Our Best Vacation Ever!

Ashli (Goldsboro, NC)
Review submitted: July 15, 2008   Date of arrival: July 5, 2008

I have to say that this was the most relaxing vacation that we have ever had! The house is amazing and the location is even better. It was so nice to be able to enjoy our morning coffee as our kids played in the water. There was no stopping them, as soon as they woke up they threw on their swimsuits and were ready to go! Our kids are 4 and 9 and we felt totally comfortable with them in the water as we sat on the deck. (That's how close the water is to the house) We caught some pretty big fish from the backyard and from the near by pier for dinner too. I can't stress how nice it was to be so close to the water!!! If the kids needed a snack, then they just went in and got it. Not having to pack a bag to go to the water was really nice! It allowed us to really relax and enjoy our vacation. We actually only went to the beach one or twice the whole week because the convenience of the sound was so nice. (no jellyfish, no undertow, and no other people!!) The house is amazing too. It has everthing that you need to enjoy your vacation.

Recommended for: families with young children, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 12 / 12

Very spacious, comfortable, perfectly situated

Jessica Y. ()
Review submitted: December 20, 2012   Date of arrival: September 29, 2012

Listing is accurate. This home sits directly on the sound. The sound beach is wonderful and steps from the back deck. We have 4 kids and were able to watch our older children play while the little ones napped inside. The ocean beach is an easy walk, even with 2 three year old children.

Recommended for: families with young children, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 0 / 0

Caribbean Soul

Dana (Lewisburg, TN)
Review submitted: November 9, 2012   Date of arrival: October 13, 2012

WHERE DO I BEGIN??? Everything was perfect - the house, the location, the weather!!! My husband, daughter & I were on vacation with our son & daughter-in-law & their 4 children in mid-October & we all had plenty of space to relax & unwind! The house is beautifully decorated, everything is clean & the beds are so comfy & the kitchen/dining room provided room for everyone to sit down & eat together, which is often hard when you have a large group! !! The kitchen is a cook's dream - with plenty of mixing bowls, utensils, pot & pans to use - plus ample glasses, plates, bowls & silverware!! And the lay-out of the floor plan is open & inviting...it is just all-around wonderful!!! Vicki & David provided so many extras that we had never had at other houses - washing powder, dishwasher tabs, coffee, paper products, PLENTY of bath towels, etc - plus an over-abundance of beach toys, chairs, a cooler, etc. Probably the coolest surprise was the fridge/cooler that is located in the basement - which was the perfect place to stock our drinks of choice - it is kept at a very cool temp so the drinks are always perfect - this was my husband's & son's favorite feature! HA The pictures do not give justice to how beautiful this house is & where it is located! We had "our" beach to ourselves every day & felt as though we were in paradise! The older girls would often walk over to the beach side every day & enjoy it but mostly we stayed on the bay side. We were able to watch dolphins & stingrays swimming by. We even had a chance to walk down to the pier a couple of times - we were not aware that it is the longest pier in the Gulf - & were amazed how clear the water was almost all the way out to the end (which is 1/2 mile in length). We enjoyed watching the fishermen to see what they were catching!! The sunsets were AMAZING!!! We took full advantage of the balconies & widow's walk to capture the beauty of the area!!! One afternoon, went down to the state park & took some family pix...it was a great photo op with the pier & sunset in the background!!! We even took a ride to Pensacola to watch the Blue Angels practice one morning...that was probably one of the neatest things that we did...my grandkids were in awe! And we got to meet the pilots afterwards & got even pix made with a couple of them!! All in all...it was one of the best weeks of my life & I look forward to returning again & again! Thanks, Vicki & David, for sharing your little slice of paradise with us!!!!!

Recommended for: age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 0 / 0

So very nice!!!!! We will be back!

CKDAWN78 (Chapel Hill, Tn)
Review submitted: October 29, 2012   Date of arrival: October 13, 2012

Wow!!!! This place was the best I have ever stayed at!!! We got there and found that there was plenty of toys, chairs, umbrellas, floats, and so on for the nice white sandy beach!! I have a 14, 13, 8, and 1 yr old... I could put the baby down for a nap and turn the monitor on and go lay on the beach and enjoy watching the other kids play! My son spent many hours on the dock fishing, that was right there.
The kitchen was supplied with ALL you need!!! They have paper towels, dish washer soap, and not to mention washer soap, and soap for all the bathrooms!! I could not have picked a better place to stay!
We will be back!!
Thank yall sooo much for everything!!!!

