Vacation Rentals by Owner

3rd year at Summer Breeze

Guest: Véronic (Montréal,Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/14/12 Review Submitted: 05/09/12

3rd time around at Summer Breeze Villa. Lots of great changes around the house and in the villa. This place is "so" for us, we re-sourced our energy, like expected. Locals are so nice and helpfull, it's a blessing to have the chance to live those precious moments. The owner calls regularly to make sure all guests are fine and that we have a pleasant stay. The carekeeper is always avalable if you have questions. Thanks Ansley and John for sharing your piece of paradise.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

The real deal

Guest: Rob (Virginia)
Date of Stay: 03/31/12 Review Submitted: 04/25/12

We stayed for a week with 2 small kids and 3 adults, and could not have been more pleased with the house or the island! Previous poster needs to get a grip on life. The owner set up our pick up from the airport and the housekeeper John was waiting for us at the dock on SW. Return trip arrangements too, including a 6 am pickup at the house, ferry ride, and taxi to the airport. She also called the day of our arrival to make sure we were all set. John also brought us 6 lobster tails (free of charge) that evening. House was great...what you see in the pics is what you get. Beach was as nice as we've ever seen, and we've been everywhere. Rented a boat and golf cart from John for very reasonable rates, and really enjoyed the island and people. 3 kayaks and more bikes than I could count were awesome. If you love peace and quiet, SW is the place for you, and Summer Breeze is a great deal!!! If you like to fish, this location is amazing. Oh, and yes, we got back our security deposit, no questions asked.

Recommended for:Families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

There are better options!!

Guest: Mary C.
Date of Stay: 08/02/11 Review Submitted: 04/10/12

Spanish wells is beautiful this house not so much! Welcome to a grungy,dank, badly in need of a rehab, flashback to bad taste 1970's The owner pleads for good reviews. We encountered the following issues - surly (almost aggressive) cleaner was there for 5 hrs of our first day. We were not allowed into the house during this time - TV caught fire while my kids were watching it. No apology made. Thankfully my husband put it our before the house burned down. - no propane in BBQ - door handle fell off - - no dishwasher, old dirty dishes & Pans - horrible showers, old and funky - view of the beach if you stand on your tippy toes in the living room. - we were warned by someone on the island that the owner here was notorious for keeping security deposits and sure enough she kept ours! Then said she'd return it for a favorable review. Sorry cant be bought lady! - There are lots of other great rentals on the island. They actually have sea views and clean comfortable accommodations.

Owner response:Our first bad review! Needless to say, we’re not happy with the review, but not surprised either. The renters that wrote this review were not happy when we decided to keep their deposit funds because they essentially trashed our house. In fact, our housekeeper and caretaker's family said that they have never seen a rental home left in such bad shape. I would go into much more detail, but I'm limited to 2500 characters with this response. Suffice to say, the expenses we incurred for 2 full days of cleaning and to repair or replace the damaged items were not covered by the $200 deposit funds. As far as the furnishings, decor and ambiance of the home, the pictures on the website and the other reviews speak volumes about our home. By way of example, check out the reviews from the renters who stayed at the house the week prior and subsequent to these renters' stay. We make every effort to keep our home appealing, comfortable, and functional. The kitchen is extremely well-stocked, the linens are top-quality, the walls are freshly painted with bright, tropical colors, and our (very pleasant) housekeeper does a thorough job of making certain that the house is clean for our renters. Next, the home is advertised as an "ocean view", which it has from every room. When my 6-year old heard this renter's comment that you can only see the ocean standing on your "tippy toes in the living room", he promptly stated that he can see the water without standing on his tippy toes. He's 47 inches tall! Lastly, we have never pled for any reviews. We've been very fortunate to have excellent renters stay in our home, which is why we have never kept any amount of any other renter's deposit funds. That being said, the comment by these disgruntled renters that I (Ansley) am "notorious" on the island for keeping security deposits is simply not true. Nor is the statement that I offered to return their deposit for a favorable review. We made the decision to keep the deposit the day that these renters left, when we received a call from Spanish Wells about the condition of our home when they left. We trust that prospective renters will read all the favorable reviews, and take my comments regarding this review into consideration when deciding whether to rent our home. I’m happy to answer any questions about this review, our home, and Spanish Wells. No worries! Ansley

