Villa Alegre offers the ultimate in luxury when it comes to bed & breakfast retreats on the beach.

This delightful villa is a quiet and relaxing place in Playa Langosta, just south of the popular beachtown of Tamarindo– Guanacaste’s popular beach destination. A path maintained by Villa Alegre leads through a section of the Tamarindo beachpark to the Pacific Ocean. Only a minute’s walk away, the golden sand beach stretches in both directions. Here, surfers, boogie boarders and swimmers find just the right wave or location to indulge in their favorite sports. Rockpool paddling or a sunset stroll along the beach are tempting alternatives for the less aquatic minded.

Once upon a time, the concept of a bed & breakfast was sleep, eat your morning repast and leave for the day. This is definitely not so at Villa Alegre. The private pool, comfy lounge chairs, fan-cooled rancho and verandah, activities such as horseshoes, shuffle board and a guest lounge with its library and collection of games, encourage guests to hang out and relax in this tranquil tropical setting.

The hospitable Californian owners Barry and Suzye Lawson opened their classic Spanish style white villa with a red tiled roof in May 1997. Dedicated travelers, the Lawsons spent time in the Caribbean, Mexico, Guatemala, Japan and Russia. Suzye Lawson recounted how they settled in Costa Rica:

"When my son returned from a surfing holiday, he predicted Costa Rica was where we’d build our bed & breakfast. Forty-eight hours after our arrival, we started looking for land. That was almost 10 years ago. It’s been a labor of love and a great experience to achieve what we have today."

Accommodations include four guest rooms in the house, one in a separate garden location and two villas suitable for four to five guests. Delightfully appointed, they reflect the Lawsons’ globetrotting experiences and are named after their favorite countries—the U.S.A. room is full of memories from home. During their travels the Lawsons collected fabrics, rugs, pottery and artwork now used in the delightful creative interior designs.

Each room has a private patio, ceiling fans, air-conditioning and a safety deposit box. Comfortable furnishings, king, queen and twin beds are there for the choosing, plus well-appointed, tiled and decorated bathrooms. Guatemala and Mexico have a shared bath and can be joined to make a large family suite.

The villas each have a private entrance, large patio and spacious living/dining area and are furnished in perfect taste. A fully equipped kitchenette with electrical appliances contains everything needed to cook and serve a full dinner. Homes away from home, they are suitable for a short or long stay.

Villa Alegre’s gourmet breakfasts are served on the spacious verandah with an ocean view. Barry, an excellent cook, concocts delectable morning feasts accompanied by Suzye’s yummy home-baked goodies.

"Being aware of our guests’ needs and giving personal service is an enjoyable and rewarding experience for us," said the amiable Barry. "We often have ‘bocas’ (cocktail nibbles) in the evening; this gives us the opportunity to chat to our guests about their needs. We are more than happy to assist with travel planning in Costa Rica and arrange activities such as horseback riding, golf, and sportfishing. The day’s catch is thrown on the barbecue, and we all enjoy a fresh fish dinner."

The Lawsons both agree that Costa Rica has very few facilities that cater to handicapped travelers, and are doing their best to remedy this at Villa Alegre. With a background of volunteer work and fundraising in the United States, this socially-aware couple continues to be active in Costa Rica. Suzye has a background in nursing and medical administration.

"We have tried to make Villa Alegre a haven for handicapped travelers," she said. "One of the villas and a bedroom are wheelchair accessible, as are the pool area and verandah. A handicapped guest was married here under a driftwood arch we built specially for the occasion. It really was a delightful wedding."

Suzye is also dedicated to raising funds for the local high school in Villarreal.

"It’s extremely rewarding to see the result of one’s work," she said enthusiastically. (See separate story).

"We feel very fortunate to be living here, and our fundraising is a natural transition," said Barry. "The money raised here goes so far and makes such an impact on the community."

Villa Alegre hosted an international classical music concert and, most recently, a performance by members of The Little Theatre Group of Costa Rica. Plans for the future include a golf tournament.

"Many of our guests have really enjoyed these fundraisers for the school," said Suzye as she darted off to rescue the scrumptious oven-baked French toast smothered with a gooey peach topping she was serving for breakfast.

Rates do not include tax and are based on double occupancy. Add $15 for each additional guest. Children welcome, under three years free. High season $120. With shared bath $105. Villas $165. Mid and green season rates range from $115 to $85 for rooms and $155 to $135 for the villas. Tel: (506) 653-0270 Fax: (506) 653-0287 e-mail: vialegre@racsa.co.cr Web site:

www.tamarindo.com/alegre

How to Get There:

By Air: Daily flights from San Jose to Tamarindo take 45 minutes. For schedules and fares call Sansa (221-9414) or Travelair (220-3054).

By Bus: Fantasy Tours/Gray Line has a daily bus to Tamarindo $19 one-way. Call 220-2126. Interbus also services to Tamarindo. Call 283-5573.

For daily public bus service call Empresa Alfaro 223-5859 or 222-2666.

Tamarindo is 350 km. from San Jose. Driving time approximately six hours. The road is paved except for the last 4 km. before Tamarindo.