Entire home

Beachfront Tropical Villa with Private Pool

Photo gallery for Beachfront Tropical Villa with Private Pool

Exterior living room with ocean view
View from the main bedroom
Evening view from the main bedroom
Pool deck
Hammock in front of the main bedroom

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 9315.9 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Pool

Explore the area

Map
Las Terrenas, SamanĆ”
  • Playa Bonita
    ā€Ŗ5 min walkā€¬
  • Coson Beach
    ā€Ŗ14 min driveā€¬
  • Playa Ballenas
    ā€Ŗ26 min driveā€¬
  • Las Terrenas (EPS-El Portillo)
    ā€Ŗ26 min driveā€¬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 9)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

Bedroom 4

3 Single Beds

4 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet Ā· Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet Ā· Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet Ā· Shower only

Bathroom 4

Toilet Ā· Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Beachfront Tropical Villa with Private Pool

The villa Estrella del Mar is our family hideaway and beach front home, our little ocean front piece of heaven with a mind-blowing view of the Playa Bonita Bay and direct access to the beach. The villa is surrounded by 1,700 m2 of private tropical gardens and is located in a quiet residential area.

The house features 4 bedrooms, each with en-suite bathrooms, for a maximum of 9 guests. 3 kingsize bedrooms with and 1 bedroom with 3 single beds. All bedrooms are air-conditioned, equipped with a ceiling fan, mosquito nets and safety box (king bedrooms only). Both rooms at the back of the house have their own private terrace surrounded by a wonderful tropical garden.

The open living area has two sections. The first section consists of the entrance, the living room and the kitchen. This section can be closed and secured by sliding doors. During the day it is typically open and forms a large unit with the second section on the Veranda. The Veranda consists of the dining area, a small and a larger living area and the most popular hammock corner. All of the above is protected by the thatched roof which extends to the entire house. If there is rain or wind, we have a rain and wind protection curtain on the veranda which keeps most of it outside.

The ocean side of the garden is a perfect place to work on your suntan, play frisbee, badminton or soccer. To cool down, the pool with ocean view is integrated in the outdoor living area. Guests like to rock the hammock, read a book and sip a cocktail while overseeing the children play in the pool. And so do we. On the other side of the house, the garden is a colorful dense tropical heaven making the two back-of-the-house verandas a cocooning place to relax.

We won't be in Las Terrenas during your stay, but we will organize everything for you and can assist before and during your stay through whatsapp or phone. We can help with transfers, excursions, car and motorbike rental, grocery shopping for the arrival day, emergencies (hopefully not), etc.

Bina, our wonderful maid and great cook, works Mon to Sat from 8am to 4pm, she cleans the house, prepares breakfast (grocery expenses not included) and washes the linen twice a week. For lunch service an extra charge applies (grocery expenses not included). On Sundays we have another person working half day and preparing breakfast. Bina knows Las Terrenas and all the people we work with perfectly well and can help organising. She only speaks Spanish, but the communication with our guests still works very well. Online translators are helpful. Bina also mixes a couple of devine tropical cocktails like Cuba Libre, Santo Libre, PiƱa Colada, Caipirinha, Mojito, Daiquiri or Margarita. A private chef can be hired for dinner.

Mimio takes care of the garden for more than 20 years. He is a lovely person and part of the Estrella del Mar family. You will appreciate him for taking care of the pool, cleaning the grill after usage and for skillfully opening coconuts just harvested from the trees for you to enjoy the water and the meat. He also helps in many other ways. Mimio works from Monday to Saturday noon and stays in an independent room next to the house.

Playa Bonita is a quiet and residential area with private homes and small hotels. It's close to the charming and lively village of Las Terrenas where you can find restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, french bakeries and grocery stores. Some nice restaurants are just next door at Playa Bonita as well. You can get to the village by taxi, motorbike-taxi or rent a car, motorbike or 4-wheel quad. The rented vehicles are delivered to the house. We are happy to help with organised excursions such as whale watching (jan-march only) jeep safaris, National Park los Haitises by boat, Coffee and Cacao fields by squad, fishing, diving, etc.




