We were looking for a house that would fit our big family to spend the New Year’s together and this house did not disappoint. The house was so big it accommodated 16 of us and our three dogs. We met Paul on arrival and he was so welcoming and showed us around. Everything in the house was beautiful and the fire pit in the beach was a great way for our family members that came from Colombia to have a fire pit on the beach experience during the winter. Everything was close to the house as well and we were even able to go skiing with a 46 min drive which wasn’t bad either. We would definitely want to come back again! Thank you again for opening your lovely house!

The owner was amazing to answer questions and was helpful in finding restaurants and things to do. The house was roomy, clean and had everything you need! Excellent stay and we’ll head back.

What a great spot to gather with family for a local wedding!

My family and I had a great time staying here. The views are beautiful and the area was quiet and peaceful. The place is spacious and has plenty of room for a big family or group. The rear porch has a beautiful view of the river and the beach. This place has a private beach access. This place also has several fire pits and seating available. On the day that we arrived, the owners Paul and Shankari greeted us at the entrance which was a first for me. They are very welcoming and very helpful with any questions or concerns we had. Paul even recommended us many places to go see and visit in the area during our stay and even recommended many restaurants to eat. We enjoyed the indoor fireplace and the fire pit at the beachfront. The kids played volleyball at the beach since there is a net available, I myself played a few rounds of badminton. I would definitely look forward in booking this place again in the future. I can highly recommend this place to anyone!

Fabulous house with great views. There were loads of beds and conversational seating areas, both inside and out. House was filled with everything a group could need. The owners obviously gave a lot of thought to what people might need or want. The beach was also well stocked with chairs, umbrellas and games. The only downside was the multitude of stairs down to the beach which apparently is common in this area. It was not a problem at all for our group of kids, dogs and grandparents but it may be for some. Also, there is no air conditioning on the ground or second floor. Again, not an issue for us (even though the weather was unusually hot during our visit) but it could be for some. The house was easy to get to and quiet, yet close to loads of trails and about 50 minutes from Bar Harbor. Of course, you could just stay at the house and beach and be perfectly content! The owners were super friendly and attentive. They even found and delivered a cord for our outdoor projector that we forgot. Thanks for saving our outdoor movie night. I would highly recommend this as a home away from home!

Excellent.

We had a great experience in this eclectic and artsy home. There were two huge tables so our group of 15 could eat together comfortably, and there were plenty of beds for everyone. One sleeping area required going through another bedroom to get to it, but we were fine with that. We had gorgeous fires in the fireplace, and the best part of all was the quiet beach—the kids could have spent all their time there, playing in the water and playing beach games like badminton. The adults were happy to sit under the beach umbrellas and relax. The house is well stocked with extra bedding, lots of towels, and games and cooking supplies. We had such a lovely stay!

Exceeded expectations. 12 adults, 5 kids under 5 and a dog. We had our dinners delivered each day by Coastal Critters - and they dropped off breakfast for the next morning also. Didn't have to cook....buy food..... Rented kayaks & Paddleboards which were also delivered - at the recommendation of the VRBO owners. The private beach and sheltered access to the water were perfect for kayaks & paddleboards. Padded out to see the seals who live on the shallow rocks/island 1/4 mile out from the beach Kids loved it

We wanted to make new memories at Christmas the retreat house was perfect Leo was making sure we had everything we needed we relaxed played games had great meals went antiqing and got pics of beautiful sunrises we are talking about going back in the summer thank you Mr Barclay

We were all very happy with our stay. Paul is very informative and helpful whenever we had questions. This home/retreat house is a beautiful place to stay. The house gave everyone plenty of room to have their own space, as well as areas we could all be together!

This home and our experience in it were wonderful. We were a party of 9 with an age range of 10 months up to 87 years old. The bedroom with attached bath on the first floor was perfect for my mother in-law- no stairs for her! The rest of us could have slept in a different bed almost every night, there are 14 not including the futons, couch beds and cots! The deck is large with gorgeous views over the water and the foliage was to die for! The kitchen is well stocked for large parties but the pots and pans could use a little updating. Paul is absolutely wonderful and was a pleasure to work with! He provided us with everything we needed - I’ve never had a more attentive owner experience in all my years using VRBO! We were in town for a wedding and only had time for a trip up the road to Fort Knox but plan to come back when it’s a bit warmer to sit on the beach all day and relax! My 4 year old had a ball searching the beach for shells and crabs and loved it despite October being too cold for a swim! I would for sure return and recommend this for large gatherings - great!!

They went above and beyond for us! The view was amazing! The house was wonderful. And so much to do there! I highly recommend the Retreat house!

We had a wonderful stay at the Retreat House. We were there for our sons graduation from Maine Maritime Academy. The house allowed all of our family to be together. We had a lobster feast on Friday night that so much fun. The beautiful dining tables allows for everyone to eat together. There is a great burner and lobster pot there to use. Well stocked kitchen and home. The beach was so beautiful and private. This home will surely be enjoyed by all that stay there! Paul, The homeowner couldn’t have been more accommodating!!

A collection of family and friends were all uniformly delighted to be staying at The Retreat House for our late September visit. There was ample space for our 5 families including separate kids sleeping areas. The house is open and light, well decorated and warm. The view of Penobscot Bay with a few boats, birds and seals (and a stellar moon) from the deck kept us out in the early evening chill. The location is a perfect launching spot for Fall leaf viewing, 45 minutes to the Common Ground Fair (which we loved) the Castine peninsula and more. Belfast is a great little place with good food choices. We have no problem giving unreserved praise for this rental. Enjoy.

We liked the space and the access to the beach. Also all supplies, laundry soap, paper products,etc. Were provided.

We stayed at the Retreat House for the long Memorial Day Weekend (Fri-Mon) 2018 to celebrate our Mom's 80th Birthday and I cannot say enough good things about it. The large meandering house comes fully stocked with everything you could possibly need from kitchen utensils (and basics like salt, pepper and spices), lobster pot and accessories, to stacks of fluffy bath towels in every bathroom, extra bedding, beach towels and lots of beach chairs, firewood, games, etc. The lay-out of the house is perfect for accommodating a large family or group, with wonderful group gathering spaces (in front of the fireplace in the living room or on the large deck with its amazing water views) and plenty of hide-away spots for a nap or some down time. What we loved the most: * sharing meals at the the enormous wood table with benches (which more than accommodated our group of 12 adults and 2 kids and allowed for some mean puzzle making down at the far end!) * enjoying morning coffee, evening cocktails and oysters out on the deck, while gazing out at the lovely Penobscot River * hanging out on the private beach, which was nice and shallow for the kids (who swam and fished every day), and offered the perfect spot for a fire pit, s'mores and fireworks (to celebrate Mom's 80th) * kayaking on the Penobscot (where we saw seals each time). So great that we were able to launch our kayaks from the public beach just up the road, and then keep them on our private beach during our stay! * hiking on the lovely trails just a few steps from the property It was pure magic for 3 days! Paul and Shankari are wonderful hosts. Made sure we had all the information we needed before our arrival and during our stay. Thank you both so very much for sharing your wonderful property with our family. My Mom says it was the best birthday present we could have given her. :)

We enjoyed the warmth of the fireplace and the inviting tables where our family gathered and shared food, stories and merriment. The variety of activities in the area from long walks, to scavenging on the beach, to local charm along the coast kept everyone busy and happy. Communication from the owners was timely and helpful. We look forward to another visit to The Retreat House.