Tag Archives: Nosara

4 You Hostel, Playa Guiones, Nosara, Costa Rica

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I’m going to let you in on a little secret travel delight of mine.

I absolutly LOVE to book things in advance on the wrong day. The joy of waiting for a shuttle that never comes, or arriving at a hostel on the wrong day is totally thrilling.

Well, obviously I’m joking, but this does tend to happen to me often while travelling. No matter how many times I double check, I am the queen of booking things for the wrong day. So I really wasn’t ALL that surprised when we arrived in Nosara only to learn that our reservation had been made for the next day.

P1030056Being the solution oriented couple that we are, we quickly decided that Shaun would stay with the gear, while I trucked down the road to find somewhere to stay. Based on the difficulties we had trying to make a reservation in the first place, we knew that Nosara was filling up fast, so there was no time to waste.

Let me tell you, the lucky horseshoes we had been carrying around since our debacle in Nicaragua continued to be present. The very first place I stumbled upon, 4 You Hostel, had one room left. It was a private room, with its own bathroom, and it was within our budget. I told the owner that I didn’t even need to see it, and that we would take it. She insisted, and frankly I was amazed. It was honest to goodness the nicest room I had seen on our entire trip.

Our room

Our room

We checked in and were in awe of the amenities that 4 You had to offer. Our room was not only immaculate, but felt like it was brand new. Had it not been for the Costa Rican heat, I could have easily mistaken it for a boutique hotel back home. Shaun and I both had long showers in what we dubbed “the best shower in Costa Rica”.

The VERY clean kitchen

The VERY clean kitchen

Across from our room was the shared kitchen, which was amazing. Unlike many of our accommodations, it was evident that 4 You Hostel was built with the intention of being a hostel. The shared kitchen has two of everything, including sinks and stoves as well as tons of storage space and every piece of kitchen equipment you could possibly need. It is perfectly designed to accommodate lots of people making lots of meals. Aside from being well equipped, the kitchen was also immaculate. Another rarity in the land of hostels.

One of the communal living spaces.

One of the communal living spaces.

Aside from the kitchen, the communal living space at 4 You is all outdoors. They have multiple couches ,chairs and benches set up so guests can lounge, relax and enjoy the free WiFi. They also have a deal with the Coffee shop next door, so between 8-10 you can pop over and get a free coffee and a discount on the delicious crepes they make. Can’t beat that. And, if you are looking for some beach time, it’s only a 10 minute walk away.

Although 4 You Hostel wasn’t in our initial plans, we certainly felt pretty fortunate that we got to stay there. If you are looking for accommodation in Guinoes and don’t mind a little bit of a walk to the beach, I would highly suggest checking them out!

Do you have any reservation error stories?

Pura Vida!

Kate

Follow me on Twitter:@caketress

 

Let’s take a moment to talk about Neal

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Sometimes in life, you meet people that leave a lasting impression on you.

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Neal is one of those people.

Neal is the bartender, surf instructor and all around “go-to” guy at Kaya Sol, in Nosara. We’ve spent much of our three weeks with him listening and laughing to his endless array of colourful stories. So much so that we decided to write a post exclusively about him. A first in Hostels and Hot Rollers history.

So without further ado…here is a little bit about Neal

16 Things You Need To Know About Neal

  1. Neal’s first job was as a cattle rancherNeal
  2. Neal once had a salad named after him
  3. Neal is allergic to the top 5 buttons on his shirt, therefore he always keeps them open
  4. Neal has the uncanny ability to make your one beer a the bar, turn into a night on the town.
  5. Neal has been in a bull fight
  6. Neal is a founding member of the Core Four, The Sexy Six and the Grizzly Boys Club for Men
  7. Neal doesn’t always paint his face, but when he does, he wants to be the Rainbow Ranger
  8. Neal would do anything for head scratches…anything
  9. Neal had 14 teeth pulled and had braces for 6 years
  10. Neal lived in the same town as the actor who played Freddy Kruger.
  11. P1030289Neal’s perfect night would involve bioluminescence on the beach with a green-eyed girl
  12. Neal currently has blue disco lights in his shower
  13. Neil had a near death experience from surfing
  14. Neal is the host of the most popular trivia night in all of Nosara
  15. Neal could and should write a book
  16. Neal is easily one of the most interesting and entertaining people we’ve met this whole trip.

 

Pura Vida Neal! Thanks for making this last leg of our adventure a memorable one.

