I booked The Garden Retreat as a place to reconnect with a close group of old friends and it was perfect.
We immediately felt at home as we checked ourselves in to this clean, bright and attractive space and settled in for a catch up visit on the cozy, private back deck. We appreciated deluxe and thoughtful touches like cushy sheets and towels and fresh roses so perfect we could hardly believe they were real. The kitchen was well stocked and organized. We enjoyed making meals here together.
The location was very convenient: a 5-10 minute walk to the ocean and the breakwater, coffee, groceries, great restaurants, downtown shops. James Bay is a quiet and pretty neighbourhood itself.
The pull out sofa was reasonably comfortable as sofa beds go (maybe best for one sleeper, or two who don’t mind getting cozy) but the king bed was definitely the winner in terms of comfort-we agreed that it was one of the best beds we had ever slept in.
Our quiet canine guest was happy to meet Dianne’s sweet pups and gorgeous cat family in the back yard garden, as were we.
Dianne is a friendly, helpful and relaxed host and we really enjoyed meeting and chatting with her through the week. She has made it very easy to self-navigate the stay with clear labels and a handy, clear list of instructions, tips and neighbourhood suggestions but she was also easy to approach in person with questions as they came up. She was generous with the space, moving the barbecue for us and inviting us to pick some fresh veggies and herbs for our dinner.
We had a fabulous stay full of laughter, long conversations and good energy and would wholeheartedly recommend and return to this property.