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The Journal
This is a place where you can post your own comments or read the comments others have left.
| Linda and Dan Miller from New Jersey |
April 21st, 2008 |
| My husband and I were at West End from April 2 - 9th, 2008. Upon arrival, Jennifer and Darwin were busy cleaning out our unit, but offered us towels and directed us down to Bowman's beach to change into our beach gear. Upon returning, we were very happy with our unit - No. 2 - lovely furnishings, plenty of books, magazines, games, etc. to keep you busy - if you had any spare time ! Everything was provided - coffee for the next morning. I can't think of a thing that was lacking and everything was sparkling clean. It is evident that a lot of TLC goes into West End - the gardens are lovely with plenty of comfy seating to view the wildlife.
We loved Sanibel and West End - it was so relaxing, but so close to everything. The beach was wonderful, never crowded and we met so many nice people. We combed the beach for shells and each day thinking we would pick up no more, of course we did! I just found a website soley devoted to crafting with shells!
We used the bikes to ride to Ding Darling Refuge, dow |
| Laura and Friends from Maryland |
April 3rd, 2008 |
| Well it has been about a year since my friends and I visited your place and we just can't wait much longer to get back! This was the first visit to Sanibel for all of us. We found so many beautiful shells on your beach and made them into arrangements for our homes so that we have a hint of our wonderful trip that we can see everyday. I enjoyed birdwatching at Ding Darling but also was pleased to see so much wildlife right in your backyard! The boat ride we took to Cayo Costa State Park was fantastic - we found sand dollars and purple sea urchins there. This is a great place for a relaxing "girls get-away" , but now we all can't wait to share this special place with our families (and we don't feel the need to look for anywhere else to stay except W E P)! Hope to see you soon! Laura P.S. I can't wait to get more Key Lime fudge from that local grocer!! |
| Jim and Barbara from Orleans, Cape Cod, MA |
February 13th, 2008 |
| We just made our reservations to stay at West End Paradise in March. Jennifer and Darwin were both very friendly on the phone as we made our reservations, and just from reading others' comments we can't wait to get there. We love Cape Cod, but are looking forward to sunshine and warm sand. |
| Fam. Bresser from The Netherlands, Europe |
January 24th, 2008 |
| On our trip through Florida in the summer of 2007 we spent 4 nights in this beautiful place.
Jennifer and Darwin really make this place an experience to remember. Very nice accomodation and an beautiful beach (and a warm ocean) nearby. Our kids loved this place looking for shells and a lot of fishing. Sanibel island is great (quiet) with a lot of good restaurants.
We hope to come visit west-end again someday. |
| Susan, Sarah, Caitlin from Illinois and Florida |
October 18th, 2007 |
| West End Paradise is a remarkable place to stay. Jennifer and Darwin have created a wonderful and relaxing island atmosphere. The moment you open the front door, you feel like you are walking into your own home- but so much better. We loved walking on the beach,collecting shells and watching the lizards!! (Sarah and Caitlin) We want to come back for a return visit. |
| Ray and Doug, Laurie and Keith from new England and Texas |
October 18th, 2007 |
| A long overdue 'Thanks' from all. It was our 2nd stay with you and y'all are family. We are already talking about next years R&R with WestEnd where we can stay up way past our 'olderly' bedtimes cheating each other at card games and Scrabble. We appreciate the beach and the birds evermore when we are stuck in our everyday ruts; how we envy your rut. And we hope to see your gaters in the throes of passion again...or be introduced to their young'uns from this Springs soiree. Be well, Ray. |
| The Bolars from Prairie Village, Kansas |
October 18th, 2007 |
| What a week of peace & beauty! Everything we could have asked for was at your place. The kids had a wonderful time chasing lizards, looking for the alligator. We all enjoyed collecting shells, playing on the beach, riding the bikes, watching sunsets and sunrises. The boys were excited when Darwin taught them how to open up coconuts with no special tools! We all ate our share of them! We appreciated the pristine accommodations, the ability to relax and enjoy the outdoors with the grill, tables, hammock, & tented eating area. You provided absolutely everything--we left relaxed, refreshed and many happy memories of our time on Sanibel Island! Thanks!! |
| Lauren from Miami |
May 8th, 2007 |
| Hi Jennifer,
I just wanted to tell you that your place is great and I will be sending friends from Miami. Lots of people I work with are interested in taking short trips to Sanibel, but don't want to stay in the large resorts. I am sending them link to your site because it is perfect. Thanks again for your hospitality.