Safe Travels!

Kate and Shaun (The Zealanders)

Casa Rebecca, Nosara, Costa Rica

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After our busy travel time inland, our accommodation in Nosara provided us the perfect backdrop for a little rest and relaxation.

P1020703Nestled in the south end of Playa Guiones, Casa Rebecca is a boutique hotel/hostel. They offer shared rooms in the main house, but also a few private rooms near the pool. They are about an 8-10 minute walk from the main surf break, and a few minutes away from the famous Nosara Yoga Institute.

Our room was large, had an ensuite bathroom and was about three steps to the pool. Not to shabby if you ask me.

The main house of Casa Rebecca iP1020704s both unique and gorgeous. The furniture has almost a Mediterranean vibe to it, white walls, wicker and gorgeous artwork.There are several couches and sitting areas that offer the perfect space to read, practice yoga, or just relax.

P1020706The best part of the main house though was the kitchen. The house was obviously run as a B&B at some point, as it is fully stocked with everything you could possibly need to make delicious meals. After dealing with some very poorly equipped, cramped, unfortunate kitchens in our past, we were delighted with what we had available. In fact, Shaun and I ate in every night during our five days here.

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The kitchen is attached to a communal dinning area, and living room, as well as a few of the dorm rooms. After being fairly secluded in our last couple hostels, it was nice to have a common space to meet and chat with people. Plus, one of the guests shared a pineapple upside down cake she had just baked, so seriously, what’s not to love.

Our room tucked in the back!

Our room tucked in the back!

I made our reservation through their website, and the owners were awesome in helping us find a room that fit both our budget and needs. At the time of our visit the owners weren’t on site, and the property was being cared for by two young Costa Rican girls. They were very sweet, and Shaun and I managed to wrestle our way through the language barrier during the check in and check out process. Other then that, we were pretty much on our own, which we didn’t mind at all.

As I was Googling Casa Rebecca, it looks like it is actually for sale. So if anyone is interested in a fabulous place with some serious B&B potential, you should buy it…and let me stay for free for making the referral of course!

If you want to read about any of the other places we’ve stayed in Costa Rica, check out our Hostel Review Page.

Pura Vida!

Kate

Follow me on Twitter:@caketress

Exploring Nosara, Costa Rica

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Just a heads up…this is a little taster post about Nosara. Looks like we will be spending at least a month exploring the area, so if this is somewhere that interests you…stay tuned!

I know it may seem like we were in Monteverde for weeks, but in fact, we were only there for 3 days. Our time there was so jam packed, and frankly, so cold, that we were ready to get back to the beach for some chill out time. So early one morning we boarded a shuttle to our next beachy destination, Nosara

Playa Guiones

Playa Guiones

Throughout our travels, we’ve met so many people who had recommended Nosara to us. It had been on our radar since before we even left Canada, and for whatever reason we had missed it in our previous travels through the Nicoya Pennisula.

Much like Mal Pais/Santa Teresa, Nosara is known to be a town of surfers and Yogis. There is a focus on healthy food, and healthy living. Totally up my alley. We read a sign in one restaurant that stated “No Shirt, No Shoes, Nosara.” I figure that pretty much sums up the vibe!

No shortage of these guys hanging around Nosara!

No shortage of these guys hanging around Nosara!

The town of Nosara is actually about 5 km inland, but most people refer to the nearby beaches as Nosara. The most popular beach, and the one we stayed at, is Playa Guiones. This is where the surfing is.

Like many beaches in Costa Rica, Nosara is turtle central, meaning the beach front is protected from development. I like the beaches like this because you can walk along the beach without the obstruction of condos, houses or restaurants ruining the view. The town is set back about 200m from the beach,and there is beach access set up pretty much everywhere. You certainly never have a hard time figuring out how to get to the beach!

one of the main strips in Playa Guiones.

one of the main strips in Playa Guiones.

I would describe the layout of Playa Guiones as a web of streets. I think we spent the first three days wandering around trying to get our barrings, and to be honest, I still think we missed several parts of the town. Most local businesses provide maps of the area, and if you are visiting I suggest you pick one up.

We stayed in Nosara for 5 days, but will be heading back there for three weeks at the end of our trip. The longest span of time we’ve ever spent in one place. Rest assured you will be hearing plenty about this funky little beach front community, as it is pretty apparent that we are big fans.

Pura Vida

Kate

Follow me on Twitter:@caketress