BillVT’s Trip Report: The Zoot
Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2017 11:47 am
We left Estate Zootenvaal yesterday to a pleasant homecoming here at Sunset Ridge. We shared our unit with last week’s owners yesterday and today so they don’t have to suffer the mayhem of a Saturday departure. They cooked us a delicious dinner in return.
As for Zootenvaal, and as you would suspect, there is certain quiet dignity to the place. It is clean and well appointed. The bed in our single bedroom unit Mangrove was very comfortable. There is A/C in the bedroom though we did not use it. We are not accustomed to A/C neither our home nor at SRV. Though there is now A/C in the master suite at SRV and we are preparing to install it in the main units. At this time of year we never felt it was necessary. I am sure we would have a change of mind if we came in September.
We had always thought, that though it was well kept, the units looked very exposed and were probably very hot. Not. There is a constant breeze that comes in off of Hurricane Hole along with the sounds of the waves lapping the shore. As Robin, the manager put it; it is the first direct view of the ocean on the Centerline Road (Rt. 10).
One of the nicest features of Zootenvaal is their beach. It was a great private spot to relax after a day at … the beach. It is a sand beach with a rocky entry and then a grass bottom. There is enough shade so that with some careful maneuvering of the comfortable lounge chairs you can get out of the sun if you’d already had your share.
While family has told me that Brown’s Bay is like Fight Club, we don’t talk about Brown’s Bay, on our first full day at Zootenvaal we just walked up the road to the trailhead. Apparently, that is all I can say about that. But of course Zootenvaal’s location is it one of its’ strong points. If you are willing to rise just a little early, you can get to the east end beaches before anyone else. Think of getting that great shade spot at Salt Pond or one of the picnic tables. Come to think of it I don’t recall seeing them.
Last week was a very busy week on island, with what appeared to be spring break. In most cases we stayed in front of it except on one occasion. We had gone out to Great Lamshur, which is one of our favorite snorkeling spots, and is for the most part ignored because it does not have a sandy beach. We snorkeled out to Donkey Bite (Bight?) and back. We were sitting in the shade under a large tree when two taxis deposited 30 young students wearing North Carolina t-shirts. They just enveloped us. The effect of course was that we had to move and as we left I turned to what appeared to be the group leader and just said, “Really?” I then recalled the previous day at Haulover when I crossed over to the north side to check how steep the waves were and whether it would be a good day to snorkel there. The wind was brisk from the northeast and as we looked around we saw this group hiding up in the sea grapes. They did not look happy. I don’t think these were the beaches they had signed up for. Other than that it was a great week.
Would I recommend Estate Zootenvaal? Yea, sure. Would I have reservations recommending it to anyone? Yea, sure. If you are expecting Grand Bay or the Weston, you might be a little disappointed. Otherwise, it is clean, comfortable and has its’ own beach and all within a short distance from the great east end beaches and a growing bar and restaurant scene in Coral Bay.
As for Zootenvaal, and as you would suspect, there is certain quiet dignity to the place. It is clean and well appointed. The bed in our single bedroom unit Mangrove was very comfortable. There is A/C in the bedroom though we did not use it. We are not accustomed to A/C neither our home nor at SRV. Though there is now A/C in the master suite at SRV and we are preparing to install it in the main units. At this time of year we never felt it was necessary. I am sure we would have a change of mind if we came in September.
We had always thought, that though it was well kept, the units looked very exposed and were probably very hot. Not. There is a constant breeze that comes in off of Hurricane Hole along with the sounds of the waves lapping the shore. As Robin, the manager put it; it is the first direct view of the ocean on the Centerline Road (Rt. 10).
One of the nicest features of Zootenvaal is their beach. It was a great private spot to relax after a day at … the beach. It is a sand beach with a rocky entry and then a grass bottom. There is enough shade so that with some careful maneuvering of the comfortable lounge chairs you can get out of the sun if you’d already had your share.
While family has told me that Brown’s Bay is like Fight Club, we don’t talk about Brown’s Bay, on our first full day at Zootenvaal we just walked up the road to the trailhead. Apparently, that is all I can say about that. But of course Zootenvaal’s location is it one of its’ strong points. If you are willing to rise just a little early, you can get to the east end beaches before anyone else. Think of getting that great shade spot at Salt Pond or one of the picnic tables. Come to think of it I don’t recall seeing them.
Last week was a very busy week on island, with what appeared to be spring break. In most cases we stayed in front of it except on one occasion. We had gone out to Great Lamshur, which is one of our favorite snorkeling spots, and is for the most part ignored because it does not have a sandy beach. We snorkeled out to Donkey Bite (Bight?) and back. We were sitting in the shade under a large tree when two taxis deposited 30 young students wearing North Carolina t-shirts. They just enveloped us. The effect of course was that we had to move and as we left I turned to what appeared to be the group leader and just said, “Really?” I then recalled the previous day at Haulover when I crossed over to the north side to check how steep the waves were and whether it would be a good day to snorkel there. The wind was brisk from the northeast and as we looked around we saw this group hiding up in the sea grapes. They did not look happy. I don’t think these were the beaches they had signed up for. Other than that it was a great week.
Would I recommend Estate Zootenvaal? Yea, sure. Would I have reservations recommending it to anyone? Yea, sure. If you are expecting Grand Bay or the Weston, you might be a little disappointed. Otherwise, it is clean, comfortable and has its’ own beach and all within a short distance from the great east end beaches and a growing bar and restaurant scene in Coral Bay.