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Reviews of Whistling Duck: Private Oceanfront Cottage

Whistling Duck: Private Oceanfront Cottage
Clarence Town, Long Island

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 13 out of 13 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 13 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 13 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 13 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 13 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

cheryl m., Worcester

Liked: Cleanliness
Incredible Stay
This was our first time to Long Island. The best decision we made was staying at the Whistling Duck. Before our trip Peter was great with answering my emails. We were greeted by the manager Violet, who showed us around and gave us a lot of useful information. The place is very cozy. Great front and back porches to enjoy the sounds of the water. The gazebo by the water was our favorite place to hang out. We did swim in front of the house when the tide was right. Lochabar Bay is beautiful. A highlight of our trip was kayaking across the bay and around the Blue Hole. The outdoor shower was incredible. Nothing like hearing the waves and seeing the stars. The outdoor clothes line was very handy. The house is well equipped with everything we needed. Visit Erica’s bakery for incredible banana bread and meet this kind woman. The house is centrally located to explore the island. Lighthouse point has great fish tacos. The pig roast Friday nights at Rowdy boys was fun. Gordon’s is a must and about 30 minutes away. North you will find Tiny’s, Chez Pierre and Harbour club around 45 minutes. Thank you Pam and Peter for sharing this great property. We will be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kate M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Paradise
Whistling Duck was an absolute tropical treasure. The beauty and sounds of the aqua-teal waters and breezes met us everyday and lulled us to sleep each night. Peter was so helpful and accommodating with transportation issues and overall guidance. When we had a huge storm and lost power, Violet the property manager was available to assist and even checked up on us the next day. The house is clean, cozy, quiet, and has everything you need with a porch and deck perfect for relaxing and stargazing. Beach at our doorstep and short walk to the Lochabar Bay nearby. The island was easy to get around and we enjoyed the food and people. This was a very special vacation we won't forget.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robyn C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Most amazing time
It was perfect. Thank you to Peter for being an amazing host. Sitting at the waters edge every day was pure bliss.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anjuli M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Absolute heaven
This house is adorable first off. In perfect condition, extremely clean. The location….you CANNOT explain how beautiful it is here. The beach basically out the front door, the breeze, the view. If you want a place to relax and enjoy a beautiful island with no crowds, this is the island. The hosts Peter and Pam are more than helpful, we did not have a question unanswered. We appreciated them.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laurie R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Best place in the Bahamas
Quiet, private, and perfect! Peter communicated to us tidbits about the island and weather that helped us in our planning. We would be glad to go there again and again!
Stayed 14 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Richard A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Just beautiful
The house and furnishings were excellent and comfortable in every way. I wouldn't change a thing. But what I most enjoyed was the environment and location. From the two decks the views all day and all night were spectacular and engaging with the changing weather, light, colors, stars and wave action. The property is next to a less famous but more beautiful "blue hole" with coral and fish for snorkeling. We had to leave too soon.
Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brendan W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Honeymoon Getaway
We had an absolutely amazing time at this cozy cottage on the water. The locals were friendly and accomodating; my wife has celiac and we had to explain what gluten was and how to avoid cross contamination, and they worked really hard to make sure her dishes were safe. The location of the cottage is absolutely amazing with beautiful water and reefs just a short kayak trip across the way. We just loved it.
Stayed 8 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jenifer B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Incredible
Absolutely amazing in almost every way possible. We’re already planning another trip. The location, views, privacy, beach access, the most beautiful blue water not even 100 ft away, kayak etc. This place has it all, truly. We plan on returning every year and this is where we will be staying. Two minor issues. The air conditioner is only in the bedroom and was very loud. The property manager already said she was working on getting it fixed but if you hate heat, the living/kitchen area will be too hot for you in the Summer. I LOVED it but I’m a Florida girl. Second, the bed was comfy for my hubby but hurt my back because it’s very firm. Simple fix is I’ll bring a foam pad to sleep on next time we’re here. We LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this place so much and those two issues pale in comparison to everything this place offers.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Dec 2023
Thanks for the review! About the air conditioning: we've owned the cottage for less than a year, and so far we haven't actually been there during the summer. When we were there (between Nov and Apr), we rarely used the AC, having the Jalousie blinds open was enough, with the cool ocean breeze. We turned it on a few times when it was hot and not very windy, and it seemed to work fairly well. But we know it's been much hotter this summer, and we have heard a few complaints about the AC. Yes, I know people in Florida are used to AC on 24/7 in every room, and right now the only AC unit is in the bedroom, and it's not really powerful enough to cool the kitchen too. [Edit] So we've replaced the air-conditioner with one a new 2 ton unit in both cottages (which is *huge* for a 600 sq foot cottage). We're also considering improving the windows to reduce the amount of air leakage out the Jalousie blinds. So we think it should be better, but it's really only a problem in the summer. Most guests rarely use the AC between Sept and May. - Peter

