We loved are stay in Tarpum Bay, in Culmer Cottage. There was one problem, though, it was too short! Tarpum Bay is a beautiful small town on a beautiful Island with wonderfully friendly and open and helpful people!
Culmer Cottage itself is an old home, maybe over 100 years old that has been completely remodel by one of th great gr.... grandsons, Kervin. He has done a wonderful job! The original cottage was enlarged. It has personality and makes one feel at home and welcomed. It has all that one needs and a bit more. It even come with a cook and maybe even a maid - if one desires. Brenda took good care of us. Even me with my special needs are far a food goes! We came home every evening to a healthy, tasty, hot meal.
I wish we had been able to enjoy Culmer Cottage and Tarpum Bay and the whole island of Eleuthra for more than the one week we had. It was much too short. And I/we do hope to be able to return someday!

This was our 1st major family vacation. We wanted to show our kids (ages 8 & 5) what a REAL vacation is to us as we traveled a lot in college - before kids! No pools, amusement parks, video games, meal plans, and pristine grounds. Culmer Cottage and Tarpum Bay was exactly that and that is why we loved it. We were there for 10 days in mid-January. On less-than-ideal weather days, we stayed in and played games, read, cooked meals together, or walked the streets of the small town. There is cable TV and internet if the kids wanted to watch a show. Most days were great weather (although the locals said it was a "cold spell" at 72 degrees! It felt perfect to us). We rented a car 4 of the 9 days and explored a different beach each time. "The Beach Book of Eleuthera" found in the cottage is a great book. Our favorite beaches were Lighthouse, Ten Bay and Club Med. We packed lunches as eating out is very expensive. Lynn, the Cottage owner, is very helpful on everything pre-departure. We spoke on the phone and many times over email. She called us when we arrived.
Ask my kids today what they loved about their vacation and they will say the friends they made! Not the beaches or time as a family :) Our kids were invited every night to play in the street or walk to the beach by the local kids. Everyone in Tarpum Bay is so friendly and polite. It's proof that those human connections, especially when you are made to feel so welcome in a foreign setting, that really makes an impact on us.
We can't wait to show our kids another non-Disneyland vacation. Really experiencing another country and culture is what we think makes a good vacation.