Relaxation at its BEST!

Guest: Chase S.
Date of Stay: 12/22/11 Review Submitted: 01/16/12

Where do I even begin when it comes to putting into words my wonderful stay at the Boathouse? If you’re even questioning staying at the Boathouse or wondering if everything is good to go since the hurricane, you can rest assured everything is the way it should be, perfect. My fiancée and I stayed at the Boathouse for twelve nights and truly still didn’t have enough time. The Boathouse is truly a relaxing place and somewhere I can’t wait to visit again. Having traveled a lot in my life and stayed at so many great places, your house was truly in my top three! The attention to detail in every aspect of your house is truly amazing. From the great king hammock on the porch to the “at home feeling” of the house, I was truly blown away. Your website doesn’t even begin to explain how wonderful your house or the beaches truly are. The Boathouse has all the amenities and more as the website reflects. If you’re looking for a quiet, relaxing, and perfectly secluded beach then look no further. There really isn’t much more you can ask for besides the amenities that are already included. The island as a whole was truly a great place to get away from it all. We were truly amazed and happy of how “un commercialized” the island truly is. Jennifer and I are very much the type of people who enjoy little quite places like Cat Island with people second to none. The locals were really great! The fact that a little nine-year-old boy stopped us and asked for a ride was truly something that shocked me but shows just how safe and comfortable the island locals are. Also if you’re looking to fish, I highly recommend Ricky, he may not have the best-looking boat but after three and a half hours we were twenty five fish deep in the cooler with a huge twenty five plus pound red snapper. Overall, I would rate the vacation a 9 out of 10, with the Boathouse earning a 10 out of 10, and the price was very cheap. I can’t believe Mark and Sarah rent their house for so cheap to be truthful but it’s something I liked ha-ha. You were so right about Cat Island and I now understand how you could so easily fall in love with the place. Again thank you for your great hospitality and letting us share a piece of your welcoming and loving home. Until Jen and I return again, like the old sailors say, “Fair winds and calm seas”. Thanks again for everything, this was a dream vacation come true. Cat Island and the locals simply ROCK!

Recommended for:

Perfect Get Away

Guest: S M.
Date of Stay: 01/15/12 Review Submitted: 01/29/12

The house was awesome. The Beach House was even better than we expected. The description of the house and property are quite accurate, but it is still difficult to envision how beautiful peaceful and serene this location really is. Wen we arrived on Cat Island, Leslie (the local property manager) had a car waiting for us at the airport for transportation to the house. The house was very clean and ready for our arrival. The kitchen is stocked with anything you need to cook your favorite island meals. The king-sized Select Comfort bed is the perfect end to days spent enjoying the island. The on-site property manager was able to assist us with all of our vacation arrangements such as rental cars, groceries and recommendations for where to purchase fresh seafood. We also enjoyed the bikes and kayaks that come with the house. Cat Island is a perfect get-away from the hustle of everyday life. The beaches are beautiful and uncrowded and we found the locals friendly and very helpful with site seeing recommendations. The Beach House is the perfect place to stay if you want a remote and romantic get-away to a fabulous destination.

Owner response:Scott & Amy, Glad to hear that you really enjoyed the Boathouse, the beaches,and the island. The locals are truly warm and friendly souls; the nicest in all the Out Islands by my book. It is great to be able to really relax and get away from it all; Cat Island is just a wonderful place to chill, and without all the commercial, overbuilt, and crowded downside. And as you mentioned, beautiful white sand beaches, plenty of fresh conch, lobster, and fish (bought directly from the fishermen), and cold,cold Kalik. Thank you for the nice review, and for choosing the Boathouse for your holiday. Come back soon. Mark & Sarah

Recommended for:

Winter Escape

Guest: Il hunting family (Elburn Il)
Date of Stay: 01/06/12 Review Submitted: 01/16/12

My husband and I visited the Boathouse in Jan 1012 for a week. It was everything as advertised. Helpful hosts and owners. The house itself was absolutely spotless and well maintained. The views spactular. We recc Tito's fish for buying your fresh fish and lobster. Also, it helps to bring along packaged food items from home as the grocery shopping choices are extremely limited. We knew this going in. I like to cook and found the kitchen well stocked. Would definately recc the Boathouse to friends.

