Great Time

Guest: Canada (-)
Date of Stay: 12/16/11 Review Submitted: 02/04/12

We had a great time in this beautiful beach villa in December 2011. Beautiful spacious home right on the beach. We enjoyed everything. The house is very comfortable and clean, there is everything you need tere, the caretaker is only at a phone call away if you need anything or have questions. The villa is well located. Chelem is a very typical small Mexican village and the people there were very kind with us. In the morning you see the fishermen taking their fish back to the shore on the beach, you can take long walks on the beach and this was great.From the villa you can also walk to the center of the village and everything is close by. From Chelem it is easy to drive to many places and there is many thing to visit. The city of Progresso is a short drive from there and it is also easy to go to the beautiful City of Merida. Mayan ruins and cenotes also are not too far. We really enjoyed our vacations there and will probably return in that region someday.

Recommended for:

Serenity Found

Guest: BlissSeaker (Lewisburg, West Virginia)
Date of Stay: 01/20/12 Review Submitted: 02/01/12

Each year I go to a different location in January or February for a week to warm up and relax, usually as a girlfriend getaway. We have been to all inclusives, spas, etc and were looking for somewhere different. I heard about Chelem from a friend who visited there last year and stayed in this house, so we decided to try it. Originally I thought it was much more house than we needed for 2 people, but once there we loved having all the space, and felt spoiled. We met several people from the US who have relocated to Chelem, which is fun to dream about. It is a peaceful place, good for sun tanning, walking on the beach, reading, napping. We liked to walk to the strores and the cafes. The house is large and clean and well taken care of. It has lots of natural light and incredible views. Nice sheets too. The caretaker Julie is really great and helpful, she is from the US. I would like to go back to Chelem and this house and share it with a special someone.

Owner response:We are happy that you enjoyed your stay in our beach house, and the quaint town of Chelem. Thanks for noticing the sheets, as I haul them down from the US (towels also), because high thread count sheets are difficult to find in the area - glad to hear it is appreciated! We are happy to welcome you back anytime to our home. Wishing you many happy travels, Terry

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

Beware!

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/24/11 Review Submitted: 01/21/12

Though this rental property was quite lovely - both the pool and the beach exceeded our expectations -- we were robbed while we stayed at this house on Christmas night. While our families slept upstairs an intruder (with a key) entered the house, stole our macbook pro computer and $800 from our wallets and then left the house, locking up behind them. We felt very unsafe staying in this home and had to barricade the entrances every evening before we went to sleep so we would hear when intruders tried to break in. The owners did not make an effort to change the locks after this occurred and made no effort to compensate us for our losses despite the fact that it was clear the intruders had keys to the home. The villa was nice but our stay ended up being extremely stressful and not much of a vacation.

Owner response:I am sad to read this, as it is the first negativity we have had since we bought the home in 2008, but I believe in publishing all reviews, favorable or not, to ensure fairness. This is not just a rental, but our vacation home. Although I do not know what exactly happened to this group, I do know that what has been stated is untrue - no one entered the home with keys, nor was there forced entry. Our home can be fully secured from the inside, and once done, cannot be entered with keys. Our sliders lock from the inside, and have interior braces. Our main door has a sliding bolt that, once slid in place and the pin inserted, cannot be opened with a key. Further, we provide a safe upstairs, and our property is walled. It would be an odd criminal who takes the time and the risk to politely lock up after themselves. When I was called about this, I was very upset for them. They were encouraged by me and my Property Manager Julie to call the police, which they were unwilling to do, to help in recovering any stolen items, and to have a copy of a police report for home insurance. Julie offered to report the incident to police on their behalf, so as not to intrude on their time, this was also declined. They said they would call me back in 30 minutes, but did not. They completed their stay, departing more than a week later. Julie checked on them several times, and they appeared content. I did not hear from them again until their final day when I received an email from the Reviewer asking for reparations for their losses, and threatening the review on VRBO. Around the same time this email was sent, someone else in their party sent a positive email to Julie thanking her and saying this is a lovely place. We visited the home ourselves, the week after their departure, and verified that all locks were operating properly. We have had many guests in our home, renters, repeat visitors, home exchangers, our friends and family, including my 72 year old mother, and no one has experienced anything of the kind. It’s disheartening to me this was posted. I provided a lovely beach home that can be fully secured, as well as a safe for their valuables. They did not contact the police, or depart the home, but at the end of the rental wanted compensation in exchange for a positive review. I welcome any potential guest to contact me to have an open dialogue about the security features of my home, or about the area.

