Vacation Rentals by Owner

A Piece of Paradise

Guest: Becky and Evan (Minneapolis, MN, USA)
Date of Stay: 12/26/11 Review Submitted: 01/09/12

My wife and I along with our 10 year old daughter stayed at Casa del Perro Feliz over the New Year with another couple and their two girls (ages 9 and 11). The house couldn't have been better suited for us and surpassed descriptions. With seperate bedroom suites everyone had plenty of room at night and the common areas were open and comfortable. Outside the grounds are beautifully maintained by Ulisses and Maria and really expand the living space. The girls loved the hammocks located under the palapa and the parents loved the chase lounges overlooking Tankah Bay. Speaking of Tankah Bay, it provided hours of snorkling and kayaking fun. (we saw lobsters, octopi, rays and tons of fish) Casa del Perro Feliz served as an excellent base for our many day adventures including trips to Akumal, Tulum, Sian Kaan and el Pariso beach. For day excursions, not having a rental car, we used Ulisses' friend Rueben for taxi service. Rueben was a real hit and never let us down, always offering great suggestions and taking us to fantastic local resturaunts and food stands. Within walking distance were a couple of nice casual resturaunts including Blue Sky. Also within walking distance is Manatee Cenote, which is a great and very affordable adventure. The water in the cenote is clear and fresh. Not to be forgotten was the kind service provided by Ulisses and Maria. They were very responsive and always helped us out with any questions or needs we had. We had Maria cook for us one night and it was great. Grilled fresh fish and her famous flan....We also enjoyed their dogs which were always well behaved and very sweet. The dogs really got a lot of attention from our daughters and always accompained us on our walks either on the road or on the beach. Our week at the Casa went by too fast and we were sad to say adios. We are ready to go back already and would certainly recommend the Casa to anyone including those with kids. On a closing note I would also like to say that the owners, Ann and Chuck, were superb and very helpful. Ann was very prompt with answering questions and made us very comfortable with the whole process.

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

New England Visitor

Guest: NM (Massachusetts)
Date of Stay: 12/15/11 Review Submitted: 01/07/12

Our family spent 11 days at Casa del Perro Feliz over Christmas 2011 and we really enjoyed our vacation. The villa and its location on Tankah Bay, which we mostly had to ourselves, was wonderful. The water and snorkeling was terrific as were the views of the bay and star gazing from the balcony and roof top of the villa. The housekeeper Maria and her husband Ulises, were very attentive and took great care of us. The villa is very spacious and had all the comforts of home that we needed. In addition, the location was very convenient to Tulum's restaurants where we had many outstanding dinners. The villa could easily be called "house of the happy dogs and people" We would definitely consider a return to this special place!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Comfortable, Tasteful and Relaxing

Guest: JMB-NLY (Kalamazoo, MI)
Date of Stay: 02/26/11 Review Submitted: 03/14/11

The first thing you notice when arriving at Casa del Perro Feliz is how wonderfully the house sits in harmony with its surroundings. Instead of playing the game of one-upmanship ("our house is more gargantuan than your house!"), the owners designed Casa del Perro Feliz to complement the site. Trees were preserved that not only lend to the aesthetics of the house but help to keep it cool. The colors are tasteful and tropical without being gaudy. The house is open and airy, constructed to take advantage of cross breezes that kept it cool even on the hottest afternoons we were there. The beds are comfortable and the kitchen well-equipped. Tankah is a great place in and of itself (the bay and access to the reef are about twenty paces from the patio door), and it's located within easy driving distance of Tulum, Akumal (another great snorkeling spot), and many other places. A cenote (a sinkhole where an underground river emerges) is close by for great, refreshing freshwater swimming. The Mexican caretakers are wonderfully attentive without being intrusive, and the local property manager is close by to take care of any problems (we had none). This, simply, is a great house for a vacation. And indeed, the dogs are happy!

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

Perfect! Just Perfect!

