Quiet cottage in scenic area, yet close to Roseau

Cashew, a cozy, well-appointed cottage overlooking the Caribbean from Morne Anglais, is a 15 minute drive from the island's capital. It's a tranquil place where you can refresh your spirit surrounded by a verdant landscape with Caribbean sunsets & caressing breezes. It's great for long-term getaways and off-site working. Excellent WiFi connections. A writer's nook, veranda and deck offer space for work or relaxation. On-site hosts help you get situated & organize logistical needs. Cashew Cottage is a perfect getaway for short or long visits to Dominica. Snorkeling, diving, hiking, waterfalls, hot springs, and whale-watching are some of the many attractions within half an hour’s drive. If staying still more suits you, Cashew is also a perfect stay-at-home place to recharge your batteries, write, and distance work. It has a well-appointed kitchen, excellent WiFi connections, and a 'writer's nook.' You can rent a vehicle, or hire a car & driver for tours or to bring supplies to you without having to leave the cottage. At 1,300 feet above sea level, the tidy, comfortable cottage stays mild throughout the year with temperatures ranging from the upper 60's in the evening to mid 80's during the day. There is almost always a breeze. No need for air conditioning! Even in August - the hottest month - those mountain breezes, sometimes complemented by a ceiling fan, bring comfortable nights. For hiking, Cashew is 15 minutes up the mountainside to Giraudel, a village linked to the Waitukubuli National Trail and the gateway for climbing Morne Anglais, one of the island's tallest mountains. Giraudel is the home to several small shops, including Aileen's for baked goods and Diva's popular rum bar. For other explorations, you can contact a neighbor who operates "Experiences Caribbean," one of Dominica's premier tour companies and is available to help you explore the island, or you can simply set out on your own in a rental car. Delightful, catered Caribbean meals brought to your door are also available through "Experiences Caribbean." Cashew's owner is a retired American professor who has done some of his best writing, thinking, and course planning in the cottage's peaceful environment. He loves to simply stay put, using the cottage's writer's nook, WiFi, and tranquility to 'free his mind,' and he invites you to do the same! In sum, Cashew is an exquisite, secluded place for individuals or couples - including honeymooners - who simply want to get off life's expressway onto place of calm and quiet, or who need a convenient springboard and home base for exploring Dominica's many attractions. Unless you already know the area, it is recommended that you arrive from the airport or ferry terminal via taxi or a private driver arranged for you after you've made your reservation, as opposed to navigating the narrow, twisting roads on your own, especially in the dark. Subsequently, a rental car can be delivered to you at the cottage. When you arrive, your on-site hosts, who live in another cottage just down the hill, will greet you and help you settle in. Cashew will be thoroughly cleaned before and after each stay, following Airbnb's Advanced Cleaning Protocol, as well as once a week for those staying longer. Coffee, tea, and some basic food supplies await you when you arrive. And you can drink the water without any fear! The cottage is powered by a 220V system, using the square pin plugs favored in the UK. There is, however, one, 110V flat pin plug at the cottage, along with a 220V power strip with four plug adapters that can be used to charge your devices. Guests have access to the entire cottage and grounds I will be available 'electronically,' both before and during your stay, with my contact info in the house manual. Your on-site hosts will be available throughout your stay. Cashew is situated at the uppermost part of a larger property called Exotica. Exotica's four acres support a variety of tropical trees, flowering plants, and crops - all organically grown. Cashew's on-site hosts are eager to give guests a guided tour of the grounds. The views from the cottage and the grounds are exquisite. Just above the cottage is Green Mountain Flowers, a nursery for tropical and exotic plants whose owner is happy to show Cashew's guests around. The neighborhood is not densely settled. All the neighbors are very nice. Nearby neighbors offers touring and catered meal services. Public transportation to Roseau is available from Cashew via the taxi buses or vans that travel up and down the main road to Giraudel in the morning and evening M-F, and half day on Sat. It's a 10 minute walk from the cottage to the main road. The walk of about a half mile up that road to the village of Giraudel provides an opportunity to hike up the steep flank of Morne Anglais. In Giraudel there are several small shops and bars. Either a rental car or arrangements for a car & driver for tours or to run errands is recommended. Your host can provide you with information for car rental or a personal driver. DOMINICA'S COVID PROTOCOLS: Prior to confirming