Recommended for:

Emails frrom Montreal Couple on stay

Guest: Elyse & Laurent, Montreal (-)
Date of Stay: 12/09/11 Review Submitted: 01/02/12

Upon Arrival: We are at your house and everything is working well and is perfect. We feel we will enjoy ourselves a lot here! It is really a nice place and setting. We found the place very easily by entering the name of the hotel besides in our GPS and we had a nice drive from the airport. We had a good first week in an all-inclusive in riviera Maya but it was time for us to move on to something else and this setting here is perfect for us. We also went to the bodega in Progresso a little earlier in the day and now we are settled and enjoying ourselve with a good glass of wine before dinner listerning to the waves. Mid-way through 2 week stay: We are having wonderful vacations here. We just went to Progresso today and did a little shopping and we are planning to go to Chichenitza tomorrow. We met Fernando (or Hernando) the pool guy yesterday he was very kind and is doing a good job. Laurent is having fun here and is making new friends every day as he always do when we travel... so Luis (the fried fish guy on the corner not far from here) is his new friend and they give us big smiles when they see us. His wife now always gives me the best home made marinated oignons with the fish we buy them which I enjoy a lot. We also met the father of Luis wife Ernesto this morning who came on the beach by the side of the house to empty his boat that was parked in front of your neighbor house and that was full of sand. Anyway, lots of fun and our Spanish is improving everyday! After stay: Finally in Montreal after a long day trip. We left your house Thursday for Playa del Carmen for a little Christmas shopping and flew in from Cancun today. Everything went fine and all the flights where on time so everything in this vacation went well and we are very happy about it. I just want to thank you again for the great opportunity. We really had a great time there and enjoyed a lot your house and everything around. Following your recommendation, we finally chose to go to Uxmal instead of Chichen Itza and we had a greatday there.

Recommended for:

If you don't stay here, you're crazy!

Guest: Robin (Belgrade, Montana)
Date of Stay: 03/13/11 Review Submitted: 04/09/11

If you are looking for a truly relaxing vacation in the "real" Mexico, away from the hustle and bustle of resorts, this is the place for you! Recuperacion is just that; a magical place to rest and revive. I can quite honestly say that I did not want to leave, and have been dreaming of returning since we closed the front door for the last time. Terry (the homeowner) was extremely helpful and accommodating from my very first quickly answered email, to my speedily returned deposit. Terry is cheerful, kind and very knowledgeable about the area. She took the time to answer all of my questions, no matter how small or possibly unimportant. I felt welcomed to Chelem months before we arrived! The house is very nice and clean with beautiful views of the ocean from nearly every window. The kitchen is well equipped with everything you need to make a fantastic meal. The beach is postcard perfect from sunrise to sunset. The water is calm and beautiful. However, the pool has a fantastic view if you like a change from the salt water. Chelem is a quaint and quiet fishing village that is very safe. The local people are also cheery, kind and more than willing to chat or lead you in the right direction. There are many things to do and see in the area, but I agree with an earlier review that the house and the area are so nice, that we also kept our sightseeing limited because we wanted to enjoy as much of the house and the area as possible. When the time comes around for another vacation, we will surely consider coming here again. We have already been talking with our friends who have kids and think we could make this a great vacation for our families to enjoy together.

