Villa Mission Bay

Mission the cat was the villa’s star for me, always good for entertainment and cuddles. We also made great use of the kayaks and paddle boards, and spotted dolphins from the pier on a couple of days. There were nine of us at Mission Bay and everyone was comfortable, with room for more. The house layout felt a little choppy, but being right on the beach made up for that. The golf carts made getting into town easy, though the governor limited the ride to about 30 minutes. Jorge and Jamie were excellent throughout our stay, quick to handle the small issues we ran into and helpful with anything we needed. They were also lovely to talk with. Chef Julia’s food was delicious. My main complaint is that some things, like the guacamole, were store-bought rather than homemade, though she was cooking for a large group by herself.

The staff were the highlight for us. Jorge and Yeymi were wonderfully friendly and helpful. Jorge cut down coconuts, opened them up, and let us try the fresh water. Yeymi cleaned every day, even though we kept telling her to take a break. Julia cooked for us on three days, and everything was great. Her homemade tortillas, fry-jacks, and biscuits especially impressed us. Mission the cat was adorable and happy to play or cuddle, and all the staff patiently answered our many questions. The rooms were spacious and clean, some with views and some without. Each had a TV except the half room upstairs. That space is open to the main living area behind a half wall, so it has no privacy. We didn’t need it as a bedroom and used it as a restroom for the living area. The other bedrooms are separate from the shared living space, which gives privacy, but means walking outside to reach it. That was fine except in the rain. The kitchen worked well, though it would have been useful to have an ice maker on that floor. The only ice was by the bar on the ground level. You’re right on the beach, and somehow the Caribbean was warmer than the pool. We enjoyed the kayaks and paddle boards, and canoes were available too. There was also a volleyball net and fire pit, though we ran out of time to use either. Golf carts made it easy to get around Placencia. Across the street, a resort offers mini golf, pickleball, and a gym for $100 US for the whole house for a week. Icky’s has a bar and restaurant open to the public. Since it’s a beach house, there are raccoons, birds, and bugs around, so keeping things clean and staying alert helps keep pests away. We didn’t have a bad moment on the trip and would come back every time.

Erica, our concierge, was incredibly responsive and helpful. When someone in our group missed a connecting flight, she helped me sort it out within minutes. Namir, the caretaker, also took care of everything we asked for, and the house stayed spotless. She and her husband Anthony made us feel completely at home. Anthony was our private chef, and his cooking and baking were phenomenal. We had 12 adults and plenty of room to spread out, with lots of seating. The pool was lovely, and the beach was beautiful. We used the kayaks and paddle boards every day, and the golf cart came in handy for exploring the area. The house could use some updating, though the amenities made that easy to overlook. I hope they get around to it for future guests. My favorite part was Mission, their sweet outdoor cat. He was so friendly and cute that we took loads of pictures. It was an amazing trip, and I’d highly recommend staying here.

Candy and George, the housekeeper and chef, did so much to make our week special. They were kind, attentive, and looked after everything beautifully. The beach was gorgeous and groomed each morning, and we fished from the private dock every day. The shallow pool was just right for the younger kids. We were 12 people, including six little children. The open-air living and dining space on the main level was fantastic and became the part of the house we used most. The bedroom layout took some getting used to because every entrance was outside. With several very young kids, that was challenging at first, but we worked out a way to manage it. Besides that, everything was amazing, and we’d definitely return.