Owner response:Lauri, Tito is the connection for lobster, snapper, grouper and conch; and it is a short bicycle ride from the house to get there. The grocery stores with the largest selection are Margaret's in Orange Creek and Smith Bay Grocery (next to the wine & liquor store). The smaller markets in Roker's and The Bight have the major items(milk,bread,cheese,cereal,sodas,canned goods,etc), but for specialty items (spices, chutney,sauces,cream,lamb,etc) you need to stick to the bigger local markets. I recommend having the taxi stop at the Smith Bay store on your way in from the airport. The driver will stop for free and allow you to shop for everything you need. Pop next door to pick up wine,beer or sprits. We are thrilled that you enjoyed the Boathouse,our beach, and the island. Thank you for staying with us, and come back soon. Regards, Mark & Sarah

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

Paradise

Guest: Amy M.
Date of Stay: 12/05/11 Review Submitted: 12/24/11

This is our second time visiting The Boathouse. This trip was just as amazing as the first and in many ways better. The house had even more amenities than our first trip including a new hammock, some new kitchen gadgets and new bikes. We come to Cat Island for the isolation. You only have to see people if you want to. Most of the time you feel like you are on your own private island. But if you ever do need anything Leslie and Ned are just a short stroll or phone call away. And they have a new kitten which really made the trip perfect! We rented a car for a couple days and explored the northern most and southern most tips of the island. It was fun and reaffirmed to us that we have the best spot on the island. All the other days we just sat on the beach, swam and stared at the most beautiful water in the world. It's like a giant crystal clear, baby blue swimming pool. Photos cannot do it justice. There was a full moon while we were there and at night everything looked like a crazy dream-scape. You could see the color of the water like it was daytime. I've never experienced anything quite like it. We took the canoe out in the estuary and saw a baby nurse shark, sea turtles and schools of fish. I highly recommend going out in the estuary at least once during high tide. It is real shallow for a long time and then it turns into this beautiful emerald river that leads to the ocean and it's unreal. I can't say enough good things about this island and this house. Do yourself a favor and spend at least a week here. We can't wait to come back soon. FYI, bring some good bug spray and Benadryl if you allergic to sand flea bites. Not a complaint, just a friendly warning. My husband is not allergic at all and I am, so it's better to be prepared just in case.

Owner response:Amy & James, Welcome back! Your stay sounds amazing with the beautiful light of the full moon and the warm Caribbean breeze. Launching the kayaks (or canoe) behind the house on the back bay, and paddling around the point to the ocean is one of our favorites. It is totally unspoiled and the sealife and numerous bird species are always a thrill. The sea turtles are my favorite, along with the schools of rays that many times can been seen at the entrance to the sea. Thank you for choosing the Boathouse for your second visit in as many years. Mark & Sarah btw....the new tiki hut on our beach was completed on December 6th, and the bar/outdoor dining at Pigeon Cay Beach Club reopened a few weeks ago, should anyone desire to walk up the beach for dinner or a drink (Boathouse guests have signing privileges at PCBC for their entire stay). The exterior of the house was completely repainted in early December 2011, and a second king-size hammock is being installed on the deck as we speak.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, adventure seekers.

Nice house and great beach! part 1

Guest: Dave and Julie (Livonia, Michigan USA)
Date of Stay: 10/01/11 Review Submitted: 11/29/11

My husband and I stayed at The Boathouse for 2 weeks for our 10 year wedding anniversary. Overall we had a great vacation on Cat Island. We were a little hesitant to keep our reservations because Hurricane Irene had hit the island about a month before our trip but we went anyways. Leslie (the property manager on the island and conveniently, a short walk away), assured us everything was in working order and most of the storm damage to the house had been repaired. We arrived to a very clean house and the only evidence of storm damage at the house we noticed was a missing gutter and the roof leaked a little during heavy rain. I believe both issues have been repaired. The beach is beautiful. Irene washed away some sand from beach side of the dune exposing the rocks but it was still beautiful and that was only a very small part of the beach. Plenty of sugar sand beach to lie on and walk on. The beach hut was gone for our stay but that didn't faze us. We probably never would have sat under it anyways. We brought a bag to the beach with the things we would need (rum & sun block) and stayed there for many hours every day. There was a beach umbrella and chairs we could have taken but we just stayed in the water most of the time and walked the beach. Overall, the house is nice. The huge wrap around porch makes it so you have a nice breeze no matter what direction the wind is coming from as well as nice views all around. The kitchen is well equipped and we made all of our meals at the house. There are restaurants on the island but we rarely go out to eat anyways and we chose to stay at the house for meals. The outdoor grill was nice to have and we used it frequently. The shower was great. Being able to drink and cook with the water from the tap was a big deal to us. The water comes from the cistern which gathers rain water and it is then filtered, treated and perfectly safe. It is a little awkward needing to leave the main living area to go outside in order to get to the bedroom/bathroom but it really isn't a big issue. I am only bringing it up due to a previous negative review and wanted to say that it’s not a big deal. 90% of the time the house was wide open anyways. We only closed up the house at night to keep the mosquitoes out and that’s the only time I wished the 2 sides were connected. (To be continued...)

