Vera

This place is absolutely spectacular -- I've just never seen anything like this indoor-outdoor pool with the ocean in the background. What made it exceptional was the combination of that with the work of Chef Karen, who is actually chef not just of the kitchen but also of arranging outings and adventures. She made stunning food for a group with wide-ranging needs and preferences and simply stopped at nothing to make our visit a delight. I strongly recommend asking for her if you book here. Small notes: This place is right on the water but a swimmable beach is a 5-10 minutes' walk, and it sometimes took a while to hear back from the host. But it's a gorgeous house and the delicious creations of Chef Karen make it extra special.

We had a small intimate wedding down by the shore on what we lovingly have called “mermaid rock”. It was magical and everything we dreamed of. Chef Karen was well worth the price and truly this destination was what our dreams were made of. The only downside. The raccoons do not play. They partied harder than we ever did and broke several of our rented dishes that we had to pay for even though we put everything away each night. I suggest leave nothing, even clean dishes on the counters, as they may get smashed.