Everything was clean and beautiful. The house was decorated in a very authentic Dominican way. The kitchen was sparkling clean and very well equipped. The beds were very comfortable. The house is right near a beautiful secluded beach. The yard has a very comfortable chairs as does the back deck. We had everything we needed right at our fingertips.

My family of 6 persons rented casaambarina for 2 weeks. This was our first time renting a house and vacationing in the Dominican Republic and we were a little apprehensive. The owner, Allen, immediately reduced our anxiety. From our first contact with him he answered all our questions and helped to make the initial arrival a pleasant experience. He arranged for transportation from the airport to his house by his manager Isidro. Isidro helped us to settle in and was available every day to make sure everything was going well. The house is very well furnished and our family of 6 were very comfortable. The views of the ocean are fantastic and waking up hearing the ocean waves roll in is exactly why we wanted with an ocean front rental. We had breakfast and often lunch on the back porch which faces the ocean. The ocean breezes allowed us to be very comfortable we rarely needed the AC. Maria-elena cleaned the house thoroughly twice a week and washed the towels and bedding as needed. We even had her cook us a wonderful Dominican dinner. Isidro the manager would come by every day and say Hola and smile and made sure that we were comfortable. Costambar is an interesting seaside community. We were looking for a relaxing vacation without the crowds and tourists and that is exactly what we had. There are no hotels but rather condos and houses to rent. We walked the entire community especially the beach which is very long and very pretty. Costambar is not fancy but has all the amenities of a resort including tennis courts, a small country club with a restaurant, swimming pool wellness center and gym. There are many small local restaurants within walking distance from the house many of them right on the beach and very inexpensive. We also followed Allen’s recommendations and eat at several of the restaurants nearby. They were excellent. We were very pleased and would recommend this rental to anyone who is looking for a relaxed, low keyed Caribbean vacation without spending exorbitant amounts of money.

This is not my first time staying at this Villa. I decided to come back for a relaxing beach vacation. I stayed close to home this time, which is easy to do. Again, everything you need is in the community. I did venture out to the Teleferico which was really fun. The cable car goes pretty high and was a bit scary, but the view from the top of the mountain is an almost 360 view. The gardens up there are very pretty. I took a taxi there from the Costambar taxi stand. He picked me up at the Villa and came back to get me at the Teleferico at our agreed upon time and drove me home. I payed at the return trip. Locally, I would recommend the Catamaran Restaurant on the beach. It is at the end of the beach road. And for a change of beach pace lounging at the pool at the Los Mangos Golf club was great. I also indulged in a massage at the spa there, which was also very relaxing.

This is my second stay at this lovely property; I enjoyed it so much last year that I jumped on the opportunity to come back…it didn't disappoint!! There are no major changes to speak of; the ocean is still beautiful and just beyond the backyard...literally. You're a few minutes' walk to a beautiful, laid back (expansive) beach where $2 (US) buys you a cushioned lounge chair (and side table) for the day. You'll be among locals, ex-pats and tourists alike. The house has the same comforts I remembered: sun-filled yard with numerous lounge chairs, fabulous ocean breeze, covered patio, TV, (free) wifi, microwave, full-size refrigerator, A/C, plenty of hot water and a driveway among other things. There are many restaurants ON THE BEACH and within walking distance of the house. Enjoying a pina colada and lunch/dinner with the waves rolling in nearby was as surreal and enjoyable the last day of my visit as the first. Isidro stopped by daily to assure that I was enjoying my stay; housekeeping is provided twice/wk. Clean linens and towels (for beach and bath) are provided. This community is very residential. Like any other community there are some vacant structures among the lovely homes and beautiful views. You won't find any Hiltons, Marriotts or other recognizable hotels in the area and if you're like me, you'll love seeing roosters, chickens and horses nicely cared for on local properties (but some people may not). For me, that continues to be one of Costambar's many appealing qualities. It is a quiet neighborhood and, like last year, I felt very safe walking around including after sundown. Note that you may wish to leave the local area if you’re looking to do more than play golf or lie on the beach. Easy to do if you rent a car or taxi (the taxi stand is in the community) which, like most everything in the Dominican Republic, is very inexpensive. Allen, the homeowner, is (still) a pleasure to work with; he responds quickly, offers a fair rate and is eager to offer suggestions for dining and entertainment. Please see my previous review (2015) for additional info. Buena suerte!!

