Frequently-Asked-Questions
What are our dining options?
While Stealing Time does not have a traditional restaurant on-site, we have curated a wonderful array of dining experiences for you.
Your morning can begin in several ways. We encourage the five-minute walk to a local ‘soda’ for an authentic ‘Tico’ breakfast where you might meet the chickens responsible for your eggs. Alternatively, we can arrange for pastries and fresh fruit from a lovely Danish bakery to be delivered to your suite. Of course, your own fully-equipped kitchen is always an option for a private start to your day.
For lunch and dinner, we have partnered with Los Almendros, a terrific local restaurant that serves as our exclusive dining partner. Enjoy their full menu delivered to your suite, or visit them in person just five minutes away. For your convenience, all meals from Los Almendros can be signed to your suite and settled upon departure. We can also coordinate with them for catered group meals or other special arrangements.
For more variety, we can also source a private chef for a bespoke meal in your suite, with cuisines ranging from French to fresh sushi. And should you decide to do some light cooking yourself, please do. We’ll take care of the dishes.
Why should we choose Stealing Time over a traditional luxury resort?
That depends entirely on what you value in a vacation. If you enjoy all-you-can-eat buffets and playing the ‘reserve the best chaise before sunrise’ game, then a traditional resort is likely a better fit.
We offer the opposite. At Stealing Time, the entire facility is yours and completely private. You can walk around in your pajamas at noon or blast Lady Gaga in the gym without a single person batting an eye. There are no other guests to consider.
More importantly, you’ll have an authentic Costa Rican experience, not one brought to you by MegaHotelCorp where every location is a carbon copy of the last. Here, you get the luxury and the soul of the place, all to yourself.
How is Stealing Time like a resort?
In every way that matters—and in some ways, it’s better. We offer the amenities and services of a five-star property, but with the luxury of complete privacy.
This includes a fully air-conditioned gym, a covered open-air yoga shala, a salt-water infinity pool, a cold plunge, a dedicated treatment room with its own peaceful waterfall, and even a small gift shop. The key difference is that they are all exclusively yours.
Our service is also centered entirely around you. You have a full-time housekeeper and a personal concierge dedicated solely to your group. Your concierge handles everything from pre-arrival planning to arranging day trips and private chefs, while housekeeping is scheduled according to your preferences to ensure a seamless stay.
Is it possible to book just one of the apartments?
Stealing Time is designed as a private resort experience, which means every booking includes exclusive access to the entire property and all its amenities. We don’t offer individual apartment rentals.
This policy ensures complete privacy for your group, allowing you to make the entire space your own without having to consider other guests. It’s the perfect excuse to gather some friends and have the retreat all to yourselves.
What is the pricing structure and what does it include?
Stealing Time is priced for the exclusive use of the entire private resort, so the cost reflects a private, unshared experience.
Our pricing is transparent and comprehensive. The rate covers full use of the property and all its amenities, as well as the dedicated services of your private concierge and full-time housekeeper. There are no resort fees, destination fees, cleaning fees, or other hidden charges.
For optional services like a private chef, massage therapist, or yoga instructor, we connect you directly with trusted local professionals. You pay them their local rate without any markup from us. We believe in supporting our community directly, which also means you receive exceptional services at a fair price, knowing exactly where your money is going—a massage might be $60 instead of a typical $200 resort price.
We believe this structure provides exceptional value for a truly unique and authentic Costa Rican escape.
What is your payment and cancellation policy?
Our policies are structured to be fair for both our guests and our exclusive-use property.
Payment Schedule:
- A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm your booking.
- The remaining 50% balance is due 90 days prior to your arrival date.
Cancellation:
- Because of our limited inventory, all payments are non-refundable. However, if we are able to re-book your dates with another guest, we will gladly refund you for the amount recovered, less a 5% processing fee. We strongly recommend all guests purchase comprehensive travel insurance to protect against unforeseen circumstances.
My friends all go to Nosara or Santa Teresa. Why should I choose Esterillos Oeste?