Recommended for: families with young children, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 0 / 0

Awasome!

Smalltown Mo (bois d arc mo)
Review submitted: October 25, 2012   Date of arrival: October 19, 2012

We have never rented a house before on the beach. I want to tell anyone that reads this OMG this was amazing! !! Vicky THANK YOU for sharing your house. The house looks just like the pictures ..AMAZING!! Having the beach right there is the way to go ..Even my husband said I did a GREAT JOB.. The area is quite and every relaxing . Had lots of family time and playing in the sand. Mr. Green was great to deal with. Thank you for the personal touch..a picture frame with our names in it. And you even gave us a Anniversary card ..Thank You again.. If your reading this Please check this place out you wont regret it... LOVED IT!!! Thank you again Vicky and David for sharing your lovely home.. Heads up. You will have a repeating customer.. Thank you guys! !!!!!!!

Recommended for: families with young children, families with teenagers, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 0 / 0

Just what we needed!

Jay R. ()
Review submitted: August 20, 2012   Date of arrival: August 11, 2012

As we pulled up to your home we knew we made the right choice! Butch was informative and helped us to quickly get familiar with the beautiful accommodations and settled in for a quiet week of relaxation. The home was just as it was described and you can tell that lots of memories have been made here. For a home that has only five hours between families/guests it is surprisingly well maintained.

Lots of time spent relaxing on the decks viewing the bay, sunsets, playng on the beach, swimmimg, on the dock fishing and looking for dolphins. Fishing from the dock yielded a sting ray, rock fish, blue crab, channel catfish and several small fish. We rented a pontoon with hopes of having better luck. I think we fed more than we caught. We decided to charter a boat and what a time we had. We found a flyer in the kitchen drawer and chartered a morning fishing trip which turned out to be some of the best fishing all week. Our sons friend caught a 44" Jack which the Captain of the charter said was the biggest fish he has caught in the bay. It took us about 30 minutes to get him on the boat and worth every minute of it!

Some of us took the short easy walk to the gulf side for some boogie boarding and sun. Nice beach! The younger adults of the group spent several evenings at the restaurant/bar on the corner enjoying many games of volleyball.

We would like to thank the owners for opening and sharing this wonderful home with us. We were looking for something that would be relaxing and comfortable and we found it at Carribean Soul!!

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Helpful votes: 1 / 1

Amazing Family Vacation

Jenna J. ()
Review submitted: August 7, 2012   Date of arrival: July 28, 2012

We just arrived home after a wonderful week at Caribbean Soul in Navarre Beach. The house was just as described, and it was the most well-stocked house we have ever rented. The owners spared no expense to make it convenient for our family to unpack and settle right in to begin having fun! The property manager met us and explained everything about the house and handed us the keys. The location of this house is the best of any house we saw. We were right on the Santa Rosa Sound, and the sand beach was perfect. Not a day passed that we didn't see dolphin, and we rented a pontoon boat and jet skis and had some incredible up-close and personal experiences with the dolphin. Please don't miss the rooftop lookout deck - the full moon and lights across the water were surreal!
The walk to the gulf was an easy stroll, and the fishing pier was also only a short walk and shouldn't be missed.
No complaints at all, and wonderful memories in abundance!

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Helpful votes: 1 / 1

Perfect fron A to Z every detail

Jay (Knoxville, TN)
Review submitted: May 13, 2012   Date of arrival: May 5, 2012

My family and I have rented many houses and it is such a treat to find a house where they have really taken the time to make sure that you have everything that you could possibly need....Kitchen ware beach toys, grill, plenty of towels, resteraunt recomendations... I could go on...First let me say that upon our arrival, Butch was very freindly and helpful , he gave me complete confidence in our choice to stay at the property.The location of the house must be one of the best on the entire Island, right on the bay. The kids absolutely loved it and it was so nice to actually be sitting in the back yard and watch them play in the water.The house is amazing, with updates and comfortable amenities.The veiws from each floor were simply fantastic. The ocean is just a short walk away and the pool proved to be the perfect stop off on our return trip from the beach each day.The weather was great not too hot for the smaller children....We have learned that June and July is just too hot to bare....the ocean was calm , 4 days of green flags, what a treat to actually see the "Emerald Coast" show its best side while we were there.. We did have one day of light rain but we were at the Naval Air Museum so it really didn't matter. Bike rides and orange push ups at Sandy bottoms each morning to start the day and chargrilled sea fare each night to finish ! We were all so blessed to have had such a wonderful experience.....We could not have been more pleased...the only down side would be that it will be hard to every top this vacation..Thank you so much for our stay at Carribean Soul all of your thoughtfulness in all the fine details were greatly appreciated by all !!!! We hope to return !!!!!!