Lauren |
| Gabriella from Lakeland Fl |
October 24th, 2006 |
| What a wonderful place to stay. My husband and I celebrated our 2yr anniversary this past weekend. The owners,Jennifer & Darwin, were very helpful and hospitable. We got lost on our way over and Darwin talked with us on the phone till we found our bearings...NICE decent people. The grounds were clean and we actually felt like we were in paradise. We WILL be back! We felt relaxed and carefree. The bikes were awesome...we rode them everyday.
Thanks Jennifer & Darwin!!! |
| jo ann farinas from deland florida |
October 14th, 2006 |
| Just got home from paradise, and it was beautiful from the rooms to the beach. very relaxing to sit by the pond in the morning and watch the wildlife and hopefully you will meet young Rufus the alligotor who just comes up by the doc and listens to you in the morning and evening. Jennifer and Darwin are the best host that we have ever had anywhere we have been, they go out of there way to help you in any way the can, the beach is just beautiful during the day and also the sunsets, and so many shells to pick from |
| Kirk & Pam Nielsen from Kansas City, Mo. |
May 19th, 2006 |
| Jennifer & Darwin could not have been more hospitable. We had a marvelous time celebrating 25 years of marriage at this wonderful retreat. Make sure you take the canoe to the wild life refuge - fantastic time! We'll be back! |
| Kathleen & Tom Beirne from Houston, Texas |
May 19th, 2006 |
| Dear Darwin and Jennifer,
Your thoughtfulness and attention to all the details that enhance a restful stay are truly exceptional. We hated to leave your paradise on the west end and cannot wait to return. Keep up your efforts -- you have the magic touch. |
| Scott & Jo from Tennessee |
October 31st, 2005 |
| What a find! Just what we were looking for. We can't wait to come back. Incredible hospitality - thank you Jennifer and Darwin for everything. Clean, comfortable, nice attention to detail. We were very sad to leave. After checking out other beaches on the island, we can confirm yours is the best. We miss sitting by the pond in the evening and seeing the ibises feed in the morning. One of the most relaxing vacations we've ever had. We wouldn't think of staying anywhere else on the island and will be back ASAP. We love you guys! All the best, Scott & Jo |
| Tammy Burns from Cincinnati, Ohio |
October 18th, 2005 |
| My husband and I had a wonderful time at the West end paradise. It's very quaint, quiet, and the quintessential example of a private tropical island retreat. We LOVED the complimentary bikes,laundry, beach equipment, and especially the canoe- we definitely put it to good use. The rooms are perfectly decorated and the beach is uncrowded and beautiful- a good place to find some good shells. Jennifer and Darwin are great and they go out of their way to make sure you have a good stay. West end Paradise is now at the top of our Sanibel island accomodations list.
Sincerely,
Aaron and Tammy |
| Simon & Karen Soley from UK |
August 5th, 2005 |
| West End Paradise is exactly as it sounds, "paradise". Jennifer & Darwin are the most gracious, honest and friendliest people you could ever wish to meet. Their hospitality just adds to the already great feeling of being on Sanibel Island and staying at their property just tops it all off. All the accommodation is money well spent.
We stayed for 9 days in Cottage No.1 and the place was attractive, very clean and well maintained by the never ending work Jennifer and Darwin put in.
The pond (lake) at the back with its exotic wildlife (night & day) is just another slice of this paradise and its like having your own zoo or safari in your back yard........heaven.
When we hit the beach, which is only at the end of the road, we were greated by miles and miles of sand with its shells, leatherback turtle nests, pelicans, dolphins, ospreys and the list goes on....
Take full use of the free bikes and explore Sanibel & Captiva.
