Every guest who stays with us is special, but we’ll always remember the very first.
Back in May 2024, just days after completing the final touches on the cabin, we opened our doors to a couple travelling from Italy. Booking.com sent through the reservation, and just like that, Carrick-a-Rede Retreat had officially begun.
We were excited. Nervous too. Would they love the view as much as we did? Would everything work? Would they feel the calm we were hoping to create?
A few days later, their review came in. It read:
Italian (original):
Carrick-a-Rede Luxury Retreat, un vero angolo di paradiso sulla costa. La location è mozzafiato, con una vista spettacolare sull’oceano e un senso di pace assoluta grazie all’assenza di altre persone nei paraggi. La struttura è moderna e confortevole, con ogni dettaglio curato per offrire il massimo del relax e del lusso. La ciliegina sulla torta è stata la hot pool privata, che ci ha permesso di goderci momenti di puro benessere con vista mare. Consiglio vivamente questo luogo a chi cerca una fuga rilassante in un ambiente straordinario.
English (translated):
Carrick-a-Rede Luxury Retreat — a true corner of paradise on the coast. The location is breathtaking, with a spectacular view of the ocean and a sense of absolute peace thanks to the absence of people nearby. The cabin is modern and comfortable, with every detail designed to offer maximum relaxation and luxury. The cherry on top was the private hot tub, which allowed us to enjoy pure wellbeing with a sea view. I highly recommend this place to anyone seeking a relaxing escape in an extraordinary setting.
Safe to say, we were relieved — and proud.
That one review meant more than just five stars. It reminded us that people from around the world would be arriving here in search of peace, quiet, and connection. That even a couple from Italy, halfway through their travels, could stop here and feel completely at home.
Since then, we’ve welcomed guests from all over, from Belfast to Boston, from honeymooners to birthday celebrations. But that first stay will always be a milestone for us. A little bit of Italy, right here on the Causeway Coast.
And it was only the beginning.