10/10 Excellent

Don H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Paradise on Lochabar Beach
We just finished a 10 day stay at this charming cottage near Lochabar beach. From start to finish our stay was seamless. Peter the property owner and Violet the property manager were wonderful We had done research on the island before we arrived, but they were a wealth of knowledge. The cottage exceeded our expectations. It was very comfortably and the view was spectacular. From stargazing on the back deck to sitting on the front porch, feeling the ocean breezes we did not want to leave. This is a great location to visit different beaches, restaurants and sites on the island. We look forward to visiting this beautiful cottage again.
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Nov 2023
Thanks for the review! Glad to hear that you enjoyed the place as much as we do! Peter & Pam

10/10 Excellent

Nancy H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Really enjoyed this cute cottage and plan to return
This was our third trip to beautiful Long Island and Whistling Duck is the perfect base from which to explore the southern end, which we did daily. Check-in was quick and easy, and we had the keys in hand and ready to relax after a tough day of travel and a flat tire on the way. Everything in the cottage worked properly, and the AC was nice and chilly to ensure we slept in cool comfort. We elected to leave the AC off during the day unless we were napping in order to conserve energy, but there was no problem in doing so as it cooled the bedroom and bathroom quickly upon turning it on. One of my favorite features was the outdoor shower - something I love and have at my own coastal home. We also really enjoyed the water's edge palapa. The appliances all worked well and we were especially glad to have a coffee maker. All in all a very pleasant stay, and we hope to return again next year!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Nov 2023
Thanks for the review! Glad the AC worked well. Peter & Pam

10/10 Excellent

Jodi P.

Liked: Cleanliness
A Week in Paradise
We booked this without knowing much and I'm so glad we did. Violet made our arrival welcoming and lovely. From the comfortable bed to the outside shower, everything was perfect for us. We snorkeled and Kayaked every morning. The sunrises were amazing. The only thing was no TV so bring DVD's or hook up your Hulu... It wasn't necessary though, since we had full days. Please go see Cathy and Francis at Under the Sun. We rented a boat and got some great lattes and lunches there. We will be back.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Scott H., Rochester

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect for the Adventurous Solo Traveler or Romantic Couple
This modern, well-appointed cottage offers fantastic views of a very quiet, calm, turquoise bay that's protected by three outlying cays about a mile out. The Whistling Duck exudes a charming, calming, tropical feel, and has everything you'll need for a comfortable stay. The sun deck off the bedroom, where I'd enjoy my morning coffee and watch the sunrise, was my favorite space. This deck also has a shower and clothesline that were great for rinsing off clothing and snorkeling equipment at the end of the day. Ahead of my arrival, the owner, Peter, and property manager, Violet, provided me with plenty of local information to help me hit the ground running as soon as I set foot on the island - places to rent a car, get gas, groceries, restaurants, tour operators, boat rentals, etc. The locals are very friendly and helpful. Thank you, Violet, for your invaluable local knowledge and patience. Jump in the cottage's kayak and explore the beautiful beaches around the bay. I found a great snorkeling location with all kinds of fish and southern rays on the southwest side of Strachan Cay. Although, staying on your private, white sand beach with gazebo may be all you need! I was looking for a destination that was off the beaten track and offered peace & quiet, privacy, some modern conveniences, a private beach, and a base from which to explore other parts of the island. The Whistling Duck covered it all - simply a fantastic property!
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anna W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely Cottage on private beach
1-bedroom cottage on the Atlantic coast with a soft sand private beach & crystal clear blue water. Beautiful property. Our host Violet was great - she picked us up, gave us a brief tour of the area, provided recommendations for restaurants, beaches & shops & was a terrific resource. Wifi worked perfectly, no glitches. Porches are great, although screens would help when mosquitos are around.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 19 June 2023
Thanks for the review! Normally the onshore breeze keep the bugs away, but when the wind dies or comes from an unusual direction they can get bad, particularly near dusk. We usually just head inside when that happens. We're hoping to leave the porches open to the air, but feedback like this is valuable, and we may re-think screens if that seems to be the consensus.