Best family vacation!

Guest: Canadian Traveller (Oakville, Ontario)
Date of Stay: 07/17/11 Review Submitted: 10/02/11

We had a wonderful time in Cape Breton and I second everything that others have posted in their comments. You cannot beat Cape Breton for the sightseeing or the beauty. We went all over the island and all of it was awesome. We went to see whales at Meat Cove and were not disappointed; we must have seen a dozen, at least! And the vistas! You'll also see tons of moose (careful when driving at night!). The home was beautiful, as others have posted. We enjoyed the pie and the flowers too and everything the home had to offer. I have to provide a few warnings though....The home could have been cleaner....I don't know who stayed in the home before us but there were tons of long dog hair all over the place....in plain view, rolled under couches, in corners....everywhere! As many members of my family are allergic to dogs, we had quite the fun time with allergic reactions! (not!) So here I am, first thing I had to do was vacuum the place from top to bottom when I first got there....just to find that the vacuum cleaner that is in the house overheats after about five minutes so had to resort to a broom. As it's impossible to get rid of dander without a thorough cleaning, I would caution allergy sufferers that this home is pet friendly. Also, if you like a good pillow to sleep on, bring your own as most of the pillows in the house are flat as pancakes. While I'm on bedding, some of the sheets (as some of the towels) had stains on them...gross! Limited face clothes for a week if you're more than four or five people visiting too so you might want to bring a supply. Same goes for kitchen linen as there's only one dishrag and 2-3 dishtowels. If you offer a home for rental with linen included that linen should be replaced more often than what is done in this home. The ad says "sleeps 8-10" but that would mean you need to use the basement as there's a futon down there. But the basement is unlivable due to very high humidity and mold (and its related smell). No problem in the rest of the house so I would say sleeps 8 comfortably. All in all, a very good week. I would recommend the home with the above provisos.

Owner response:Yes, we do advertise a pet friendly accommodation so that should be considered carefully when reserving for persons with pet allergy. We advise guests that pets are not permitted on any of the furniture nor onto any of the hardwood floor areas which includes the entire second floor and the main floor bedroom. Failure to comply with these conditions would result in forfeiture of the pet security deposit. Upon arrival we also invite guests to feel free to ask for any additional supplies or equipment that they may need as soon as it becomes evident and to alert us to any housekeeping oversights. We are close at hand and most issues such as turning on the dehumidifier or bringing over some extra towels, are quickly and easily resolved before they could bring any tarnish to an otherwise lovely vacation.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, sightseeing.

Best Family Vacation Ever !!

Guest: Granny (Baytown, Texas)
Date of Stay: 07/24/11 Review Submitted: 09/01/11

My grandchildren said over and over again that this was the best family vacation ever. They loved Singing Pebbles . The beach house was perfect for our family of 7. The location on the beach gave us several hours of peaceful "together" time . S'mores and hot dogs on the beach, watching "Bruce" the eagle fly in and out each day, star gazing and the game room were wonderful. Elizabeth loved the pets. One day we declared "Levi Day" for our youngest. He could choose the activities. He chose to stay at the beach house and eat spaghetti. We did however leave and found Donella's Puffin Tours, Captain Marks Whale Watching , Baddeck, Skyline Trail, Main Street Restaurant and so many other things to be close enough to enjoy. Thanks Jitka for making this such a memorable experience. By the way, the pottery has a place of honor and I really am going to use it :)

Owner response:I dare say, I enjoyed it as much as you did. It is lovely to be able to share such a little piece of paradise.

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

Perfect Place to Stay and Explore!

Guest: ladybird (Chicago, IL USA)
Date of Stay: 08/14/11 Review Submitted: 08/26/11

My family of six adults had a wonderful week staying in the Singing Pebbles beach house this summer. The location is perfect for getting to many different sites on the island. Jitka took good care of us, starting with a fresh apple pie and wildflowers at our arrival, and then her timely response when a crow knocked out power to the house suddenly toward the end of our stay. We felt welcomed and at home, and certainly could have enjoyed another week! Absolutely recommended!

