House of Open Arms Cottage: AC, White Water Views,Romantic, Private,!

Sitting on the terrace with unobstructed views of ocean with consistent breezes and sounds from the waves, are not beatable! All furnishings and products that were provided were of quality and beauty. Everything you could need is available and more! Catherine is a perfect and thoughtful host, and makes amazing granola for her guests and a wonderful welcoming dinner. If you want great quality, lots of charm, views, quietness and privacy look no further!

We were in awe when we arrived. Even at night, we couldn’t believe how beautiful our surroundings were and could not wait to see it all in the morning. Once we settled in, Catherine brought us the perfect meal after a long day of travel. We enjoyed breakfast and dinners on the Villa patio with my parents who stayed in the separate property above the cottage, which also has a pool and a full kitchen. Both properties were peaceful and enjoyable places to drink coffee in the morning and relax after a day of exploring the island. It was also nice having Catherine available to chat with and offer suggestions for places to visit. Her snorkeling suggestion ended up being our favorite spot. The details like the sugar to feed the birds and the outdoor shower make this a special and memorable place!

The privacy and views from the cottage are unbeatable. The cottage was well maintained and quality throughout. So many nice little touches such as the artwork in the sconces and shower tiles as well as everything to make our stay better: cooler, beach chairs, beach towels, sunscreen, plastic baggies. We enjoyed our stay immensely thanks in large part to the House of Open Arms cottage. I will warn everyone that there are a lot of steps leading down to the cottage so this is not a good place for anyone who is not fit. Also, the driveway to the cottage is steep and full of potholes so this is not the place for timid drivers.

The Cottage is a little gem box with a perfect attention to every detail. The design is exquisite with a vaulted, trussed, and clear wood ceiling. It has a gorgeously tiled outdoor shower and kitchen as well as a porch that oversees more than 180 degrees. The view is amazing, the winds gentle, and the quiet absolute. Everything a traveler would need has been provided - basic condiments, pans, and good knives. There's also coffee, juice, granola, and sugar for the birds. Beach needs are met - chairs, coolers, and an umbrella. The bedding and linens are of good quality. There isn't a TV but the Wi-Fi is strong, although not streamable. The welcome dinner was excellent and very, very welcome after a traveling day. One night we were greeted at the door by an enormous hermit crab (there are many other smaller ones lurking!), another night by a knot of frogs (in addition to the shower friends!), a friendly cat one day, and of course, the ubiquitous geckos and sugarbirds. It is absolutely wonderful! Things to know: - the steps to/from the cottage are many and steep. We live in a fifth floor brownstone walk-up and the steps here are a tad more challenging. staying here REQUIRES a car. The car MUST be a 4-wheel drive - an all-wheel jeep just won't cut it . . . - . . . because the last twenty yards to the property is sheer, cratered, and topped with scree. Without the right car, it's nearly impossible to make it to the top. The one mile road leading to the this last obstacle is also a one-lane dirt road - very rutted, cratered, and with two very steep grades. - Skinny Legs, the closest restaurant, is at the bottom of the same last mile. Although close, getting there/back for dinner means either driving the same road, on the side of a cliff, on a moonless night, after a drink or two OR walking the same road when others may have had a drink or two themselves. - We're hikers but we were happy that we self-provisioned and didn't need to leave and return from dinner after dark. However, we felt somewhat isolated at night. It is a lovely cottage in a special place - perfect but for the last twenty yards.