By Rochelle Maruch Miller
Kosher Casas has raised the bar in kosher vacation travel. Daring to tread where no one has before, cofounders Bryna Landes and Eve Berman, both successful in their respective marketing and real-estate careers, decided to pool their experience and business acumen to launch an endeavor that would revolutionize kosher travel as we know it. Thus was Kosher Casas created.
As seasoned travelers, Bryna and Eve and their families have shared many of our own vacation experiences and frustrations. “When a person keeps strictly kosher, traveling and eating well don’t always go hand in hand,” Bryna explained. “Travelers tend to vacation in well-traveled areas where kosher food is readily available, or else they have to carry the equivalent of a grocery store or a kitchen in their luggage. Because it is complicated to bring meat across a border, kosher travelers tend to frequent the same destinations time after time.” She adds, “We have traveled extensively with our families and we know what it takes to ensure that your vacation is easy and worry-free.”
Determined to find a truly unique vacation destination, they ventured to Costa Rica, a tropical paradise. Far removed from the pressures of a frenetic-paced lifestyle, this gorgeous country offers an abundance of vacation possibilities for the kosher traveler. Enjoy the pristine beaches and watch sea whales and dolphins play. Nature enthusiasts will delight in the wide variety of exotic wildlife and tropical plants. Butterflies and orchids, crocodiles and sharks, turtles and toucans abound.
Life is good in Costa Rica–a friendly, democratic, and peaceful country that welcomes its visitors with gracious hospitality. The ideal travel destination, Costa Rica offers something for everyone. Whether you favor beaches, volcanoes, hot springs, rain forests, monkeys, or outdoor sports such as spectacular horseback riding, zip-lining, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, surfing, and biking, Costa Rica has it all.
“Affording our clients customized and attentive service is a key component to Kosher Casas,” says Eve Berman. “We will tell you which region and property best suits your needs. We recently advised a family with several boys to book a property that featured a jungle gym. They had such an incredible time; the parents told us that the children were kissing the furniture and didn’t want to leave.”
She adds, “We founded Kosher Casas to fill a niche. Due to our own traveling experience, we have a handle on what it takes to make a great kosher vacation. We’ve both known what it means to pack several suitcases filled with pots, pans, and groceries and have to worry about transporting meat across the border. We’ve been there, done that, and we wanted to bring an exciting new alternative to kosher travel.”
With meticulous attention to detail, this dynamic duo is deeply committed to making people happy–which is why they are generating so much buzz. Little wonder that they are highly recommended by their clients for creating the ultimate kosher vacation–easy and devoid of stress.
“We have personally chosen beautiful homes and villas to fit every need,” Bryna said. “We travel to Costa Rica to view each property to ensure that it is exactly as represented. Each property has a full kitchen that has been koshered and filled with meat, chicken, fish, and cheese. As well, each property has a private pool and a concierge who will arrange trips, grocery, pharmacy, and other needs from your arrival and all throughout your stay.”
Choose a villa from Kosher Casas’ menu or click on one of their three regions. Guanacaste features beaches with some of the best surfing, boogie boarding, scuba diving, windsurfing, and jet-skiing that Costa Rica has to offer. And if you’ve always secretly harbored the desire to catch the perfect wave but have never set foot on a surfboard–no worries! Guanacaste is the ideal place to learn how to surf. Looking for more action sports? Try sport fishing and kayaking in the estuaries that meander through the nearby mountains.
Take a sailing tour where you can snorkel, swim, and relax on the beach. There is mountain hiking and horseback riding through some of Costa Rica’s most beautiful country areas.
ATVs will take you from the local beaches to the tropical dry forest coast; roam through mountains surrounded by the magnificent views of the Northwest Pacific Coast. Play some tennis and golf at the Hacienda Golf Club, a 6,900-yard, par 71 course that some golfers consider one of the greatest in the world. Enjoy zip-lining through a tropical dry forest–the possibilities are endless. And if the mere thought of engaging in all of these activities is making you just a tad tired, worry not. Prepare to be pampered as never before in any of the luxurious spas that await you, each one affording you a bit of heaven on earth in this tropical paradise.
Manuel Antonio is the perfect mix of jungle, beach, and nature and has a stellar array of activities for adults and children of all ages. Located in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast, the region’s many beaches and national park, rich in wildlife, are its highlights. If you and your family are wildlife enthusiasts, enjoy the beach, and are active adventurers, and if you’d like to be entertained by the most adorable and friendliest monkeys while having breakfast on your patio, Manuel Antonio is the ideal venue for you.
The Arenal area of Costa Rica is a nature lover’s paradise. Located in Costa Rica’s northern region, Arenal is the ideal choice for vacationers with a passion for active sports. Here you will find some of the country’s most striking lakes and mountains.
One of the main attractions of the northern region is the Arenal Volcano, which last erupted in 1968, after being dormant for centuries. Although you may not see lava spewing from the volcano, it is still considered active, as lava from the volcano continues to heat the bubbly hot springs.
Now you can focus on the amazing experiences Kosher Casas has to offer. “We’ve never been on a vacation where we didn’t have to pack two suitcases filled with pots and pans and food,” is how nearly every new client recalls their past kosher travel experience. Happily, Kosher Casas has made all the packing and schlepping of past vacations a thing of the past, redefining kosher travel by making it flawless, fun, and fascinating. Upon your arrival, your personal concierge will facilitate shopping, transportation, groceries, and pharmacy needs–ensuring a truly memorable vacation for every member of your family.
Imagine the pleasure of enjoying a barbecue on the deck of your lovely Costa Rican villa. And should you feel the need to be pampered, their personal chefs will prepare gourmet meals for you. If you prefer, you can order delicious prepared meals from Kosher Casas’ menu.
If you are planning a wedding or other celebratory event and are looking for a gorgeous and unique venue, we highly recommend you consider Kosher Casas’ breathtaking options for a happily-ever-after experience. “We have beautiful properties which are ideal for magnificent weddings and feature beautiful accommodations for guests,” says Bryna. “We will help clients bring their dreams to fruition in an exquisite setting. Kosher Casas offers highly personalized service in orchestrating an unforgettable event. Our kashrus is impeccable; we are under the strict rabbinical supervision of Rabbi Yitschak Prober, chief rabbi of Costa Rica.”
With unparalleled customer service and integrity as its hallmarks, Kosher Casas has already earned a sterling reputation and is eliciting an enthusiastic response. Early booking is recommended to ensure availability of the villa of your choice, as many properties are booked well in advance.
For further information, please see the Kosher Casas ad on page 60 of this issue and call 866-613-3618. Bryna and Eve look forward to helping you plan a fantastic kosher vacation that is accessible and easy. v
