Kerensa

Guest: lovethesun (Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 01/17/12 Review Submitted: 02/01/12

This was our third trip to Tortola but our first time staying at Kerensa House. We were not at all disappointed and we really enjoyed our stay there. Ben, the owner is very helpful and will go out of his way to ensure that your stay is an enjoyable one. This place has everything you need for a quiet, relaxing couple’s retreat. Incredible views, sailboats drifting by, rainbows over the water, meals on the porch, lazy afternoons in the hammock or poolside, long soaks in the hot tub…this property has so much to offer. We hope to go back there again some day.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway.

A really wonderful stay!

Guest: Saif (pensacola, florida, USA)
Date of Stay: 01/15/12 Review Submitted: 01/25/12

We don't usually write reviews but we just wanted to say that this villa really deserved it. We stayed at this beautiful home for two nights and found everything to be perfect. The owner Ben was really nice and helpful and helped made our stay very comfortable. The house is lovely, beautifully decorated, well maintained and equipped with everything you need. The pool area is spectacular and the view is to die for. Apart from a few mosquitoes which is normal everywhere in the islands we had no problems with unwanted critters even though the house is on the edge of a National Park. We would definitely come back! Next time I think we would like to come for longer as this is the kind of place that you could really find some time to yourself. I can honestly say me and my wife really had one of the wonderful few breaks we have had in a long time. Kerensa has everything tranquility, beauty and most of all romance. 5/5

Recommended for:Romantic getaway.

Expected more

Guest: bccouple (Kelowna, bc, canada)
Date of Stay: 11/13/11 Review Submitted: 12/22/11

My wife and I were here for our 10th anniversary and when we were planning we thought it would be the perfect place. First the positives. The view and setting are spectacular! Secluded. Property is well laid out, landscaping is beautiful. Hot tub area is neat and great for star gazing. Pool area and deck are great as well. The deck furniture cushions were just refinished and great for lounging around the pool area. Ben was very helpful when we arrived and took us up to the villa after we got groceries. Since it's been over a month since we left I feel I can give a more balanced and fair reflection of the negative aspects of Kerensa. Ben was very helpful the first 24 hours after our departure. He had forgotten the newly refinished furniture cushions and said he'd bring them the next which he did. The second evening we were there we discovered there were no dish towels for washing or drying dishes. We sent an email to Ben asking him to bring by some. Normally I received email responses within 24 hours from Ben when discussing payment etc... but received no response for the remainder of the 5 days we were there for this small problem. We ended up doing the dishes with paper towel and air drying. Other things that need attention are; -some screens in bedroom area were in disrepair, with no way to keep the mosquitos out in the evening we were snacked on all night. -the was no barbeque brush anywhere, we could only use the bbq twice as after it was dirty there was no way to clean it -the biggest complaint for us has to be the lack of pest control, and I'm not talking about mosquitos . I realize Kerensa is on the edge of a national park, secluded, within forest etc.... but there should be some effort allocated to this problem. There were alot of ants (no traps) in the kitchen, we didn't leave food or dirty dishes out, countertops were always clean, garbage went up daily and yet the problem persisted. The worst of the pests had to be the cockroaches though. They're in amongst the dishes, behind dimmer light switches, in the cupboards. Very disgusting. The icing on the cake had to be the rats that climbed up onto the countertop from behind the stove. They seem to have access to the garbage area within the cabinets so I imagine thats why they hang around. We ate out after that happened. We won't be back to Kerensa. More effort needed on the owners end to make Kerensa the place it should be, be it pest control or ensuring basic amenities are provided.

