I have been staying at Raya Vida Villa since my first trip to Costa Rica in 2002, way before tripadvisor had posts to review. I had heard about Raya Vida bed and breakfast through a friend, and gave it a try. There are many fabulous reasons to stay here, but germane to your trip would be: Tina and Michael Long have been living in Costa Rica for over 20 years. Together, they have a wealth of information that they are happy to share with you to ensure a wonderful experience during your visit.
What becomes valuable is Michael and Tina’s help with tasks and logistics that are typically easy to accomplish in the USA (where I’m from), but in Costa Rica, can be quite different and often difficult. For example, Michael can arrange transportation to and from the San Jose airport - so that you don’t need to figure out which taxi to take, or how to get to a location in a country that does not have street addresses. You will most likely arrive to the San Jose airport late at night. It will be dark, and there will be many taxi drivers all wanting your business. With Michael’s help, there is no need to worry about overpaying for a trip, or trying to explain where you want to go. Having a driver waiting for you at the end of a long trip is the first wonderful experience of your adventure in Costa Rica. Michael can assist with renting a car through a local company, which is always less expensive than using Hertz, Avis - or any of the big brand companies.
When my Costa Rica travels takes me to the San Jose airport, I always stay at Raya Vida Villa. This is a great central location to start and end your trip from, granting equal access to the Caribbean and west coasts. This is not a chain hotel, it is a home for Michael, Tina and their extended family of pets. Some of you might even have read about Foss, the most famous wiener dog, who was even mentioned in a travel guide book! Michael makes a mean Tico breakfast for you in the mornings, and sitting outside your downstairs bedroom in the patio with the fountain is heaven!
Remember folks, Costa Rica is a developing country. Go there and experience the culture and practices of the local Ticos. Michael and Tina have incredible insight to the pulse of Costa Rica - their words can be invaluable. Listen well! If you visit this beautiful, serene country and want it to be like an American vacation - go stay at the Marriott/Los Suenos for $400 per night! If you have trouble with the concept of placing all paper products in a waste pan instead of flushing it down the toilet like we do here in the United States, perhaps you should go visit a more developed country (Hawaii perhaps?)
Good advice and words of wisdom from Michael and Tina are not limited to just your vacation, but to all things important to future Expats who decide to join the community of folk that think Costa Rica is truly a wonderful place to live. Thanks to our frequent stays at Raya Vida Villa and the many tips and suggestions from Michael and Tina, we are now building our dream home there, and someday, hope to spend more time with Tina and Michael as our friends and neighbors.