Roatan Vacation Rental Comments:
Oceanfront West Bay Beach Villa Joya comments:
April 2010
Good morning, Linda Kay;
Thank you for the prompt refund of the
deposit money. The condo was just as
expected, if not more, and we really
enjoyed our stay. Everything was
perfect and we met the neighbors, also
renting for the week, and they were very
nice and enjoyable. Hank was excellent
and Jeff and Kevin made sure to stop by
to say hello and see if we needed
anything. If anything, I would say the
place is starting to get a bit tired, or
used, looking. The towels are getting a
little thin, etc... from tons of use,
I'm sure, but believe me, we weren't
expecting the Hilton and it didn't
really matter. Probably the biggest
problem we encountered was we took
up the advice on taking traveler's
checks and they were a disaster. Nobody
will take them, even the bank in West
End said no. We ended up taking a cab
and going to the bank in Coxen Hole
where they would only cash $200 at a
time after waiting more than an hour in
line. It probably took us 4 hours to
get $200, so the ATM was where everyone
suggested getting cash with no
problems. Also, it seems like more and
more people are taking Visa than what
was expected. So, maybe think about
dropping the travelers check
recommendation.
All in all, a great vacation, and many
thanks for your help! I'll be sure to
leave some positive comments on your
sites.
We would definitely return to Roatan and
the condo.
Scott
(We have taken all of Scott's
suggestions and are implementing them)
Feb 10 to March 6 2010
The place was AWESOME....we loved it and had a great time. When I can breathe
again from underneath the piles on my desk at work, I will definatley be writing
a good review.
Hank was great as was Kevin. The weather could have been a bit better, but
didn't matter, we had a blast.
Thanks for everything.
Diane M. New York March 09
My visit was a singular delight because not only did I get to enjoy the many
pleasures of Roatan and the comfort of this great condo I also had the wonderful
company of Paul and Ellie. I joined them for the second week of their 2-week
stay. Despite the time Paul had to spend of homeowner association matters we had
lots of time for great snorkeling, nice meals, and plenty of laughs and cheer
from my freshman roomate in college and his lovely wife. I even managed to get
certified in scuba diving -- something I've always wanted to do. Studying the
materials cut into my free time in the evenings but we did get to watch a couple
of good movies and some Seinfeld episodes plus I had a wonderful game of
scrabble with Paul and Ellie who are both quite accomplished at the game.
It was sad to see them leave on Saturday evening and the place seemed empty
without them. When I went snorkeling on the West End Wall, I saw a very large
octopus climbing across a coral wall. His large eye kept opening and closing. A
memorable finale to a wonderful week.
Tom from Washington DC Jan 2009
From HomeAway guest posting
"All That Was Advertised And More"
"Previous reviews were dead-on! We were there the beginning of January 2009 and
could not have been more pleased. The unit is actually larger than the pictures
make it appear and is fully and finely equipped. But it's the location that is
spectacular! Close but not too close. Easy walking, even for my 80 year old
mother. Our daughter got certified at Las Rocas - a great staff there. When not
diving we snorkeled at the far end of West Bay Beach. I've never seen snorkeling
from a beach like in Roatan. We ate in often but found some great bargains.
Check out Foster for $12 lobster and Infinity Bay for $10 beach BBQ on Sunday. I
didn't hurt that we had perfect weather - no clouds and 80+ degrees every day.
Our daily cocktail at sunset on the beach was fun. The sand fleas are a
nuisance, though. Keep the bug spray on. We'll definitely be back."
3 Generations from Ontario Christmas 2008
We had a great time in Roatan! Loved the condo. Jeff & Kevin were very
conscientious and helpful. Thanks for all your good suggestions. Las Rocas took
me out for 2 dives: truly some of the best diving in the Caribbean.
JR from LA13 Dec - 21 Dec
What a wonderful vacation destination! Las Rocas for diving and snorkeling trips
is the place to be. Also ask for Winston specials @ their bar. Don't miss Mary's
place and diving with the sharks ...completely amazing! Friday night is the time
for dancing in West End and getting a real local feel & street vendor food on
west end is great for the best local style food. The deli at West Bay Mall is
great for breakfast and fresh fruit smoothies.
Betty W. ~ Living in Seoul, Korea
A week at Villa Joya followed our week at
Bananarama. We enjoyed the friendly staff, the great hamburgers at the thirsty
turtle and the best $$$ dinner in West Bay at Vintage Pearl Restaurant. But
Villa Joya's quiet location and spaciousness was far superior. No dodging the
cruise ship daytrippers down this way!
Kevin was so pleasant to deal with -- if only we had
made more progress with the roaches! Life would be perfect if roaches ate sand
fleas! (villa had been closed up during rainy season and this had not been a
previous problem ~ bugs bombed immediately after guests left )
The mini-mart was a handy stop for checking e-mail. We
recommend zip- lining at South Shore Canopy Tour -- quite a thrill (can book at
Las Rocas). For good food in West End, try the Lighthouse and Mavis and Dixie's.
It was been a super vacation -- hope we can return.
Teo and Lana of NW Arkansas
Chang G. of Denver CP
November 2008
It was a great time and we hope to visit again. Very
nice condo and great location.
Thanks
RM
August 2008
This has been a month in paradise! So sad to leave and
hard to describe all that made it so wonderful. Kevin was helpful above and
beyond! We so appreciate all he did to make our stay so comfortable!
Las Rocas dive shop next door was phenomenal -- we got
our advanced open water certification there and can't recommend them enough.
They have a family atmosphere, smart, patient, enthusiastic, dedicated and
friendly. We're sad to leave them behind as well as all those beautiful
rays, fish, turtles, crabs, seahorse, octopus, etc. that we befriended in
the deep!
Despite the sandflies and the 2-hour blackouts from
time to time, this has been a dream we hope to return to!
Arthur and Amy from NYC
ps: cooking at home is the way to go for the finest food!!
March 2008
Thank you for sharing your lovely condo with us for our
vacation. It had all the comforts we could need on vacation and nicely located
between development at West Bay and West End. Being the week of Semana
Santa, there were a few more folks on the island than usual, but it didn't feel
like there was any impact though we heard stories from our dcabbie that people
partied until 4 AM on Friday night.
We did experience power outages on all but 3 days that
we were here and I definitely second the recommendation to shower, wash
dishes, or cook when you can! (Note: VJ has a backup generator on order)
Activities - we did the hugging and kissing of dolphins
at Anthony's Key Resort, snorkeled at Palmetto Bay (shipwreck), and took a day
snorkel trip to Cayos Cochinos with Las Rocas next door. On this trip you also
stop for lunch at one of the small islands were the Garifuna live.
The food was great and coming from the desert, we loved
having good seafood.
1. Lighthouse (West End): Great lobster and key lime pie
2. Mavis & Dixie's (West End): Nice view of Half Moon Bay
3. The View (near Parrot Tree Plantation): Literally in the side of
the road overlooking the land below. Beautiful spot for watching the sun set.
Thanks again!
DA Albuquerque, NM Feb 28 to March 6, 08
After arriving to rain, no power for hours, mud so thick we couldn't get up the
hill, and the lock not working on the condo door, we must say that Linda K and
Scott were very attentive and all of the problems disappeared after 2 days.
(Note: the road had been diverted while the new concrete one dried and is now
open for use; I met the guests and the problem with the coded lock
developed after a few days into their stay. Guests are given a key for the
sliders and a code for the front door).
The scuba diving was wonderful, especially at our doorstep (Las Rocas). The
snorkeling was fine at the wall and the beach is wonderful, picture perfect
walk. Every sunset was gorgeous and the stars were more than we have ever seen
anywhere else!
The location of the condo is great ~ quiet but within walking distance to
everything we wanted to do on our vacation.
All in all we had a grand time and will miss this warm, sunny, beautiful area,
especially since we called home to Michigan and found out we will have 6" of
snow to deal with when we arrive tonight at midnight!
Thank you to Linda K and Scott for everything they did for us.
Linda & Russell L. and Sue & Chuck B. of Canton MI
Dec 22, 07
We're from Colorado Springs, CO. We've enjoyed your house very much, specially
since we've had 4 days of straight rain. Your house has all the things to make a
family of 4 comfortable. There is not anything you need (well maybe a dishwasher
and a hot tub where the little pool is would complete it).
But when the sun came out, Roatan became the place that I'd seen in all the
advertisements.
We really ejyoyed snorkeling by "the wall". The drive to the eastern side is
great ~ once you get past Coxen Hole it gets interesting. Paya Bay is beautiful.