Property manager

Nicole Glur

Languages

English, French, German, Spanish

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0ā€“17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking only in the garden
We have a strict no illegal drug use policy. The Dominican law is very strict. Unruly behavior will unfortunately result in you being asked to leave.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Las Terrenas

Located on the beach, this villa is in Playa Bonita, a neighbourhood in Las Terrenas. Cayos Las Ballenas and Samana Zipline are local attractions and those in the mood for shopping can visit Plaza Rosada Shopping Center and Beach Garden Plaza. Kayaking, scuba diving and snorkelling offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with horse riding nearby.
Map
Las Terrenas, SamanĆ”

What's nearby

  • Playa Bonita - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • La Iglesia Beach - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Haitian Caraibes Art Gallery - 11 min drive - 5.4 km
  • Coson Beach - 14 min drive - 8.4 km
  • Playa Ballenas - 26 min drive - 8.3 km

Getting around

  • Samana (AZS-El Catey Intl.) - 34 min drive

Restaurants

  • ā€ŖEl Lugar - ā€¬13 min drive
  • ā€ŖEl Mosquito Art Bar - ā€¬12 min drive
  • ā€ŖCayuco En Bonita - ā€¬3 min walk
  • ā€ŖEl Loro - ā€¬13 min drive
  • ā€ŖDe Charlie Mariscos - ā€¬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Beachfront Tropical Villa with Private Pool have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Beachfront Tropical Villa with Private Pool pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Beachfront Tropical Villa with Private Pool?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beachfront Tropical Villa with Private Pool?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Beachfront Tropical Villa with Private Pool located?

Nestled on the beach, this Playa Bonita villa is within a 15-minute walk of Playa Bonita and La Iglesia Beach. Playa Ballenas and Punta Popy Beach are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 55 out of 56 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 56 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 56 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 56 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 56 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jay U.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing Home
We took a family spring break trip to the Dominican. The house was even better than you see in the pictures! My three sons (12,15,17 years old) all loved the house and location. And the property owner did an amazing job ensuring our visit was outstanding. I strongly recommend this one.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rod B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Playa Bonita Paradise
This property was the best VRBO I've stayed at ever. It exceeded expectations. The owner is Swiss (but lives in DR) ....need I say more.....everything in the home was perfectly maintained, very clean, very well designed and staff were amazing. We had a great time!!
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

margie c.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful villa
We enjoyed everything about our stay and hope to come back soon.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

ed a., Macungie PA

25th Wedding Anniversary with the family
Wonderful stay. Amazing views, and beautifully appointed home. We were well cared during our stay. Highly recommend this property to anyone looking for a beach front vacation.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jeremy O., Montreal

Fantastic Holiday
The villa was amazing and we had the best time. We travelled with our 3 kids and they loved the pool that was attached to the house. The beach was fantastic as well. Hope to go back again next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2017

10/10 Excellent

Joyana P., Urbandale, Iowa

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic stay
We had a fantastic stay! The owners were great to work with and helped plan our stay. Bina and Mimio were super helpful and the house, pool and beach were beautiful. Great places to eat and drink are right within walking distance. I recommend having Chef Simon come to the house to cook some evening. That was a great experience with great food. Don't forget to bring bug spray and sunscreen!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tyler F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Paradise
I canā€™t say enough good things about the property, Nicole, or the staff (Bina and Mimio). Everything about our vacation in the DR was effortless and I credit Nicole and Bina for that. They took such great care of our family while we stayed in their stunning home. The accommodations, the beach, the views, and (especially) Binaā€™s delicious cooking has us counting the days until we return!
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Janique K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful, comfortable front beach in Las Terrenas
The house was comfortable and beautiful, Bina the maid and Mimio the gardener were sweet, helpful and kind. We loved our stay at Estrella del mar! Gorgeous beach front property near restaurants, but still in a quiet and safe area, 15 minutes by car or quad from the busy shopping area at Playa Poppy. Paradise! Nicole is a great host.šŸŒŸšŸŒŸšŸŒŸšŸŒŸšŸŒŸ
Stayed 14 nights in Jan 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Abbey O.

What an amazing spot!
I think this villa is the best on the beach by a long shot. Beautiful and modern inside, amazing pool overlooking the ocean, and prime location near everything. Playa Bonita is gorgeous, and this house is a gem . Bina the cook/maid was very helpful and made delicious food. The kids swam constantly and learned to surf next door at the surf school. Cant wait to return to Estrella Del Mar and Playa Bonita.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2016

10/10 Excellent

Jose T., San Juan, PR

Spectacular Beach House
This is, by far, the best house I have stayed in Las Terrenas. The house itself, is out of this world. Nicole, the owner, went way beyond expectations to arrange transportation, excursions, massages, and giving great recommendations. Bina and Mimio are rock stars making you feel at home. We will definitely return. Thanks Nicole for everything.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

William T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful Villa on a lovely beach.
This is our 3rd year in a row coming back to this gorgeous house. Two families sharing the house. Four adults and three children. The house is the perfect spot for a relaxing beach vacation. Days starting with walks on the beach followed by delicious breakfasts prepared by Bina, and then surfing and swimming and a few excursions. Great dinners a short walk from the house at restaurants along the Playa Bonita beach, or a short ride into Las Terrenas for a wide choice of good, affordable dining options. We will be back!
Stayed 11 nights in Feb 2020
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

kimberly m.