Recommended for: age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 2 / 2

Wonderful family vacation spot!

Jenni (East Tennessee)
Review submitted: April 12, 2012   Date of arrival: March 17, 2012

What a beautiful home with such a wonderful location! It looks just like it did in the pictures :) Our group included 2 grandparents, 5 parents (3 sisters and 2 spouses)and a total of 5 kids with ages ranging from not yet 1 to 10. It was the most relaxing, perfect vacation we've had in a long time. Everyone had their own space that they could escape to if they wanted, but there was plenty of space to be together to eat meals at the same table and to visit in the living room or on the porches too. This was an important feature since my husband is currently undergoing chemotherapy but really didn't want to miss anything! He was able to be on the porch and watch the kids play either from downstairs in the mix or upstairs off of the master bed room where he could watch in a more solitary environment depending on how he was feeling at the time. When he felt great, the fun was just steps away! The kids just played and played from the time they woke up to the time they went to sleep. They fished from the back yard and from the dock and caught more than 20 fish. (I lost count) The house is close to everything! We rented a sail boat from up the road and took the kids out while they waited at the house on the back yard beach for curb side service :) Grocery stores, Walmart and restaurants are close by and being on the sound we were able to play in the water even though there were red and purple flag warnings for the beach that was just across the street. On the quiet days we did walk over to the ocean side beach to hunt shells and play but mostly we played on the sound side in the back yard. The owners even provided fun sand toys, floaties and even kites to play with! It was just so wonderful and safe for the kids! There were a couple of maintenance issues when we got there, the door hinges listed above and loose arms on a couple of chairs etc but nothing that was a big deal and the house manager and the owners were wonderful about addressing them really quickly! The house was very, very clean! The wireless internet was spotty, but the family members that needed internet for work had smart phones and they worked fine - so we didn't really miss it much - there was just too much fun stuff to do :) Thanks for sharing your great home with us. The kids are all asking when we can come back!

Recommended for: families with young children

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Helpful votes: 3 / 3

would not recommend

Joe (walnut, ms)
Review submitted: April 7, 2012   Date of arrival: March 10, 2012

Fridge doesn't cool properly
Kitchen sink leaks
Master bedroom door hinges are loose
2nd floor bedroom patio door would not unlock (therefore would not open)
Carpet was very dirty throughout the house
Dinning room chairs needed attention
1 of the toasters was broken
Several light bulbs where blown
Basement back door would not lock(also has a hinge missing)
Internet service was terrible
Brooms, cleaning fluid and other items are being stored in a dangerous place (stuffed into the closet that houses the air unit)

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Helpful votes: 1 / 1

Darrell

Darrell (Milton, FL)
Review submitted: December 29, 2011   Date of arrival: December 20, 2011

What a great place. I like being situated on the bay and a very short walk to the ocean beach. I live in the area and have never realize how clear the water in this part of the bay is. We had the best time and the local caretaker of the properity took very good care of us.

It is a great value also.

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 2 / 2

Paradise!

Cadnaw (Gulf Breeze)
Review submitted: November 18, 2011   Date of arrival: November 10, 2011

My 7 year old granddaughter went with me to get key. As she went from room to room and onto the decks, she announced, "This is paradise!" and it was. My grandkids had a great time swimming in sound and gulf even though water was cold. I didn't realize that we could walk to end of the street, cross highway and have a walkway to the beachside. That was a wonderful surprise for us and kids! They also loved the pool and the sand, played many hours. The house was perfect for the 11 of us. Plenty of room and we could watch the kids in sand and sound from decks. I am so glad I made the decision to rent Caribbean Soul! We created many memories in those few days!