Owner response:We were very sorry to hear that these guests were disappointed with aspects of their stay at Kerensa and were surprised at the description of the pest problem. Obviously we take such criticism very seriously as it can be extremely damaging to us and very upsetting for guests To respond to the particular points raised, Firstly, I would like to say that we are normally very responsive to communications from guests and try to answer emails very quickly. This particular week coincided with an unfortunate internet outage at our house so, admittedly, we did not respond to the request for tea towels in a timely manner. There is a free phone at the house for guests to use but we didn’t get a call about any problems so assumed all was OK. As for the lack of a Barbecue brush all I can say is there actually was one under the kitchen sink which these guests obviously weren’t aware of. The problem of pests was much more serious and we agree that the experience they described is not acceptable. If they had called us as soon as they noticed a problem we would have sent the pest control firm we were using at the time to deal with it straight away. In light of this review we have decided to change our pest control program and hire a different company to instigate a much more vigorous and frequent service. They claim they will be able to alleviate any problems very quickly and guarantee that their program will provide long term protection. We have spoken to other Villa owners who us this company and they seem very satisfied with their service. We apologise for any disappointment experienced and pledge to work hard to ensure it doesn’t happen again. We are also prepared to offer future guests a guarantee that they will not experience similar problems. We note that although the negative aspects coloured their experience these guests still appreciated the spectacular beauty of the place as well as the layout, design and amenities. All villas experience problems from time to time and Kerensa is no exception, but it is a very special place and we are genuinely sorry when something happens to detract from what is usually a wonderful experience.

Recommended for:

Relaxation at its best!

Guest: Scott (Hilton Head Island, South Carolina)
Date of Stay: 10/30/11 Review Submitted: 12/19/11

My wife and I spent several days at Kerensa in late October. Although our plane arrived about an hour late, Ben met us at the airport and escorted us to the house. He said there was a small grocery on the way and asked if we would like to stop to pick us some groceries. Ben waited patiently while we grabbed a few items and then we were off for Kerensa. We would have never found it without Ben’s assistance! You will probably need a vehicle to get around on Tortola, but they are not too expensive. Take the advice of the other reviewers and get a 4 wheel drive! We arrived at Kerensa at dusk and Ben had the house lit and music playing – it was truly beautiful! The next morning, it was even nicer. The house is beautiful, very secluded and extremely peaceful. We also dined at The Last Resort where we had a wonderful meal and chat with Ben. We have stayed at numerous VRBOs in the past; Kerensa is by far our favorite! The next time we plan to go to BVI, we will schedule it so that we can stay at Kerensa for our entire stay.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing, age 55+, romantic getaway.

Perfect

Guest: phil (england)
Date of Stay: 09/20/11 Review Submitted: 10/14/11

We stayed at Kerensa for 3 nights and loved every perfect minute of our time there. The house is beautiful, well equipped and very comfortable and the views and pool are nothing short of spectacular. I didnt want to leave. Ben was as helpful as anyone could possibly ever wish, going way and beyond the call of duty to make our stay as comfortable as possible. The ambiance there is just amazing and they have done an incredible job of making this place a perfect romantic getaway, with beautiful furnishings, every thing that you may need and the place was spotlessly clean on our arrival. Tortola itself is a stunning getaway, with beautiful beaches, friendly locals and plenty to see and do. I wouldnt hesitate to go back.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, tourists without a car, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

We had a very relaxing two weeks.

Guest: Quin and Tara (Illinois, USA)
Date of Stay: 09/24/11 Review Submitted: 10/10/11