Beautiful, comfortable and relaxing vacation!
Thank you Nicole and Zenon for opening up your home to us this past week. It was even more beautiful than the pictures showed. Bina was excelllent in taking care of us as well as Nathalie and Mimio. The weather was perfect every single day we were there. To wake up in the morning with the bluest ocean right in front of us, a coffee and breakfast made to order was a dream! It was impressive that any request or question we had was answered immediately! It was a wonderful retreat.We would be happy to return. Thank you ! The McLaughlins, MA
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2016

10/10 Excellent

Evette S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Little Piece of Paradise
We absolutely loved staying at this beautiful villa on the beach. We were stunned when we walked in and were met with the beach view. We didn't actually realize that the property was pretty much directly on the beach. The rooms were spacious and the yard was perfect for our kids to play in. The sunsets were breathtaking, and Bina and Mimio were so attentive and thoughtful. Nicole was also so great about communicating with us and she and Bina were so understanding when we had to check in late because of our family's flight delays. If you're looking for a beautiful location, villa, and relaxing while listening to the waves, this is the spot for you. It was perfect for our family!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer R., Christiansburg, VA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Best. Vacation. Ever.
There were 9 of us staying at Estrella del Mar (including 3 teenagers) and we all agreed that this was the best vacation ever. The house was in a excellent location for walking to restaurants and enjoying beautiful views each day. Nicole was an amazing hostess who communicated and helped us with all our needs. Bina was the best! She prepared incredible drinks and breakfasts, all while being so patient and kind with our attempts to communicate in Spanish. Mimio was the sweetest and took great care and pride in his gardens - and they are beautiful! We enjoyed El Limon waterfalls and snorkeling excursions, trips into downtown, as well as just relaxing in the pool and on the beach. We had a perfect vacation of exploring the area, enjoying new experiences, as well as relaxation. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Amy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect
The beautiful pictures youā€™ve just scrolled through canā€™t begin to convey how lovely and easy this rental will make your stay. We were two families with teenagers, and despite flight delays leading to a very late arrival, many questions and demands on our part, and it being Christmas week, we were beautifully taken care of for eight perfect days. The house is large, comfortable, clean and gracious. The beach and many pleasant restaurants are steps away, and adventures on this gorgeous island were easy to arrange, too. Bina and Mimio were incredibly friendly and helpful, and both Binaā€™s cooking and drinks were fantastic. Our host was responsive and comprehensively helpful throughout the week. Itā€™s hard to leave after a week like this!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

AK R., Denver USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful Week
We just got back from an amazing week!! The home is gorgeous and everything that the pictures represent and more. We stayed here with our family (4 teenagers) and had more than enough room to hang out and enjoy our trip. Bina and Mimio were absolutely incredible. Bina cooked us an amazing breakfast every morning and they both worked so hard to keep the house in great shape for our stay. We loved the pool but access to the beach was great. Just a few steps away and were were on a beautiful beach with good waves for boogie boarding and playing water games. The Beluga restaurant next door was so convenient and had great food and drinks (we could hardly hear the music and it was really calm there, so it didn't bother us at all). We enjoyed a long walk every day, exploring the restaurants in Las Terrenas and Playa Bonita and had a chef come a few nights to cook us dinner. Nicole was a pleasure to work with and was extremely helpful in planning our trip. Thank you for a great vacation!!!
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

William T.

Delightful villa in beautiful setting
We thoroughly enjoyed our 10 days of spring break at this exceptional villa in beautiful Las Terrenas. Two families sharing the villa (4 adults, 3 children). We were well looked after by Bina and Mimeo. A most pleasant experience in every respect. Elegantly appointed villa that is immaculately maintained, and true to the listing photos and description. A great location ā€“ on the beach but just far enough removed to enjoy the view from the comfort of the spacious outdoor living area. Morning walks and delicious breakfasts prepared by Bina were the start to our days. Children enjoyed boogie-boarding and the older one went surfing at the nearby surf camp. It is a beautiful beach, not crowded, but not deserted ā€“ just right. We dined in occasionally (Bina made a divine paella one evening), or down the beach at one of several nice dining options. The rest of the time we enjoyed the restaurants in nearby Las Terrenas ā€“ an easy ride from Playa Bonita. A truly memorable vacation.

