Shelsea was perfect for our family for a month. Not beachside, this beach-adjacent little slice of paradise maximizes *both* the pristine beach and tropical beauty that Barbados offers. The beach access is just a 45 second walk from Shelsea's gate, down a private shaded lane. Part of the magic of our daily morning swims was turning into the corridor leading to the shore; there is no view quite as stunning as daily unveiling down this little walkway. The beach itself is stunning, great for lounging or playing & swimming in the waves, and offers an ideal sunset vantage point on most evenings. While resting back at Shelsea, the ample and shaded garden space was the highlight! Relaxing under the mango tree in the heat of the day was phenomenal. The landscaping makes the property feel lush and private, and also welcomes breezes into the space. The provided hammock was a haven for each member of our family for hot afternoons. The gardener visited often to keep the grounds groomed, and to clean the chairs and loungers, so it was always ready to relax in. Shelsea's kitchen was also key. It's very well equipped, and offered every convenience needed for keeping a family of five fed. Only complaint: mosquitoes! We loved the open concept with easy patio access from the house, but with that breezy island living does come pests. Coping strategies included vape mats, mosquito nets at night, bug dope, long pants/sleeves in evenings, fans, & closing bedroom doors & windows.

The house is exactly as advertised- in fact the photos don’t quite do the house and garden justice. The area is really quiet and peaceful, with just a hint of traffic noise discernible from the main road. The house is well secured with lots of lockable gates that can be left open even at night for ventilation. There is air conditioning but it really is not necessary with the sea breeze. Check-in was easy, with Ron the lovely neighbour showing us around and both Sheila and Amanda phoning us a few times to make sure all was well. The bedrooms are spacious with plenty of storage and comfy beds. There are shelves full of holiday reads and even a hairdryer with a diffuser for curly hair - a real rarity! The kitchen is well stocked and the initial provisions provided were very welcome as we arrived on a public holiday. There is a washing machine and also a dryer if needed. We hardly sat indoors as the garden and deck were so inviting. The cleaner and gardener were helpful and friendly. The beach is less than two minutes’ walk away. I can’t think of a thing to criticise - it’s a beautiful home and made for a wonderful base for a perfectly relaxing holiday.

We enjoyed it very much, and our helping neighbours Ron and his Daughter Amanda were fantastic The beach was a joy And we enjoyed the occational visits in the garden by an bunch of small monkeys

This lovely home is exactly as pictured, which makes it feel like home as soon as you arrive. Being met by Ron and Amanda is so very helpful; they thoroughly go through all aspects of the property and are very friendly and welcoming. And speaking of welcoming...the welcome package upon arrival is above and beyond! The effect of having necessities to allow you to settle in without immediately racing to a grocery store just enhances the warmth of this home. Proximity to the beach is great, and the host, Sheila's, communication about local activities and restaurants was extremely helpful. We are grateful for having an opportunity to stay in this lovely home.

We thoroughly enjoyed our eight weeks at Shelsea. The house is lovingly and tastefully furnished, and we can say without a doubt that in terms of kitchen equipment it was the best equipped house we have ever rented. This is surely due to the fact that Sheila - the owner - lives in the house herself when she is staying on Barbados and does not rent it out exclusively as a tourist domicile. Our favourite place was the cosy terrace, which is wonderful for relaxing or eating...or alternatively you can lie in the hammock under the mango tree. The beautiful garden is regularly tended by a gardener, and our daughter in particular was always happy when now and then a mango fell from the tree and we were faster than the monkeys who often sat in the tree and nibbled mangoes. The house is very close to the beach, which has the great advantage that you can walk to the beach within a minute. The disadvantage, however, is that hotels are located directly on the beach (i.e. between Shelsea and the beach), so we had to get used to regular nightly live music events at these hotels or at a live club also in the vicinity. The noise on Maxwell main road and the neighbours mowing their lawns at 7 a.m. also took some getting used to. We were very grateful for Yvonne, who whirled through our house once a week and cleaned everything. A great additional service. And a big thank you also goes to the landlords of the house (Ron and his daughter Amanda), who live two houses away and were always there to help us with any questions or requests. If we could, we would fly to Barbados again in a heartbeat and spend our holidays at Shelsea. This vacation will stay in our memories forever.

We loved Barbados and we loved Shelsea. The accommodation was as described and had everything we needed. The Garden was lovely and the location suited us; a short drive from Many beaches, surfing spots, restaurants etc. Would happily return to Shelsea again. Sheila was very responsive and accommodating from start to finish.

Shelsea is a lovely family villa which easily accommodated 2 adults and 2 children 12 & 9. Sheila’s communication was fantastic prior and during our stay. The villa was nicely situated right next to the beach and close to the shops and other hotels. Ron and a gang of friendly monkeys met us on arrival . We had the pleasure of Vike the gardeners company as well as a lovely housekeeper Yvonne. I wouldn’t hesitate to stay at this beautiful again . Thank you Sheila, Ron, Vike and Yvonne x

Shelsea is a lovely family villa which easily accommodated 2 adults and 2 children 12 & 9. Sheila’s communication was fantastic prior and during our stay. The villa was nicely situated right next to the beach and close to the shops and other hotels. Ron and a gang of friendly monkeys met us on arrival . We had the pleasure of Vike the gardeners company as well as a lovely housekeeper Yvonne. I wouldn’t hesitate to stay at this beautiful again . Thank you Sheila, Ron, Vike and Yvonne x