Guest: Guboua (Montreal Canada)
Date of Stay: 01/02/11 Review Submitted: 01/11/11

We just got back from Tankah. It was just perfect. Since it's a review, I'll try to cover a few areas that usually raise questions when looking for a house. We were 6 adults with my 6 months old. The bedrooms : They are spacious and have lots of windows and 2 or 3 fans in each. Sleeping was not a problem...in fact it was great and cool, even without AC. Each bedroom has its own shower and toilet. The kitchen : When you need something in the kitchen, it is there. From spices to cookware...we didn't miss anything. The caretakers : Ulises and Maria were great. We had Maria cook for us (6$ per person) on 5 different nights and her food was amazing. Ulises went to the grocery to make sure we had everything for dinner. The house and the beach was clean daily. The backyard : When you look out the window from the house you see : Palm trees, sand and water. As we walk around on the beach and in the neighborhood we often told to ourselves that we had, by far, the nicest backyard in the area. More secluded, more shade areas and a better maintain beach. One must know that the bay is more of a snorkel area. So the sea bottom is rocky and you need water shoes the enjoy the bay. If you're looking for a sandy bottom, this might not be it. On the other hand, if you like to snorkel, it's close and really nice. Activities : If you want to get around, you probably need a rental car since it's cheap in mexico. Or taxis. Tulum ruins and the beach inside Sian Kaan reserve are among the must do. There is a cenote/lagoon that is great and beautiful just 5 min walk from the house. Highly recommended. We had one dinner at the Blue Sky restaurant (again walking distance). It was not good at all and way overpriced. 30$ US for a small spaghetti with overcook seafood. The owners : Easy and pleasant to deal with Ann. They made a booklet with all the informations you want to know. We sure hope we can go back!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Happy Travelers at the House of the Happy Dogs

Guest: Shari T (Plymouth, MN)
Date of Stay: 03/06/10 Review Submitted: 03/29/10

We loved our two weeks at Casa del Perro Feliz and appreciate all the owners have done to make the casa so special. Ullises and Maria, our on-site gardener and housekeeper, were incredibly helpful in spite of their limited English and our even more limited Spanish. Always available but inconspicuous, their kind assistance made for an enjoyable and comfortable stay. The house worked perfectly for our vacation; just big enough when everyone was in Tankah, each suite private enough and the social space more than adequate. We were down on the beachfront chairs by 6 a.m. every day and made good use of the palapa and outdoor, shady areas later in the day. It was wonderful to have so many choices of where to relax. The location on the bay is terrific...quiet, protected and beautiful. And there is plenty to do both in the 'neighborhood' and in the surrounding area. We had an adventure every day! The property owner's advance information and preparation for our trip was extraordinary. I plan a number of trips each year for myself and for several others so I'm very familiar with the booking process with private property owners. I ask a lot of questions and know what to watch for when I'm selecting a lodging facility. The amount of information these owners provided and the level of care is exceptional. I don't think I had to ask more than about 5 questions in advance of the trip, and the packets of info provided before our arrival, not just left in the house, gave us so much advance preparation I felt like we probably gained a day or two just in orientation to the property and the surrounding shopping, sights and activities. I found these owners have set the standard high for my future private home reservations. Everything from start to finish has handled professionally and with our vacation happiness at the forefront.

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

Guest: Doug and Sarah Mosle (Fayston, Vermont)
Date of Stay: 05/26/09 Review Submitted: 05/26/09

Dear Ann,I wanted to write and let you know that our trip to Tankah Bay, and the stay in your beautiful home there was exactly the vacation we had hoped it would be. We were so struck by how thoughtfully your home and property were developed that it was nearly impossible for us to leave - in fact I don’t believe we ventured further than a few thousand feet away for the first three days we were there. It truly was our home away from home for the duration of our trip, and there are very few places I have been on vacation for which I can say this. Although the short spring/summer in Vermont had finally begun by the time we returned home, we are still missing Mexico, your home, and the tranquility of the Bay badly. The people who we met were extremely welcoming and eager to teach us whatever they could about the area. Ulises and Maria took exceptional care of us for the entire stay; from the day-to-day housekeeping to Maria's cooking, which was so splendid that we barely felt the need to go out and try the local cuisine. They are truly a blessing, and a big part of our happiness while in Mexico. The location was the perfect combination of seclusion and convenience. Close to many different beaches, restaurants and attractions if you wanted, but remote enough that barely a sound disturbed our long, relaxing days. I can’t even begin to count the many hours I spent each day lying in a hammock under the Palapa; my wife is sick of hearing me talk about building one “New England style” at our house (there is probably a reason we don’t see thatch roofs in New England, she says). The peace and quiet made our vacation. In fact you may recall that a few days after we arrived, Swine Flu broke out in New York City, and while the world around us was panicking, we were blissfully ignorant of the entire episode, thanks to the seclusion of your home, and the quiet nature of the whole Tulum area. I am pretty sure that if we had not returned to the airport in Cancun, we might still be unaware of it today. We are very appreciative of your willingness to open your beautiful home to us. I know that it takes a leap of faith to allow strangers into your home and trust that they will respect your property the way you would your own – it is a splendid casa and a wonderful place to rest while enjoying all that surrounds you. I wish we had accomplished even half of the things we set out to do during our stay, but alas we found that just having a few more hours to relax, kayak