My wife and I reserved this property about 10 months ago and were nervous as we had not yet been to the BVI or used VRBO. We spent from 9/24-10/8 here. First off Ben(the owner) was nothing but helpful both before we arrived and then met us when we arrived to take us to the property. A 4 wheel drive vehicle is almost a must but that is part of the charm of the island and the rock road you take to get to the property. You park up above the house, 38 steps, and then walk down. The pictures are great but you will enjoy the views while there even more. The bedroom is to the right with AC and its own private balcony and the bathroom with outside shower where you can see the ocean through the treetops. The dining room is open air with seating for 8 in the breeze way between the bedroom and the living room/kitchen. High ceilings and fans with bug screens and doors you can close if you want. Almost 400 movies on digital, plus 100 other DVD's a few cd's and a number of musical choices. Nice sized jacuzzi just up the hill. You can also hook up an Ipod and there are outdoor speakers. The people before us and then we ourselves left things such as spices, unused drinks etc for the next group after. Kitchen is fully functional with lots of fridge space, stove heats fast and a huge outdoor grill. If you stay longer than a week Ben checks on you and comes and cleans up the place. (They always call first, very private) There is a outside living room set up under a pergola with a fireplace, a lawn area, decks both upper and lower and a hammock on the upper. The highlight and were we spent 80% of our time was the pool. It was 12x20 and went from about 5 feet deep to almost a full 6 farther away from the house and it had a great infinity edge. The view is of Brewers Bay on your left, Sharks Bay on your right, Jost Van Dyke in the distance and the boats going by. Awesome!!! All the land in front is a nature preserve. The only downside is the bugs mostly at night. Lots of mosquito's and other island bugs but you have to remember this is a lush tropical paradise. Come prepared, use bug spray, the coils (get them at the store) at night and nothing really bothers you in the pool. PS the pool LED lights are great. Free Internet and phone at the house. Things to not miss off property: Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke, The baths on Virgin Gorta, and snorkling in Brewers Bay. This place has a stunning view you will not forget and the bugs are on every island.

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway.

Mixed experience

Guest: rocknlee (Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/30/11 Review Submitted: 08/08/11

Our recent stay at Kerensa resulted in mixed feelings--The house was beautiful, spectacular views, great pool, well appointed, but lacking in certain important areas. Sadly, we dodged Tropical Storm Emily, which didn't help, weather wise. There in early August, 2011, I was aware there would be some mosquitos, but this was a mosquito's nest! No citronella candles were provided. Was not informed of the bug zapper in the living room until I found it myself on the last day of our stay, by then way too late. I was "eaten alive", and the "Off" I bought didn't seem to help much either. Biting Ants in the grass, which the owner knew about but didn't share that knowledge, either. No hot pads for cooking were found, nor were there grilling utensils to be found. VRBO advertises "nude sunbathing nearby", and the owner assured me there were a couple of clothing optional beaches nearby, even though the BVI does not allow nude sunbathing, and which there wasn't "clothing optional" beaches anywhere. "Nearby" must have the pool area--the house is totally secluded. While the house is very nice, the island doesn't offer enough to warrant a return to this property. Even without the problems listed above, I would not return to this house or recommend a trip to Tortola.

Owner response:We were very sorry to hear that the reviewer’s experience of Tortola was not as expected and as we have never received negative feedback before, I would like to to address the criticisms in detail. Unfortunately, the weather during this visit was affected by the passing Tropical Storm Emily and though not severe, made for windy and wet conditions for several days. This would certainly have affected their enjoyment of the island and may have made some of the other negative aspects more acute. As for Mosquitos, unfortunately, they are a fact of life on every Caribbean Island, though the weather and other factors make a big difference. Kerensa is no worse than elsewhere on the island but being situated on the edge of a National Park we cannot control the natural forest area between the house and the sea. On our own property we use electronic mosquito traps and generally these are pretty effective. It seems the guests didn’t realise there was an interior mosquito trap in the main room which just needed to be turned on (I can only apologise for not pointing it out when showing the house). We have made considerable efforts to make the bedroom mosquito free by making it possible to seal the room and providing air-conditioning.. In other parts of the house we have fans, traps and a portable A/C unit to provide cold air around the house As for the criticism about “nude sunbathing”, which was obviously a big issue for these guests, we checked this box on the VRBO site (where it list amenities) because Kerensa is so secluded and private it really is an option on the property. We did not intend to create the impression that nude sunbathing was widely permissible on Tortola beaches and once again I apologise for any misconception – it certainly wasn’t a deliberate attempt to mislead. Cursory research on travel websites would reveal that nude sunbathing is not usually permitted on public beaches in Tortola. The comments about a lack of utensils for the BBQ etc were fair and simply an oversight. We are always prepared to purchase any minor equipment that a guest feels is lacking in the house and provide a free house phone (which also allows free calls to the US, Canada, and UK landlines) so that guests can contact us at any time. We apologize for any shortcomings in the house experienced by these two gentlemen but feel some of the negative comments where more influenced by the poor weather and lack of empathy for Tortola than dissatisfaction with the house itself.

