Our most recent stay at Folly

Guest: tbphilly (Philadelphia, PA, USA)
Date of Stay: 01/08/09 Review Submitted: 03/03/09

We are long-time fans of Eleuthera and have visited the island often since our first stay over 30 years ago. Little has changed over the years and that's part of why we like it so much. This is a warm, relaxing and very special place, a terrific contrast with our bustling life in the U.S. We've now toured pretty much every inch of this interesting island but prefer the centrality and conveniences of Governor's Harbour. There's just enough to do in this picturesque little town and we enjoy having all the conveniences within walking distance. It's also a great home base for daytrips either north or south. Folly has lately become our very favorite place to stay. It's right in the in the middle everything Governor's Harbour has to offer, but still feels very peaceful. We particularly look forward to sitting on the front porch in the evening and taking in the view across the harbor to Cupid's Cay. Although one of the oldest homes in town, the house has been well maintained and has absolutely everything you need. Everywhere there are signs that the owners care and are thinking about all the little details -- the kitchen and bathrooms have all been updated, the linens are fresh and plentiful, and there are extras of everything you could possibly need. Each room is beautifully decorated with a terrific mix of antiques and newer things. There's lots of character without sacrificing anything. The house is also big enough for a large group. Either inside or out, there's plenty of opportunity to be sociable with others or get away by yourself. We would highly recommend Folly to anyone planning a visit to the island. We're already planning our own return trip soon.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

HOT and Humid

Guest: Florida (Tampa,Florida)
Date of Stay: 07/03/06 Review Submitted: 05/20/11

We stayed there in July and there is NO Air conditioning (the owner never mentioned this)! Nothing to do around here either. Roosters squak all times of the night. I would never recommend this place. We left early and asked for our money back, the owner said no way.

Owner response:Air conditioning is in all the bedrooms and ceiling fans throughout the house.July is a very hot month in the Bahamas,but there are lots of activities to do including the Pineapple festival,Sailing regattas and fishing tournaments up and down the island. Strange this review took 5 years to be submitted.Too many good reviews to be taken too seriously.

Recommended for:

Great house - island experience not so great

Guest: islandhopeful (US)
Date of Stay: 06/01/10 Review Submitted: 12/05/10

The house was a perfect place for our family to stay at while on the island. The rooms are spacious, well lit, lots of windows, beautiful views. All amenities necessary (except washer/dryer) we were able to cook and grill and feel quite at home. The owner was very quick to reply to any concerns or requests we had (make sure you ask for beach chairs and umbrellas ahead of time). Things to be aware of: the beach is across a main road from this house and is heavily polluted with broken glass and trash - not a great place to swim unless the tide is out. The market nearby was very convenient, but don't expect to find local island food, much of it is processed canned food from America and not a lot of fresh local fruit or vegetables, all meats are sold frozen. We were there in June and only one restaurant was open for business close to the house. If you want to enjoy the other beaches, you MUST rent a car as nothing else is close buy. Cupid's Cay is desolate as is GH so we didn't have any interaction with locals or tourists (except for the fish fry which was loads of fun). We walked to one beach which was over a mile away, while it was breathtaking, there is no shade, food or snack or water - so you have to pack up before you go to any beach - which is why you really need a car. We were wary of renting a car bc you are renting from a local guy not a rental company and while they have insurance you must make sure your own car insurance covers you internationally. We didn't bring car seats for the kids bc we thought everything was within "walking distance" - we learned that everything is not! Great house, great owners, great island and friendly islanders but you really need a car and don't expect tropical local food (except for conch salad - yummy!) you will find chicken fingers, burgers and other american foods that we were hoping to get away from!

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

Well equipped comfortable home!

Guest: David (Kansas City KS USA)
Date of Stay: 03/13/10 Review Submitted: 11/28/10

We spent our spring break in Eleuthera last March. We selected the property off line just like many others have done. It was our first experience doing such a trip. We were not disappointed. The Folly home was perfect for our family. My wife and I had our two daughters and their boyfriends with us. The home was large enough for us to spread out, but quaint enough that we could enjoy each others company as well. The kitchen was so well stocked we were able to have a formal dinner with lobster that we purchased from a local fisherman. The location was perfect as well. Close to grocery shopping, several place to eat within walking distance and easy access to everything. We rented a car and we were glad we did, we drove to serveral different beaches the week we were there. Our favorite beach was the old club med area. We shared it with only a handful of people on the days we were there. I could go on and on, but will try to sum it up this way. We would go back, we would recommend it to a friend. It was clean and well maintained, only issues was 24 hours with out electricity on the island and 24 hours without water on the island. Nothing that Folly could have done about either, just part of being on the island. We chose to look at it as an adventure instead of a negative. Great local deli up the hill, with friendly service and enjoyed chatting with owner. Had starbucks coffee! Everyone was friendly, we felt safe on the island. Our caretaker was available if needed and the owner of Folly was the best to deal with. Being rookies we had many questions and she was a wonderful resource. We hope to come stay at Folly again sometime soon. Best vacation we have ever been on! David and Debbie

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

Paradise Found

Guest: David and Eloise (Danville, KY)
Date of Stay: 02/20/10 Review Submitted: 03/23/10