Recommended for: families with young children, girls getaway

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Helpful votes: 1 / 1

The Carroll Family (Cumming, GA)
Review submitted: April 28, 2009   Date of arrival: April 28, 2009

After the last three years in Destin, our families decided to give Navarre Beach a try and we have certainly enjoyed the peace and quiet! Your beach house was the perfect place for the eleven of us for the week. The furnishings and décor are beautiful; very tastefully decorated! The fishermen in our family enjoyed the pier. We were impressed by the size of the huge crabs. The dolphins are closer than we thought they’d be. Our nine year old made the comment that she felt like this was our real house. Being her for the Fourth of July holiday, we enjoyed the fireworks on both July 3 and July 4. We certainly thank you for allowing us to stay in your home. We are all in agreement that we need to return here next summer! All of us from ages 3 to 86 were very pleased to be here!The Carroll FamilyCumming, GA

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Helpful votes: 2 / 2

The Skrobis Family (Winter Haven, FL)
Review submitted: April 28, 2009   Date of arrival: April 28, 2009

This is our second year staying at the house and enjoyed the week even more. We had a mini family reunion and it was great. The house is perfect for our get-together. We enjoyed the leisurely pace of the gulf, the ocean, the jet skis and just relaxing as a family. Thank you for giving us the chance to get together at your place!

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Helpful votes: 1 / 1

Guestbook Comment

HAC165945 (Tyler, TX)
Review submitted: September 9, 2008   Date of arrival: September 1, 2008

My Air Force group spent 5 fabulous days in February '08 enjoying the peace and tranquility, interrupted by golf. Great place and perfect hosts.
Thanks for the opportunity.

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Helpful votes: 5 / 5

"Too good to be true..."

Amber and Family (Arkansas)
Review submitted: May 19, 2008   Date of arrival: May 11, 2008

People always say, "If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is." I guess the "probably" leaves room for the few exceptions like "Carribean Soul." Because, the truth is, Vicky and David have created an immaculate oasis on a beautiful island, perfect for creating the most relaxing vacation, and long - lasting memories. My family and I will cherish the moments we spent lounging on the balcony watching dolphins, catching crabs on our private beach, shell searching along the Gulf beach, playing in the waves, swimming in the pool, enjoying the excellent food at Coocdries, etc. for years to come...

Recommended for: age 55+, families with young children, people with disabilities, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 6 / 6

Guestbook Comment

HAC135661 (Not Specified)
Review submitted: April 20, 2008   Date of arrival: April 1, 2008

What an amazing week we had at your beautiful beach home! Thank you so much for sharing with us. We enjoyed the wonderful views and all the comforts of home. We definitely want to return ASAP!

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Helpful votes: 6 / 6

Guestbook Comment

HAC135668 (Not Specified)
Review submitted: April 20, 2008   Date of arrival: April 1, 2008

Thank you so much for letting us use your beautiful beach house for the week. Our family came for our yearly vacation and had a terrific time. Thank you for your reference on the restaurants; we went to Cocodries and the East Bay Crab House. Both were excellent. Thank you for all the comforts of home. You have really thought of everything. We really loved the beautiful views and scenery and the beaches. We love Santa Rosa Island and we have already decided we can't wait to return next year. Thanks again for everything.

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Helpful votes: 3 / 3

Guestbook Comment

HAC135663 (Houston, TX)
Review submitted: April 20, 2008   Date of arrival: April 1, 2008

What a great way to start a new year! We have had a great holiday here with many hours spent on the beach and fishing from the pier. The children have enjoyed every minute; getting sandy and wet at every opportunity! Thank goodness for the washing facilities! I can't think of a better view to wake up to every morning - beautiful.

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Helpful votes: 3 / 3

Guestbook Comment

HAC135659 (Denham Springs, LA)
Review submitted: April 20, 2008   Date of arrival: April 1, 2008

Thank you Vicky and David for opening the doors of your beautiful home to us. Caribbean Soul has most definitely left us with memories that will last a life time! We couldn't have asked for a better place to spend our honeymoon or nicer people to rent from! We cannot wait to come back in the summer and create some more beautiful memories!

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Helpful votes: 6 / 6

Guestbook Comment

HAC135665 (Not Specified)
Review submitted: April 20, 2008   Date of arrival: April 1, 2008

Thank you so much for letting us come to your wonderful beach house. We had a great time. This was our first family vacation together and the house could not have been any better. It was perfect. We would all definitely love to return.