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Perfection in Paradise

Guest: Jim A.
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 08/10/11

What a fantastic way to get away from it all! Our stay at Summer Breeze was everything we had hoped for and more. While we had discussed taking excursions from our beach to Harbor Island, or renting a boat, the perfection of the house and the beach ended up being all we really wanted, as we spent most of our time there. The house had all the amenities we could possibly hope for. We made regular use of its grill, and the kitchen contained everything we needed for our week-long stay. Even in the heat of late July, the house was always cool and comfortable with its array of ceiling fans as well as air-conditioning. The back deck is truly humongous and great for evenings. There's even a hammock in the back yard! Free Wi-Fi kept us in contact with as much of the real world as we wanted, which wasn't much :) We made use of the tremendous collection of DVD's for some evening entertainment as well. The highlight, though, is the beach itself. Probably the most perfect beach I've ever seen. There was not a person within 500 yards of us, and the water was some of the clearest I've ever seen. You could see the shadow of the kayaks (which the house provides:) ) on the ocean floor. The water temperature was also perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and just laying back and relaxing. What was great is that the house has beach chairs, umbrellas, the aforementioned kayaks, beach towels and lots of other supplies for the beach, which takes a load off a vacationer's mind. The owners were great through every step of the process. They arranged for our transportation from the airport to Spanish Wells, checked in a couple of times during the week to make sure all was well, and were extremely friendly in all of our dealings with them. The caretaker, Johnny, was also available whenever we needed (which wasn't often given the perfection of the place.) It was sooo relaxing, and incredibly difficult to leave. We're really hoping we can come back some day soon.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Awesome experience

Guest: Jimmy N.
Date of Stay: 06/25/11 Review Submitted: 07/26/11

We spent two weeks at Summer Breeze. Our stay was very comfortable. The house is very big. It accomodated all of us (4 adults & 4 children) easily. Everything we needed was available. The kitchen is fully stocked, the bedrooms are large and the king size beds are very comfortable. Having separate bathrooms with showers in each bedroom was very convenient. There are plenty of movies, books and toys for young children and a nice DVD selection for the grownups as well. Having flat screen TVs was a nice way to finish up our nights. The owners also provided us with kayaks, beach chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards & an assortment of beach toys. Those made our sun drenched days at the beach, a blast! We appreciated the fact that Ansley checked in on us a few times to make sure we had all we needed. She was completely honest about everything. There were no surprises upon arrival. The caretaker Johnny, is a great guy and is always helpful. He's the go to guy if there's a problem (not that we had any) and he will answer any question you may have about the island. Spanish Wells is a beautiful community with breath taking beaches. The island is extremely safe. The people are very friendly, and nice. Don't expect to find any tourist attractions or high end restaurants there. There aren't any. What you will experience, is Spanish Well's island life. No stress, and lots of relaxation. We loved going to the beach, and finishing up our lazy days on Summer Breeze's huge deck. Grilling lobster while sipping on a cold drink and sharing laughs with our friends made our two week stay one of the best experiences we've had.

Recommended for:Families with young children

Beautiful, Relaxing, Fun Vacation Home

Guest: PJ (ATL)
Date of Stay: 04/29/11 Review Submitted: 06/22/11

Summer Breeze is a beautiful home with so many fun things to do. Clean and comfortable and very close to those pink sandy beaches. We would ride bikes to see the awesome sun rises and then ride a golf cart to see the serene sun sets. Walk to the beach every day and kayak or swim in beautiful clear water. The locals are so nice and friendly. I felt so safe on this island. Just a great place to relax away from all the hustle and bustle of everyday day life and the corporate world. Spanish Wells is the best kept secret and Summer Breeze is the BEST place to stay on the whole island.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Véronic Goyette - Montréal - Canada

Guest: Véronic (Montréal,Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/16/11 Review Submitted: 05/16/11

Second time around! We enjoyed the vacation even better this year than last year here at "Summer breeze villa". It was practical to find that you already know the ropes on the Island. It brings you right back to where you left off the year before. The same people working at the same place, where they remember you from the last time. It's great! It is the best place to relax and walk the perfect beach with the perfect pinkish sand. See you next year guys!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

A Great week!