10/10 Excellent

JULYA F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The BEST house in Dominican Republic
This house was incredible. We have travelled to many destinations and by far this location, house, staff, and proximity to restaurants made this stay one of our top vacation rentals. Nicole the owner reserved all of our excursions and helped with everything. It was so seamless. The house is located right between 2 top restaurants. We ate and drank at Mosquitos basically the entire stay because the seafood and service was superb. We also went to Atlantis restaurant for a French type fine dining. Everything was a 1 minute walk. The yard was amazing, the kids played soccer and basketball. About a 5 minute walk to the left was the most beautiful calm beach with views. It was breathtaking. We basically didnā€™t leave the property because we didnā€™t have to. Bina made breakfast and cleaned up while we were out and about. I feel relaxed and refreshed. Thank you Nicole and family for letting us stay in your amazing Villa.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Trina R., Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Beyond expectations
This experience couldnā€™t have been better. The home is well appointed, the decor and furnishings beautiful and you cannot beat this location or view. It truly was beyond our expectations. Mimio and Bina are lovely people and so helpful. We were here for a week and decided to use taxi services and motos whenever we wanted to go into town but we could have also rented a vehicle for convenience. There are a few restaurants nearby that we enjoyed going to for drinks or dinner and there are even more wonderful choices in town. We really loved waking up to the sounds of the ocean and Bina would have breakfast laid out for us with coffee already made. This was much better than any all inclusive experiences weā€™ve had. The house is quiet and we spent time each day alternatively reading and just watching the mesmerizing waves. We also paid for my husband to have a massage at the house and really recommend using Marieā€™s services. Daily walks along the walkway along the beach were perfect, there is always a good breeze to help keep from overheating. We would highly recommend this property and would love to come back ourselves. Thank you for sharing your lovely beach home.

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Just Lovely!!!
We had the most wonderful family get away. Nicole was so helpful during the planning process for us. She answered any questions we had and had great suggestions for things to do and what to know about the house and country while there. She was also fabulous at communicating with us while we were on the trip if we had any questions. Bina was a wonderful cook! My son especially loved her Chicken Creole. The house and beach were beautiful. There is a nice path right in front of the house that you can use to walk to other beaches or take a nice jog/stroll. We went down to the right each day to swim in front of Mosquitos restaurant. Their beach had no rocks It is only a 2-3 minute walk. We had fun at the house playing frisbee, flying kites, and shooting some basketball! My kids loves seeing the basketball goal attached to the palm tree in the yard! We never even turned on the tv. The internet is fast at the house. Do bring bug spray. We didn't notice them during the day, but at dusk the bugs came out some. Overall, it was just lovely and we would love to return again to this house!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2020

10/10 Excellent

Betsy H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect Holiday Getaway
Our group was 4 adults and 2 children (ages 6 and 9). We spent a week in November and I cannot think of a single thing that would have made our stay any better. The property itself is exactly as advertised. Nicole basically provided a concierge service before we arrived -- she arranged transportation from the airport, a dinner reservation for the first night, and she even ordered a birthday cake for later in the week. We asked her for help booking excursions and she recommended we not book things on more than two days, and she was right -- we loved spending most of our time in the pool and at the beach. We did a half-day ATV tour with Flora Tours which was a fun way to see the surrounding area and a perfect activity with kids (they doubled-up with the adults). Nicole was also very responsive with anything we needed or questions we had during our stay. We only left the area twice -- once for the ATV excursion and another time for dinner in downtown Las Terrenas. There's plenty to do right outside the house. The beach right in front of the house is a little rocky, but there's a beautiful sandy beach about a 5-minute walk to the left. There was a drop-in yoga class on Tuesday and Thursday at 9am (just past Mosquito) and we took a surf lesson at Carolina Surf School. Highly recommend both! All of Nicole's restaurant recommendations were spot-on and we were able to pay with USD or credit card everywhere. Bina was amazing. She was incredibly patient with our broken Spanish and also completely willing to use google translate. She took care of groceries for all of our meals and we just paid her back in cash each day. We felt completely safe our entire visit. Mimio lives on-site and it was nice knowing he was there when we were away from the house. When we took a taxi home from dinner downtown, he came outside to meet us and make sure we got back into the house okay. I'd call it the trip of a lifetime, but we really hope to find our way back!
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