Owner response:Julie, Congratulations on your 10th anniversary, and thank you for spending it on Cat Island. You were our first guests following Hurricane Irene and we are happy that you found everything at the Boathouse and our beach to be in great order. Although we lost the original tiki hut in the storm, a new one is under construction and will be completed on December 7th. As you mentioned our beach is still beautiful; although we experienced some erosion from the storm, the white sand beach still stretches for miles. Our rainwater catchment and filtration system has worked out very well. There is nothing quite like taking a shower in pure filtered rainwater or drinking fresh water without all the excess chemicals. Like you, we spend a lot of time either at the beach or on the wrap around deck. With a 360 degree 12' deck, you can always find a nice tropical breeze to lounge, read, or just chill. It sounds like you had a wonderful time and really got out and enjoyed the island. Please do not wait until your 20th to come back; we are saving you a spot on the beach. Mark & Sarah

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

Cat Island Getaway-Nov. 2011

Guest: DC (Brielle, NJ)
Date of Stay: 11/12/11 Review Submitted: 11/28/11

Cat Island is an unspoiled paradise- stunningly beautiful. The Bahamian people we met were without exception genuine and friendly. Yardi's is not to be missed. Buy vegetables from the guy who sells out of his truck- and don't miss Da Smoke Pot -we got a private musical performance there. Truly a great experience to share Cat Island with the locals if only for a short time. The Boat House is beautiful... very well appointed- thoughtfully equipped with every item a traveler might require. Our only real surprise was the composting toilet- we followed the tutorial provided and were able to figure out the basics - but it would have been nice to know about that detail ahead of time. It does leak a bit and there are some odor issues- but as long as you don't mind being hands on it should not be difficult to manage. Beach was incredible- private and pristine...however the palapa was still out from the August storm so a bit difficult to extend beach time without shade of some kind. We rented a car in order to be able to explore- but be prepared- it is expensive- $75 per day- AND the caretakers sent a driver to pick us up and deliver us to the house- rather than delivering the car to us at the airport as we had arranged- so we ended up paying $65 to the driver AND $75 for the car rental for the- when we had anticipated the car rental- the cab fare seemd excessive. Just a heads up if you plan on doing the same. The Pigeon Cay Beach Club was not available for our use- the bar was not open and we were told that meals were only available to guests of the Beach Club - so that was a bit of a disappointment- we chose the Boat House rental because it was so close to at least a restaurant and bar- in the event that we just wanted to wander up the beach. Cat Island is stunningly beautiful- and the house is worth the trip alone- a real jewel.

Owner response:Deb, We are very happy to hear that you loved the house, our beach, and Cat Island. As noted, our palapa (tiki hut) is currently being rebuilt with a completion date of December 7th. Hurricane Irene took out our tiki hut, along with the outdoor bar and dining area at the Pigeon Cay Beach Club up the beach from us. Guests will be happy to hear that the PCBC outdoor dining plus their bar will be completed this week, so our guests will once again have full access and sighing privileges for both dinner and the beach bar. Since the Boathouse is surrounded by water on 3 sides, the architect selected an environmentally friendly lavatory system due to our proximity to both the ocean and the back bay. As the toilet in the bathroom is very similar to what you would find in most homes, guests rarely notice a big difference. The entire automated compost system is located downstairs, hidden away from the naked eye. Yes, the cost of a rental car is a bit shocking to visitors of the Out Islands; we too feel they are quite expensive. That being said, all cars and parts on the island must be shipped in from the United States via barge so the renters costs are also very high. Guests typically will rent a car for 3-4 days of their stay to explore the island, and ride the bikes to Yardi's (Derrick's Conch Shack) or Sammy T's restaurant up the road in Bennett Harbor. We really appreciate you choosing the Boathouse on Cat Island for your holiday, and we hope you return very soon. Mark & Sarah

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children.

