SciTchr
TUG Member
We were so VERY lucky! We had rented a week in November, 2014 at the incredible Ocho Cascadas. They had sent out an email to previous owners or those who had rented earlier during the three year period between the old ownership and the new ownership. Ocho was then closed for a year for a total renovation, including an elevator (an engineering marvel given the steep hillside), AC in the bedrooms, granite and stainless steel kitchen, new tile everywhere including the infinity pools, a brand new upper level lobby and much more.
Well, the construction was a bit behind schedule (normal, right?), so they were not quite ready for the very early rentals they had set up. It ended up that we were the VERY FIRST people to stay in the NEW OCHO. And, to boot, we were the only guests in the whole complex, except for Mark Giddings and his son (one of the owners who was managing the project). We were in Villa Four and Mark was below us in the huge Villa Three. We really enjoyed our chance to chat with Mark about the history of Ocho and the process of the renovation. He is a very engaging person.
Our stay (our third time at Ocho) was so lovely. We hated to leave our beautiful surroundings to go to town. The Giddings family treated us to a chef prepared dinner on our first night, as the first guests at the new Ocho Cascadas. Their new chef, Eduardo, is something. What a great meal! He pulled the meat from the red snapper, floured the whole fish and fried it into a U by using a chopstick to shape it. Then he put the meat back into the shell. All asian flavors. Pretty amazing!
We can't speak highly enough about the new Ocho Cascadas and the Giddings family, the owners with a wonderful vision for such a unique property. Patricia Giddings, the wife of the late Ed Giddings who was the architect of Ocho, is to be commended for carrying on the dream. They have sunk their heart and soul into this renovation project. It is a great opportunity to own there. Feel free to PM me for more information and/or pictures. This is a very special place indeed!!
Well, the construction was a bit behind schedule (normal, right?), so they were not quite ready for the very early rentals they had set up. It ended up that we were the VERY FIRST people to stay in the NEW OCHO. And, to boot, we were the only guests in the whole complex, except for Mark Giddings and his son (one of the owners who was managing the project). We were in Villa Four and Mark was below us in the huge Villa Three. We really enjoyed our chance to chat with Mark about the history of Ocho and the process of the renovation. He is a very engaging person.
Our stay (our third time at Ocho) was so lovely. We hated to leave our beautiful surroundings to go to town. The Giddings family treated us to a chef prepared dinner on our first night, as the first guests at the new Ocho Cascadas. Their new chef, Eduardo, is something. What a great meal! He pulled the meat from the red snapper, floured the whole fish and fried it into a U by using a chopstick to shape it. Then he put the meat back into the shell. All asian flavors. Pretty amazing!
We can't speak highly enough about the new Ocho Cascadas and the Giddings family, the owners with a wonderful vision for such a unique property. Patricia Giddings, the wife of the late Ed Giddings who was the architect of Ocho, is to be commended for carrying on the dream. They have sunk their heart and soul into this renovation project. It is a great opportunity to own there. Feel free to PM me for more information and/or pictures. This is a very special place indeed!!
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