Our time at By The Sea was one of our best vacations. The beauty of the ocean is breathtaking and is easily enjoyed either by sitting on the deck and just gazing or through the easy access on the shoreline. The house is perfectly equipped for cooking and local stores are a short drive. Not to mention the fresh fish available at the wharf in nearby Tarpum Bay makes for an amazing dinner! Pay attention to the notes provided when you check-in. They are a source of valuable information and will help you make the most of your time on Eleuthera!

My husband, kids (10,14,16) and mother had a lovely vacation at By The Sea. It is a beautiful, comfortable and well equipped beach house. We enjoyed kayaking, snorkeling and swimming in the back yard and long walks on the beach. The sunsets were incredible and the stars on a clear night. The house was ideally located for exploring the island from Lighthouse beach to Harbour Island. Any questions or issues that arose, Ian was quick to respond. We went with his recommendation for a car rental and were happy with the reliable vehicle we received that we could also use on the beach roads. He also provided a very helpful guide of places to go and things to do on the island. Would definitely recommend.

By The Sea is a 3 BR, 2 bath home with waterfront on Tarpum Bay right in the middle of the Island of Eleuthera, Bahamas. The home is well maintained and has a well-equipped kitchen, large dining/living area, a large deck with screened-in room. The upper floor has 4 single beds. Of course, the most important thing is the waterfront location with shallow, gently waving Caribbean Sea that is easy to swim and snorkel in. Water toys such as masks, snorkels, fins, and life jackets are included. Our group had loads of fun using the home as a base for exploring the island. Ian, the owner was extremely helpful and responsive to questions. I highly recommend this property.

I have to start by saying how incredibly beautiful this island is and the beaches were jaw dropping!!! Over 135 different beaches on this island - and each one brings it’s own unique charm. There really is a beach for every swimmer - from super calm to rolling waves! We were the only people at almost all of them - so pristine and so quiet!! Ian was WONDERFUL to work with - he made this trip seamless and offered wonderful recommendations for car rentals, restaurants, etc. The property is 1 of 4 houses on a stretch of calm Caribbean waters that has tide pools on shore and sandy waters great for walking, snorkeling, and kayaking! While sitting on the deck at the beach we saw dolphins - and in the water we saw baby nurse sharks, crabs, lots of starfish and tropical fish, and a huge 4 foot ray right on shore while kayaking! The house is very clean and has that nice open air feel right when you walk in. Nice kitchen with stainless steel appliances and everything you need to cook. The bedrooms were very clean and comfortable - and the upstairs loft were great for our kids to play in and sleep in! The bathrooms needed some updates, but we didn’t mind because we often showered off in the outdoor shower! We sat in the outdoor screened in patio, which was so amazing because at dusk there are small gnats. This house came with so many extras for the water like life jackets, floaties that were blown up and ready to use, kayaks, paddle board, water shoes, etc. Beaches we recommend: French leave - Atlantic side - rolling beautiful waves perfect for boogie boarding or body surfing. Ten Bay - Caribbean side - calm shallow waters as far as the eye can see! Perfect for small children. Twin cove - Atlantic - our favorite because it’s two coves that have a walkable middle sandbar in between - incredibly beautiful! Rainbow Bay - Caribbean side - is associated ran so palapas on shore for use - fun snorkeling and great calm water for kids! Islandia Beach - Atlantic side - right across queens hwy from where ‘by the sea’ is!! There’s a for sale sign just a hint north of the house that you go down (there are almost never beach signs!!) and you go down until you hit the beach. Then once you walk down to the beach you take a left and it’s the longest walk we’ve taken to get to the swimable portion but WOW it was worth it!!! Beautiful snorkeling right on shore and so close! Ian really made it easy to show up, relax, and get in the water - thank you!!

We had so much fun and location on the island was perfect. Would be tricky to hit Spanish Wells/Harbor Island if staying less than 8 days but you’ll be happy in the house By the Sea.

Our group of 8 just returned from a wonderful stay in Eleuthera! The Cottage By the Sea was perfect for our two families. The four kids loved their space upstairs and the downstairs worked well for two couples. The view from the house is gorgeous, especially at sunset. The access to the water in front of the house is rocky, but the water is so calm and excellent for kayaking or wading around looking at sea life. The house had everything we needed for cooking fresh catch at home and Ian was super helpful with suggestions for beach trips and restaurants. The recommended beaches were nearby the house and amazing! There were plenty of beach chairs, coolers and beach toys at the house which we used for our excursions and the kids played for hours while the adults relaxed. Beautiful spot for our holiday vacation and wish we were still there!

We stayed for a week with my kids (11,13,15) my husband and mother in law. The house is in a great location with such a beautiful view. The hosts are wonderful and have thought of everything you might need for a beach vacation. We loved kayaking around and visiting local beaches. We took the host’s advice to have our groceries delivered and that was so helpful! We also used the car rental the hosts suggested and it worked out great for us. The local store is great too though and the folks working there are so friendly. Neek’s restaurant is right down the road and has something for everyone - even picky kids. We will be back for sure.

We have stayed at several VRBO rentals, and this home ranks at the top of our list. The owner has thought of all the necessities for a fantastic vacation experience. The house is immaculate and well stocked with everything you need, from cooking or grilling to relaxing on the beautiful beach steps from the home. There are plenty of beach toys for all to enjoy, plus the essentials you need to take a day trip to explore the island. The owner is available before and during your stay to ensure your vacation is smooth and stress-free. My family and I had a wonderful time and will be back soon!

The house and location are even more spectacular in person than in the pictures. Everything was just as promised. Ian made the process so easy! We will definitely be back!

This is a secluded and comfortable property. The shore is a bit rocky but the upside of that is that there is amazing sea life right there there. We saw a 6 ft nurse shark and a spotted eagle ray along with many fish nurseries just snorkeling off the property. We were one of the first families to stay at the property since Covid and Ian was very accommodating and hands on in making sure everything at the property was as it should be as he had not seen it himself in over a year. If you have never been, Eleuthera is very secluded and quiet and you will definitely want bug spray and to stock up on drinking water, but that the natural beauty and beaches and just the colors of the water are unparalleled. Recommend.