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I would absolutely go to Culmer Cottage again

I stayed at Culmer Cottage over Christmas 2014 with my 22 year old son. We got in very late that evening, but our car rental connection (recommended by Lynn who owns Culmer Cottage) was ready and waiting with a great care for our trip. We arrived in Tarpum Bay quite late, but the door to the Cottage was open and everything was lovely. It was a beautiful sight for tired eyes. We had a great sleep as it's very quiet there and were off for a snorkeling trip the following day. Culmer Cottage sits in the settlement of Tarpum Bay, so you are surrounded by a small population of very friendly, local people. The next morning, I was off to Bert's Market a few steps away, to buy groceries so that we could cook in our lovely kitchen. On either side of the cottage are two churches, and directly outside the back and across the street is Tarpum Bay and the gorgeous, emerald green waters of the Caribbean.

The cottage is well-equipped, clean, and well-maintained by Brenda and Kervin, the caretakers. They both showed up to say hi several times during our stay, and Christmas Day food cooked by Kervin was delivered by various grandchildren to our cottage, as well as some fresh fish caught by Kervin. Everything you need is there to make your stay relaxing, comfortable, and entertaining. The cable TV and internet work well, which is surprising in such a small settlement, and on Christmas Eve and Day we could hear carol singing at our neighboring churches. There is even a local bar within walking distance where we could buy our Kalik beer (the beer of the Bahamas) when the store was closed for the holiday.

I would absolutely go to Culmer Cottage again in the future. In fact, I would choose it over a more costly resort that doesn't give you the ambience of being in the REAL Bahamas, with friendly people, great food, and peace and serenity at it's best. Don't forget that you can drive up and down the island on its one major road, and there are great places to eat and to visit along the way.I have now been to the Glass Window Bridge near Gregory Town, and count it as one of the most beautiful places in the world.

So congratulations to Lynn, who is great to communicate with as you make your plans, for providing a real experience in Bahamian culture and a lovely place to stay for a wonderful time. We can't wait to come back.

Stayed December, 2014

Rating
5/5
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Love, love, love it here!

Culmer Cottage is a true cottage in the middle of a small fishing village with grand charm! The house itself is tastefully decorated with personal touches and art created by the owners and others throughout. It is not just a rental it is their home away from home and we felt like we were visiting the cottage of a family member or friend, not a place set to rent. In Tarpum Bay you can enjoy the Bahamian people who live here year round. We saw very few other tourists and although we sometimes (probably always) looked like tourists ourselves we felt totally at home, at ease and truly almost like family at times. The people here are the most warm, friendly, open people I have ever met in any of my travels. I felt so welcomed every place I went! When you walk or drive anywhere, everyone speaks to you, treats you with the utmost politeness, waves if you are driving by. Hitching a ride is common and we felt comfortable picking up kids, older people and females- not sure if I would pick up someone who could overpower me. This place is safe, there is very little crime here, according to locals. We loved exploring the island and the beaches. We wanted to relax and decided not to take the trip all the way to Harbour Island. We went as far North as Gregory Town, checked out Governor's Harbour and North Palmetto Point. We saw different beaches every day. Junkanoo was a delight! You need a car in order to get around to the beaches. Cook for yourselves to save money- eating out here is more expensive than most places in the U.S. comparing apples to apples. We bought fresh lobster and conch and red snapper off the dock half a block from the house. We grilled the snapper, made a fish boil with the lobster and had the caretaker make us a conch salad. The caretaker is a wonderful cook and can be hired to bring you meals. We asked her to cook extra Christmas dinner- asking her to just bring us whatever she was making for her own family and we got turkey, ham, macaroni and cheese (they say macaroni), yellow rice with vegetables and dressing. Every single thing was delicious- prepared a lot like soul food in the U.S. We fell in love with the caretakers and their family and will always remember their kindness and the fun we had with them. We love this place, are still here at the time of this writing and do not want to leave. We would recommend this place to anyone who likes to travel off the beaten path to know the real people of the Bahamas.

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

Stayed December, 2015

Rating
5/5
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Convenient to everything

Culmer Cottage is a wonderful cottage high on a hill over-looking the Caribbean Sea, just a stones throw from the water and the fishing pier where you can purchase the catch of the day. A constant cool ocean breeze makes for a very pleasant stay. The second floor porch provides spectacular views while the main floor patio provided a great spot for morning coffee while checking email and evening cocktails. Staying in the heart of Tarpum Bay provided a great experience where I was able to meet and socialize with some of the local people who shared colorful stories about Eleuthera and the other islands. The market is directly across the street and several local eateries are within walking distance. Eleuthera and beaches go hand in hand. A short drive in any direction took me to beautiful beaches for sunning, swimming and great snorkeling. A ten minute drive from Rock Sound Airport was convenient and Tarpum Bay is a great spot for day trips to the north or the south of the island. The cottage itself is comfortable and well appointed with a full kitchen, 2 full baths and 2 bedrooms. Every window has a view. I very much enjoyed my stay and plan to return to this wonderful spot!

Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, girls getaway, age 55+, romantic getaway.

Stayed March, 2018

Rating
5/5
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Third stay's a charm

Have stayed here three times. Great view, centrally located on the island, easy to maintain. Like having fish dock with daily catch a block away.Like being in the middle of a Bahamian town. I keep coming back, so you know I like this cottage.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, girls getaway, pet owners, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway.

Stayed February, 2019

Rating
5/5
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Perfect house

This is my idea of a perfect house for the setting. And I have never seen beaches as beautiful as those on Eleuthera.

Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway, families with young children.

Stayed November, 2015

Rating
5/5
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