A very nice alternative to the "all inclusive" resort

Guest: Tammi (Hamilton NJ)
Date of Stay: 11/05/11 Review Submitted: 11/19/11

Me, my wife, and our daughter spent a week at the Shell Villa in early November. We normally do the all-inclusive resort vactations but wanted to try something different this time. We decided on the Shell Villa mainly on reviews we had read. We certainly made the right choice. It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable vacations we have been on. We got to see quite a lot of Antigua in a relatively short period of time. When we arrived at the airport we were met by the driver Valentino. A really nice guy and we had fun talking to him. We rented a 4x4 (which I highly recommend) and followed Valentino to the Villa which was about a 40 minute drive. When you get to the final road to the Shell Villa this is where you will find the 4x4 very useful. Its an adventurous drive but fun. We were met at the Villa by Helen who welcomed us and helped us get settled in. She and her husband Kevin were very welcoming and we learned a lot about the island by talking to them. They were truely a pleasure to meet. You couldn't ask for a better location than the Shell Villa. Right on the water with the most amazing view. On clear days you have a perfect view of Montserrat. It is very secluded and I had the feeling of being in my own private paradise. We never tired of sitting on the deck and just soaking in the view. The Villa is very clean and has all the amenities you need. It is obviously very well maintained inside and out. We enjoyed hanging in the pool. Its plenty big enough to have fun and cool off in. The kitchen is fully functional and the bedrooms and baths are very clean and comfortable. We stocked up at the local grocery store (Bailey's) and cooked most of our own meals. I also stocked up on a couple cases of the local beer for the week. Of the few restaraunts we ate at we found the best food at Trappas. We tried to do hit a different place each day. We found Pigeon beach to be the nicest (and closest). Half-moon bay and Darkwood beach were also very nice. We loved the place and I would recommend it to anyone. We hope to get back there one day. A couple things to keep in mind...You will need to rent a car and you should make it a 4x4. Also, there is no air conditioning in the Villa. However we were kept plenty cool by the large ceiling fans in each room and loved feeing the breeze coming in the large windows.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing, romantic getaway.

Antiguan Paradise

Guest: Ed (CROWNSVILLE, MD)
Date of Stay: 06/18/11 Review Submitted: 06/30/11

Can't imagine a more beautiful villa. The sunsets viewed from the infinity deck are breathtaking. Hearing the sounds of the waves and frogs lull you to sleep. Dipping in the plunge pool was so refreshing as well as a great place to star gaze. The villa is so comfortable and well stocked with all the necessities that you need. Don't forget to spend lots on time in the hammocks. We suggest that you stay for 2 weeks as a week is not enough.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, romantic getaway.

Stars, Sun, Beach and Magic! An Antiguan Vacation.

Guest: finley (Saugerties, NY US)
Date of Stay: 02/05/11 Review Submitted: 02/22/11

We had a wonderful time and the house could not have been any more accommodating and wonderful! We so loved just sitting on the deck hearing the waves that felt so much like the heartbeat of the earth. Steady, rhythmic, assuring and cleansing. From the first sunset and the morning rainbow the next day to the adventures of driving around the island...it was wonderful. Sharing pictures with folks since we’re back has helped to relive so many moments. (You may have a few customers next year from the Hudson Valley as a result of our ravings!) The house could not have been better. Quite accommodating to naps and reading, pool dipping and helping us to connect with calm. The nearby restaurants, the sights of the magnificant beaches and mostly the people of Antigua were inviting and gracious. Rain drops would come and go but the lovely Antiguan sun was always there to comfort us. Your home is very lovely and we are most appreciative of your sharing this magical parcel of the earth with us.

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

Warm Weather Get Away January 2011

Guest: Paul (Indiana, USA)
Date of Stay: 01/29/11 Review Submitted: 02/15/11

>The house is in a beautiful location and the weather was perfect. I don't know that I've ever been anywhere for a week where the weather was so nice. > > We did stay close to the house most of the week. The road was a little worse than we expected (the drive in on Saturday night was an adventure - following Valentino as he swerved around the pot holes). And we had to get used to driving on the left side of the road - took a few drives to finally get used to it. > > > We did get out to Shirley Heights, English Harbor, Half Moon Bay, Darkwood Beach (via Fig Tree Drive) and Pigeon Beach (twice) and stopped at St. John's on the way back to the airport. No one was brave enough to get in the water in front of the house, so the only snorkeling we did was at Pigeon Beach. > > We stopped at Bailey's every day to stock up - (we cooked dinner at > home every night so we could watch the sunset), >> > We really enjoyed the house. Thanks for letting us rent it. It was a really nice vacation (and we missed a lot of bad weather back home.....). It is a beautiful place.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

