This rental is in a great location in Roseau, with a view of the ocean on one side and a lovely, tree-filled garden and hills on another side, which one can enjoy from a private balcony. The apartment is well appointed and comfortable. Tina is a great resource and very ready to help with advice, Although we didn't need her services, she will take guests on excursions around the island. This is a shared space...what you rent is your room, so you must be prepared at any moment for housemates. Another couple was there when we arrived, and Tina had alerted us to this. However, the night after the couple left we returned from dinner to find the door open with Tina and a Dominican couple sitting in the living room. The wife was in labor and planning to go the the nearby hospital later that night. Her husband stayed three nights. He was very friendly and it worked out OK, once we adjusted our expectations. There is also a glass door between the hallway to the master bedroom and the entryway to a nonprofit office, and noise passes through a locked door between the office and the master bedroom, so if you aren't an early riser or if you want to luxuriate on a weekday morning, you may hear business going on in the next room. There is a pack of friendly neighborhood dogs that have a great time barking and howling at random hours during the night, making sleep elusive, sometimes even with the air conditioner on! There are also roosters who, in their enthusiasm, start crowing sometimes as early as 1:00am (one in particular, who of course was closest to the house!) Roosters come with the territory, but the barking dogs became frustrating at times. If you are seeking guaranteed privacy for your romantic getaway, I would not recommend this location (thus explaining my three stars).If you are cool with random housemates and noisy nights, it's a very functional and pleasant place.
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We stayed for two weeks in Home from Home, a very comfortable, roomy and well-appointed apartment in Goodwill, on the edge of the small city of Roseau. The apartment is above the owners apartment, up in the breeze and tree tops of the Goodwill hillside. While we technically rented only the master suite to ourselves, no one else was there (there is another bedroom and bath) so we had the large living room, fully stocked kitchen and lovely back-yard balcony to ourselves.
Everything in the apartment is very comfortable and convenient - the large, firm mattress, pleasant furniture, front-loading washer, excellent, quiet air conditioner in the bedroom, loads of towels, great wi-fi, and roomy kitchen with everything a cook could want. We really liked going to the everyday farmer's market and the fish market and cooking up what we found there.
The high ceilings with exposed roof beams in the common rooms are lovely, and we found the apartment breezy and comfortable. Lots of standing fans around, too, if the breeze isn't enough. There are views of the sea from the bedroom and kitchen.
Owners Tina and Harry are wonderful, helpful people. They also have the "Birdwatcher's Rainforest Retreat" up in the cool rainforest mountains, not far from the Emerald Pool. We spent two nights there and highly recommend this quiet get-away with the rainwater pool just off the wrap-around deck. Harry is a fisherman that can take you out if you arrange in advance. Tina organizes all sorts of outreach programs, and is happy to arrange a day of volunteering - a great and fun way to get to know more about Dominica. We did an art project in a local school. Even if you don't have the time to volunteer, Tina can let you know what might be a useful thing to bring as a donation.
One note to late sleepers: there is an office for the Honorary British Consulate right next to the master bedroom, with what looks like a permanently locked door in between. It wasn't a problem for us, but the phone does start ringing at 8 am M - F. And we would be remiss to not briefly mention the neighborhood dogs, who often barked continuously from dark till dawn. We live in a city and thought nothing could wake us up, but ear plugs were needed. There are roosters crowing at dawn in the distance, but nothing that could wake you. After being in the more touristed downtown area in the evenings, I would think loud music there would be just as much an issue. Just bring earplugs.
All in all, Home from Home is a most charming, sweet place to stay in a real neighborhood, not at all touristy, and very convenient and comfortable.
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It was more than the silver lining on the rain cloud that brought us into this property, mainly through the agent of our cruise ship in Dominica. My wife had a mishap at the snorkeling beach and we had to abandon ship because the hospital treatment took more time than we anticipated.
While my wife waited for further developments and decisions from the surgeon regarding her fracture, in walked Tina Alexandre, the Honorary Consul of Britain in Dominica. She owns a guest house as well as two cottages, though I never got to visit the latter.
The moment she arrived, this wonderful woman took charge, first by calming our nerves just through her factual presence and knowledge of the hospital system, then by taking us to the supermarket to procure the food we would have that night, and finally she took us to her home near the Princess Margaret Hospital, where we became first aware of her diplomatic status. We were offered our choice of the three rooms on the upper level, a spacious apartment with two side offices for the Consul and the secretary. Everything was ready to receive us and to make our stay as comfortable as possible. The kitchen was well stocked with items one usually does not buy but still uses, such as cooking oil, etc. cold water in the fridge, tea and coffee and much more. While my wife got ready to rest, I made something to eat (first stuff since breakfast!) and we had supper while her excellency because of her excellent organisational skills and hospitality as well as the diplomatic title) already made a list of things we needed in addition to the passports which I had already retrieved from the ship.
She knew and advised what documents we would need from the doctors to return home. She also took over when I got nowhere trying to connect with our insurance company. And she continued doing this while I had a chance to survey the generous supplies and equipment available to the guests in this location. While I used the WiFi (free) to send the necessary messages, she was on the phone explaining the situation, talking to the ship's agent who in turn made the necessary arrangements the next day to let us retrieve our luggage on the next island, Antigua. She also supplied us with some pain medication so we did not need to find a pharmacy at this late hour, and gave the necessary information to the insurance when the latter finally connected. As well we had access to all those little things one usually has in the suit-case but does not take on a snorkeling trip, like toothbrush or tooth paste, shampoo etc. things one only expects in a four star hotel against a charge.
There were some dogs keeping watch around the property (identified by the barking) the night and the rooms were quiet, all was clean and the bed very comfortable - we had the master BR, with king size bed.
Sufficiently rested we enjoyed the complimentary coffee and had our breakfast while Tina already made arrangements for our repatriation via Antigua. During all that time she also took care of her other two properties which expected new guests that day, and ran errands she needed to do.
While I don't expect this kind of involvement to be customary for all the guests, I was advised that it has been for the over thirty cases where she became the refuge for tourists who needed special care, like us. She is the no.1 referral by the ship's agent.
Thanks to Tina's involvement our repatriation went relatively well, her suggestions and tips allowed us special consideration with the air lines, and her constant care got us on the way to the airport in due time for our flight to Antigua.
While a lot of her involvement does not necessarily relate to the rooms or the full apartment, I could observe similar care and welcome when the next house guests arrived just prior to our departure. Care and organisation like this translates into stays with the maximum pleasure and enjoyment as the circumstances permit.
Your Excellency, please receive our most profound thanks and keep on the great work.
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Tina's house is very comfortable, we loved staying there and particularly appreciated Tina's warm welcome! It's very spacious, very well equipped and really felt at home for a few days. It's also nicely located to organise day-trips in the south of Dominica. If you want to hike to the Boiling Lake, ask Tina and she'll contact a very knowledgeable guide (Hagan) who really made it a great experience.
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Again a wonderful time with the Alexanders, special day at Mero beach and finger licki'n ice cream. I especially enjoy our friday LADIES NIGHTS out and meeting Dominicans! World women's prayer service in the Methodist church was a treat. Tina is always ready to show us her world. Thank-you Tina for a wonderful Dominican experience!
In friendship .....Jane Anne & Claude