Recommended for:

AN "AH HA" moment for sure!

Guest: Mark and Rene (Hamilton, Ontario Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/19/11 Review Submitted: 03/15/11

We have just returned from 2 awesome weeks at Kerensa. My husband and I are avid travellers flying off at least 3-4 times a year. We are not tourists but people who want to become part and know that area of the world we are visiting. We rarely visit a place twice or stay at hotels, preferring to look for more unique and "one of kind experiences- the AH HA moment." Kerensa IS that experience! We do a lot of research on our destinations- Tortola is the perfect jumping off point for exploring the BVI's and Kerensa is the perfect place to come home to, because that's what it is- a home. You feel comfortable there AND spoiled. Kerensa is worldly. The decor covers the world- the furniture, the dishes, the ornaments and the books. Staying here is experiencing the worlds culture. Everything is at your fingertips, the owners are always a telephone away, checking in and seeing if there is anything else you need or can do. Being in a place like this allows you to explore- you have to have a jeep! The roads take a little to get used to and driving is an adventure in itself- take it slow and easy and you can do it. You become part of the community, shopping at the grocery store (although Ben's suggestion to preorder our groceries from a local place and having them delivered and put away was a welcomed touch), checking out the local eateries and hearing the island talent (Check out Quito's on Cane Garden Bay on Friday night to become part of the local scene and listen to some amazing local music!) Privacy is what Kerensa is about. Simple luxury, on the side of a mountain, with spectacular views that cannot be captured by a camera. You feel so lucky you are here. We arrived in the dark and were amazed when we woke. Bring your music, play it loud and dance like there is no one watching because there is NO ONE else around. Or turn it off and float in your pool and listen to the wind and the crashing waves and experience Kerensa and the BVI's.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing, romantic getaway.

Awesome!

Guest: Josh & Amy (North Carolina)
Date of Stay: 02/12/11 Review Submitted: 02/21/11

My wife and I just returned from a week at Kerensa! It was unbelievable! The views were breath taking. There are no photos or words that could truly do it justice. The house itself was great. It is very open. We left the bedroom balcony doors open all week except for the last night due to some rain and wind. We did see an occasional lizard or island crab, but no big deal. The other thing about the house we really enjoyed was the privacy. As mentioned the house is on 2 acres with nothing around it. The 1/4 mile ride back to it is an adventure (make sure you at least have a vehicle with high ground clearance) It is a bumpy ride, but part of what makes it an adventure. We spent most of our days out doing various things around the island, but with the exception of one night, always came back to enjoy our evenings and the sunsets from Kerensa. While it was very secluded, getting to other beaches or towns was not a problem. Anywhere we wanted to go and we could be there in a half hour or less, with many of the places 15 mins or less away There is a lot of talk about how bad the roads are on some of the travel sites but we drove all week and had no problems. Just slow and easy and you will be fine. This week turned out to be an awesome experience, maybe even a once in a life time trip and staying at Kerensa was a HUGE part of it. If we get the chance to return to Tortola (which I hope we do) I would without question want to stay at Kerensa again!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing, romantic getaway.

Perfect place for a laid back, relaxing honeymoon

Guest: Erin (Minneapolis, MN)
Date of Stay: 11/14/10 Review Submitted: 11/21/10

My husband and I got back yesterday from our 6 night stay at Kerensa. It was amazing! Like others have said, the pictures don't even do it justice. The house is great with all the comforts of home, amazing views and secluded yet close enough to many other things if you want to explore. We will for sure be staying here the next time we come back to Tortola which couldn't be soon enough! Ben, the owner is so nice and helpful. He met us in Road Town, drove us to the grocery store, then to the house, and arranged for a rental car to be delivered to our house! Money much better spent in our opinion than staying at a fancy, crowded resort. Shark Bay National Park is a very short drive away down the hill and has amazing views (we could spot the house way up on the hill) and a cool huge rock/cave to walk around in. We hope to come back a lot! Thank you again Ben and Jessica!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, romantic getaway.