Most of the restaurants are over priced. Try Creole Rotisserie, really good
chicken for a good price (West End). You must try "Baliadas", a little local
food spot near Reef Divers at West End. It's stuffed pastry w/chicken inside.
Tasty & only 20 Lempiras. They run out fast.
Sand Flies can be bothersome. We used Linda's repellent and that seemed to work.
Linda's full of good information wish we could enjoy a few more of these
beautiful sunny days.
Thanks Ellie and Paul.
Fred & Dina & Kyle & Douglas C.
Oct 6, 07
We are here from Ohio to dive and celebrate Kirk's 50th birthday. The weather
has been a little rainy but we had 4 perfect days, and we dove in the rain
anyway. We used West End divers out of West End. We found them very competent
and safety oriented. Small groups this time of the year no more (than) 4-5
people. Boats easy to get on and off of. Reef is wonderful, saw turtles on every
dive. "Hole in the Wall' site is a must ~ deep (120 ft) but beautiful. Best food
at Dian's, Eagle Ray, also The View. (Note: I have removed a derogatory
comment about a restaurant in West End via the request by the owner to know why
and am awaiting a reply from the guests (looks like they got his attention) ~
this particular restaurant is liked by many who live here and I do not wish to
cause him underserved ill will due to an unfortunate event ~ good help is hard
to come by anywhere). The
canopy tour at Gumbalimba Park is great as is the tour of the park. Linda was
wonderful (thank you), we had everything we needed so we didn't need to bother
her much (none at all actually), but she was available if we needed her. Thanks
for loaning the Tiger Edmonds books, Kirk really enjoyed them. We had a
wonderful week! Thanks!
Leigh & Kirk
Sept 8. 07
The end has come to one of the BEST vacations ever!!!
Not sure where to begin so how about ... the day we arrived o this beautiful
house, one week ago today... Exactly what we expected & then some. Let Las Rocas
dive team be your guide to one of the BEST dives/snorkeos of your lives!!! They
are wonderful, helpful & very good @ what they do!! The Dolphin Encounter @ AKR
is a MUST!!.
No need to say "Hope you have a good time cus it's given .... Have a GREAT TIME
Darrell & Katie R. Jeff & Cathy Phoenix AZ June 10 2007
Hello from Silvano, Patricia, Angela and Lucio, an Italian family. Sadly we
could only spend 3 days on the island of Roatan but all our senses were more
than satisfied! We had good breakfasts at Mangiamo (West Bay Mall), Las Rocas
good for lunch and dinner, good pizza at Il Pomodoro.
Loved the home, it was clean and full equipped. What was missing for us: a
washing machine and cable TV that I think gives a little entertainment in the
evening. We so much enjoyed and recommend the Dolphins at Anthony's Key, they
are adorable!
Tauti saluti from all of us and from our doggie Wendy. Ciao.
May 07
We love Roatan so much we are coming back to live! We enjoyed your lovely home.
Well equipped and a spectacular view. We enjoy everything here. Great people,
great food! The island life style!
Mike & Eyies from Calgary
Feb 24 - March 10
Thank you for sharing your Roatan home w/us. We have so enjoyed our 2 week
vacation on the island!!
We loved the snorkeling out from La Palapa down the the Wall ~ this is (so far)
the best snorkeling of our travels.
Everyone is so friendly ... we liked the fun atmosphere of Las Rocas. Their
grilled lobster, fish tacos, dinner salads & desserts were heavenly. We found
the service @ Bite on the Beach mediocre, as well as the food. Mayan Princess
had the best burgers & La Palapa's spicy shrimp & fries are awesome. Tuesday
night (think it has changed to Monday (LKs note)) is 2 for 1 pizza @ Il Pomodoro
located in Paradise Beach ~ very good pizza & lasagna. The Best steak we had was
@ Buffalo Streak House, also located in Paradise Beach.
In West End, we really liked The Lighthouse (melt in your mouth lobster);
Cannibal Cafe is the best Mexican food ever. Drinks @ sunset on the upper deck @
Eagle Rays was fun too.
We love Roatan ~ look forward to visiting again!
Rex & Tiffany from Idaho
Feb 17 - 24 07
I was extended an invitation by my friends & yours, Mike & Cec, Madison WI.
Leaving the past 12 days of sub zero weather was not a difficult thing to do
.... That cannot be said for the return trip.
My response to any one who asks "How was Roatan?" will be .... it was OK. This
is obviously a diversion tactic that will not peak their interest in coming. As
additional tourists may taint the felling. Yep, that is a very self serving &
shallow response.
Indeed, I will hail the accommodations, the weather, the view, the food, the
people, particularly the native islanders, the activities, the relaxed pace &
just about every thing else relative to the trip.
As the saying say on my T-shirt, "Life is Good", I will exchange that to Life is
Great & Roatan is Grand.
I am fortunate to have stopped here on my journey through my life.
Dave from Greenbay
Feb 3 - 10 2007
The view as your walking down to West Bay Beach is something out of a travel
magazine "A Perfect Beach". TRULY MAGNIFICENT.. The snorkeling was good at the
end of this beach, but to the left of the Bar "La Palapa" it was superb. Best
snorkeling ever from a beach. Restaurant choices are difficult but we found "Las
Rocas" was great for lunch & dinner. "Bite of the Beach" was a waste of $$ and
time. Lighthouse over in West End was great too. Argentinean Grill was over
rated. Maybe because being fro Chicago there are many great steak places. La
Palapa has the best burgers around.
Maria from Chicago
January 2007
My sister and I booked our week-long stay at Villa Joya trough Linda Kay
MacDonald. She was great and very responsive to our million and one questions.
But we also must thank Ellie and Paul for their beautiful beachside villa. The
house was wonderfully maintained and equipped (we Couldn't think of anything it
was missing), offered a perfect location (near many resorts, internet access at
Fosters', 40 minute walk into the "town' of West End", yet also a perfect little
cave of seclusion and privacy.
The best way to get around, at least from the West Bay to West End is by water
taxi. It's the cheapest way to travel (roughly $2.00 pp, each way), and great to
feel the breeze on your face. They will pick you up at the dock at Las Rocas if
you give them a wave. You can also walk into town, but be prepared to walk over
a few rocks. All the locals (both transplanted Americans and Islanders) were
very friendly and nice to us. We found town to be the best place to pick up some
souvenirs, as well as get some local flavor. The one and only ATM we used was in
the Dolphin Hotel in town. There is also one in the Mayan Princess, but they are
not always in working order.
As far as food and restaurants go, you have quite a few options; our opinion is
to take advantage of the fresh delicious and inexpensive seafood. The one
exception to this is a cute little place in the West End called Cannibal Cafe.
It serves really excellent Mexican food. Everything from the chips to the
enormous Burritos to the 'killer Margaritas'. They have a second floor that puts
you up in the tree tops and gives you a birds-eye view of town. Also in town
that we went to was Eagle Rays for lunch and the Lighthouse for dinner. You
shouldn't miss going to the Lighthouse not only for its excellent seafood &
coconut bread, but also for its beautiful sunset views. Closer to Villa Joya are
also several good places to eat. We loved the food at Las Rocas so much that we
went & ate there several times through the course of the week. Bite of the Beach
is good for its drinks and view up in 2nd deck, but the food is over looked.
Mayan Princess and Fosters are also good bets and have good food.
We did two excellent excursions while here and recommend both wholeheartedly.
The 1st was a fishing trip with Gary Lee. Not only did we get to catch some
black fin tuna, but Gary dove down and picked some conch which we got to taste
straight from the ocean. He is an excellent tour guide (understatement) and full
of knowledge of he island, which we really enjoyed learning about. It was a
great way to learn about the island. The 2nd was a dolphin encounter where you
also got to snorkel with them after seeing them do tricks and even kiss you!
This we booked through the tourist info center. Mario & Lou, the owners of the
center were very nice and great to talk with, as they recently moved to Roatan
from Florida. If you are interested in this, book ahead as it gets filled up
quickly.
All in all, a GREAT trip, a wonderful experience. We're glad to have had it!
Best, Kate & Erika from New York
P.S. ~ Use bug spray liberally
December 06
Thank you for an amazing stay in Paradise! Your home is beautiful and we found
it to be everything that we expected. Plenty of room for a family of four.
The island itself is breathtaking. We rented a 4X4 and were able to see a lot of
places off of the beaten track. The unpaved road past Palmetto Bay to French
Harbor was unbelievable! Steep, rutted 4X4 hills, but the fiews are well worth
it.