Guest: derecho (Cape Coral, FL)
Date of Stay: 01/22/11 Review Submitted: 02/09/11

This was a fun week, very relaxing, beautiful house, perfect beach (and that alone is reason enough to come back!). The house was stocked with everything and very comfortable, exactly what we were looking for. The ocean is steps away, easy to get to...which is important since we took the (supplied) kayak out to the water every day. Ansley and Jay were very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed for a perfect week, even arranging transportation from the airport to the front door. Johnny (the caretaker of the house) was around when we needed him and would stop by to say hello, just a class guy! The island of Spanish Wells is easy to get around on (though you should plan on a golf cart), friendly people, and definitely on island time. We ended up eating at home more than we thought we might as the island only has three restaurants (all with the same menu!), but when we did go out the food was really good! Ansley and Jay, thanks for a fun week!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Planning a Return Trip Now!

Guest: Tina (South Carolina, USA)
Date of Stay: 01/01/11 Review Submitted: 01/29/11

My BEST vacation ever! The pictures on the website just don't do justice to this beautiful and tranquil island and Summer Breeze Beach Villa is in an ideal spot to enjoy all the beauty. The house had everything you might need, from the fully stocked kitchen to the luxury linens on the beds, the grill on the deck, beach chairs and towels, movies and books, and the gorgeous view from the deck. From start to finish the trip was more than I ever expected. The owners generously arranged for us to be met at the airport by David, the most polite and friendly taxi driver I've ever met. After a quick (and beautiful) ferry ride from Eleuthra to Spanish Wells we were met by the owners' caretaker, Johnny. Johnny was available and helpful our entire visit, just a few streets or a phone call away. He helped us find Captain Ryan, who took us exploring on a nearby unihabited island and snorkeling. The water is so clear you can see the bottom and the reefs were spectacular. We planned to take the fast ferry to Nassau for a day, but couldn't bring ourselves to leave Spanish Wells! The beach was just a quick walk away and beautiful beyond description. I've already reserved a week in June and just hope I can wait six months to go back! In the meantime, I just close my eyes and I'm back on the beach with the white sand, sound of the ocean, feeling the sun on my face and watching the beautiful turquoise water change colors as the clouds drift overhead in the blue sky.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The Perfectly Equipped Island Getaway

Guest: Karen (New Jersey)
Date of Stay: 07/31/10 Review Submitted: 08/10/10

Summer Breeze is equipped with every ammenity you could possibly need to take full advantage of the beautiful island of Spanish Wells. The kayaks will put you in the midst of the beautiful turquoise water where you might, as we did, spot dolphins and stingrays. If relaxing on the beach is more your style, the short path to the beach, proximity to the house, and use of beach chairs makes it unbelievably easy to spend time on the practically private beach. Several days we were still lingering in the water after 6pm! We started each day with a bike ride, and also used the bikes to run to the grocery store and local shops. Once we had our groceries, it was actually fun to prepare meals in the open kitchen, and to dine at either of the large tables, inside or out. Before and after meals, it was fun for the kids to play on the huge deck where we could see them, and for us to sprawl out in one of the lounge chairs and recount the day's events. We were three families, and the three bedrooms and baths gave each of us some privacy, while allowing us plenty of time to be together, whether eating, watching one of the movies provided, or playing one of the many board games they keep. And what is better on a beach vacation than having a washer and dryer right in the house? What we didn't put in the dryer, we hung on the line which extends the whole length of the porch. Spanish Wells is charming, and a vacation there is relaxing and memorable if you are lucky enough to choose the right rental property. We are so happy to have experienced Summer Breeze, and we hope to return!

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A definite 10

Guest: Sandra (Nassau, Bahamas)
Date of Stay: 07/24/10 Review Submitted: 08/15/10

My husband and I just spent the most wonderful 5 days at Summer Breeze with our daughter in law and our 2 grandchildren ages 4 & 8. We have visited Spanish Wells at least 5 times in the past year.By far Summber Breeze was the most comfortable and thought out house that we have stayed in. The house is very spacious and the bedrooms very comfortable. The linens are first class and plenty of them. Convenient laundry facilities. The beach is one of the most beautiful in the Bahamas. I think in the time we were there we saw about 3 people at any given time. What more can I say, just pack your bags and go.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children.

Absolutely Wonderful!

