Poolside Villas #104

A wonderful little getaway. This is our third year staying here. The walk to the beach can be tough for older or frail people, but in the heat it’s also a great workout.

The free parking and elevator were the best parts. Our unit was tastefully done, mostly quiet, and had a decent view, but the building is old and has sunk, so many nearby balconies seemed to be peered up on. There was no sunset view unless we walked to the beach. There were lots of families and a lot of turnover. The pool had the best breeze all week, July 13-22. The walk to the bay, where the beach is, was quite long. This building is a 15-30 minute drive from most things. If you want waves, clean beaches, and no seaweed, you’ll need to drive to Henderson beach and pay for parking. We thought it was worth it. From the parking-lot side you can see the harbor across the way, but there’s no access, so you’ll need to drive there. It’s beautiful at night. The food in the area is off the charts good, but we won’t return. We’re a little older and the trek down to the water wore us out. People from a distant hotel also come to this beach because that hotel owns it, and there are no bathrooms. We prefer the convenience.

The condo was updated, the AC was nice and cool, and the walk to the beach wasn’t bad. Still, this isn’t a cheap place, and I’d spend my money elsewhere. The beach in front of the condo is owned by Emerald Grande, so you can’t use it. There’s a public stretch a little to the right, only about 20 feet long. People leave trash in the villa’s common area and nobody picks it up, and at night there was a sewage smell by the pool and on my balcony. I’ve stayed at Inlet Reef and Jetty East, and they weren’t as dirty.

We had a cozy, enchanting week away, and I saw the most amazing sunrises and sunsets I can remember. The aqua coastline and sugar-white sand were a marvel, and I hadn’t realized how many seashells there were to collect. There was hardly anyone around when we visited, and staying on the third floor meant no noise from above. Our Air B&B host, Edgar, was just a text away and answered every question within seconds. It was a tricky gate to find in the dark, so keep that in mind. I’ve read too many scary Air B&B stories, but don’t let the hype put you off. This felt like a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the place. A lovely spot for New Year’s Eve.