Family holiday July 2010

Guest: Martin & Katharine (Gloucestershire, UK)
Date of Stay: 07/01/10 Review Submitted: 07/18/10

It was a pleasure to be met by Valentino at the airport and guided to the villa, after the drive it was a pleasant surprise to see that the villa sits right on the sea front with a lovely sea breeze and the pool making a pleasant daily stop to cool off. The villa is well equiped and affords some great snorkelling close by. As a family we visited the whole island with our favourites being Half Moon Bay and Shirley Heights both quite close by. Shell Villa has the best of both worlds, it is situated in a secluded location yet easy for visits anywhere on Antigua. We had a lovely stay and appreciated everything that Shell Villa had to offer, including Daphne's Aloe Vera and island knowledge. The bananaquits (small birds) make welcome visits to the sugar dip and are a pleasure to watch each day from the covered decking. A fabulous place for R&R.

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

Perfect and serene

Guest: Hensley (Rosendale, NY)
Date of Stay: 03/12/10 Review Submitted: 03/27/10

Our stay at Shell Villa was a wonderful break! The villa is well equipped and extremely comfortable - the beds were heavenly and we went to sleep and woke to the sound of the waves rolling against the shore. The plunge pool was plenty deep and large enough to float about in the heat of the day (or to splash into in the evening after dinner). The sunset from the deck was magnificent (although we'd also recommend Shirley's Heights on Sunday evenings for the sunset and steel band, even though it's quite touristy)! We made it down the 4wd track to rendezvous bay and there was not a soul in sight - what a wonderful treat, a little slice of paradise. We plan to return with our families (this was a girls' long weekend, and all three of us have young children we plan to return with). Falmouth Harbor and English Harbor are very close by, with good restaurants and bars - we liked the Mad Mongoose for happy hour (and you may meet some of the yacht crews and get invited for a tour of a boat or two), and Abracadabra. HIGHLY recommend.

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

Guest: Jim Amoss (New Orleans, LA)
Date of Stay: 02/09/10 Review Submitted: 02/09/10

Sitting in the mornings and at sunset on the deck was sheer, unadulterated pleasure. We had a good balance between exploring the island and relaxing at Shell Villa. We took in the Saints-Vikings game at the Mad Mongoose, the only football fans in the house. Daphne was a gem! We bought and cooked fish and octopus from fishermen out front. Altogether a fantastic week! Thanks.

Recommended for:

Guest: Helen and Bob (Hilton Head Island, SC)
Date of Stay: 02/08/10 Review Submitted: 02/08/10

What a beautiful home you have at Shell Villa. It was so perfect for us and we loved every moment of our week. We loved the private setting, beautiful ever-changing views of the sea and boats. Falmouth Harbor and all the beautiful yachts were amazing. We had a nice lunch at Harmony Hall one day and a final night dinner at Shirley Heights where we had the whole place to ourselves.

Recommended for:

Guest: Jessie Price (-)
Date of Stay: 12/01/09 Review Submitted: 12/01/09

We loved Shell Villa! In fact we really wanted to explore the island while we were there but we had a hard time pulling ourselves away from the deck, the view, the breezes and the sound of the waves at your house. It was really great. Also we loved the whole set up and really enjoyed the kitchen. It was indeed very well stocked so we had a great time cooking. My husband John even did a little cooking (which he never does at home). By the way, we thought that the house and the setting were even nicer in real life than it looks in the photos. We were really pleased!

Recommended for:

Guest: Caleb3 (Jacksonville, FL)
Date of Stay: 10/25/09 Review Submitted: 10/25/09

We had an absolutely wonderful time at Shell Villa. We wished we could have stayed more than one week though. The home was spectacular in every way. I can't express how wonderful the views were all throughout the day. We had a couple days when Montserrat was clear as a bell and others not so much. We rented a jeep and explored pretty much every inch of the island. Our two young boys enjoyed snorkeling at multiple beaches everyday!! Every morning we got to start a new adventure. We didn't do a whole lot of eating out except for Sweet T's down the road. Good stuff. We chose to stock up on groceries and cook out every night. The cooler came in handy for picnics during our daily adventures. The only place we didn't get to see is Rendezvous Beach. Never did get to meet Daphne because we were gone throughout the day. It was such a quiet and peaceful home and we couldn't have asked for anything else.

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