocktails. We stayed and shot some pool, and BSed with some other guests, but our pool was calling for us so home we went for a skinnydip!



On Thursday night we hired the mariachi band from TangoMar to play for 3 hours. (they stayed 4) at the poolside at Casa Pacifico. (Why go to Tangomar?)



On Friday we went to Tambor to Barcelo (all inclusive) to gamble. We had arranged to be picked up in 3 hours. It's too bad we went! We all missed our "home." (none of us are diehard gamblers apparantly.) I also learned I don't want to stay at an 'all inclusive' just by our hours there! ( Should have gone to TangoMar!)



In answer to your question, Yes we were allowed, but didn't really have the time or inclination. Casa Pacifico was quite nice all on it's own!