We hired Bruce @ the Jonesville General Store for a snorkel/fishing trip. Great
guide and very inexpensive. (Be patient, takes him a while to get set up but
definitely worth the wait) Eat at "Hole in the Wall" while in Jonesville.
Snorkeling out front of our unit was good but the most amazing snorkeling is at
the end of the beach @ "The Wall". WOW!! Take a flash light out at night and
scan the shallow water as you walk the beach toward West End. We saw Lobster,
Crab, Conch, Starfish, Anemones, Puffer Fish, etc. (wear something to protect
your feet)
Check out the stars once you get away from Las Rocas' lights. Shooting stars are
abundant!
GumbaLimba canopy tour is an experience we will never forget. The guides were
GREAT! Very through and safety conscious. We all felt totally comfortable with
them. Pay for both the canopy tour and park tour at the top and save $. The park
tour is full of info and worth the extra $5. The monkeys were hilarious!! Watch
for 'Ricardo', he is a very good 'pick pocket' monkey.
Conch soup and Lobster were the highlights of our dining experience. Cactus
Juice products are amazing film/sunscreen works well. Miracle gel very soothing
on sunburn & insect bites.
We will never forget our visit to Roatan, truly a unique, tropical Paradise!!
Terry, Belinda, Natasha, & Kenton from British Columbia
August 06
Dear Ellie & Paul,
When You gave us a week stay at Villa Joya as a wedding present, we couldn't
have imagined the beauty, tranquility & fun that it would bring us. We have
enjoyed the comfort of the villa immensely and the hospitality of the islanders.
Thank you. for this gift. We also owe a debt of gratitude to Linda Kay & Scott
MacDonald, who treated us like family during our stay. Their welcoming &
generosity were most appreciated.
My only regret is that we don't have more time to enjoy Roatan & its many7
activities, Here are a few things we really appreciated & would recommend to
future Villa Joya guests:
Horseback riding ~ If you enjoy horses, taking the 'tour' with native - born
islander Shirkie Bodden of El Rancho Barrio Dorcas is a great introduction to
the West End, the beach town. West End & West Bay, Gumbvalimba Park & the
ancient Coral reef by Keyhole Bay.
Snorkeling ~ There is terrific snorkeling here in West Bay in front of the
Paradise Beach Club all the way down to the point, and you can rent gear right
here at Las Roas.
Nature ~ Our favorites were the monkeys & the zip line canopy tour at Gumbalimba
Park: Carambola Botanical Gardens & its trail to the top of Carambola Mountain:
Coral Cay with its giant sea turtles & nurse sharks; the Iguana Farm; hugging
and kissing Dolphins at Anthony's Key Resort; and a tour of the mangroves by
Oakridge.
Fishing ~ We caught black fin tuna & a barracuda w/Capt Cassidy Heid from M&M
Aqua Sports, based at Las Rocas. He's a nice guy with a good boat, good fishing
gear & lots of experience. We would not recommend Subway Watersports for
fishing, although they are probably a very good dive shop.
Shopping ~ New Souvenirs & Toms gift shop in Coxen Hole & the gift shop at
Anthony's Key have great souvenirs. HB Warrens in Coxen Hole & the deli in the
mall on the main road in West Bay have a wide variety of groceries. All of the
banks are in Coxen Hole and we found Credcomatic to be the quickest.
Massage ~ The 'Couples Experience' Swedish massage at the Mayan Princess by Jim
& Bay of a Tropical Knead was so luxurious and relaxing.
Dining ~ Bite of the Beach & Las Rocas for their proximity & convenience; The
Lighthouse in West End for the cool atmosphere; oven baked pizza & free movie
(always a new release); Il Pomodoro for its excellent atmosphere, awesome pizza
& very friendly service.
Transportation ~ Our chauffeur & guide while we wee here was Jose Duenas (cell:
933-6823), a very sweet & honest man w/a nice car who gave us terrific service &
prices for where ever we wanted to go. However, Jose only speaks Spanish, so for
those who need an English speaking driver, we would recommend Hank Hynds (cell:
994 9717), a business associate of Jose's who we met & came recommended by Linda
Kay, as well.
To conclude, we think that Roatan truly is a tropical paradise and we feel lucky
and all the more well traveled to have experienced Central America. What a
memorable opportunity!
Much Love,
Sarah & Jason
July 06
Linda:
Had a great time!
The phone and keys you've found by now with this note.
This condo was wonderful and we'd recommend it to anyone - wish Andrew well at
school! Take Care!
Protima
Feb 06
We can't thank you enough for this honeymoon in paradise. The week has been
fantastic, and we are loathe to leave.
First, the condo: great location ~ close to West Bay bur secluded & private. The
kitchen had everything we needed, the space was more than ample, and we enjoyed
multiple sunsets while floating in the pool. We disagree w/previous guest re:
cable : Don't get it. Who needs the distraction when there's so much to see &
do. (LK Note: Jon & Erin had perfect weather)
Speaking of which, we highly recommend spending a good chunk of time relaxing @
West Bay Beach. It is gorgeous and usually quite empty. The snorkeling at the
far end of the beach (the wall) is fantastic and if you are inexperienced (like
us) there are many near-the-beach spots to see lots of fish ~ you'll be amazed @
how close to the shore you can discover stuff.
Further a field, we hiked through Carambola Botanical gardens, joined an
excursion to Cayos Cochinos and took a day trip by taxi around the rest of the
island. We highly recommend Carambola, be sure to follow the mountain trail to
the top of the island (20 minute hike) for a gorgeous view of Sandy Bay & the
colors of the reef. We reached Carambola by taxi from West End.
The Cayos Cochinos trip was good, but a bit more adventure than we bargained for
~ highlights of flying fish, and escort of a pod of dolphins and a delicious
lunch of fresh caught fish @ Garifuna fishing village were tempered by too small
boat on open water (we got soaked there & back) and much less snorkeling than we
had hoped. We arranged the trip thru Las Rocas & they paired the two of us with
a large group of Italians from another resort. We were unable to really
communicate with them or their resort guide. Consequently, we missed an
opportunity to learn more about the islands & truly explore their beauty.
Our day trip around Roatan, on the other hand, was excellent. Guided by our
driver, Enrique, we learned a lot about the island & its history. (LK Note:
there is a page on the history of the island on this web site under the 'Roatan
Information section gotten to from the main page) Enrique's taxi # is 056 and we
highly recommend him. One highlight was a stop in Oak Ridge for a tour of the
Mangroves. Enrique hooked us up with hid friend Emeraldi and his boat for a
tour. Besides the Mangroves, it is worth taking this trip solely to have lunch @
Hole in the Wall, an ex-pat on the water clubhouse which has no rival. We were
sorry our tour precluded us sticking around for the all you can eat Friday
seafood BBQ.
Now on to food: We have to recommend cooking for yourself as the best deal ~
possibly the best food you'll find on the island. We stopped in Coxen Hole on
the way from the airport and re-supplied at The Coconut Tree and Woody's in West
End. We also used the produce trucks in West End, and the vendors selling shrimp
& lobster out of their trucks in town. Yummy & cheap.
We, too, found the Lighthouse Restaurant in West End delicious. We can highly
recommend its conch soup. Fosters in West End was a fun bar as well (enjoy your
beers there while relaxing in a hammock).
In West Bay, Il Pomodoro has good pizza @ reasonable prices (at Paradise Beach
Club). Also Bite on the Beach is a must after dark to se the Moray Eels (we saw
them on 2 different Saturday nights), but the food can be overcooked ~ we found
sticking to fried fish, shrimp or lobster helped.
All in all, we couldn't have imagined a more perfect honeymoon. One last note:
spend some quality time wading in the water right outside the condo when you
first arrive ~ marvel at the trumpet fish and schools of tiny fish playing at
your feet ~ it will surely set you on a path to an amazing, relaxing & wonder
filled vacation.
Jon & Erin from California
11 - 18 Feb 06
"What a glorious week we've spent in such a lovely new condo. Thank you, for being willing to share this outstanding location with us! We've
stayed elsewhere on West Bay beach and on the island, but none so nice as this."
"What started out to be a disaster (of a last day due to ear problems), turned
into a gloriously sunny day where we snorkeled all down West Bay beach and
enjoyed lunch in our private condo. The best!"
The Vicks from Washington
8 - 15 Jan 06
What a fantastic week we've enjoyed in your home beside the beach. Kathy ever a
world of info & knowledge. We're so glad she was here for us. This was our first
trip so we wish now we had another week. But we shall return. It's a beautiful
island may 'be' the prettiest we've ever visited. Las Rocas' food is good so is
Bite on the Beach, & Argentinean & The View! (in French Harbor, worth the trip.)