Not what we expected!!!

Guest: Sandy (Blanchardville, WI)
Date of Stay: 10/30/11 Review Submitted: 11/18/11

Unfortunately, we did not have the positive experience that everyone else seems to have had at the Boat House. On the positive side, the house was very clean, the kitchen was well stocked, plenty of towels and the house was quiet. We should have, however, been more skeptical when told that the island was ready for visitors. Although the beach was isolated, it was in poor condition since Hurricane Irene had done significant damage to the beach and the tiki hut was gone. The pictures of the beach are no longer accurate since the hurricane. We did enjoy our visit to the Hermitage and the locals are very friendly. The bugs were very bad night and day, not just at dusk and dawn, and we had bites for almost a week after leaving the island. Since the deck ceiling fans did not have blades we could not sit outside for meals or use the hammock, and there is no table indoors. We would have liked to have been able to leave doors open to hear the ocean but, with no screens and the bugs, we had to keep the doors shut and air conditioning on. One big thing to point out is that you cannot access the bedroom or bathroom from the kitchen area without opening up the doors, which are large double patio door types that are hinged in the middle and not made to be opened and closed regularly. The TV did not work the first two days until we noticed that the cable was not completely attached. We did eventually get the TV to work but it was not consistent. The wireless internet did not work while indoors, and with the bugs you couldn’t sit outdoors for very long. The bikes were nice, but again both had flat tires, something we would not expect to have to take care of when you rent a place. To reach the bay behind the house, you have to drag the canoe through brush to reach the water, even at high tide. We had planned on staying for the week but left after three nights, and were told that previous visitors to Pigeon Cay had done the same. We were led to believe that other people had stayed at the Boat House since the hurricane, but found out we were the first ones. Be prepared to pay double what you would pay in Chicago or San Francisco for a cab ride from the airport and the “rental car”. We should have stayed with our first instinct and cancelled the trip after Irene hit.

Owner response:Sandy, In fairness, the Boathouse experienced only cosmetic damage (the loss of 3 ceiling fans on the deck) from Hurricane Irene. You were told beach chairs and a beach umbrella were available while the tiki was being rebuilt. We also discussed that the beach had lost some sand due to erosion, but that there was still plenty of white sand beach. As promised on the website a canoe, kayaks, and bicycles were available to you free of charge; all in good working order. You were also told that the storm had originally knocked out the Internet and tv signal, and that they were working intermittently. We informed you of all of the above prior to your visit by phone and email and offered to cancel your reservation and return your deposit in full, but you said you still wanted to come. On day three of your stay, when you told Leslie that Cat Island was not what you expected (no casinos, nightlife, resorts), we allowed you to break your rental agreement without penalty or fee as a courtesy. Sarah and I care a lot about our guest’s satisfaction and have many repeat guests. However, we are sorry that it was not what you expected. Please read the guest reviews just prior and after your visit for a balanced review. Sarah & Mark

Recommended for:

Relaxing, private, intimate, and well located!

Guest: Paul I. (Vicksburg, Mississippi USA)
Date of Stay: 11/05/11 Review Submitted: 11/13/11

We had an amazing week at The Boathouse. The house was perfect and was “home” very soon after we settled in. It was conveniently located for island exploration, which we did daily with a rental jeep. We covered everything from the 40-minute trail hike to Man-O-War Point on the north, to a drive all the way to Bain Town in the south. With the jeep we were able to traverse the island at several crossings to the Atlantic beaches, which were generally deserted for miles and miles. We enjoyed eating great Bahamian food prepared by locals, getting to know them while we ate. And at the end of the day we retreated to the Boat House for a refreshing hot shower, then wine and cheese on our private beach watching the sunset. Our caretakers Ned and Leslie were nearby to help out if needed. Using my wife's iPad we were able to keep up with business emails and Facebook via the wifi signal available to the house. The Bahamian people are the loveliest in the world, and they are appreciative of visitors and help out any way they can. Cat Island is a great destination for anyone with a sense of adventure and a desire to get away from it all! No concrete water slides, or scheduled activities, or tour busses to catch. But the grouper is fresh and the conch salads and fritters are legendary. There are few places left on earth like this, and its so reachable from the US.