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Helpful votes: 3 / 3

Guestbook Comment

HAC117502 (Conyers, Georgia)
Review submitted: December 20, 2007   Date of arrival: December 1, 2007

We stayed at the Caribbean Soul during the first week of September 2007. The house is amazing! Even the breathtaking pictures don't do it justice. It was so nice, we were able to have a small wedding ceremony in the back yard. The owners are very friendly, professional, and thoughtful(they even sent us a Christmas card). Caribbean Soul felt like our home away from home. We are already planning another vacation and everyone in my family wants to go back to Navarre and stay at Carribean Soul.

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Helpful votes: 4 / 4

Guestbook Comment

Linda McClain (Walhalla, South Carolina)
Review submitted: May 30, 2007   Date of arrival: May 1, 2007

What a wonderful experience! Our stay at the "Caribbean Soul" at Navarre Beach, was by far the most relaxing vacation we have ever had. The house is simply amazing. Each room is beautifully decorated and the personal touches you've added make it so comfortable and welcoming. Whether sitting in the viewing tower watching a dolphin play in the Bay, or enjoying the white sand and turquoise waters of the Gulf, we could not have asked for more. I wouldn't change a thing, and I can't wait to visit again. If you're considering a stay at the Caribbean Soul, I promise that you WILL NOT be disappointed!

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Helpful votes: 3 / 3

Guestbook Comment

Lisa Lange (Alpharetta, GA)
Review submitted: April 23, 2007   Date of arrival: April 1, 2007

I just wanted to let you know what a wonderful time our family had on our recent visit to your place at Navarre Beach. What a beautiful oasis you have created!! You've thought of absolutely everything, so we had nothing to do but relax and play. It's great having the sound just outside your door and the beach just a short walk away. The best of both worlds! And the house itself is unbelievable -- I love how every room has its own theme and is beautifully decorated and yet everything is sooo relaxed and comfy. Thanks for making our first (but hopefully not our last) trip to "Caribbean Soul" a wonderful memory.

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Helpful votes: 3 / 3

Guestbook Comment

Flip (Longview, TX)
Review submitted: March 18, 2007   Date of arrival: March 1, 2007

My compliments to both of you......All I can say is awesome, awesome, awesome!!! My wife and I have been going to the beach for the last 10 years and we have never stayed in a house that was furnished so elaborately and perfect. You guys have thought of everything and made us feel like
VIPs. Thanks you so much for sharing your house with us and I can only hope that I get the chance to go back again.

Thanks again, we had a wonderful time.

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Helpful votes: 4 / 4

Guestbook Comment

Sheryl Danner (Norcross, GA)
Review submitted: March 17, 2007   Date of arrival: March 1, 2007

We absolutely fell in love with Caribbean Soul, as well as Navarre Beach; they both were so peaceful and serene. One of my sons was enamored with the widows walk. He loves heights and thought the view was wonderful. It was just a wonderful weekend for my entire family.

Yours was by far the most well-equipped beach home we have ever rented. We lacked for nothing.

Thank you again for your hospitality!

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Helpful votes: 4 / 4

Guestbook Comment

Stacey and Gary (Watkinsville, GA)
Review submitted: March 17, 2007   Date of arrival: March 1, 2007

We had a wonderful time staying at your home! It is lovely and I can't think of a single thing that you don't provide. My daughter (18) was so impressed with the cut flowers and welcome chair waiting for us on the counter when we arrived. It really is the nicest home we've stayed in due to the extra touches that you include. We almost didn't get my husband out of the hammock to attend the Rehearsal Dinner Friday night. His only regret is that we couldn't stay longer!

My sisters were just as impressed. They are already considering a trip to Navarre Beach and your home for future vacations. We had a great time being together and felt at home in your house. I'll be glad to answer any questions for potential future guests if someone wants to know the 'scoop' about your home.

Thanks again for making this such an enjoyable experience!

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Helpful votes: 4 / 4

Guestbook Comment

Meredith_HAC71261 (Not Specified)
Review submitted: December 25, 2006   Date of arrival: December 1, 2006

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit at Caribbean Soul! After a stressful week working in Atlanta, my husband surprised me with an escape to Navarre Beach, which is surprisingly close.

The Carribean Soul house is immaculately clean, beautifully decorated, and located perfectly for those who want to "recharge their batteries."

We've been to that area of Florida before, but this house was by far the best place we've stayed on the Gulf Coast. We are already planning on going back to stay at Carribean Soul!

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Helpful votes: 3 / 3