Guest Report
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 2:19 pm
Man o' War Bay cottages sounded exactly what we want in holiday accomodation. Right on the beach, not over done (no swimming pool with adjacent bar etc.), with the promise of 5acre botanical garden.
First impressions were fine, but the reality wore thin. We were in cottage 10 which has 2 large bedrooms and adequately equipped kitchen, verandah and its' own garden leading down to the beach. Very surprised on the first morning that there were so few people on the beach but enjoyed wonderful swim and read book until I suddenly realised that I was being eaten alive. The beach seems to be taken over by 'sand flies' or mosquitoes which is why its' empty.
In daylight you begin to realise that the bathroom shower not only has very chipped tiles but they could do with a very thorough clean - that's not the pattern, they are covered in grime. The second night brought on the realisation that we were actually closer to the main crossroads for the north end of the island than we were to the sea and that some people go to bed very late and others start work very early, and they all want to hoot there horns!
There is also a convenient bar which is great except Friday night when it's party time and the bass boom almost literally shook the bed and as the party lasts until 3.30am I ended up refusing to pay for that nights lack of sleep.
The garden (of this cottage only) was very gloomy and uncared for with litter being dumped over the fence from the road left lying for days on end, which sort of typified the feeling about the whole place.
Actually found the whole of Charlotteville slightly disappointing, poor food shopping, pretty ropey restaurants tho' the fish co-op is great.
Happily we spent the 2nd part of our holiday at Castara. Great beach, coral was as good there as any of the other places we tried snorkelling. Stayed with Ivy & Kurt at Baywatch Inn - [email protected]. just a room with kitchen and bathroom in their house but soooo clean, so friendly and helpful and the MOST powerful shower I have ever found, and about 50 yds from the beach. Also there is a great cafe/restaurant right on the beach where they barbecue the freshest fish - 1 night we had to wait for the guys to land the fish at the co-op before we could eat, but it was well worth the wait. Castara resurrected what would have been the worst holiday for years and I would happily go back there.
First impressions were fine, but the reality wore thin. We were in cottage 10 which has 2 large bedrooms and adequately equipped kitchen, verandah and its' own garden leading down to the beach. Very surprised on the first morning that there were so few people on the beach but enjoyed wonderful swim and read book until I suddenly realised that I was being eaten alive. The beach seems to be taken over by 'sand flies' or mosquitoes which is why its' empty.
In daylight you begin to realise that the bathroom shower not only has very chipped tiles but they could do with a very thorough clean - that's not the pattern, they are covered in grime. The second night brought on the realisation that we were actually closer to the main crossroads for the north end of the island than we were to the sea and that some people go to bed very late and others start work very early, and they all want to hoot there horns!
There is also a convenient bar which is great except Friday night when it's party time and the bass boom almost literally shook the bed and as the party lasts until 3.30am I ended up refusing to pay for that nights lack of sleep.
The garden (of this cottage only) was very gloomy and uncared for with litter being dumped over the fence from the road left lying for days on end, which sort of typified the feeling about the whole place.
Actually found the whole of Charlotteville slightly disappointing, poor food shopping, pretty ropey restaurants tho' the fish co-op is great.
Happily we spent the 2nd part of our holiday at Castara. Great beach, coral was as good there as any of the other places we tried snorkelling. Stayed with Ivy & Kurt at Baywatch Inn - [email protected]. just a room with kitchen and bathroom in their house but soooo clean, so friendly and helpful and the MOST powerful shower I have ever found, and about 50 yds from the beach. Also there is a great cafe/restaurant right on the beach where they barbecue the freshest fish - 1 night we had to wait for the guys to land the fish at the co-op before we could eat, but it was well worth the wait. Castara resurrected what would have been the worst holiday for years and I would happily go back there.