My wife and I have visited Governor's Harbour for the past three years and rented Folly each time. We intend to return and will stay at Folly when we do. The house itself is beautiful. A historic house in the historic town of Governor's Harbour, Folly is perfectly located to take in all of Eleuthera's beauty. It's situated on the harbor, Carribean side of Eleuthera, in the center of the small, charming Governor's Harbour. The grocery and restaurants and shops are a walk from the house. The prettiest beach on Eleuthera is a short walk over the hill on the Atlantic side of the island. The house is beautifully and tastefully decorated and furnished and very comfortable. A large part of our trips is spent on the front porch reading books and enjoying the beauty of the harbor and the goings on in the town. The rest of the trip consists of exploring Eleuthera and the different settlements, which are inhabited by friendly people who are grateful for the visit. The house has large comfortable rooms and is big enough to handle a group comfortably, though we've always been either a couple or a couple with a friend. It's well-stocked to deal with anything that comes up (like, for example, the visit of the fishermen selling fresh lobsters and grouper at the boat ramp a few steps from the house). It's a perfect base from which to explore the island. Edgar, the man that watches the house, is around to help out with a rental car or anything else that comes up. I recommend Folly without hesitation and can't wait to go back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

Folly House Govenors Harbour Eleuthera Bahamas

Guest: Marconi (Ottawa, Ontario )
Date of Stay: 02/15/09 Review Submitted: 03/02/09

We had a wonderful stay at the Folly House. The owners were very helpful and sent us an information package prior to our trip describing things to see and do, local restaurants, beaches etc. The house manager Edgar was really great and it was a treat to just chat to him about life on the island and his experiences. The house is beautiful, airy and clean. The front porch has a sunset view of Cupids Cay and is just a walk down the front lawn and across a road. You can swim in Cupid's cay, but there are better places on the island to go for swimming and snorkelling. Sitting on the front porch having coffee and breakfast in the morning with a gentle sea breeze and watching the locals go about their business was a treat. There is also a beautiful little courtyard in the back to sit out in the afternoon after a days activities. When we were there (mid Feb), there didn't seem to be any bugs around, and the weather was beautiful. I would recommend renting a car during your stay, as there is lots to explore. A typical 4 door car runs about $60 US per day. The owners also gave us contact information for renting a car and getting a taxi, and Tommy and his son Dwight Pender were very helpful and genuine people. You can buy local fish at a number of areas and the house is well equipped for cooking or barbecuing. You can walk to a beautiful beach on the Atlantic side, but it takes about 20 - 30 mins, or an easy couple mins drive. You can choose between a quite carribean beach for snorkelling and swimming or go to the more robust Atlantic side to play in the surf or watch surfers. Rainbow beach was a real highlight, but there are so many great beaches we seemed to find a better one each day. There are a number of good restaurants within walking distance of the house, some with good local music. The house is suited for people that like to enjoy themselves and family as well as exploring the island and enjoying beautiful beaches. There are not huge crowds or busy towns here, so if you're looking for that, then look elsewhere. Friday night they have a "Fish Fry" down the beach (~ 5 min walk) and they BBQ chicken & pork ribs on a huge BBQ, and deep fry fresh fish - also had fresh conk salad made on the beach. I could go on and on, but bottom line is that Folly's House is in a great location, and a beautiful place to stay.

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

Family Vacation at Folly on Governor's Harbor

Guest: Dah2011 (New Jersey)
Date of Stay: 11/22/08 Review Submitted: 03/01/09

We felt right at home in this spacious, grand old house from day one. Very clean and comfortable with all the amenities. The wireless internet was dependable. The owner called to make sure we were comfortable and settled in. The maid did a nice job of keeping the house clean. The home is in a good location right on Governor's Harbor which is a very historic spot on the island. You can walk to shopping, restaurants and bars all within an easy 5-10 minute walk. We visited the nearby bakery every day for fresh baked bread and pastries. There are several casual and friendly dining options within walking distance. Every Friday night there is a fish fry right in Governor's Harbor where you can try all the local specialties like conch salad, conch fritters, etc. and drink Kalik, the Bahamian beer while listening to music. It was a lot of fun and turned into a big party. There was also a great place to go for all your salads fixings and fresh herbs called the Island Farm which is just south of Palmetto Point. Everything is fresh picked from the garden. The best part about Eleuthera is the beautiful unspoiled beaches. There are so many incredible pink sand beaches that you could visit a different one each day for your entire vacation. The sand is soft and clean and the water is that gorgeous aquamarine blue/green color that makes for perfect pictures and memories. We have two teenagers and when they saw the beaches they were amazed. They had a great time snorkeling and playing on the beach. I would highly recommend our experience staying at Folly and Eleuthera. We had a really relaxing family vacation. We visited in November and here it is, March 1st and I still find myself daydreaming about the beaches and beauty of Eleuthera. We can't wait to go back!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

Fantastic Folly

Guest: Sun God (Vancouver)
Date of Stay: 10/31/08 Review Submitted: 11/25/08

The house has so much charm and character.The sunsets from the front porch were breathtaking.The house was well equipped with everything we needed to enjoy our vacation.Plan on going back next year.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with young children.