Child-Friendly Vacation Rental Checklist: What to Look for Before You Book
Traveling with young kids is amazing...and exhausting. The right vacation rental can make your trip feel relaxing, while the wrong one can leave you constantly chasing your toddler, struggling through naps, or wishing you'd noticed one important detail before booking.
After raising our daughter here in Nosara and visiting many vacation rentals around the area, we've learned that it's often the little things—not the fancy amenities—that make the biggest difference.
Here's our checklist of what to look for before you hit "Book."
A special thank you to Rent Nosara for allowing us to use photos from several of their vacation rentals throughout this guide.
The examples below highlight features families may want to consider when choosing the right home for their trip.
1. Staircases
Casa Colinas — Photo courtesy of Rent Nosara
Modern vacation homes often feature beautiful floating staircases, open railings, or spiral stairs. They may look incredible in photos, but they aren't always ideal for little explorers.
If you're traveling with a crawler, toddler, or adventurous preschooler, look for:
Enclosed staircases
Railings with narrow gaps
Gates (if provided)
Bedrooms on the main floor
A stunning staircase isn't nearly as relaxing when you're following your toddler up and down it twenty times a day.
2. Pool Safety
Casa Buena Vida — Photo courtesy of Rent Nosara
Pools are one of the best parts of staying in a vacation rental—but they're also one of the biggest safety considerations.
Unlike many countries, pool fences and safety gates are uncommon in Costa Rica. Most homes have completely open access to the pool area.
When looking through listing photos, ask yourself:
Can the pool be seen easily from the living room or patio?
Does it sit right outside a bedroom?
Is there any barrier between the house and the water?
How deep is it?
Many pools are around four feet deep throughout, while others have a shallow end or become much deeper. If your children aren't confident swimmers, pool depth may be something you want to consider before booking.
3. Air Conditioning
Casa Colinas — Photo courtesy of Rent Nosara
If you're traveling with a newborn or infant, don't just check whether a rental has air conditioning.
Check where it has air conditioning.
Many rentals have AC only in the bedrooms, which is perfectly fine for many travelers. But if you'll be baby-wearing, rocking a fussy baby, or spending lots of time indoors during naps, having AC in the main living space can make a huge difference.
Trust us—those extra comfortable afternoons are worth it.
4. Outdoor Safety
Nosara is full of homes built into hillsides with incredible jungle and ocean views.
Those views are beautiful—but they sometimes come with steep drop-offs, open retaining walls, or patios that aren't ideal for curious toddlers.
Look through outdoor photos carefully.
Some homes have fenced yards and secure railings that create a contained play space. Others have areas where you'll want to keep a very close eye on little ones.
5. Blackout Curtains
If your child sleeps best in a dark room, don't skip this one.
Take a close look at bedroom photos.
Questions to ask:
Are there thick blackout curtains?
Are the windows covered with blinds or just sheer curtains?
Are there high windows without any covering?
A bright room may not matter to some families—but for others, it can mean the difference between a two-hour nap and a thirty-minute one.
6. Living Space
Casa Dos Cocos — Photo courtesy of Rent Nosara
Some vacation rentals are designed around outdoor living, with compact indoor spaces and large patios.
That's wonderful...unless it's pouring rain, your toddler skipped their nap, and everyone needs a quiet hour inside.
If your child is crawling through kindergarten age, consider whether the indoor living area gives you enough space to relax, play, or simply take a breather.
If your family uses screen time occasionally while traveling, you may also appreciate having a TV in the main living area. While downtime at the rental is important, you'll probably spend plenty of time exploring too. If you're looking for family-friendly activities, take a look at our guide to Things to Do in Nosara with Kids.
7. General Safety Hazards
One trick we use is simply scrolling through the listing photos and imagining our toddler having five minutes of complete freedom in every room.
You'd be surprised what you notice.
