Loris and Don, Lincoln, NE, Dec. 21-31, 2011

Guest: Don and Loris (Lincoln, NE)
Date of Stay: 12/21/11 Review Submitted: 02/08/12

We have wonderful memories of our stay at Windsong Villa & Guest Cottage. When planning our 50th Ann. we made the choice first of Aruba and then had to find someplace to stay with our family of 9 and what a wonderful choice we made staying at Windsong Villa and Guest Cottage. We stayed in the Cottage and children and grandkids in the Villa but spent all of our time together except to sleep. Being so close to the beach to swim, snorkel and scub dive was such a plus - and just walking and setting near the ocean - so relaxing and the sun sets were spectular, actually I can't think of anything that wasn't spectular including the Villa, Cottage, swimming pool, Juan and all the people we met and visited with. Thanks for telling us of the Christmas Tree and decorations, they were used and with attending Christmas Day services at your Church in San Nicolas made our stay complete. We toured the whole island, having to rent an extra car so we could all go together and only got lost the first day for several miles. Everything in the Brown's VRBO description is true and anyone staying with them will be VERY satisfied. Would love to return tomorrow as we have 12" of snow on the ground and the high was 28 degrees (2/8/12). Memories were made for our 50th Anniversary, Thanks.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Perfect place to unplug and relax!

Guest: PK (Kure Beach, NC)
Date of Stay: 12/01/11 Review Submitted: 01/18/12

Windsong Villa is in a lovely quiet neighborhood across the street from Mangel Beach. There were divers, snorkelers, swimmers, kayakers, and SUNSETS. The house is spacious and comfortable with all amenities available; we cooked on the grill and enjoyed the pool area several late afternoons and evenings. Juan was always available for assistance and we enjoyed renting the car. Because the house is in the middle of the island, we could go to the tourist area in the north and Seroe Colorado in the south over and over again. It was nice to have a temporary home to return to instead of a hotel room. There is a fish market, neighborhood take-out restaurants, and small grocery stores to walk to as well.

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

Family trip with grandparents

Guest: Dacia (United States)
Date of Stay: 01/06/12 Review Submitted: 01/17/12

Loved our time at the villa. Very spacious living areas. Three kids easily shared one room (king bed and queen inflatable mattress). The covered patio outside, complete with hammock and gas grill, was perfect for an evening barbeque. Highly recommended!

Recommended for:

Would Be Great For A Family

Guest: J&K (Denver, CO)
Date of Stay: 08/28/11 Review Submitted: 09/08/11

We recently stayed at the Windsong Villa for our honeymoon, and while it was great to be immersed in more of the local culture and to be so close to the beach, we felt that it would be even better suitted for a family, as it lacks to be "romantic" or "deluxe". Some of the great things about the Villa were that it had the car, which made traveling much easier (and cheaper) then the bus or a taxi. The location was IDEAL for a family with shallow water and great snorkelling across the street. We also liked the pool in the back (not the Jacuzzi as it was cold and looked rather dishevelled), but the mosquitos made it somewhat unusable in the evening. Lastly, the kitchen was very useful and allowed us to cook some of our own foods including fish! The renovations that were made to the villa were definitely worth-while, as it is more updated then many of the surrounding homes. While the security system was great and felt very comforting at night, it had a learning curve to it and beeped incessantly for the first two days of the vacation. Praying made it stop! Some things we didn't like about the Villa were the linens were very worn and stinky. The face cloths and bath towels were stringy and we were only provided with two for the week. The bedding felt old and was stained and very pilled and thus scratchy. Please don't let this deter you from the Villa, though, because it is just as easy to bring your own bedding if you are picky about this sort of thing. We were also unhappy with the number of things that didn't work including the broken and unusable snorkel gear (again, just bring your own) and the ESSENTIAL ceiling fans. Lastly, the twin beds pushed together proved to be incredibly uncomfortable. It is still a mystery as to why we were provided with a guest bedroom and not the master bedroom as the sole renters of the Villa. Like I mentioned, things such as linens and "romance" aren't necessarily essential for a family vacation which is why I would only recommend the Villa again to those looking for a family vacation only.

Owner response:The villa is a great family vacation location. Many families have agreed. Many couples have enjoyed their time in the villa. Each person has different expectations. This couple was given the large bedroom that opens to the garden. The bathroom is immediately next to it. It was felt that they would enjoy the direct access to the pool and the garden. Ceiling fans in the living room are important. For some reason they were not working and this is being remedied. The portable fan in the villa should compensate when ceiling fans do not work. A prevailing breeze passes through the house from back to front so that much of the time fans are not necessary. The bedrooms are air conditioned. Towels and linens are maintained in good condition. We will certainly check about the problems mentioned here. Pool maintenance is done twice weekly, however with the prevailing wind, leaves sometimes do blow into the Jacuzzi. Our property manager is available at all times. If guests have concerns they are free to contact him during their stay. He takes good care of our guests.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, age 55+, families with young children.