Comment inserted by LK ~ The View is East of French Harbor just before Parrot
Tree
Los Rocas diving was great Nice folks... very patient, helpful, & safety
conscious -
Bugs were not as bad as we had heard. We used our repellent, however. Our
weather was great - a few rain drops in the afternoon the first two days.
Lobster here is cheap & good! We ate it almost every night!
Thanks much for sharing your home. We really enjoyed it. See you on the next
trip to Roatan!
Thomas's & Skidmore's of South Carolina
23 Dec to 7 Jan 06
"Thank you for sharing this lovely home with our family on our trip to Roatan.
Our three weeks here on the island has been most memorable. One of the
highlights is the Advanced Open Water dive certification each of us received.
After visiting most of the shops on West Bay and West End, we chose Las Rocas,
just next door, to walk us through this exciting endeavor. I highly recommend
them. Very professional. We found great restaurants & fun shops. Made
interesting acquaintances Kathy, upstairs, is invaluable. "
Thank you again, The Cole Family, Alaska
May 16 - 27 2010
Thank you for the speedy response. We returned last night and are spending the
day catching our breath . . . In a single word - Wonderful!
We enjoyed our stay on the island immensely and your condo was ideal. The
location could not be better, close to the action, but not too close and right
on the water. Sunsets from the deck were beautiful. The accommodations
were perfect for our taste. Clean and spacious with comfortable bedrooms.
Catherine and I discovered immediately that we needed to rent a car. We
spent time fishing on the east end of the island around Port Royal and Oak Ridge
and on other days fished/enjoyed Palmetto Bay. In fact, that would be my choice
when we return. The people at Palmetto Bay were accommodating and gave us full
privilege as visitors . . . The mention of your name was magic.
My daughter was married at Infinity Bay and the wedding was perfect in every
way. We will be posting some pictures on our facebook pages in the next couple
days/weeks - feel free to get on my facebook page.
Yes - $350.00 is the return amount. Thank you for catching the overpayment.
George and Catherine Robey
ANTBEAR AFRICAN ADVENTURES
www.antbearafricanadventures.com
April 10 to 17 2010
This was our
second trip to West Bay - our first at Villa Ocean Reef. My husband and I along
with a friend stayed there and it was everything we wanted. Well maintained,
quiet, clean - close to everything in West Bay but not too close. We dove with
Anemona Divers - just a short walk up the beach - no rental car needed. Can't
wait to return!
Lisa from PA
March 10 to 17 2010
Linda,
I apologize for taking so long to get back to you. We had a fantastic time,
absolutely loved the condo. I do intend to write reviews, hopefully will
get to it this weekend. There are few reviews I also want to write on trip
advisor for restaurants, all very pleasant experiences. We loved Roatan,
and are so happy we decided to go there.
Thank you for all the advice, it enhanced our trip!
Jen from Canada
Feb 27 to March 6 2010
I just wanted to let you know....we're here...and we LOVE it!!! The people
are sooooooo friendly...the food so far has been yummy. (the beer too!! hehe)
Shortly after we arrived...I called Kevin to let him know we were here. He
got me all set up with the internet...so I'm a happy girl. Such a fun guy!
We're off to get our groceries...couldn't when we arrived because Avis gave
us a truck...and our suitcases took up all of the room in the cab...and it
was raining. So we'll go back today. No biggie...the drive is so pretty.
Anyway....thanks again for your attentive care!!
Hi Linda,
We had a ball! Even the weather...although not great for everyone
else...was PERFECT for us. It was sunny on 2 of our days...otherwise
cloudy and windy...but still warm. We both burn really easily....so
cloudy was fine with us...and the 2 days of sun gave Mike perfect shots
with his camera. He tried his luck at bone fishing...had a great
time...but didn't catch any. We met some wonderful interesting people.
LOVED all the seafood. I have to tell you tho, we had a lot of good
laughs about Walt's need to write his name on EVERYTHING in the condo!!!
Too cute. It's a very nice place...everything it's advertised to
be...and then some. We never lost power....that we noticed anyway. Tullio
is great...I was able to speak a bit of Spanish with him...so that was
fun. Kevin was helpful and very conscientious in his job. We had nice
neighbors from Canada, whose company we enjoyed, on the one side...and
noisy French people with a yappy dog on the other side. Nice too...just
took away from the peace when they were around.
So...thank you for our wonderful week in paradise. We sure enjoyed
ourselves together. We found out ...just before we left for Honduras,
that Mike had to have cancer surgery today. The surgery went well. All
is good...for now. Here are a few of his photos. I'll be sure to leave a
comment on the web page.
Take care...keep in touch,
Deb
Feb 8 to 22 2010
Hi Linda Kay...We got the security deposit in
our account, thanks alot.
All of us enjoyed the
Villa very much and had some real good times.
We met Mike the
bartender at Las Rocas and got to know him quite well. Our taxi driver Hank
was alot of fun as well. The grounds keeper Tulio was a very kind and gentle
man, we left him some things and he was so appreciative of everything. Kevin
was around and was helpful with anything we asked of him.
We have included a few
pictures.... Big Mike, Hank, shrimp buying in Coxen Hole, the plunge pool.
Picture of us arriving with the fictitious names we use ~ Kevin had the sign
made up for us as a joke.
Wish we were still
soaking up the sun but all good things must come to an end. Thanks again,
Your friends,
Diane and Wayne
Jan 2 - 9 2010
"Villa Ocean Reef was the perfect choice for our
family's dive trip! The home was very clean and comfortable and we had
everything we needed for the week. Best of all was the LOCATION! After an
exhaustive Internet search of the available accommodations both at West Bay
and West End, we chose this home and couldn't have been more pleased. It
was close enough to the main part of West Bay Beach, that we could walk
there in 2 minutes, but was remarkably more private than the tourist beach.
Not to mention our dive boat at Las Rocas was just 50 yards from our back
door! Thank you so much for a perfect vacation!"
Dawn M. from Virginia
June 20 - 27 2009
We've had a great week in Roatan despite some of us getting sick after a
celebration at Foster's (husband's 50th b-day) . Other than that we had a
wonderful time. We love your villa and the caretaker does a great job! Every day
he was out there watering the plants, cleaning the pool and leaving water for us
to rinse our feet. The sunsets were gorgeous. We enjoyed the snorkeling, the
beach, the zip line at South Shore, the drives around the island...Thanks a lot!
Olinda, Ned, Ned III, Ryan, Elizabeth and Taylor of Fredricksburg
May 23 to 31 09
Enjoyed the Villa. Fifteen amazing dives with Bay Island Beach Resort. One dive
included an aftershock from the 7.3 earthquake we all felt at 2:24 in the
morning. Luckily no injuries or damage but our cocktails were 'shaken' to
perfection! Great food, calm weather and good times! Thank you for the
accommodations.
Your Colorado guests, Shreibers and Fharenkrugs
The Ellis family wanted you to see how happy they were with their vacation villa
selection. Please check out the photos of the party they gave for their son's
birthday in the column to the left.
Feb. 09
The Kiez family from Canada spent two glorious weeks at your comfortable Villa
on Roatan.
We enjoyed diving at Las Rocas and my husband and son got their Advanced Open
Water with them.
We loved how friendly everyone on this island is and will for sure return some
day!
We loved the sunsets, close restaurants with fabulous food and great Honduran
coffee.
Tulio, the groundskeeper is excellent and sweet.
Thank you!
Kiez from Manitoba
Christmas 08
Hello Linda,
Just to say that we're back from Roatan. It was a lovely week and the house a
delight.
I am sure we'll be back, probably in April or May if possible...
Henk
en Robbie en Adriana
from Guatemala
August 08
That a wonderful week we had! Hard to describe it all
properly! Note to future guests -- keep the hummingbird feeder filled with
sugar water (no food coloring -- it kills them) and change it every other
day. You'll be rewarded with the most amazing display of hummingbirds
feeding, squabbling and darting about! If you sit there very still, they
will feed with you right there, with no fear. What a treat to see!
Enjoy your stay! We'll certainly remember our wonderful
days here!!
Colleen, Bill, Ian and Neil from Alberta Canada
June 08
Sorry this is so late, but I wanted to let you know
that we really enjoyed the condo! It was in such a great location, just perfect.
I hope we left it in good condition!
The only suggestion I would have is to have a few more
bedside lamps for the readers. I can't think of a single thing that the condo
needs, otherwise!
