Beachfront vs Ocean View Vacation Rentals
The English poet William Cowper once said that “variety is the spice of life”. Some of us like things sweet while some like things spicy. Some of us like to go fast and others like to take it slow. In the end it really all boils down to our personal preference. The same thing can be said when it comes to finding a vacation rental for your family and friends near the beach in Costa Rica.
After availability and amenities, one of the most important decisions you will make when finding a luxury vacation rental in Costa Rica will be location. In a tropical beach community like Santa Teresa your decision will eventually be between a location on the beach with the ocean just a few steps away, or on the hill with an amazing ocean and jungle view.
In this article we will evaluate Costa Rica beachfront vacation rentals and ocean view rentals. We will discuss the pros and cons of the important items you should consider before making your decision. From ease of access to the beach and other amenities, to amazing views and security precautions, we hope to shed light on topics that will assist those who are still on the fence about what to choose.
To avoid any confusion, a beachfront rental is on the beach, or as close to the beach as you can legally build a house. It may or may not have an ocean view but in most cases there is nothing between the beach and the rental home.
An ocean view home on the other hand is not on the beach. It is a house that is up the hill with an ocean view. Some of these rentals offer partial ocean views while others have panoramic views of the ocean and jungle.
1.) Access:
One of the first things to consider when choosing between an ocean view or beachfront rental property is the ease of access. When it comes to ease of access you should ask yourself a couple of questions.
When you are on vacation do you want to be able to walk to the restaurants and grocery stores or do you want to drive? Do you prefer to be able to step out onto the sand? Or do you want to be able to watch the sunset from an infinity pool?
Some people want to get to their destination, kick off their shoes and just stay put. Others like to drive around and explore every minute of the day. Informing your agent in advance what you like and don’t like can help them put you in the perfect vacation rental. After all, ease of access can be a relative term depending upon your personal preference.
Beach Front:
If all you are concerned about is easy access to the beach then a beach front rental may be your best choice. Let’s face it, there is nothing like rolling out of bed and taking a few steps across the yard onto the warm morning sand. If you are traveling with your family then dragging the kids a few feet to a shower and a dip in the pool after a long day on the beach might be ideal.
Staying in a vacation rental on the beach definitely has its advantages, but what about if you are a surfer? We asked some of our social media friends what they preferred and got some interesting points of view. One of them brought up that having direct access to the beach is not as important as having direct access to a wave.
Not all beaches are the same and not all beachfront rentals are created equal, especially in a country like Costa Rica with such a diverse coastline. Finding out the type of beach that is out front is important if you plan on using it for traditional beach activities like surfing, swimming, or snorkeling. You could have a perfect long rolling sand bar wave, or a jagged rocky reef which will require you to drive the family to another beach that they can enjoy.
What about access into town for groceries and supplies? Many of the beach front vacation rentals in Santa Teresa are close to town or in town making access to amenities possible by foot. If your vacation rental is a bit outside of town than you might need a vehicle to get around.
Ocean View:
If you like more privacy and seclusion then an ocean view vacation rental might be a better choice for you. One thing to consider is that access to an ocean view rental in most cases means that you will have to climb up a hill, a little or a lot, depending upon your location or mode of transportation.
Some ocean view vacation rentals are walking distance to the beach while others require a vehicle. For the most part you are going to want to have access to transportation at one point or another to carry groceries and supplies.
Each ocean view rental offers a unique personality along with a breath taking view. Needless to say some may be better than others when it comes to ease of access. We recommend that you check with your agent to see what type of road is provided and how far the house is from restaurants and groceries before making your decision.
2.) The View:
Let’s face it; those of us who are in search of the perfect vacation rental already have one leg up on those who stay in hotels. It doesn’t matter where you stay in a hotel; part of your view is going to be blocked by other guests and hotel amenities. In a luxury vacation rental you get the privacy that you desire and the view.
Whether you get an ocean view through the trees or a full panoramic display of the ocean and jungle from your bed will come down to your choice of a beachfront or ocean view vacation rental.
Beach Front:
In the 90’s Costa Rica passed an ordinance to preserve the natural authenticity of its coast line. This ordinance made it illegal to build anything within 50 meters of the mid tide line.
This means that most of the beach rentals are going to be a minimum of 50 meters from what some would consider the beach. It also means that your view of the beach from the house will most likely be obstructed by tress and natural vegetation. This is something you should consider if you are expecting to have ocean views from your bedroom.
Even though you may not be able to see the water roll on the sand, many of the luxury vacation rentals in Santa Teresa and Mal Pais have tropical gardens that extend out to the coast line making the home an amazing tropical get away. Some even have swimming pools and yoga shalas built as close to the beach as possible so you can hear the pounding surf while you relax or take a dip in the pool.
Ocean View:
The ocean view vacation rentals throughout the Santa Teresa and Mal Pais community have some of the best views that the Nicoya Peninsula has to offer. The combination of the pristine blue Pacific cropped by lush green jungle, then magnified by sunlight and shadows is truly breath taking.
Many of the ocean view homes in the area were built around the focal point of their amazing panoramic views of both the lush jungle and pristine beaches. From different vantage points guests are given the opportunity to soak in these amazing views. Whether it be from the master bedroom, the infinity swimming pool, or in the kitchen while they are preparing a breakfast smoothie.
If you would like to wake up in the morning watching the sun rise over the jungle while you spend your evenings watching it set on the ocean then you may prefer an ocean view rental over a beachfront property.
3.) The Security:
Paradise has a way of attracting all types of people. It brings in the good with the bad, and sometimes that bad is something to take into consideration. Beautiful tourist towns bring in a fresh batch of tourists daily, all with iPhones, cameras, tablets and computers that are ready for the taking if precautions are not made. For this reason we feel that security is an important topic to consider when choosing a vacation rental.
It is important to remember that it doesn’t matter how secure your vacation rental is, anything can happen if you are not careful about where you leave your things. Just as much theft happens from rental cars and the beach so it is important to keep your things locked up or at the very least hidden. Remember that keeping things out of site is keeping things out of someone else’s mind. .
Beach Front:
When it comes to security most of the luxury vacation rentals have security guards that live and work on the premises. If they do not, then security might be an issue staying right on the beach.
Beach front rentals are always located on public beaches. Depending on where the vacation rental is located, these beaches can sometimes attract crowds that may cause some concern.
You should check with your agent about the security of the property and if they have had any problems with theft in the past. This shouldn’t be your deciding factor but it should definitely be something to consider.
Ocean View:
Ocean view homes tend to be on a hillside, out of the normal hustle and bustle and traffic. This privacy does offer a little bit more security as access can sometimes be difficult for the undesirables.
Similar to beach front properties, many of the luxury homes with an ocean view offer security guards so that the guests do not have to worry about any of their belongings somehow disappearing. You should check with the homeowners or property managers before choosing a vacation rental if security is something that you are concerned about.
In conclusion, there are many other factors to consider when finding the perfect vacation rental in Costa Rica. We hope that this article helps shed some light on some of the decisions that you will have to make. We know that we can help you consider the pros and cons of staying in an ocean view property vs a beachfront property but ultimately at the end of the day, the choice is up to you.
If you would like to reserve a beach front or and ocean view vacation rental in Costa Rica contact Brett Callahan at Costa Rica Beach Rentals for more information at (973) -917-8046 or brett@costarica-beachrentals.com