The real deal

Guest: Matt (St Louis Park, MN)
Date of Stay: 08/19/11 Review Submitted: 09/02/11

For those searching for an "off the beaten path" getaway in Aruba, this is your spot! Your search is over! While the photos here sparked my interest when I booked it, they don't do it justice. It is very spacious, and the setting even more beautiful than you can imagine. My new wife and I stayed in the main villa after spending part of our honeymoon at a resort. While it was nice, I can do the "resort" thing anywhere, and closer to home. We found Windsong to be the perfect place to relax, while immersing ourselves into the local culture. It was a good central spot to do other exploration of the island (the car was great), close to airport, and close to a handful of small local markets/restaurants within walking distance. The snorkeling is literally across the street and was awesome. We walked one night to Marina Pirata restaurant, which is a must. Also had an amazing experience one morning when we walked to the boat docks just past Marina Pirata. We showed up late morning after a boat came in, and bought fresh red snapper that we literally watched them take off the boat and clean for us. The very little Spanish that I stumbled through was helpful there, although you could get by with just English if you had to. It's not a tourist spot, it was all friendly locals, which made the experience all the better to buy fresh fish at the market and cook at "home" at Windsong. If I have one complaint it would be that it was quite warm in the villa and most of the ceiling fans weren't functioning. We opened up the windows to try and get some air moving, but then again we spent very little time indoors. But why would you be indoors with your own private pool in the backyard and a beautiful secluded beach just across the street! I highly recommend Windsong, and hope to be back soon myself. It was a lot of space for just the two of us, and would be great to return with another couple or two. Michael, Lois, and Juan - thanks so much for everything! Gina and I had a great time (although far too short) at Windsong, and look forward to visiting again.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway.

Een super heerlijk verblijf - A wonderful stay

Guest: Gerda d. (Grootebroek, Nederland (Netherlands))
Date of Stay: 12/11/10 Review Submitted: 01/23/11

Van 11 t/m 18 december 2010 hebben we in de cottage van Windsong onze eerste vakantie op Aruba mogen starten en mogen ervaren. Een superverblijf waarbij de fantastische locatie, de rust van de directe omgeving, de heerlijke zeekust met het sierlijke, visrijke Mangel Halto (op kruipafstand) maar vooral de geweldige, lieve, zorgzame eigenaren (Lois en Mike) en onze zorg en toeverlaat Juan ons als eerste geraakt hebben. Drie mensen die we al vanaf het eerste moment in ons hart hebben gesloten. Drie hele lieve mensen die de gasten graag een heerlijke vakantie gunnen en dit ook tonen! De cottage is zeer compleet ingericht en ligt op een heerlijke locatie direct aan de kust. Het biedt een indrukwekkende snorkelbaai direct tegenover het verblijf. Ook de villa is zeer compleet ingericht en biedt alles wat je je maar kunt wensen tijdens het verblijf. Het zwembad biedt op zijn tijd een heerlijke verkoeling en twee schuwe hagedissen laten zich dagelijks zonnebadend op het terras zien. Het verblijf heeft een volledige keukenopstelling, separate badkamer en airco. De TV biedt een Nederlands kanaal, zodat je desgewenst op de hoogte kan blijven van de Ned. actualiteiten. 's Avonds heb je vanuit het huis een adembemend zicht op de zonsondergang. Als je de gelegenheid hebt, neem dan snorkelles van Mike (is ervaren duikleraar); hij leert je de basis van het snorkelen en laat je tevens de mooiste plekjes van de Mangel Halto-baai zien. Het klimaat is supergeweldig : Heerlijk warm en ook 's avonds hoeft het vest niet aan! Het verblijf ligt op een heerlijk rustige locatie, toch ben je met de auto binnen een kwartier in Oranjestad. Ook andere locaties liggen eigenlijk op een steenworp afstand (het eiland is niet groter dan Texel). Ook Baby-beach (oosten van het eiland) is aan te raden voor zwemmen en snorkelen. Uit eten kan op loopafstand; het nabij gelegen restaurant is uitstekend (visrestaurant: vraag naar een plaatsje op het terras direct aan het water). Ook het restaurant Que Pasa in Oranjestad is aan te bevelen. Er zijn twee Starbucks in Oranjestad, dus een heerlijk kopje koffie is te verkrijgen. Op het eiland is een grote supermarkt (Superfood) waar alle Nederlandse artikelen te koop zin: van pindakaas tot chocola en van kaas tot drop. Je hoeft niets mee te nemen. De prijzen liggen nauwelijk hoger dan in Nederland. De mensen op het eiland zijn vriendelijk, rustig en heel gastvrij. Aruba heeft ons innig omarmd en laat ons niet meer los! Tot volgend jaar!