Owner response:Wow, what a fabulous review! Thank you for taking the time to write about your experience at our beach house. And how timely, as Mike and I are visiting now ourselves for a bit of "recuperacion". We welcome you back anytime, and we are so happy you enjoyed your stay in our home and in Chelem. Best wishes, Terry

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

Why didn't we plan to stay longer?

Guest: Kalynn (Plymouth, MI)
Date of Stay: 01/24/09 Review Submitted: 04/20/10

The best vacation property ever - beautiful, clean, well-maintained, and private with every convenience. We enjoyed the house and beach setting so much that we limited our site-seeing to only the "must-do"s and restaurant meals to one a day to maximize our time at the property. Owners are well acquainted with the area and make information readily available. Highly recommend for couples or families with older children.

Owner response:It was a pleasure to have you stay in our home - we hope you return!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway.

Beautiful relaxing respite

Guest: Camera77 (Plymouth, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 12/11/09 Review Submitted: 04/19/10

This is a fabulous home with all the amenities you could wish for. The space is open and light and quiet. The home and patio/pool area are will maintained and very clean. The beach is wonderful for long walks and people watching during local holidays. The nearby restaurants are all very good and everyone is friendly and happy to be of assistance if needed. I could spend the rest of my life in this cozy little town living in this beautiful house and be perfectly happy.

Owner response:We welcome you anytime. Gracias.

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

Oasis in Chelem

Guest: Uncle Paul (Plymouth, MI, USA)
Date of Stay: 12/05/09 Review Submitted: 04/18/10

Chelem is a typical sleepy Mexican fishing village with what the average english speaking tourist would expect: friendly "buenos XXX" greetings from the locals, a smattering of ex-pats staying ahead of the flood of western style commercial development, no "chain" restaurants, constant sounds of the ocean in the background, a local market that does NOT sell souveniers, delightful festivals and lots of Virgin Mary statues. Off the beaten path comes to mind. When first arriving, we felt like the weight of the world had been lifted. Then, opening the gate and driving into the the little "compound" pushed thoughts of our "real" lives in Michigan even further into the background. All the comforts of home PLUS long walks on the beach several times a day and staying cool in the baking afternoon sun while prone in the in-pool lounges (nice touch). Did my mobile phone work? Yes. Was I able to connect to the Internet via the card in my laptop? Yes. Did I care? NO! Maybe we are cynical from too much travel but we expected far less than we got. The only misrepresentation was that the house, its general condition, cleanliness and situation was actually better than what we thought it would be. Highly accessible 1st floor bedroom with bath. Very private interally and externally. We felt welcome at the storefront restaurants run by locals and found the food to be as fresh as it gets (ocean to kitchen to table) and cheaper than the beer. Never had a bad meal at these or any of the few ex-pat restaurants in the immediate area. Progresso (20 minutes away) will never be the same now that the dock can support cruise ships... too bad. Fortunately, Chelem is insulated by distance. Merida (40 minutes) is worth spending a day or two. A very different place than Chelem, but a wonderful contrast. I would strongly recommend this Oasis in Chelem to all except "spring breakers." You will not find a bar that is willing to mix a tequila drink directly in your mouth. Go to Florida or Cancun. The only thing I missed was lack of SCUBA diving. My gear was relaxing in the garage at home.

Owner response:Wow, thank you for your kind words. We welcome you to stay again anytime!

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

Delightful getaway!

Guest: dogsrule (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
Date of Stay: 12/04/09 Review Submitted: 04/16/10

My husband and I very much enjoyed our stay here, and hope to return. The area is interesting and there is a lot to do nearby, but the town itself is very peaceful. We liked walking to the square, and walking to eat lunch. The house is really large and open, and the ocean is visible from almost everywhere. It was clean and comfortable. The pool is beautiful.

Owner response:Thank you for staying with us - we welcome you back anytime!

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