Guest: Bob & Joyce (Fresno, California, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/20/10 Review Submitted: 07/02/10

We spent 7 fantastic days at this great cottage. Accomodations were spacious, clean and comfortable. All the amenities for a fun vacation. (DVDs, CDs, beach chairs, BBQ, etc) We "lived" on the spacious deck overlooking the palm grove out back and took advantage of the ocean breezes. Just hop in the golf cart and ride 100 yds to the most gorgeous beach we've ever seen. We barely encountered another soul on the beach over the entire week. Owners were caring and made sure we had everything we needed. They kindly arranged to have the caretaker rent a golf cart and lay in supplies for us before we arrived! (By the way - you won't meet anyone more friendly & helpful than John & Nancy who helped to make our stay a great experience.) This is one of the best cottages on the whole island. Spanish Wells is a great place to leave the world behind and enjoy a relaxing getaway. The people on the island are very friendly and open. The few local restaurants served good family style food (The Gap was especially good.) The island keeps it own hours so be prepared. Food Fair grocery closed on Wednesdays. Only restaurants open on Sundays. All retail closes for lunch between 12-1pm. If you feel the need to explore North Eleuthera - don't bother. Not much there. After a long boring drive to Rainbow Bay, we turned around and headed back to the cottage paradise on Spanish Wells. But before leaving, we did stop for lunch at the Rainbow Inn. Lucky for us! The Rainbow Inn is the proverbial oasis. A wonderful bar and restaurant overlooking Rainbow Bay. The owners were extremely nice and service oriented. This vacation will stay in our memories for a long time. It was the best experience ever. We highly recommend going to Spanish Wells and staying at the Summer Breeze cottage (huge house actually). Overall, a wonderful vacation experience!

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

A Definite "10"!

Guest: The Katz Klan (Arizona)
Date of Stay: 06/04/10 Review Submitted: 06/17/10

We enjoyed a wonderful week at this beautifully-maintained home in Spanish Wells. From our arrival at the airport and being met by the caretaker, Johnny and his wife, Nancy, at the ferry landing, our week progressed to include fishing and snorkeling trips, relaxing days at the beach with its crystal clear water and sugar-soft sand, and preparing wonderful meals at home in the well-stocked kitchen. Our rented golf cart allowed us to explore the island, visit the grocery and bakery, and travel to the harbor to buy delicious snapper, grouper and lobster. We loved relaxing on the deck after a day at the beach and were most appreciative of having beach chairs, umbrellas and a kayak available for our enjoyment. The owners, Jay and Ansley, were great and called the day we arrived to make sure everything was okay. Johnny, the caretaker, is a kind and lovely man and was extraordinarily helpful. We would definitely return to this idyllic spot!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Five Stars!

Guest: Hollera (Georgia, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/27/10 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

We'll be back. Summer Breeze was everything the website described; no disappointments here! All rooms are spacious and well appointed. The owners were generous with their place and all its amenities. We lacked for nothing. The caretaker was a great host in helping us with all manner of transportation (golf cart, boat, ferry and taxi) arrangements. We ate in every restaurant and shopped in every shop; without exception, everyone was friendly and accommodating. A great little community.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Our perfect vacation at Summer Breeze Villa

Guest: Véronic (Montréal, Canada)
Date of Stay: 05/24/10 Review Submitted: 06/15/10

How refreshing to finally find a place for a perfect vacation. This is why; a fully equipped beachhouse more than we expected , a dreamy pinkinsh sand so fine it never gets hot, wonderful for long walks. You will loose stress in notime. We all found arrangements fine for good quality time. You will never forget it. All you need is at proximity, food fair, bank, bakery, snack bars. If you are looking for a ressourcing vacation, summer Breeze Villa is the perfect place to be. Talk to the locals, they are really friendly. We will be back for sure.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

a TRUE vacation

Guest: Holly H. (Jupiter, FL)
Date of Stay: 05/20/10 Review Submitted: 05/26/10

My husband and I stayed at Summer Breeze for a long weekend and are already making plans to return. The house is comfortable, clean, and the beds/linens are amazing! There were lots of amenities that we enjoyed such as the selection of DVD's, bikes, beach chairs, outside dining, grill and hammock. The pictures are extremely accurate and Yes! the water is really that blue and beautiful! The beach might as well been private, as we only saw a couple of people each day. The people of Spanish Wells are so warm and we really enjoyed getting to know Johnny, the caretaker. Our trip was a wonderful experience. Summer Breeze and the island of Spanish Wells is a place for TRUE relaxation.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Great home, tranquil island

