Island paradise
We just returned from a week in Eleuthera & stayed at the Garden of Light house. There were going to be 5 in our party when we rented the house, then it turned out 2 were unable to come so it was just myself, my husband & our daughter. The house more than served our needs, and would have been just fine with all 5 as well. The property is in great shape, has been well maintained, and all the appliances as well as the pots and pans were top-notch. Beds were comfy. And there's a great double kayak (inflatable), snorkel gear, & bikes which looked brand-new.
The owner, Barbara, was a dream to deal with & responded quickly to all of our questions. The caretaker of the house was there to meet us at the airport & even gave us a little tour of Palmetto Point. He waited while we picked up some Kaliks, and then some basic supplies at the local store, before driving us up to the house. I don't think we would have found the house without him. The dirt road to the house was, at first, daunting, but all of the roads that lead to the beaches are primitive & you just take it slow. Having the SUV was a godsend as we were able to get to some fabulous beaches!
The beach at the house was stunning, as are all of the beaches in Eleuthera. It was too windy when we were there to swim at that beach but-- no problem-- we just drove across to the Caribbean side where the water is very shallow and calm, perfect for kids. The beach we were on is wonderful for walking, though, and having a drink or lunch under the palapa hut. And had we not had unusual weather (occasional showers, windy, overcast off and on) it would have been just fine for swimming-- but we enjoyed it anyway to the utmost. Having the SUV, though, allowed us to go exploring and we sought out a new beach every day, each one better than the next. It was nice coming home to the house at night ; very peaceful & quiet. You could hear the ocean & the stars were beautiful. Mornings on the upstairs deck sipping coffee were just great! It was slightly weird having 2 separate apartments for our family of 3, as we spent nights together downstairs then breakfast (and an occasional dinner) upstairs-- but it would be perfect for 2 couples or 2 small groups wanting privacy.
There are lots of great places to sit outside, which is where you'll spend most of your time. Our daughter loved reading a book while relaxing in the hammock! We had a wonderful time at the Garden of Light house & YES we'd recommend it!
Stayed February, 2011