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Guest: Colleen
Date of Stay: 12/03/08 Review Submitted: 12/02/08

Hi Ann, I returned to California late last night and am currently going through Casa del Perro Feliz withdrawals. Your home is wonderful: the location, the views, the dogs, Ulises & Maria; wonderful, wonderful. The Tulum ruins are incredible, its beaches amazing. Thanks for the tips on the best timing, everywhere we went we seemed to be two steps ahead of the crowds. We especially loved the snorkeling in Cozumel and Luca at the Blue Sky and margaritas on the beach. Katie, Gray and I had a great vacation. Thank you. We hope you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving and wish you very Happy Holidays. Katie, Gray & Colleen P.S. I have a crush on Blackie. That dog is absolutely adorable :).

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Irene and Bobby (Old Bridge, NJ)
Date of Stay: 11/01/06 Review Submitted: 11/09/06

Ann and Chuck, We must thank you again for providing a wonderful vacation for us through the rental of your home in Tankah. Last year we rode out Hurricane Wilma in the casa which proved to be a formidable opponent to the hurricane. This year was less exciting weather wise and we got to take in the sun, snorkel and kayak the bay, experience the "gathering" of the parrots in the jungle in back of the casa and just relax this time. We love the way you have preserved and respected the environment that surrounds your home, be it letting the iguanas feast upon your garden or the palm trees that stand where they have grown by themselves. Casa del Perro Feliz will always hold a special place in our hearts and memories! Shall we book a third time now?

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Guest: Lois Johnson
Date of Stay: 01/04/05 Review Submitted: 01/03/05

We visited your home Nov. 28-Dec. 7th with two other couples from Bozeman, MT. We all fell in love with the house, the beach, the area, your caretaker family, the puppies, and we're all dreaming about how we can get back to the area SOON! The whole experience rates as the best vacation ever, and we've had some good ones, so that's really saying something. Ann,Please feel free to use my comments. We could go on and on. We are still wishing we were back there, especially today with the very wintry weather we’re having! We cannot imagine even looking at another house. Yours fit our needs so perfectly. Thanks so much. Happy New Year!

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Guest: Lisa & Bill R.
Date of Stay: 12/25/04 Review Submitted: 12/24/04

"Casa del Perro Feliz will always hold a special place in our hearts after our week here. Your beautiful home has given us gifts of sun, sea, peaceful relaxation & shared laughter. Abundant thanks to you!"

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Guest: Leah & Stephen
Date of Stay: 12/25/04 Review Submitted: 12/24/04

"Dear Ann & Chuck and Julian & Maria, We had a week in Paradise. The house, the beach, the bay, the hammocks and most of all Maria & Julian.... it was simply perfect. We tried to snorkle at different places like Xcaret, Yal-Ku, but only to confirm that the best snorkling is right here. Everything is so untouched. Maria & Julian took care of us and our children like family/friends. We felt so safe and everything was so clean. We will always keep Casa del Perro Feliz in our hearts and will return as soon as possible. Thank you for everything and sharing your paradise."

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Guest: Terry & Charley C.
Date of Stay: 12/25/04 Review Submitted: 12/24/04

"Ann & Chuck Wow, you've created the perfect retreat! A work of art! It was simply amazing to see how things have changed from our last visit in Feb. 01. Thanks for allowing us to soak it all up for a few (too few) days-"

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Guest: Niki R.
Date of Stay: 12/25/04 Review Submitted: 12/24/04

Aug. 10 ,2004 "Dear Ann, Chuck, Maria & Julian, Thank you so much for our wonderful week in your little Paradise. We all had so much fun and everything was nice and comfortable. We enjoyed the beach, the kayaks & snorkeling, right here at your casa the most. We had never seen water so clear and so very turquoise in color. I made it up most mornings to enjoy the sunrise and we all enjoyed the beautiful sunsets together. Maria & Julian were wonderful!"

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Guest: Scott, Melissa & Samantha F.
Date of Stay: 12/25/04 Review Submitted: 12/24/04

"Ann & Chuck, Wanted to say thank you for opening your home. Then setting is beautiful as is the house. This is the perfect place to escape to. Very quickly we found our natural rhythms and stress was completely forgotten. Julian & Maria were excellent! All in all, a wonderful experience, we are tan, happy & relaxed and not at all ready to return to the land of information overload."

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