Stay with Janet

Reviews

Superhost

68 total reviews

90% Excellent

68 reviews

4.87

2022–2026

Cleanliness 4.6

Accuracy 4.9

Communication 5.0

Location 5.0

Check-in 4.9

Value 4.9

68 reviews

Studio in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Ella

Excellent, 2 months ago

I had a lovely stay with Janet! If you are someone not used to jungle living, be aware that there are plenty of ants/bugs/etc around. This is not a place for you if you're looking for 100% cleanliness, luxury, & total privacy. It is a small room within a shared apartment surrounded by incredible nature and wildlife. It is about a 35-minute walk or a 4-8 minute drive from the Puerto Viejo De Talamanca bus stop. It's steps away from the sea (Playa Cocles). There is no shower head, just a pipe, but the water got nice and hot. Gerald is the ram who roams around outside, and Kitty is the cat who spends a lot of time sleeping inside. Janet was very kind, generous, & helpful throughout the week I stayed there (LGBTQ+ friendly). This is a chill place for people who would love to wake up & fall asleep to the sounds of the sea, wildlife, & don't mind a little dirt/sand around. Janet & the other guests staying there were kind & friendly. We had many nice times socializing together.

We had an amazing time here and were absolutely delighted! The house is literally right by the sea, and waking up to the sound of the waves was a real pleasure. The beach is simply magnificent: beautiful, wild, with practically no people, which creates a feeling of complete privacy and relaxation. The house itself is very cozy, clean and perfectly prepared for living – you can tell that the hosts take care of the comfort of guests. There is everything you need for living! I would like to specifically mention the hostess, an incredibly kind, responsive, and considerate person. She was always in touch, responded quickly, and sincerely tried to help, while being completely unobtrusive. I was also pleasantly surprised by the location. Everything you need is within walking distance. I would like to note the perfect value for money. We would love to come back again and definitely recommend it!

There were a few things about my stay that were a bit frustrating BUT there was also lots happening out of anyone’s control- the weather causing lots of issues, trees down/power out, limited facilities etc. It was a lovely, clean, inviting room that I booked, but there was a miscommunication and I didn’t actually get the room I booked on the first night. There were also lots of ppl coming and going that weren’t staying there (I think to use wifi); I tried to be flexible but as I had chosen an airbnb over a hostel for some downtime before a volunteer program, it was a bit chaotic for me personally this time. Janet is a lovely, warm, kind woman, good for a chat and with a great vibe. It’s clear to see she is well-liked in the community and extends kindness where she can. She is very on the go but makes herself present for guests and is always busy cleaning or doing something for the house. Great location; Kitty is THE BEST! NB: Bring a sleep mask & try the nearby Soda! Phenomenal food

A wonderful stay at Janet's for the start of my trip to Costa Rica! A Caribbean house on a beautiful plot 30 m from the beach. Rocked every night by the sound of the waves and awakened in the morning by birds and monkeys, it's the perfect place to relax and unwind. Nature is very present: monkeys, sloths, butterflies and thousands of birds live around the house. The most pleasant was the warm welcome from Janet. We immediately felt comfortable and welcomed as if we were part of the family… thank you very much Janet for these two relaxing weeks. If you go to Cocles, don't hesitate, it's the ideal place! And Janet has other magical places to offer you in the area! Take a good look at all its offers... I hope to return to this peaceful retreat one day. Thank you 🙏

If you're looking for a house to disconnect, this is the ideal option. I rented a bike and arrived quickly. Janet responded when I needed her. The space is surrounded by nature, literally the patio of the house has access to the beach. The room is very comfortable and has privacy, the mattress is very good! I didn't have to wait to access the bathroom and kitchen, I did it with total freedom and it was always available, even sharing with other people. Her pets are adorable, like Janet. 100% recommended.

Janet’s house is truly an oasis! The beach is right there, with many excellent restaurants and grocery stores within walking distance. There is so much to do, many animals and beautiful beaches, and delicious food. Janet was the best host and one of the friendliest people I’ve met in my travels! She had tons of great recommendations and advice, and obviously puts a lot of love and care into hosting. I highly recommend to anyone visiting Puerto Viejo!