Those are lovely places, and very popular for a reason. I’ve visited them myself. They are fantastic for a certain kind of vacation.
But Esterillos Oeste is different. It’s not a tourist town; it’s a real Costa Rican town. I first came here on a vacation, just like I did to those other places. The difference is, I moved here.
This is a place that gets under your skin. It’s authentic. You can walk the Blue-Flag beach for kilometers and see more wildlife than people. You can practice your Spanish at the local soda. You’re experiencing a genuine piece of Costa Rica, not a curated version of it. If that’s the priority, then this is the place.
Where exactly is Stealing Time located?
We are located in the town of Esterillos Oeste, on Costa Rica’s beautiful Mid-Pacific coast. The drive from San José’s Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) is typically about two hours.
Our location serves as a perfect home base for exploring the region. We are less than an hour north of the renowned Manuel Antonio National Park. A bit further south, you will find the popular towns of Dominical and Uvita, home to the famous “Whale’s Tail” beach. This position allows you to easily access these iconic destinations while returning to the peace and privacy of your own resort at the end of the day.
Is the area safe?
Yes, Esterillos Oeste is known for being a safe and tranquil town. We take our guests’ security very seriously. For your complete peace of mind, the property is gated, and a neighbourhood guard is on duty at our front gate from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily.
What are your check-in and check-out times?
We believe your vacation should feel expansive, not rushed. That’s why we handle check-in and check-out differently than a typical resort.
Your stay with us can begin as early as 8:00 a.m. on your arrival day and extends until late afternoon on your departure day. This flexibility is a core part of our philosophy, allowing you to truly steal time and settle into your vacation without a glance at the clock.
To make this possible, we do have one logistical request. We prioritize your safety and do not accommodate nighttime arrivals. For any guest with a flight arriving after 3:00 p.m., we ask that you book accommodation near the airport for the first night. Our concierge will be happy to provide excellent recommendations to make this seamless.
Do we need to rent a car?
We strongly recommend it. While the beach and local store are just a five-minute walk away, a vehicle is essential for most other errands, such as returning from dinner at a local restaurant after dark, as ride-sharing services like Uber are not available in Esterillos Oeste. Furthermore, if you plan to explore the region’s many natural attractions, a 4×4 is necessary for accessing more remote beaches, waterfalls, and national parks, allowing you to experience the full breadth of Costa Rican adventure.
What is the maximum occupancy, and can you accommodate larger groups?
Stealing Time comfortably accommodates up to eight guests in our four bedrooms. A small child sharing a parent’s bed or sleeping in a crib is welcome and does not count toward this occupancy limit.
For groups larger than eight, we would be happy to assist in coordinating with our neighbours to find supplemental accommodation nearby. This allows a larger party to spend their days together enjoying the amenities at Stealing Time, with additional sleeping arrangements just a short walk away.
Is Stealing Time suitable for children?
Children are absolutely welcome. However, we do want to be transparent that the property was designed for adults, with architectural features such as open-plan spaces and an infinity pool. Therefore, children require attentive adult supervision at all times, particularly in outdoor areas.
We are happy to provide a variety of pool and beach toys for our younger guests to enjoy.
What are the housekeeping arrangements?
Daily housekeeping is included and is tailored to your preferences. You will have a full-time housekeeper dedicated solely to your group, and service can be scheduled at whatever time is most convenient for you to ensure your stay is seamless and your privacy is always respected.
The resort is new. How can we be confident in the quality of our stay?
That is an entirely fair question. While the resort in its current, expanded form is new, our commitment to five-star hospitality is well-established.
We invite you to read the dozens of perfect reviews we earned when Stealing Time was a more modest, single-apartment rental.
What if Stealing Time is booked or more than we need?
We get it. A private resort isn’t for every trip. We have some wonderful neighbours here on Canada Hill with great properties that might be a better fit for a different kind of getaway.
Go have a look. We’ll be here when you’re ready.
Stealing Time
Stealing Time
Stealing Time
Stealing Time