Guest: Avraham P. (Kew Gardens, NY)
Date of Stay: 02/28/10 Review Submitted: 02/14/11

This trip was great,We were looking for a place to just get away and we definitly found it here Unfortunately we had to cut our trip short but the few days we had at the summer breeze were excellent. The house was very nice and large it was fully stocked with everything we needed, they also have great dvd collection. We bike road every morning (with the supplied bikes) around the island. Then went to the totally secluded beach ( we must have seen a total of 6 ppl on the beach our entire time there) to just hang out or go kayaking with the supplied kayaks. Ansley was great and really accommodating. Totally recommend 5/5!!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

We would definitely go back to this particular place.

Guest: Marlaandrob (Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/24/10 Review Submitted: 03/30/10

We just wanted to write and say what a peaceful and relaxing holiday we had at Spanish Wells. The island is off the beaten path and as such, it is almost like the land that time forgot. It is a quiet…laid-back…. the people are friendly….you can get around the island on bikes or a golf cart… the white sandy beach goes on forever with no one around…everything that you need is on the island. We loved staying at the Summerbreeze Beach Villa. What we most appreciated about this rental is that it came with bikes and a sea kayak. We rode around on the bikes getting familiar with the town and also for trips to the bakery and grocery store. The house was very comfortable and came with everything from a huge flat screen TV, a barbeque, big deck, towels, all the kitchen gear that you would have at home, 3 bedrooms with their own private bathrooms, and more……… Our experience with the owners was extremely positive. They arranged for the caretakers to pick us up from the ferry and called once we arrived to make sure we had everything we needed.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: David Sugarman (Ontario )
Date of Stay: 01/25/10 Review Submitted: 01/25/10

We stayed at Summerbreeze with our two boys aged 10 and 7 for eleven days in January, 2010, . Very responsive owners to deal with and a great caretaker who looked after us with wonderful care. Very spacious house just off the beach and walking distance to stores. Comfortable beds, cosy soft linens and towels, good kitchen to cook in and huge closets. The kids loved the wide shallow beach which we had mostly to ourselves. We had a fabulous time and enjoyed the small village atmosphere of Spanish Wells.

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Guest: Nicole 4 (West Palm Beach, FL)
Date of Stay: 12/17/09 Review Submitted: 12/17/09

My boyfriend and I spent Thanksgiving week in Spanish Wells and we did not want to come back. The house is awesome - big enough for multiple families but cozy enough for just two!!! Everything one could possibly need at the house was there - the Island was awesome. Lots of places to explore and very quiet beaches. We are going back for sure!!!!

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Guest: Nancy Jones (Palm Beach Gardens, Fl)
Date of Stay: 09/30/09 Review Submitted: 09/30/09

My husband and I stayed at Summberbreeze over the Labor Day Holiday. The house is great - nice and clean with all the amenities provided. The beach is just a short walk and the water is beautiful. Great fishing. Also, great food on the island at the local resturants! We will definitely go back.

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Everything and More

Guest: Mark (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 08/14/08 Review Submitted: 10/11/11

When we first booked our vacation we had very high expectations after reading all of the comments posted on this site. To our delight the vacation exceeded our expectations. Jay and Ansley were very helpful and the house was stocked with all the comforts of home. If the comment section allowed pictures you could see how beautiful the house and the Island truly is. The beach, ocean and the landscape were incredible. Our days were spent at the beach with our children and evening were spent barbequing seafood on the large deck in the evening. Make sure you get to know the people on the island as they are part of what made the trip so amazing. We met a few of the locals through “Buddha”. This lead to several parties and outings with the incredibly fun and friendly locals. One of my highlights, which will give you a sense of the Island, was meeting two lobster fisherman playing dominos at one of the local parties. I happened to mention my interest in their lobster Industry and the next day they gave us a private tour of the lobster factory and their large operational lobster boat. We then proceeded to spend the afternoon spearing lobster in the Atlantic. No matter how hard we tried, “Remy” and “Crane” the two locals who took us out would not accept compensation the tour. Not even for the gas. They very just happy to share the Spanish Wells experience. Other highlights include catching 36 fish in 4 hours with a local guide, Harbour Island tour and just relaxing at the Summer breeze.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.