Janet is a great host! I've never felt at home anywhere before. If you are looking for a quiet place, relaxation, on the beach, walking distance to restaurants and shops, and love animals (Gerald and Kitty) this is the most fantastic place to stay. It was a very nice place to start my trip Costa Rica. Janet, thank you so much for the hospitality, the tips and especially the nice conversations! I'll definitely be back sometime.

A great place to enjoy the Caribbean coast. Having the sound of the sea and the sea view is just fantastic. The beach is literally a minute away from the house. The room is well decorated and the bed is comfortable. Janet is a very kind and friendly person. She is committed to making us have a nice stay. In fact, she welcomed me early. I loved spending a few days at her place, highly recommend. I hope to come back someday. I also recommend going to Punta Uva beach by bike from home, the experience is really nice.

Do you want to stay a few days is a paradise? That is Janet’s place. A very peaceful and chilled place, on the beach. Waking up and doing my daily yoga in front of the sea under the shadows of beautiful trees, with the monkeys passing through is unforgettable. The room has 2 seafront windows. It’s simple, but you don’t need anything more. Janet is a special person, always smiling and accommodating me in any ways. Absolutely recommended.

I had a wonderful and peaceful stay at Janet's place, enjoyed every minute of it. Most of the days I spent wandering around, chilling at the beach, swimming and exploring the area on foot. There is a beautiful trail through the forest to Puerto Viejo and on one of the days there was a sloth on a banana tree right next to the path! Overall I felt very welcome and at home. Ohh and I will definitely miss hearing the waves when waking up and going to sleep. Thanks Janet and Darnell for the great company! :))

I entered as a guest then left as family; I met a host and gained a sister. I literally held back tears upon leaving Janet. She has an angelic spirit, is effortlessly kind and is definitely an empath. Her home was just that- a home so much so that what was planned to be a VAcation turned into a STAYcation. It was 5 ⭐️ simplicity. Janet helped make my visit a most memorable one. She embodies PURA VIDA! #mihermana

I had the best time staying at Janet’s! It was spot on for what I wanted, I was travelling on my own and wanted to be around other people but not like a hostel environment, Janet’s a live in host and has just one other lodger so was perfect. The house is right on Cocles beach and it’s near enough to walk in to Puerto Viejo if you like but I preferred to hire a bike for the week which was perfect for nipping in and out of town. I also cycled to Manzanillo National Park from the house so really accessible for everything around the area. The house comes complete with friendly animals which I loved and Janets hosting is second to none, what a lovely woman! She was really warm and welcoming and nothing was too much trouble, if I needed any help or info on anything she was always there with the answers! She was also a really nice and interesting person in general so it made hanging around the house really comfortable. I will definitely stay there again if she’ll have me!

I enjoyed my days at Janet's house. Friendly and helpful host, clean room with two windows to let the air and ocean sounds in. I think I've become addicted to this ocean sounds. There are few animals at the property, a lot of fun dealing with them) Janet was always available to help. House was clean and cozy, there was enough place in a fridge and at the shelves. I liked the location: the road from Puerto Viejo to the house full of streetlights, I've been using Janet's bicycle and it took me less than 10 min to get to the city of PV. Great experience.

Studio in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Melissa

Good, 4 years ago

Great location to the beach and nearby shops. Really enjoyed my time while staying at Janet's place.

The place is wonderfully located, just steps away from the beach. The price is very competitive for a single room, whereas a dorm room in a hostel would cost more. On the downside, the house is quite messy and not very clean or nice for staying inside. The room itself was clean though when I arrived. Lots of people coming in and out of the house, like friends of the owner or other hosts staying in other rooms or at tents around the property, mostly nice people, easy to talk to. The internet connection was very slow, can't be relied upon for someone needing to do remote work (like me). An extra plus is that two houses away there's a nice hostel with great internet and a beachside bar and hammocks where you can go hang out all day and even use the internet without a need to consume anything. *A great choice for someone looking for a single private room right next to the beach at a good price. *Not a good choice for someone picky about cleanliness or looking to stay inside a lot.

Host Response

Thank you Natan, will take that into consideration. The ironic part of your review is that you created the majority of the mess. Not once did you utilize the shower outside but chose instead to trek the sand from the beach inside each time you entered. Between the sand and your cold and the copious amount of toilet paper you used to deal with your ailment; I had never seen the bathroom in such horrible condition then while you were staying at the house despite cleaning it each day. There is a mild expectation that the guests as least somewhat clean up after themselves.