tracye c.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
As advertised
Let me just start by saying, I have been waiting 2 years to get to this property after canceling during the pandemic. The owner has top notch communication, is understanding and very accommodating. This villa is steps away from the beach!! The views and amenities do not disappoint and all as depicted on the site. The villa is accurately described and looks just like the pictures! What a beautiful site to wake up to every morning! The 2 hour drive to this location is worth it. Having Bina is one of the best parts of the experience. Bina helped to coordiante all the food prep, shopping, and cooking. We had a delicious and fufilling breakfast & lunch everyday. She works so efficiently. We never had an issue with Bina. We also took advantage of a private chef for a special Father's Day Dinner vs going out to a restaurant. The food was plentiful and prepared well. The beach is one of my favorites! Beautiful warm waters with constant waves. It made surfing fun! The village of playa bonita is safe with security. There are several restaurants about the place. You have access to something to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. *Be aware that a 28% service tax is added to the tab while dining out. We opted to cook dinner at the villa a night or 2. We rented mopeds for shopping in the metro. It was a fun trip. The masseuse came to the villa for our massages. The massages were solid in quality and a great value. My spouse and I felt very relaxed! The house was spacious and open. We all enjoyed our accommodations with 2 families together under one roof. The couples had theirs space as didn't he children. The pool was always a go to and the basketball goal was an added bonus for the boys. *Mosquitos can be very unpleasant. Bring gaurd. Overall this
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Every box checked off!
Estella Del Mar is a beautiful villa from its location steps away from the water, to itā€™s impeccable architectural and interior design. We were a group of seven adult world travelers with very high expectations, and from the second we arrived at the front door to the welcoming smile and nurturing warmth of Bina, we felt right at home as she filled our glasses with iced champagne and showed us around the villa. We communicated mostly through google translation and had absolutely no problem in making our needs known. In the weeks prior to our arrival the communication with Nicole was ongoing, as he truly ensured that every need, desire and concern was addressed and fulfilled. Before our arrival Nicole sent me a 16-page brochure (PDF) with detailed information regarding the staff, Wi-Fi, airport transportation, local beaches, restaurants, amenities, shopping, cigar shopping, and literally anything and everything needed to make our stay wonderful. Nicole scheduled massages on the terrace for us that were so tranquil and soothing, some of the best massages we have ever experienced. Nicole referred us to Rancho Playa for horseback riding on the beach and that was one of the highlights of our trip. Most of us had no experience with horses but we soon felt at ease due to detailed guidance and instructions from the owner and the guides, which made our adventure fun and so memorable. Every day after our early morning walks on Playa Bonita beach, Bina greeted us with fresh coffee, expresso and a delicious, bountiful breakfast of fresh fruits, pastries, breads, eggs, bacon and pancakes. Our choices were endless. We also planned for Bina to prepare lunch on a few occasions, and I am telling you, OMG, the fish she cooked was mouthwatering. We only ate at the local restaurants a few times as we preferred to eat Binaā€™s cooking, although Beluga, the restaurant next door was great and their mojitos were almost as good as Binaā€™sā€¦ almost. To celebrate my birthday, Simon, a local chef prepared lobster and made a beautiful and delicious birthday cake. Mimio, our pleasant grounds keeper, got us fresh coconuts to drink and made sure everything outside was perfect for us and the pool man came almost daily to ensure the beautiful pool stayed sparkling. There is absolutely nothing negative to be said about Villa Estrella Del Mar. We had a 5-star experience and are looking forward to another stay.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeff N.