My daughter loved Roatan so much that she is coming
back in August for two months.
Cindy, California
Feb 2012
Linda Kay,
I guess you have heard from Patti about "the girls' list" of suggestions, so I'd
better chime-in as well.
I loved Palmetto, and your place. The location on
the island is perfect, a ways away from the Cancun-like west end, and a good
bit closer to all the good stuff farther to the east. The ambiance and the
pace are just right. The islanders, almost without exception, are a warm and
friendly bunch of people, and the ocean is just spectacular. We found the
short run over the top to French Harbor to be the way, when we needed services
or to shop for supplies. The crew at Palmetto and the boys at Subway Watersports
were all great to deal with. The local fishing boat guy from Crawfish who is
"universally recommended" there in the 'hood (Captain "Bill") was a good guy,
but really doesn't have a clue about sport fishing. I ran into a young guide
from Sandy Bay [Raul (504) 9935-4173], and fished with him for a half-day
right before we had to leave, who was incredible, and taught this old
fisherman more in four hours than I could believe.
All in all, a great tropical break, in a
wonderful spot. And, all of your pre-trip attention to us and the
details was very much appreciated.
Thanks again.
Doug F. California
Jan 2012
Hi Linda,
I've had a hard time trying to find where to leave comments on tropical island
villa site, and Jess tried to put it on facebook but had a hard time finding it
there too. Don't know what we're doing wrong. What I have done is post this to
homeaway.com:
When we decided to go to Roatan for our third anniversary, my wife and I wanted
a place far from the cluttered tourist traffic of the West Bay area. After
searching for the perfect place, we found it at La Serena at Palmetto Bay
Plantation. The Villa itself is spacious, gorgeous, and clean with a ton of
character and charm. Even though it was just the two of us, you could have six
people stay there without feeling crowded. We loved the jungle noises,
especially at night, when you could hear the animals outside hunting. The bats
and the geckos hang around outside, and bright green hummingbirds were frequent
guests. Kevin was great as a property manager, we ran out of propane and he sent
Larry right away to fix us up so we could have hot showers. The kitchen is fully
stocked, we would watch movies almost every night, and my wife opened up all of
the sliding doors in the morning to do her yoga. And let me tell you how
fantastic it is to bbq lobster out on the deck...
As far as the Palmetto Bay Resort itself, you have the best of both worlds
with La Serena, being separate from the Palmetto Resort, yet amongst the
facilities. The Resort restaurant has made some good moves, such as hiring
Magenta, a world class chef from Wales, and the bar and wait staff are
developing nicely. If you are planning on renting La (Villa) Serena for a
wedding or Anniversary, speak with Eric at the restaurant, he puts on quite a
show for you with a table for two on the beach lit with lanterns and a beach
fire.
Subway Watersports are the dive operators on site, and they are excellent.
Chip, Kristen, and especially Irma, my awesome dive instructor.
If you are looking for a laid back, casual, independent, adventure style
vacation, you will not be disappointed in making La (Villa) Serena your home
base. We will definitely be going back!!
- Roddy and Jessica (Canada)
March 20 - 27 2010
Hi
Linda,
We are back from our vacation and trying to get back in
the groove. I was reviewing my emails and credit card statement today and I
can't find any confirmation that you received our $300 deposit. I'm
assuming that you've received word that everything was in good condition
when we left. However, I am somewhat confused as to the status of the
deposit.
We really enjoyed our stay at your place and our visit
to Roatan Island. We met a family at Palmetto Bay from North Harrison, IN
which is only 15-20 miles from us here in Lawrenceburg. We even knew
several of the same families.
Your villa was very comfortable. My son was thrilled
with the Nintendo! The coffee pot is on it's last leg - it took well over
30 minutes to brew a pot and seemed to leak a bit from the back. I loved
the vegetation and wildlife at Palmetto Bay. The hummingbirds were
amazing! I appreciated your advice on the mosquitoes and sand flies. We
used OFF and the botanical spray you provided and didn't have any problems.
We rented a truck, so we didn't contact Hank for his services. However, we
did meet Hank by accident at the South Shore Canopy zipline. We had struck
up a conversation with him while we were waiting and figured out who he
was.
The weather cooperated for the most part during our
stay with only one day of rain. It rained several times at night. Boy, the
jungle sure is noisy during a rainstorm! It's also noisy at dawn, isn't
it? The birds sure let us know when the sun was coming up.
Thank you for the information you sent to us regarding the island. We were
able to explore many of the places you described and Brent and I loved Gio's.
Our kids are still talking about the roads across the island. We found the
road to French Harbor much more passable than the road past the landfill.
What an adventure!.
We all agreed that Roatan is beautiful and look forward
to visiting again.
Janet from Atlanta
March 1 - 8 2010
We
had a great holiday and all really enjoyed Villa Serena - the gardens were
lovely and it was such a peaceful and relaxing place. Everyone we met was
extremely friendly and helpful. It was a shock to come back to Canada where
there are no flowers or even leaves on the trees!
We
were glad we had rented a 4
wheel drive because the road to Palmetto from French harbour was very bad
initially - though by the end of the week they had flattened out the ruts with a
grader which was a great improvement!
The
right hand sink in the ensuite bathroom is draining very slowly - I meant to
point that out to Larry but didn't get the chance.
Thanks for the prompt refund of our deposit.
Joanna from Canada
Feb 10 2010
Thank you Linda. We had the most wonderful time, and I truly don't have a
single complaint. Your home is so lovely and comfortable, and we were all
so sad to leave. Mud Hole Road was a bit of a challenge, but you had
properly warned us, and the pickup truck we rented handled the bumps really
well. Frankly, we got used to it in no time at all. Kevin was fabulous.
He checked in on us several times to be certain we had everything we needed.
In fact, we inadvertently left our camera on the porch one day when we went
into West End, so we called him to see what we should do. He immediately
made arrangements to have one of the security staff retrieve it and return
it to us the next day. Way above and beyond. Larry checked in on us twice,
and he was really kind, courteous and helpful.
I will certainly post glowing reviews on the sites you mentioned. Also, if
there is some way to post a comment on your site for Villa Serena about
Laurie (one of the dive instructors at Subway Water Sports' Palmetto
location) that would be wonderful. She was so amazing! My husband, son,
and I all got certified while there, and she was the most incredible
instructor. She made us feel so safe and cared for, and her professionalism
and warmth were so appreciated. My mom ("Nana") sat by the side of the pool
while we did our confined water training, and Laurie even took the time to
check in on her and make sure she was enjoying watching us learn how to
breath underwater.
Anyway, thank you again for all your attentiveness throughout this process.
And mostly, thank you for making your home available to our family. It is a
special memory we will cherish forever. Callahan's from Minnesota
Christmas 2009 Hi Linda,
We had a fantastic time at Palmetto Bay. Thank you so much for sharing your
home and having such a well equipped house.
Cathy
Leaving tomorrow, absolutely fantastic spot. Had an amazing time and Larry
was incredibly helpful! Locking ourselves out was no challenge to him!
Thanks again :)
Dec 19 to 27 2009
HI Linda – we’re home safe and sound. We had a great time – a few days of
rain at the beginning but then the weather was good. Found the bugs intense,
but managed with the BodyGuard not to be completely bitten up. Thanks for
the stay at Villa Serena!
Kevin came with the cleaners yesterday morning. We had
no problems at the place but there were a few things you probably want to
fix (maybe these are the small things you mentioned already knowing about
but didn’t have time to do before our arrival). The clock in the master
bedroom is out of batteries. The hairdryer in the small bathroom seems to
have succumbed to the humidity and stopped working, but the one in the
master bedroom still works. The toilet seat in the small bathroom had come
detached on one side (the plastic bolt had cracked) so it slides around. I
showed it to Larry when he came to change the propane tank. I had to put a
plastic container on the top right-hand shelf of the fridge as water was
dripping out of the freezer. I tried turning up the cold on the freezer, but
that didn’t stop the drip. As long as a you keep a container there and empty
it often, you don’t get water on the shelves below. We used our grocery bags
as garbage bags as we couldn’t find any white kitchen garbage bags for the
kitchen can.
For future guests: When we arrived on Saturday, the Flying Fish was
closed (only open til noon). So we did all our shopping at Plaza Mar and
they had a good selection – except for the fish (the only one fish available
said “product of Indonesia” imported from Florida! We were kind of hoping
for some fresh local fish. Just something to let future guests know when
they think about provisioning, especially if they don’t rent a car. The
transportation offered by Palmetto was reasonable ($25 to the airport, $25
to Anthony’s Key – return, and $35 return to West Bay) for all three of us.