your booking, please visit the government's website, 'Discover Dominica,' to ensure that you can meet the protocols for arrival in Dominica. Contact your host with any questions you have on the protocols. FIRST ARRIVAL AT CASHEW: Because of its location off the paved road, your GPS may not lead you directly to Cashew. At the time of your booking, however, I will provide you with detailed instructions for how to get to the cottage, particularly if you are planning to drive to the cottage after you arrive. I recommend, however, that you consider taking a taxi to the cottage for your initial arrival. Arrangements can be made through your host for you to be met at the airport by a driver. If you are planning to self-drive during your stay, you can arrange to have a rental vehicle brought to you at the cottage. Valley Rent-a-Car has served previous guests in this regard. This company also has an airport pick-up counter. For this service, it is best for you to reserve your car on line in advance of your visit. Check (Website hidden by Airbnb) ADVANCED CLEANING PROTOCOL: In view of today's enhanced health and safety concerns, Cashew now applies AIRBNB's Advanced Cleaning Protocols. ADDITIONAL GUESTS: Cashew is best used by one or two guests. The bedroom contains two XL full beds. An additional guest, particularly a child, can be accommodated in the bedroom. If you are having other adults visit you during your stay or accompany you to Dominica there are several other accommodations in the neighborhood. Your host can help with those arrangements. EATING UPON ARRIVAL, INCLUDING A CATERED MEAL: There will be complementary dry goods available upon your arrival at Cashew to provide you with a simple meal, as well as something to start you in the morning. If you would prefer a catered Caribbean meal upon arrival (and throughout your stay), contact in advance of your departure Cashew's neighbor Daria Eugene (experiencescaribbean,com) to arrange that. Daria will be happy to treat you to a delicious meal when you arrive and more meals during your stay. HOUSE MANUAL AND GUIDE: When you arrive, you will find a house manual with detailed information on the cottage. Tourism materials are available in a wall-mounted rack next in the writer's nook. INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC COMMUNICATION: Given its convenience and common usage, it is recommended that you download What'sApp to your cell phone prior to arrival. GETTING AROUND: As mentioned, the recommended car rental company for Cashew is Valley Rent-a-Car. A local resident, Miguel, has provided personal transportation services for previous Cashew guests. Should you be interested, I can provide his contact information once you have confirmed our booking. Dominica has many taxi companies, most of which have a presence at the airport and in Roseau. TOURING: In addition to Miguel, mentioned above, a neighbor, Michael Eugene, the owner/operator of Experiences Caribbean, can arrange tours for you. Micheal's wife, Daria, works with him, hosting at her home visitors from cruise ships and local hotels for Dominica cuisine tours. Miguel or Michael can arrange your rainforest hike, spa tour, Kalinago culture tour, snorkling and visits to Dominica's natural and historical sites. The Eugenes are a five minute walk from Cashew. Their contact information is available at the Experiences Caribbean website: exper (Website hidden by Airbnb) Just tell Michael or Daria that you will be at Cashew! SNORKELING, Try Champagne beach, 20 minutes drive south along the west coast, or Scott's Head, the southernmost point. SCUBA Contact Fort Young, (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) YOGA Contact Fort Young (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) CANYONING Extreme Dominica, (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) WHALE WATCHING Dive Dominica, (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) RS/RESTAURANTS Le Petit Paris, Bayfront; Fort Young, Bayfront; The Old House, Castle Street; The Greenhouse, opposite Whitchurch IGA; Cozy Niche, Independence Street; Drop Anchor/Gracie's, Citronnier Newtown; Fishport, Pointe Michel; All Nations Restaurant, Newton. And try any of the local bars in Roseau or when driving around. Many of these places have good WiFi. GROCERY SHOPPING Green's Supermarket in Loubiere is recommended. In Roseau: S-Mart, across the Roseau River, past Pottersville and near the port, has parking. Supermarkets in Roseau have street parking: Whitchurch/IGA, Old Street; Astaphan's, George V; Fresh Market, Bayfront; ACS, High Street (7-11). BANKS/CASHPOINTS First Caribbean, Old Street; Republic Bank, Hillsborough Street. ATM machines are most commonly available at the banks. The large stores and supermarkets usually accept credit cards. Because Dominica is far from being a 'cashless' economy, however, it is recommended that you be prepared to pay cash for personal services and in small restaurants and bars. PARKS Botanical Gardens, Roseau. See the parrots, or an occasional cricket match HOT SPRINGS Papillote, Trafalgar; Ti Kwen Glo Cho, Wotten Waven.