Look no further-this place is perfect!
We traveled to Las Terrenas with our two daughters (ages 26 and 28) along their husband & boyfriend. The Villa itself is just gorgeous. I wonā€™t spend a lot of time describing the villa because you can look at the online photos and see for yourself. Just note that the photos do not even do this place justice-it is even more beautiful in person! We have traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean and this is, without a doubt, our favorite place that we have stayed for many reasons. We LOVED having Bina take care of our meals. We LOVED being right on the ocean and having the lovely promenade to walk along. We LOVED the feel of Playa Bonita and all the lovely boutique hotels/restaurants that lined the beach. When we were ready for a change of pace, we LOVED traveling into Las Terrenas and visiting the quaint fishermanā€™s village and seaside restaurants. Bina cooked us several delicious meals including Fish with Coconut Sauce, Paella, Seafood Salad and Quinoa Salad. She also made fabulous desserts including Bread Pudding, Flan and Brownie Cake. She was a delight to be around and my family loved her! We were thrilled with the quality of the other restaurants in Playa Bonita. We celebrated my daughterā€™s birthday at Hotel Atlantis which was so charming. They prepared an exquisite key lime pie for her. We were also impressed with their extensive wine list. We enjoyed making friends with our neighbors at Costa La Ballenas and ended up going there for lunch, dinner and cocktails. The newly opened El Mosquito was fun for late night drinks and a casual lunch. We really wish we would have more time to explore Las Terrenas itself. We did enjoy buying fabulous croissants at the ā€œBoulangerie Francaise,ā€ conveniently located across the street from a really cool authentic Cigar rolling shop, ā€œMundo Puro.ā€ I purchased some beautiful local artwork at Mundo Puro as well and noted that the same artist has a few paintings hanging in the Villa! We spent one afternoon at Eden Beach CafĆ© in Las Terrenas. It has a real European vibe to it. Wonderful food, drinks and gorgeous setting right on the beach. In closing, Nicole, the owner, was quite helpful with booking transportation to and from the Villa, an excursion to El Limon and also answering any questions we had during our stay. We highly recommend this property and canā€™t wait to return!
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Abigail M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Vacation of a lifetime
We've been looking forward to this trip for more than a year, and WOW it did not disappoint! This is truly a spectacular home, made even more special by the exceptional care of Nicole, the home owner. The house and grounds are extraordinary! Bina and Mimio are kind and helpful. We loved Playa Bonita and had a great time learning to surf. We enjoyed walking to both calm areas too -- one five minutes to the east and one five minutes walk to the west around the point. Playa Bonita is truly is picture postcard beautiful!!! SIDE NOTE: I have only one heads-up about the location. It is mainly very quiet and you can't even notice that there's a restaurant next door. However, Saturdays and Sundays are much much busier, and both weekend days that we were there a DJ next door blasted music from noon until past 6pm. It was basically in our front yard and you couldn't escape it, even inside the house. I'm not sure if this always happens or not. But it was very disruptive. (Nicole, I didn't mention it during our stay because I know it's out of your control, but it might be worth a conversation with the owners of La Beluga! :). It wouldn't prevent me from renting here, but if you value quiet as much as we do, I would probably plan my excursions away from the property on Sat/Sundays afternoons. ) Couple other thoughts: -Nicole's network of folks -- Orlando the driver; Genaro the car rental guy, chef Simon, etc. -- as well as their many recommendations, including for Zona Colonial in Santo Domingo, were all spot on. -Restaurant Luis in Playa Coson is a must! (we drove) -Surfing is so fun and Carolina Surf School is great! -Pizza at El Cuyaco is yummy and an inexpensive alternative (we did take out) -Food is very expensive -- the tax and service charges of almost +30% really take a bite -Bring lots of US Cash! ATM exchange rates were very expensive, I wish we'd have brought more USD - a visit to the fish market (east of the cemetery in downtown Las Terranas) was fun local color - we actually used Chef Simon two nights and would have done more. It was the best food of our trip I think, and probably the cheapest! (cost of groceries plus $50 for the chef) Such a treat! Thanks again Nicole! You are a blessing and this home is a true gift that you are sharing with families to make once in a lifetime memories!
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2022

About the host

Hosted by Nicole Glur

Host profile image
We are a Swiss Dominican couple with 5 children living in Santo Domingo. My wife and I met in Mexico working for the same hotel chain and moved to Santo Domingo together. We spend as much time as we can in Las Terrenas and love traveling.

Why they chose this property

When we spent our first family vacation in Las Terrenas in 2004, we knew this was our place. We checked many buying options and found our "Estrella del Mar" during Christmas holidays 2005. The owners were Swiss too and coming from the same small Swiss village than my wive's father. This house was meant to be ours.

What makes this property unique

La Estrella del Mar, a beautiful tropical ocean front villa, designed by a French architect, is the perfect family hideaway. The private pool, big terrace, integrated kitchen with ocean view and the waves in front of the house for surfing and boogie boarding are definitely worth a stay. The calm beaches with no waves are only 5 walking minutes away.

The fisherman village Las Terrenas is very different from many Caribbean and Dominican destinations. It existed already long before tourism started in this area of the island. You will find a combination of Dominican happiness, European gastronomy and beautiful nature. Playa Bonita is just next to the village but very quiet and residential. You have great waves for surfers in the center of the bay and no waves walking 5 minutes to the right or to the left. You can take long beach walks to Coson (next beach) where you find some very nice restaurants.

Languages:

English, French, German, Spanish