Recommended for:

Absolute Bliss - part one

Guest: Larodo (Montreal, Canada)
Date of Stay: 08/10/11 Review Submitted: 08/18/11

My wife and I aren't new to the "Out Islands". The boathouse was our third rental in the "Real Bahamas" - as the locals call them ... I'm saying this because the way we were swept away by this beautiful little house, reminded us of our first visit on those pristine islands: love at first sight. We stayed a total of 17 days. There is not a minute of inconvenience, not a single thing that was out of place. Ned and Leslie, the caretakers and owners of nearby Pigeon Cay Beach Club, will greet you. They're so nice! Tips on everything and anything, help if you need any and absolutely charming hosts. Actually aided us in a time of dire need. Our second night there, when still learning where to get basic supplies we lacked an essential part of any romantic diner: a decent bottle of wine. In a second Leslie had two bottles out of her personal reserve and managed to order us a full case the very next day! I should warn you here. The first time you will step over that dune and around to the Boathouse's spacious and private Tikki, you will experience true amazement: the beach is ... Perfect. It simply cannot be improved. Kilometers of pure white sand, untainted gin-like crystalline turquoise hued water. Everyday I had to pinch myself over that sight. I couldn't believe it was ours for two weeks. And ours it was. During our sixteen-day stay, the most crowded that 3 km stretch of powdered sand ever got was … six people. I think. They were so far from us; I’m still not sure. The house is also quite a find. An elevated pagoda-like gem sitting atop a hill, exposed to gentle winds during the day. At night the AC does the trick. When you open up all the doors and lounge around the huge wraparound balcony, whether it’d be on the comfortable chairs, or the hammock – you feel like royalty surveying a gorgeous domain of wild greenery, ocean and lagoon.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+.

The Boat House on Cat Island: The Perfect Villa

Guest: Day Tripper (Stow, MA. USA)
Date of Stay: 04/16/11 Review Submitted: 06/13/11

Over the last few years my wife and I have become enamored with the Bahamas "Out Islands". After spending two weeks each on Exuma and Eleuthera, next up was Cat Island, and the first task was finding a villa to rent. My wife enjoys this phase of vacation planning, and spends weeks poring through the multitude of travel sites on the Internet, reading reviews and recommendations, to find the perfect villa. She's very good at this, has always put us in wonderful locations, and she definitely picked the right place for this trip: The Boat House. The Boat House has everything going for it that a couple could want: a fabulous location, near the middle of Cat Island; a stunningly beautiful beach with sand the consistency of powdered sugar and with a private palapa, and where we spent nearly every afternoon relaxing after a day of exploring the island; comfortable privacy, but with a nearly 360 degree view through the multitude of fold-out glass doors that really bring the outdoors in; a fully equipped kitchen, plus an excellent Weber gas grill on the huge wrap-around deck; a refreshing outdoor shower with plenty of hot water; and a very comfortable king size bed, with a wonderful view towards the rising sun. And if one has the urge to connect with the outside world, all of the major broadcast networks were available on the television, and wireless internet access for teasing friends and family with pictures of the days travels. And for the flyfishing spouse, there is a mile long fantastic bonefish flat right out the door! Truly special, one memorable day I caught and released over 15 bonefish on a white Sili-Shrimp pattern that the fish just could not resist - my best day of bonefishing ever! When we visit Out Islands, we like to cover the entire island, and this trip to Cat Island was no exception. We were fortunate to have rented a Jeep Grand Cherokee from the folks that run the Pigeon Cay Resort (and who also capably manage The Boat House) and traveled every ancient cross-island plantation road that was passable to hit the Atlantic side beaches, which we always had to ourselves. We also visited every settlement and resort from North End Point to the southernmost ends of the island at Port Howe and Devils Point, and came to the conclusion that there simply is no better place to call "home" on Cat Island than The Boat House. Our two weeks there over the Easter holidays in April 2011 will be fondly remembered forever. Carol and David T.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+.