Take care, Debbie
PS Does pay pal credit our visa for the $300 damage deposit once
everything checks out? (Yes LK) Month of November 2009
Linda Kay - Thank you for making your wonderful tropical paradise home
available to us for the last month. I had a GREAT time. Kevin and Larry were
both really nice - they were quickly responsive the few times we called
them. Susie was enchanted with the whole place, except the mosquitoes - she
had an allergic reaction to them and swelled up pretty bad. But I had Rx
antihistamine and once she was on that, she was fine. We decided she just
had 'sangre dulce'.
There were some really great employees at the resort, despite Cecilia's
somewhat hostile management style. I think she and Gary were envious
that you managed to rent your place out for a whole month. They kept
asking us how long we were staying. There were a lot of days when we
seemed to be the only people there! I really like the November month too
- we kept track of the dates that cruise ships were in port and went out
when there were none. Consequently, we were the only 3 people swimming
with the dolphins the day we went and the only 3 people on the zipline.
Not to mention lunch at Parrot Tree Plantation, and lunch and snorkeling
at Blue Bayou! But the lack of tourists is obviously hurting the island
a lot. As nice as it was from my personal selfish perspective, I wish
there had been a few more tourists supporting the economy.
Anyway, I just wanted to thank you. I hope to return soon.
Mary T.
Thanks, Linda!! Roatan was beautiful!!! I crossed THREE things off my
bucket list: swimming with dolphins (we were the only ones there, so
they gave us extra time and 4 of the mothers had babies---they
surrounded us!!!); zip line through the rainforest, overlooking the
ocean!! (got a good price because a bartender at Palmetto wrote us a
note and he said it was the best---16 platforms!!!! AND we were the
only ones there that day, too!!!); I saw fireflies for the first
time!!!
Susan
June 14 - 21 2009
We had a WONDERFUL time!! Sitting at the airport in San Pedro Sula Piers asked
us to rate the vacation - and we eventually put it down as an 8. (Our 7 week
round the world trip is the 10 by which we measure everything)
It was the perfect place to go for a relaxing vacation - I slept so much the
first half I couldn't believe it! I loved the fact the ocean was warm (I don't
swim on cold water) and it is very beautiful. We saw the iguana - and many
others - practically every day. A gecko lived in the room my daughter used (the
one with the washer) and she named him Geiko.
Family from Knoxville TN.
May 30 - June 13 2009
Roatan was awesome! We
had such a great time. We dove almost 50 times while there and think the
world of Julian and his staff. What a great crew that works at the resort
as well. They are so friendly and became almost our Roatan family. Hate
the Sand Flies, but if you bug spray enough they can be dealt with as well.
Thank you for the use of your home. We will be back again to use it….unless
my kids make me buy our own home there.
TF from South Dakota
1/3/09
What a wonderful paradise! We loved it here! Thank you so much for taking care
of us so well Larry, Kevin, Linda! The Villa <is> Serena! We are leaving very
relaxed!
Wendy & family from Washington state
September 08
Kevin & Linda Kay,
Our stay at Villa Serena was great. It was a real
get-a-way from our daily routine and quite welcome.
Palmetto staff made an effort to see that we were well
taken care of and the food was very good.
The house stayed fairly cool with the cross ventilation
even though we are having some very hot days here.
When leaving we closed up everything and put the key
back in the lock box and tumbled the numbers.
The only thing I noticed that you may pay attention to
is the hall bath light, it does not illuminate fully.
Thanks for everything, Duane & Barb
April 26 08 (from email)
My husband, son and I just returned from a
glorious stay at Villa Serena, which is aptly named. I was very pleased to
find that the house and Palmetto Bay were exactly how I envisioned them to
be from the web site - beautiful and comfortable. It was the perfect place
for a peaceful and relaxing vacation, away from any hustle and bustle. We
relaxed beach and poolside only to find ourselves having the place
practically all to our own. Subway Watersports was professional and
extremely accommodating for our diving, snorkeling and fishing excursions.
They provided an opportunity to explore above and below the water with
individual attention. The staff at Palmetto Bay attended to all our needs
regarding transportation and information about the island. We met wonderful
people (many from Colorado like ourselves) and felt we could easily make
life long friends with them all. The only disappointment was returning home
to a chill in the air!Lynne, Norman, &
Matt
March 08, from email
Linda Kay,
We just returned home from what is probably one of the
nicest and most memorable vacations we have enjoyed as a family! Thank you
so much for all of your help with our preparations as well as your advice
that helped make our stay more enjoyable. We could tell you gave this a lot
of thought, and we really appreciated your efforts!
Villa Serena is truly a special place; the villa was
very comfortable, and going to bed with the gentle trade winds blowing was
heaven! We look forward to returning in the future!
Cordially,
Jon, Judy, Andrei & Abby K.
March 08, from email
Dear Linda Kay,
Thanks so much for the refund! I'm glad that our
leftovers went to good use!
We enjoyed your lovely home so much! It was such a
beautiful, tranquil place to stay for the week. You can't even see the other
houses from your house because of the lush jungle atmosphere. We are so
accustomed to air conditioning in Houston, that it was a treat to have the
windows open at night and hear all the jungle birds and animals - and those last
couple of nights the rainfall was just so relaxing! Your house is perfectly
furnished and had everything we could possibly need.
Subway Scuba shop was ideal for my family - they are a
small, personal shop that made the week very special. They finished Kyle's (11
years) certification, gave my daughter Kayla (24 years) a resort course and
converted her to a new diver, and took my husband and older son (16 years) on
special dives that they will not soon forget!
I would highly recommend Avis for rental cars. They
were fast, friendly, and gave us a great pickup truck, which we really needed
for the rugged roads. The price was right too.
I would also recommend the dolphin encounter at AKR -
it was so much fun and we bought the picture CD and will have those memories
forever.
I would VERY much recommend the Spa services at the
Sante Wellness Center. My daughter and I had the Tranquility Spa package (full
facial and one hour massage) and the salt glow, and afterwards Angela served us
a nice lunch and we relaxed around the pool. Angela runs a beautiful spa and
can't wait to go back!
The restaurant/bar at Palmetto was very nice and we
just loved the wait staff. There was a wedding party staying at Palmetto the
same week that we were there, and I think it overwhelmed the restaurant a bit.
They were frequently out of different staples (like cheese, chicken, hamburger
buns, etc.) but still managed to make good meals. It was really nice to see
such a happy group, and we did manage to see the wedding on the beach and it was
beautiful.
Linda, thanks again for allowing us the use of your
beautiful home at Palmetto Bay. It was truly a week to remember!
Mary, Ken, Kayla, Mason and Kyle K.
March 08, from email
We had
a wonderful time and your place was perfect. All your
information/directions on restaurants and places to go was so helpful. We
did a lot of snorkeling at the wreck and I have never seen the water so
clear. If we come back next year I'm going to take diving lessons before
hand.
We went
to West Bay, West End, Coxen Hole, French Harbor, in fact we must have gone
over the mountain at least 5 times. Being from Wyoming and camping a lot,
we are use to that kind of road. We did the Pirates of the Caribbean canopy
tour and it was so scary and the best I have been on. You can't be faint of
heart to do that one.
We
really enjoyed the sunset tour with Captain Mario. He stopped and let us
snorkel out beyond the reef and it was fantastic, you could see forever. I
even saw a sea horse for the first time. We also enjoyed Hole in the Wall,
kind of hard to find, but we made it and the food and atmosphere were great.
Other than the rain
the day we got there the weather could not have been more perfect. Thanks
for the bug spray, it worked great. We were really grateful that you had the
backup generator at the plantation because it seems that every time we went
over to French Harbor the power was out.
I'm glad you
enjoyed the food and booze left behind. We were not sure if it was all
right to leave it there.
Thanks again for
making our vacation so enjoyable. I'll keep in touch and let you know about
next year. Take care.
Becky, Casper WY
22/02/08
This was our second stay in Villa Serena and it was wonderful again!
Roatan - Palmetto - Villa Serena: We love it!
Margret, Wolfgang & Natalie
Essen/Germany
1/9/08
Hi Scott & Linda Kay,
The Garden of Eden is here in Palmetto Bay. The Villa is beautiful and we had a
smooth relaxing time. We also developed friendships with a couple from BC Canada
and a couple from Maryland. We enjoyed touring the area and participating in
many of the activities at the resort.
Its Been Fun!
Alan & Sue S.