When we booked a trip to the caribbean for June we hadn't thought of the heat. This was a non issue for this great home. The cross breeze going through the home was the best. We were never hot. All the bedrooms have air conditioning and each works really well. The house itself is very spacious and fully equipt with linens, towels, all kitchen items you could need and they have even thought to keep sunblock and bug spray in the house in case you forget. We made plans ahead of time for transportation from the Puerto Plata airport. The driver was recommended to us from Allen and he couldn't have been nicer. Although he is not an official tour guide he knows everyone and everything in tihs part of the DR. We did rent a car for the later part of the trip. I only recommend renting a car after you have been out a few times and got the lay of the land and definitely get the GPS. Jennys is the market in Costambar which will get you the basics. La Sirena is a walmart like store which has the most options. We discovered the store once we had the rent a car and will be making this our first stop during our next visit. Every day we took a morning walk around the neighborhood. It is beautiful. First we walked along the beach and then weaved in and out of all the streets to admire the architecture and landscapes of the homes. We also saw roosters and horses on all our walks. We had breakfast at home and then ventured out for lunch and dinner. We went to some of the restaurants Allen recommended and they were all great. A few nights we stayed in costambar and enjoyed the local restaurants. Out of Costambar Tres Cocos was by far my favorite and for authentic dominican food go to the mofungo king in sosua on the beach. You won't be disappointed. Last but not least is Isidro the property manager. Isidro came by every day to check on us and make sure everything was going smoothly. He is such a kind man and since we have never had a vacation like this where we rented a home for the week, he made us feel comfortable and at home. For those who like to keep their options open this charming vacation renatal is a great choice if you like to be on tyour own schedule

Last month I returned from a 5 day vacation and stayed at this very roomy, colorful, beach side villa. For the short time you don't even need to leave Costambar. The beach is a quick walk and there are many restaurants and mini markets to get whatever you need within walking distance. Even a pharmacy. There is a golf club with pool and spa if you feel the need to take a break from the beach. We did want to explore another beach experience so we had the house manager organize a car service for us to Caberete. He was very nice (also happened to be the manager's friend) and he dropped us off and picked us up when we wanted to leave. He also took us to the airport. I would recommend this rental for a casual family vacation as well. The kitchen is big and great for people who may not want to eat out all of the time. There is also a mini backyard with grass and lounge chairs if you're too lazy to make it to the beach!

I recently returned from a week-long paradise at Allen’s ocean-front home. It was beautiful. It is a very spacious house with all of the comforts of home including but not limited to: large bedrooms (2 that look out to the ocean), satellite TV, complimentary WIFI, telephone, roomy kitchen, and air conditioning. Every day started as you’d expect in a tropical paradise: morning coffee on the back patio while enjoying ocean breezes and taking in the view. THAT VIEW!! Isidro will stop by daily to assure you're enjoying your stay at the house; he couldn’t be nicer. As a further indulgence, Maria-Elena will come by twice (per 1 week visit) to thoroughly clean the house. These services come at no extra cost, but tipping is appreciated (Allen was happy to offer us guidance as to how much we should give). There are plenty of clean linens and towels, the latter which come in handy after enjoying a hot shower in one of the 4 full bathrooms. With an abundance of restaurants nearby, there is no need to leave the local area. It was lovely to spend days on end walking around the neighborhood and enjoying the local hospitality, not to mention the beaches which are only a minute’s walk from your front door. Having a rental car did come in handy, however, as there is plenty to explore outside of Costambar. The house has a driveway that can easily accommodate two vehicles. Regardless of the time of day, I always felt safe and found the local residents to be pleasant and likeable. Knowing some Spanish proved helpful though is not required. This was my first trip to the Dominican Republic and I wouldn't hesitate recommending this home to family and friends. Thanks to my wonderful experience, I'm already looking forward to returning!!

The villa was spacious, comfortable, and right on the beach. We really enjoyed staying here. Isidro the property manager arranged to our transfer from Santiago airport, then met us and made sure we were settled. He was helpful and available if we had any questions. Marie Elena the housekeeper did a great job and came twice during the week. The owner did warn us that Costambar is a quiet neighborhood, which made it very nice for sleeping. Most of the people we saw and met are retired. It is a bit remote for activities, but we made what I felt to be fair arrangements with the local taxi stand drivers to go into Puerto Plata and Sosua. The water was great, the beach just a few minutes from the house very inviting. We swam and snorkeled here every day.