We loved Crescent Moon Cabins. It had everything we could want -- friendly hosts, wonderful fellow travelers, cats and dogs to play with, a great library, hot tub, pool, hiking right from the cabins, and oh yes, did I say? Great Food. And a computer to use if you can pull yourself away from all the nature and beauty around you.

Ron is truly a culinary genius, and a believer in local ingredients, fresh, organic, and creative. And the cabins are in a good location, not too far from Pont Casse (the roundabout) where you go to get just about anywhere on the island.

THE place to stay in Dominica. Can't wait to return.

I just spent ten days at the Crescent Moon Cabins, and it was delightful. The road leading down to it is a bit hair-raising (rent a little Suzuki 4x4 - you'll need it elsewhere on the island, too), but it's worth the trip. It's set in a quiet, lush tropical valley, with a view of the Caribbean in the distance, and far enough above sea level to keep it cool in the evenings.

The cabins are simple and rustic - a comfortable bed, a private bath, a deck with chairs and a hammock. If you're looking for a whirlpool tub and a flat-screen TV, you're in the wrong place. In fact, if you're looking for TV at all, forget it! There's good WiFi access in the library next to the dining room, as well as a small PC to use if you didn't bring your own, and just need to check up on things. If you forgot to bring good reading material, the library has an eclectic mix of books, much better than the usual trashy beach novels one usually finds.

But the real draw are the meals. Ron is a professional chef, and it shows. I had every breakfast, every dinner, and nine out of ten lunches (often a bag lunch that I took with me) at Crescent Moon, and there wasn't a dud in the bunch. They use VERY fresh ingredients - local fruits and vegetables, many from their own greenhouse, and cheese and ice cream from their goats. The meals are interesting and memorable, with unusual combinations and subtle seasonings (always spot-on, and never overdone). The soups are good enough to inspire bowl licking, and the side dishes are unique. The bread is freshly baked on-site, and the coffee beans are roasted in a Rube Goldberg contraption that employs, among other things, a windshield wiper motor from a defunct car. One hint - always save room for dessert, when more wonderful treats appear from the kitchen.

The hosts, Ron, Jean, and their daughter Tiana, are outgoing, friendly people who really seem to enjoy having guests. They're also very helpful when it comes to suggesting places to visit, providing directions (road signs on Dominica are either absent entirely, or are misleading - driving is an amusing adventure if you're in the right frame of mind), or arranging guided tours. Many of the tours are conducted by Tiana's husband David, a native Dominican who definitely knows his way around.

As if all that weren't enough, you also get your choice of pet, with two friendly dogs and a couple of cats who never met a lap they weren't happy sitting on.

We just finished a week's stay at Crescent Moon Cabins, and loved it. While the place is hard to find - down a bumpy and steep road through a rainforest valley - the drive is worth it. The basic rooms look out over the valley and the Carribean, and my wife and I watched the sun set over the ocean from the balcony of our room. You can't beat that experience.

Ron's the house chef, and his food was terrific. Initially, we planned to eat at Crescent Moon for approximately half of the nights of our stay, but we quickly decided to eat there every night because of the quality of the dinners that Ron provided. The food is fresh, tasty and healthy, each dinner included three courses, and the desserts were first rate. Try the coffee at breakfast too. Ron roasts it himself, and it's the best coffee we've ever had.

Finally, Tiana was a terrific help in planning our days. She knows the island well, she gave us invaluable knowledged about a number of road closings, and she was patient and gracious with us as worked to make our daily plans.

If you're looking for a terrific eco-lodge off the beaten path with gracious hosts and a drop dead setting, Crescent Moon's your place.

First, thanks to crescent moon for providing the venue for our amazing vacation, we had an awesome time. Tiana, Jean, Ron , and David were extremely professional and courteous and made us feel like part of the family. Ron is an excellent cook (chef) and the food was incredible every morning and evening. Tiana helped set us up with transport and guides (mostly David who is a great driver and guide) prior to our arrival which made our trip run extremely smooth. The location could not have been nicer with rain forest and ocean views (and sunsets) from our balcony. We loved our time at crescent moon, thanks again.