Things to look for include:
Large leaning mirrors
Glass coffee tables
Sharp-edged furniture
Low-mounted TVs
Decorative breakables
Uncovered electrical outlets (consider packing your own outlet covers)
No rental will be perfectly childproof, but a quick scan of the photos can help you decide whether it feels manageable for your family. Our What to Pack for Nosara guide includes some baby and toddler travel essentials that can make your trip easier.
Casa Dos Cocos — Photo courtesy of Rent Nosara
8. Kitchen Setup
Every family uses the kitchen differently while traveling.
Some rentals have full kitchens, while others offer only a kitchenette.
If you know you'll be preparing meals for little ones, check whether the rental has what you need.
Things you may want include:
Microwave
Refrigerator with freezer
Stove
Blender
Enough counter space
Even if there's no microwave, warming food on the stove is usually easy—you just want to know what to expect before you arrive.
9. Laundry
Babies and toddlers create an impressive amount of laundry.
Accidents happen.
Beach towels pile up.
Swimsuits never seem to dry.
Before booking, check whether the property offers:
Washer and dryer
Shared laundry facilities
Laundry service
Most rentals can point you toward a solution, but having laundry available in the home can make longer family trips much easier.
Casa Dos Cocos — Photo courtesy of Rent Nosara
10. Bathtub
Not every vacation rental has a bathtub.
If your child prefers baths, or you're traveling with an infant, this is worth checking before booking.
Yes, babies can absolutely be bathed in a sink and toddlers can shower—but many families find bath time much easier with an actual tub.
11. Bedroom Doors That Open Outside
This is an easy detail to miss.
Many vacation rentals have bedrooms with sliding glass doors that open directly onto patios, gardens, or even pool areas.
For some families, that's no problem.
For others, the thought of a curious toddler waking up before sunrise and wandering outside is enough to make them choose another property.
Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions
Photos don't always tell the whole story.
Before booking, reach out to the property manager or owner and ask questions like:
Is the pool visible from the living room?
Is there a bathtub?
Are there blackout curtains?
Is there a washer and dryer?
How child-friendly do you think this home is?
You Don't Need to Pack Everything
One of the nice things about visiting Nosara is that you don't have to bring every baby item with you.
Cribs, Pack 'n Plays, high chairs, strollers, car seats, and other baby gear can all be rented locally and delivered before you arrive, making travel much easier.
Think About Location, Too
The perfect rental isn't just about the house—it's also about where it's located.
Would you rather be able to walk to restaurants?
Be close to the beach?
Or have a quiet jungle retreat with more space?
With young kids, it's also worth considering how far you'll be from grocery stores, pharmacies, and restaurants. Even if you think you'll mostly stay nearby, having a rental car can be incredibly helpful when you suddenly need diapers, medicine, snacks, or simply want to avoid getting caught walking home in one of Nosara's famous tropical downpours.
If you're still deciding which area of Nosara is the best fit for your family, check out our Where to Stay in Nosara guide.
Planning Your Nosara Family Vacation?
We hope this checklist helps you find a vacation rental that's a great fit for your family. If you're still planning the rest of your trip, these guides can help:
Where to Stay in Nosara – Compare the different areas of Nosara and decide which is the best fit for your family.
Things to Do in Nosara – Discover the best beaches, waterfalls, wildlife experiences, restaurants, and more.
Things to Do in Nosara with Kids – Family-friendly activities, playgrounds, easy adventures, and rainy-day ideas.
Do You Need a Car in Nosara? – Learn when renting a car is worth it and when you might not need one.
Step-by-Step Guide to Planning Your Nosara Vacation – A simple roadmap for planning everything from flights to your daily itinerary.
Still Deciding?
Choosing the right rental is just one piece of planning a family trip to Nosara.
If you're comparing neighborhoods, wondering whether you need a car, trying to choose kid-friendly activities, or just aren't sure what makes the most sense for your family, we'd be happy to help.
Tell us a little about your trip and we'll point you in the right direction.