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

Windsong Villa

Guest: E. B. (Wolcott, CT)
Date of Stay: 12/04/10 Review Submitted: 01/20/11

Our vacation at Windsong Villa was absolutely wonderful! Mike and Lois Brown are wonderful people, and we were glad to have them around for interesting conversation. The Villa was exactly as described, and it was great to have ocean/snorkeling/diving across the street, and a nice little pool in the backyard. A lovely covered picnic area, too. Our caretaker was very friendly and helpful, and we appreciated his flexibility with our schedule. It was really nice to have local stores in walking distance, and the local bar has great Chinese food. We also went to 2 of the area restaurants and had delicious meals! Thanks to you both, Mike and Lois -- we hope to return in the future.

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

Lovely Home and setting

Guest: AK (Aleknagik, AK )
Date of Stay: 12/21/10 Review Submitted: 01/07/11

We stayed for 10 days at the Villa and were very impressed with the house, the pool, and the location next to a beach and the lovely sunsets. The neighborhood was quiet and fun to walk around, with stores and restaurants nearby. The house was lovely with all the amenities you need. The beds were comfortable and the bedrooms quiet, with air conditioning if needed. The property manager was very helpful and answered any questions we had. In all, it was a lovely experience and we would definitely go back and highly recommend both the villa and cottage to others!

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

Like family

Guest: KK (Bethany, CT, USA)
Date of Stay: 12/03/10 Review Submitted: 12/15/10

I arrived alone in Aruba a day ahead of the rest of my travel party and was promptly picked up by the Brown's at the airport. Although I was also met with the most unfortunate weather (heavy rain for several days!--very rare) the Browns really helped to make my trip fun, fulfilling and relaxing. The customer service they provided went well above and beyond anything I had ever expected! I was given lots of education on the island history and layout, taken on a tour, enjoyed wonderful conversation, and was overall welcomed as if I were family. While enduring the heavy rains, Michael suggested a try at scuba diving (You're already wet!) I'm sure he didn't anticipate that I would have an anxiety attack(s) due to my fear of open water; despite that, he worked with me ever so patiently until I overcame my fear and became scuba certified! What a great feeling! The Windsong property is gorgeous both inside and out (even when it's raining!). It's clean, open layout,specious bedrooms/bathrooms that are newly remodeled, everything in working condition and the best part is it's proximity to the water/beach with plenty of Palapas (beach huts). It's a great place for yoga, scuba, snorkel, wading, swimming, shell collecting, etc! The best part is no crowds. The Windsong is also close to several grocery stores and delicious restaurants (marina pirada and fishbone--although it's pricey it's great!). The neighborhood is pleasant and even the neighbors are warm and welcoming! The roads are great to run on too. Overall the Windsong, the Brown's and Juan were an impressive trio. I can't thank Michael and Lois enough for their hospitality and generosity. They are so polite and helpful and really just such warm people that I feel honored to know! I can't wait to return and see what it's like when the sun is out for more than a few minutes at a time!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

A Relaxing Week at the Windsong Villa

Guest: Danielle (Brooklyn, NY, USA)
Date of Stay: 11/10/10 Review Submitted: 11/21/10

We spent a quiet, relaxing week at the Windsong Villa overlooking the sea and Mangel Halto Beach. We were warmly welcomed at the airport by Juan, our accommodating host. The villa is clean and well equipped as a home away from home with ample space, a fully equipped kitchen, a beautiful back patio complete with songbirds, iguanas, flowering trees, pool, chaise lounges, and jacuzzi. A quick stop at the nearby grocery and we were stocked for the week. Breakfasts were had daily on the front porch with the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea as a backdrop. We made dinner with the on-site grill and ate under the palapa. Mangel Halto, the beach, is literally steps from the villa through the mangrove trees and was usually empty, except for the occasional local. Sometimes we lazed on the sand in the provided beach chairs, or slipped into the warm, shallow water through openings in the mangrove trees for daily floats. We snorkeled every day, using equipment in the house, exploring the reef off the beach, catching glimpses of all sorts of amazing fish and coral formations. The rental car was great to have and allowed us the flexibility to explore the island. We checked out nearby gold mine ruins, St. Nicolas and Baby Beach, went up to Oranjestad for dinner and gambling, and visited family staying in the resort area. We also checked out the rugged national park. All in all the Windsong Villa was a great place to experience the quieter, more local side of Aruba. The Browns have created a peaceful vacation home for those seeking a quiet respite in a beautiful setting.

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