Jennifer & Darwin............thank you for everything. We'll be back. |
| Bob and Liz from Media, PA |
July 19th, 2005 |
| dear jen and darwin, we will be arriving on july 29th and cannot wait! as you know, bob and i have vacationed on sanibel island for the last 14 years, missing last year due to mother nature. this will be our 4th visit to west end, and both of us agree that when you guys took over, everyting improved a hundred percent! we will not stay anyplace else. we are very excited to be returning to your humble abode and all of the beauty, rest, and enchantment west end has to offer. see you soon! love, bob and liz |
| Shelley & Tim from Indiana |
June 17th, 2005 |
| If you're reading this, looking for Sanibel accomodations, you need look no further: You have found Paradise! We've been coming for several years and there IS NO BETTER PLACE to stay than WestEnd Paradise. A few of our favorite things: woodpeckers, screech owls, herons, baby alligator & much more wildlife, right outside your door; the gorgeous yard or lanai to relax in; beautifully decorated & maintained apartments; great free bikes; the quiet street that leads to the best beach on the island; sunsets with wine at said beach...and most of all, the kindness and friendliness of innkeepers Jennifer and Darwin. Now, if you stay somewhere else and don't have as much fun as we've had, don't say we didn't warn you! |
| Irina, John, Evan, and Baba Sveta from New York City and Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia |
June 2nd, 2005 |
| May the 13th until the 18th
Dear Jennifer and Darwin! It has been a great week here on Sanibel Island! I can't think of a better place to vacation with a young baby. Evan (11.5 months) had a great time!!! And a happy baby means happy parents. We'd love to make coming here an annual event! |
| Margaret from Massachusetts |
June 2nd, 2005 |
| This lovely vintage pink motel strikes the perfect balance between the comfort of home (barbecues, beach parking, washing machine, back yard, bikes and beach stuff--all included in the rental) and easy access to all the activities and natural beauty Sanibel has to offer. Excellent both for families and folks traveling alone. The best Sanibel vacation I have ever had. |
| Betty and Ed from Bayonet Point, FL |
June 2nd, 2005 |
| Calm, Serene, Friendly, Sparkling, Convivial, Peaceful, Attractive, Mellow, Wonderful, Tranquil, Benevolent, Kind, Eager, Polite, Unselfish, Enchanting, Wonderous, Supurb, Unpretentious, Secluded, Captivating, Restorative, Fun, Obliging,
Alluring, Cordial, Delightful, Considerate, Gentle, Gracious and overall just Extraordinarily Special.
These are the words to describe The West-End Paradise and its owners, Jennifer & Darwin who
create the magic of this place.
Thoughtful, Noble, Unsparing, Breezy, Gracious, |
| Anita Perr from New York City |
June 2nd, 2005 |
| May 14th to the 26th, 2005
Dear Darwin and Jennifer:
It just doesn't get any better than this. Thanks for the sunny skies, the warm weather, the jigsaw puzzels and most of all, your caring hospitality.
I took the recommendation and contacted the fossilexpeditions.com and spent a few hours digging fossils in the Peace River near Arcadia. It was great fun.
I also spent time everyday on the best beach in Sanibel. Right down the street, your beach is the absolute best. Private and beautiful.
I also recommend the community pool for a change of pace. It's just down the street near the school. Great lanes, no crowds- just lovely.
I suggest the library for computer access. The renovation is beautiful and there are many computers available.
Once again- I don't want to leave and can't wait to come back again. Thanks for everything. I look forward to seing you both again soon. Lots of love, Anita, NYC |
| Sean and Marlene from Ft. Lauderdale, Fl |
May 3rd, 2005 |
| Thank you for making our Anniversary weekend so perfect. We knew as soon as we drove up that West End Paradise was "us". You can't help but relax, unwind. The stess just melts away. We had breakfast on the patio overlooking the pond, watching the birds work diligently on their nest in the trees just outside. We spent the weekend biking, shelling, watching the sun go down and the stars come out over the Gulf. What an amazing place, romantic, relaxing..truly a little piece of paradise. Thank you Jennifer and Darwin, we will see you again soon. |
| Jan and Mike Ware, innkeepers of the Ware Street Inn from Lewiston Maine |
April 27th, 2005 |
| Jennifer and Darwin, have to tell you we've been on vacation a week and a couple days--these two days at your place have been the only two days that have truly felt like a vacation.
You've done a great job putting this paradise of yours together. It's very welcoming and comfortable and you've thought of everything!
Darwin's eatery recommendations were excellent and we enjoyed exploring the west end of Sanibel. We never ventured into the town on the east end--everything we need or wanted was right nearby.
Your beach is the BEST BEACH for shelling we went to. And you can quote me on that!
We're already taking about coming back. 'til then... |
| Jerry and Mary Brand from New Hampshire |
April 27th, 2005 |
| Thank you for the wonderful respite from our New England winter storms! Thank you for your hospitality and friendliness. We enjoyed the lovely grounds, proximity to the beach and the use of the bicycles. You thought of everything to make this a memorable vacation! |
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