Aiken SC & Kandaha Afghanstan
9/15 - 9/27 07
Hello!
We are visiting from Colorado. Although we didn't stay very long, the time we
spent here was amazing! The weather is pretty fickle (raining now, then sunny,
etc.) but it usually clears up quickly. For snorkeling options, I recommend near
the shipwreck, which is very clear water, or in 'Mickey's Canyon' which is a
very dramatic canyon that has a reef around both sides of it. The reef in
Keifitos was nice, lots of fish, but not too colorful. Gumbalimba Park was just
great. Very interesting plants, good maintenance, and wonderful experience for
animal lovers. The monkeys are in a nice set-up. Palmetto Bay Plantation's
restaurant has good food. I liked the grill cheese.
I didn't like the Iguana Farm's animal situation. Aside from all the Iguanas,
the monkeys, coati, birds, and turtles are in tiny cages. It's nice to see the
Iguanas, though.
The whole island is just covered in Jungle vegetation and coconuts, bananas, and
palm trees. The humidity is a little annoying at first, but once you get used to
it, it's not bad at all.
One last thing: if you want to see geckos, leave your porch lights on and leave
them for a while. They attract bugs and the geckos like that. Monkey La Las are
fun to chase, too.
Have a good time!
Lea S. age 12
(owner comment: Yes Lea my little dog Sparky likes to chase them ~ they run just
far enough away to be out of reach and look to see if he is coming and do it all
over again.)
8/9/07
Dear Scott & Linda,
We just wanted to thank you for all your help. My husband and I both agree that
this is one of the most serene, beautiful, and romantic places we have stayed.
Your villa is wonderful and we hope your future guests have as great a stay as
we had.
My husband mentioned writing something on the website tripadvisor.com so I will.
How great to live in paradise!!!
Cheers & take care
Charles & Kelly
July 07
Hello Linda
We had a great time at Villa Serena. We did the canopy tour, dolphins, snorkel,
iguana farm, and relaxed on the beach. A lot of fond memories were created
throughout the week. The luggage arrived the next day and we did get a slightly
better car as well. So, all in all, things turned out well. Thanks for your
help! The money was found on the floor immediately after the gentleman who comes
to check the propane etc… left. We believe it belongs to him.
We hope you have success renting the rest of this summer, and if we choose to
return we will be contacting you.
Joanne & Family, Dallas
June 15 to 21 07
We had a wonderful time at the house Linda. Thank you for your help getting
us situated and sorry to have missed your calls.
Cheers,
Brant and AnneMarie from California
April 21 to 28 07
We had the best week of
out lives!!! Being back has been a downer!!! We meant
to leave the float for others to enjoy but please don't
worry about sending the radios to us-it probably isn't
worth the expense. I'm glad the house was left to your
standards, we tried to keep up with the laundry and
dishes.
John & Christine CT
April 7 to 21 07,
We`re back in Germany where we nearly have the same temperatures as in Roatan
(27 - 30 deg Celsius).
The flights were okay. Our decision to go to the airport so early was really
good. We were the first and only to check in the luggage at about 9:15. We could
pay the airport tax and got our emigration marks in our passports. So we left
the airport and drove to French Harbour and Coxen Hole. We were back at about
12:30, so we only had to wait for a short time without standing in one of those
queues.
Well, what we took home were some Cashews, some palm seeds and some small shells
but no Conch. Though they asked us at the immigration, no one looked into our
bags. Now I hope I will bring the seeds to real palms and cashew-trees.
By the way. When we arrived in Atlanta we normally had to enter as visitors
(completely checking out). But we started a trial and turned to the transit area
where we found a very friendly Delta official who checked in our big cases for
the flight next day. Then we entered as visitors. So we had only our small
backpacks when we walked to the Georgia Aquarium next day. It`s absolutely worth
seeing! Three whale sharks!
So Linda, thanks for staying in your house and for the wonderful holidays we had
in Roatan!
I think we will see us again.
Margret, Wolfgang and Natalie from Germany
Semana Santa 07
It was nice to have filtered water. The weather was was pretty. We really
liked having a pool + ocean, and kayak + paddles. The food at the restaurant
should have been more traditional, since we're at Roatan. It was fun having the
lights go out but I'd suggest #1 that you have an extra generator; #2 and some
bright lights on the front porch.
Thanks
Cheren Children North Carolina
A generator has been installed
March 10 to 17 07
We had a
wonderful time. The house was as advertised and you personal involvement
with Stephen was wonderful. Jan and I plan on finding a way to make some
very positive comments on the web site.
Btw…we left
for the airport at 10am and drove right there. After all the red tape we
only waited 30 minutes before boarding which suggests to me that leaving at
10 for a 1pm departure was about right. Stephen made it home too but with
some excitement. I suspect his life never has a dull moment.
Thank you
again for the wonderful experience.
Carters from Texas
Feb 25, 07
We thoroughly enjoyed our two weeks at Villa Serena. We were at the
restaurant the other day and they were playing a shong about another day in
Paradise ~ How true!
We appreciate being able to rent your villa. It suited our nee4ds perfectly.
There are so many little touches that make it a home away from home.
We also than you for the Bodyguard ~ works great. We've got some to take
home with us.
Again, thanks. You are truly fortunate & blessed to to live in such a
beautiful place.
Scheweitzer Family
Canada
3/17 to 3/31 07
We had a Great Time, loved your place (it felt
like home)!
Sue in Canada Dec 9 to 17 06
Hi Linda.
Yes, we had a fabulous visit to Roatan. The poor weather for the first
couple of days didn't bother us as we spent that time mostly driving around
the island and getting our bearings. The Sunday we went to the buffet at
Hole in the Wall--a wonderful meal with friendly people. Although there was
a bit of rain on other days it didn't interfere with what we were doing. We
did the canopy tour one morning. In fact we were the first people there.
Unforgettable. Palmetto is really the best part of the island we found for
swimming and swimming is what we most wanted to do so that was great. Having
the use of the kayaks was perfect. On 3 of the days we kayaked out to the
reef, tied the kayaks to the floats and went snorkelling. Totally calm,
clear water. Again, unforgettable. For Lucas and Kelsey, who have been
travelling pretty rough, it was a luxurious interlude. We had wonderful
family time. Cooked great meals (thanks for the info about the meat shop).
Chicken is delicious. I thinks it's because the chickens get to run free and
have a real life instead of the horrible conditions they live in up here.
Some things I've never seen before. People walking around with no shoes.
Packs of emaciated dogs. So different from the pampered life of our little
fox terrier. But mostly the garbage. The garbage around the houses and all
over the beaches except in a place like Palmetto where it's groomed. I guess
it was the staff Christmas party they had there the Sat. before we left.
There were lots of children. After the party all the garbage was left on the
beautiful beach. We do so much recycling here it's hard to accept. I guess
it's just not a priority for the people there. Lucas says it's like that all
over Central America. A learning experience for us.
Your house was perfect for us. Lots of space and privacy. Loved the
verandahs. It was like being in luxury in the middle of the jungle. The
whole property is gorgeous.
Feel free to use our comments. We would highly recommend your house. It sure
is different to live somewhere than to vacation.
Ann & Lee
July 06
Dear Linda & Scott
Thank you for letting us rent this beautiful villa. We had a wonderful time. It
is gorgeous here! Like a paradise! WE look forward to returning some time soon.
Until then, have a great summer.
The Wrights
PS: Thanks for the Bodyguard! A lot of people asked about it. They wanted to get
some too!!
March 06
Thanks Linda ~ Your house is lovely. We had a great time. Thanks for all your
help in preparing for the trip!
JD
March 06
The Snyders & The Smiths
Linda & Scott ~
Thank you for a lovely time at your restful villa!! We throughly enjoyed
ourselves and plan to be back next year ~ We will email you in the near future
our comments and observations. Until then, enjoy your season and life in
paradise.
28 Jan - 4 Feb 06
(email)
Everything worked out very well at the villa. We really enjoyed your place.
Thanks again for renting us the villa and for your help before we actually got
to Roatan.
Whelan-Browne Canada
9 - 16 Jan 06
(email)
"Thank you so much for the return of the deposit. I would like to tell you that
you do a great job supplying your guest house. We all certainly enjoyed being
there."
Brookes, Guatemala & Adler, VA
Christmas 2006
(email)
What a surprise! Thank you so much for sending the shell - I GREATLY appreciate
the kind gesture.
Sabo, New York
Sept.17 to Oct. 1, 2005
Bogards ~ Colorado
(email)
Thank you for your hospitality, we had an excellent time here @ Villa Serena. I
think Roatan exceeded all of our expectations and we look forward to our next
visit!