Owner response:I must share credit for responding to the power outage. It was caused by a crow who shorted out a near-by transformer. My contribution was merely to call the power company who were here in less than an hour to make the repair. I just noticed that this site is recommended for "Tourists without a car". I would not recommend coming without a vehicle. Although we did once have a guest who had arrived with an expired driver's license and could not obtain a rental. We picked him up at the shuttle. He stayed close to home for a week and we brought him back to the shuttle at week's end. He had enjoyed his vacation, but did not see as much of Cape Breton as he should have.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Guest: Rhonda49 (Oakville, Ontario)
Date of Stay: 07/21/09 Review Submitted: 07/21/09

We were blown away by the beautiful views from the private and perfectly appointed beach house. We enjoyed campfires on the beach, fresh strawberries that we picked on our rambles, the inquisitive seal we first saw from Angels' Bluff, the ponds and the hospitality of Jitka and Rory. It was a magical visit starting with the warm apple pie and gorgeous flowers on our arrival to our sighting of the eagles being fed at the ferry as we left.

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Guest: Stephensons (Waterloo Ontario)
Date of Stay: 07/15/09 Review Submitted: 07/15/09

Our week long stay in July 2009 was wonderful. The house was beautiful and accomodated our family, ranging from 15 to 87, with lots of space to gather 7 of us together or have some quiet personal time apart. The view of the ocean and Cape Smokey was incredible. We took long walks on the beach and hikes up the trails on-site. The location was perfect for doing day excursions for kayaking, whale watching, hiking or visiting artisan shops. We have rented other oceanfront homes in eastern Canada but this one, by far, was the best!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/08 Review Submitted: 07/15/08

We four stayed in this incredible home in the summer of 2007. Words cannot describe the beauty of the property or the way in which it is maintained. Sitting on the rocky beach at 7:00 a.m. with not a sound around and watching a pod of whales swim by not 15 feet from where I sat was simply incredible. It would not be possible to find a more wonderful accommodation on the Cabot Trail. Our hosts were very attentive to our every need, and we hope to return soon.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/01/07 Review Submitted: 06/22/07

We enjoyed our stay at Singing Pebbles in Nova Scotia. Our hosts, Gilbert and Jitka, were great--surprising us with a homemade apple pie upon arrival, ordering fresh lobster upon our request, and providing us with everything needed to cook them. The view from the house was breathtaking (I couldn't get enough). The house was very well equiped with everything you could possibly need to make your stay pleasant. This is one of the best places that I have rented over the years.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/05 Review Submitted: 09/30/05

Comment Text: What a splendid week in a beautiful place. The apple pie and fresh flowers; the splendid owners, Jitka and Gilbert; the constantly changing view of Cape Smokey; the fresh eggs; the occasional visits from Fiona and Cyrus - all combined to make this a memorable visit to Cape Breton. I shall think of you both and this wonderful spot as I pour tea from the "blueberry teapot." Thanks for contributing to a lovely holiday.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/05 Review Submitted: 09/19/05

In addition to a full week of oceanside peace, we are most appreciative of great hiking recommendations, eggs - apple pie - fresh flowers. We thank you for all this and more! Hope to return, Paul, Sheila, Val and Olie

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/05 Review Submitted: 09/18/05

The house is beautiful and most comfortable. We arrived late and exhausted from travel on the 10th. Gilbert and Jitka were so warm and welcoming. Gilbert kindly prepared a delectable omelet for us with ham, mushrooms and eggs from their chickens. He also brought a loaf of hot bread. With Jitka's wonderous apple pie we truly had a feast. We think you both for our relaxing stay on the island. Among the joys, we saw ravens and a sea eagle! The lobster boats came every morning and on Saturday morning, we saw two huge fishing boats out on the ocean. Walking along the shore is, indeed, an adventure. We thank you for sharing the beauty of Singing Pebbles (yes, they really do sing) Dick and Reone

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