This Blog discusses our time in Jaco. If you want to catch up on our back story and other adventures, you can read about all our Costa Rica Adventures on:
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Pink Bear’s Retirement Adventures
Airbnb / Jaco:
After our stay in San Jose, Pink Bear and her tribe moved on to Jaco.
Pink Bear is here, hanging in a tree in Costa Rica, to give you the rundown.
Why we picked Jaco: Since we did not want to move around, and we only had a week, we needed somewhere convenient for day trips and not too far from San Jose. Our friends needed to leave from Jaco to return home, so we did not want a too-long ride to the airport on the day of departure.
We were also looking for something with an ocean view and large enough for 5 people and Pink Bear. We wanted at least 3 bedrooms and 3 full baths. Pink Bear wanted to stay at the Marriott Vacation Club property in Los Suenos, however, after many attempts, it appears to be almost impossible to get even with our Presidential status.
Impression of Jaco: After much research, we noticed that Jaco is a party town. However, since the location met the criteria of proximity to San Jose and ocean view, we decided to stick with it. When we arrived, we noticed it was a bit shabby and touristy looking, but it did have a cute little main street with lots of local shops. We made friends with one of the local shopkeepers whose family makes lovely local crafts. Our interactions with the locals were very positive, and we met many friendly and kind people. The larger grocery store Mas x Menos was a short drive down the street from our Airbnb, and there were many local grocery stores. There was a great outdoor market on weekends and Thursdays. During the day, we felt very safe walking around.
Some pictures of the market and around the main street
We also like the beach. It was expansive and clean. It is mostly a surfer beach, and the water is rough, but we did not plan on ocean swimming so it was fine for us.
Overall we were satisfied with the location; however, after exploring the greater coastal area, we much preferred the Los Suenos resort complex and would try even harder for the Marriott or pick another property within that area.
Where we stayed/Diamonte del Sol: After a great deal of research, we decided on a unit in Diamonte del Sol. The two-building complex is stylish with a gated parking area. Each building has a good-sized elevator and carts available for luggage.
The Pool area is a highlight of this complex. It is a clean and inviting area. There are waterfalls and lots of ledges to sit in the water. There is easy access to the beach.
Our Accommodations, Airbnb/Best of Jaco: Because Pink Bear really loves space and a view, we decided on the 4-bedroom penthouse unit 801N at Diamonte del Sol. It looked spectacular in pictures, had 4 master bedrooms, each with a private bath, a full kitchen, a loft area, and a huge wrap-around deck with expansive views of the beach and ocean. The reviews were numerous and overall positive. There was some mention of hot water issues and the need for a bit of renovation. That turned out to be an understatement. In the kitchen, we immediately noticed that the refrigerator had large stains on the freezer door, the grate for the water dispenser was missing, with a paper towel in the well, and there was water dripping down the front. We also noticed that one downspout on the deck had a large hole, and water poured out when it rained, at which time half the deck became unusable. I contacted Paula from the management company. She said she would send maintenance for the downspout (they did not fix it during our stay), and she brushed off the leaking water dispenser, saying it was due to calcium and hard water. Since the apartment was large, had a nice view, a full kitchen, and a large deck, we overlooked these things. However, as the week progressed, we had more issues. The BBQ was rusty and unusable, we had a flood in one bath, and the worst was that on our last day, the ceiling in one bath collapsed. There were also many other little things. Paula refunded me one night, but, in my opinion, did not compensate for the condition of the unit. It is apparent that the pipes are corroded due to the calcium and hard water and need replacing, the appliances and BBQ need replacing, and overall, the unit needs a major renovation. For what we were charged, it should be well-maintained and meticulous. We did not let it get us down, since Costa Rica is spectacular, but this Airbnb was a disappointment.
The Good:
The Bad: Water dispenser leaking, grate missing, etched front, the downsprout was rusted with a hole, making part of the deck unusable in the rain. The grill was very dirty, rusty, and pitted, not just the tank.
The Ugly: We had a pipe leak in one bathroom that caused a flood, and the worst was when the ceiling collapsed in another bathroom. The maintenance people told us the pipes are deteriorating and breaking. This is a hazardous situation. We were thankful no one was in the bathroom when this happened.
Final Thoughts: The location on the central Pacific coast was an ideal base. While Jaco is not that desirable, we loved the beach, and the main street was great for shopping. It was close to Herradura and the Los Suenos resort area, where there is a marina and some nice restaurants. Although we were disappointed with the unit we selected at Diamonte del Sol, we did have a nice stay in this area.
This was just an unfortunate situation, and in the next blog Pink Bear will be more present, and we will focus on the many beautiful things to do and see in Costa Rica!
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