July 30 to August 6 2005
Steve & JoAnn ~ Phoenix, AZ
Enjoyed our stay here, your house was very nice. Sorry about the VCR but when it
goes, it goes.
Well we came here and did what we have been talking about for years. We bought a
beautiful piece of property @ Milton Bight. WE look forward to building our
Island home here in the near future.
Thanks Scott for all your time & dedication to helping us locate our little
slice of Paradise.
We'll be back as soon as we can.
Steve & JoAnn
May 12 to 26
(These remarks were taken from an email communication to verify address for
deposit refund.)
Hi Linda. We had a fabulous time, and your house was just lovely!! And yes, I
may say that it was quite warm, and we finally found a place hotter than Florida
in the summer time. We managed to stay cool by staying in the water by day. The
evenings cooled off thankfully, and it was quite comfortable. We would have
thrown out the food, but we felt guilty and we were hoping that the cleaning
personnel could use what we left. There was a power outage the morning we
departed and hopefully nothing spoiled. The address below is correct and you
could make the check out to either of us. By the way, we turned in the Nissan
pick up and picked up the Trooper from Island Car Rental as you had reserved for
us. We are still unsure of how the mix up took place, but all worked out well.
Thanks again!!!
29th March to 5th April 2005
Dear Linda,
We have thoroughly enjoyed the lovely house, the architecture works so well in
this landscape. We were surprised how effective the natural ventilation was. We
came with 4 children ranging from 3 to 13 loved 'being children' free and
creative; along the beach; sand castle building; in the kayaks & swimming pool.
This is truly a beautiful place.
Unfortunately, we had 2 1/2 days of constant rain and the Nintendo and Star Wars
sequel were a life saver.
The house is very well kitted out ~ we found near everything we could think of.
A suggestion would be to have 2 more wheely chairs for the dining table (table
has 4 + 2 bar chairs) as the stool bars are unfortunately high. A new user
friendly can opener would be a great thing too (yes I've been on the look out
for one and have in on the list for next San Pedro Sula visit).
Thanks for sharing your house.
Richard and Sarita Strike
Camila, Juan Gabriel, Edwardo, & Anna-Lucie
PS: I very much enjoyed diving with Andrew (our son) ~ he has a keen eye for
spotting all sorts of hidden sea creatures. The Jerry Jeff Walker tape brought
back some good memories of my student days. Richard
UK Email address not published.
Semana Santa 05
Linda
Thanks! I wanted to drop you a note and thank you for your beautiful home to
spend our vacation in. We enjoyed every minute (even the sand flees!) It was a
pleasure to stay in such a nice place. Everything was well taken care of and
there was an obvious attention to detail.
We are safely back home and actually have arrived back to Spring! 60 degrees!
Thanks again for the use of your home! We hope to return to Roatan in the
future.
Brenda
February 2005
Dear Scott & Linda Kay
Thanks for bending he rules and letting us stay at Villa Serena just for the
week end. After a long month working in Roatan Hospital and with Peggy Stranger,
this week end was a great way to finish our visit here in Roatan. The home is
beautiful and stocked with anything one would need away from home. Thanks for
recommending dinner on Saturday. The and food were great. Thanks again for your
hospitality
Sam Lada & Anisha Patel
(Sam and Anisha are young doctors from California who volunteered a month of
their lives to helping the sick of Roatan. We bent the rules of a minimum 4 day
stay to let them have a nice romantic weekend before returning to the US)
Feb 9, 2005
"My it is much larger than the photos indicate"
Hope from Alberta
2/3 - 2/11/05
"Linda Kay, Scott & Andrew"
We loved our stay here at Villa Serena. It was a very special time for us to
really slow down & immerse ourselves in the beauty that surrounded us.
We explored the beach and the water below, the hillside .....
* We have had an enchanted time.
Cooking for ourselves was also a fun reprieve - simple food. I experimented with
the cumin in an omelet w/our Mexican rice & I will do that again.
I've used it previously in a dip for veggies - I have no specific measurements -
just to taste - cumin in Miracle Whip w/honey to sweeten - great with
cauliflower/broccoli, etc. I couldn't work the manual can openers very well (I
will replace these next trip to SPS, LKM), Edmund helped but the can was a
shambles by the time we got it open.
Your special sprays are wonderful. I think I relaxed to much on our walk I soon
learned that the little darlings could find me w/out my protection.
Thank you for all your hospitality. We enjoyed our time here very much!
I will especially remember your great stories! You have the makings for at least
one book!
I enjoyed Clive Cussler's "Golden Buddha" in less than 2 days & gave it to
Edmund. I'm making a note to read his other series. Now I'm enjoying the
"Sorcerer's Crossing"- like your marked pages - I took notes. I keep meeting
people who instruct me in breathing & its necessity. A nurse, a Hune teacher
(Hawaiian mysticism) - etc. The is another vantage point. I wish we had days to
sit and talk. I found you totally delightful (Thank you Karen and I you as well,
LKM). Scott, too.
Wishing you the best,
Karen & Edmund
ps: We wish Andrew much success w/school!!
(Karen and Edmund own and operate a vacation lodge and cabins in the Adirondacks
www.shelteredlakes.com)
12/29/04 Mike Jozsa & Vieve Verigin-Jozsa
"Scott & Linda,
First up, both of us want to thank you for your "warm" welcome to your beautiful
island of Roatan. Taking the time to pick us up from the airport, driving us to
the local super market to pick to pick up necessities was much appreciated.
The drive to Palmetto Bay was rough, but enjoyable because we knew we had left
behind the paved, busy city streets of Calgary.
We walked into "Villa Serena" and said, "WOW"!! Exactly what we were hoping
for...and more. Everything in the house was clean, well equipped and spacious.
Having the videos for those rainy days was a bonus. Lindy Lue's cleaning service
was another added touch. The very large deck was well used as one read and
sipped on an afternoon cocktail.
The water and the snorkeling reefs were outstanding. This was definitely the
"best" diving we experienced. Having the white, serene sandy beaches basically
all to oneself was unimaginable. (However...., one must "Beware" of those little
sand flies, as they land on you without without warning and leave you looking
like one had a bad case of the measles - ha-ha!!) - But with Linda's fly spray,
our bites were minimal. (Thank you Linda)
Well..., with reality of work awaiting us, we leave the island with fond and
memorable thoughts. We hope to return and stay again at Linda's and Scott's
villa. ("The One and Only True Villa of Serenity")
Thanking you both once again, and hope you come to Canada so you can see our
part of the world!!
Vieve & Mike"
Note: Vieve & Mike offered to allow potential quests of Villa Serena to contact
them directly. If you wish to do so please request their email address from me,
as I do not think it appropriate to post it on this web site.
9/14/04 MKTiger Edmonds & Juanita Nichols
First thing is get some of Linda Kay's Bodyguard. Use it liberally and often; it
will quality improve your time here.
After that, the place is beautiful, the house is magnificent, & the amenities
luxurious, the staff was wonderful. Larry should be declared a national
treasure.
Spent a lot of time on the dock, listening to Otis Redding in my head. Every few
minutes I changed my view, moved some to look at something different. The lush
foliage of the mountains, the beach, the sky, the silent water out beyond the
churning surf, the flowers, ain't much ugly out here.
The house itself is magnificent. It's set up for efficiency as well as beauty, &
it's real well set up.
Falling asleep to the jungle sounds of rain and tree frogs & small creatures
rustling in the bushes is the perfect way to end your days here.
Even the thunderstorms are beautiful. The flowers seem to respond, and afterward
there are monkey Lalas and geckos and iguanas and butterflies and humming birds.
Fishing from the dock was fun & interesting & real varied. Lot of different fish
out there. The ones we ate were delicious.
All in all, it was the best place I've been & the best time I've had in years."
Mark Tiger Edmonds is the author of "Ghosts of Scootertrash Past"; a poetic tale
ancestors, folks, and his million + miles riding a BMW across the back roads of
North America. He teaches at St. Leo College in Florida.
"April 10, 2004
Very nice house, well equipped. We had a great vacation, enjoy the sea, the
pool, the island, everything. Hope we return. Thanks" The Busto Family
"Feb 7, 2004
Mystique Magazine video crew's Tim & Fred: Great time, great treatment. Thanks
to Gary & the rest."
"The travel family arrived in Palmetto Bay Dec 29, 2003, we left January 2,
2004. The weather was great. The atmosphere relaxing and we enjoyed our stay
tremendously!!"
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