Outdoor pool, an infinity pool
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Reviews of Ocean Villa With Pool, Getaway

Ocean Villa With Pool, Getaway
Duncans, Trelawny Parish

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 38 out of 42 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 42 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 42 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 42 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 42 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Courtenay N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Our Little Slice of Heaven
I have been to Duncan's Bay 8 times and have stayed in several different villas adjacent to Jacob Taylor Beach. This one is the best! The view is amazing, especially from the new rooftop pool. The gazebo is the perfect place for morning coffee with rum cream and evening Red Stripes. Effie is a wonderfully perfect host and Melrose did a fantastic job preparing our freshly caught lobster! You are literally a 2 minute walk to the sea. The air conditioning more than did its job at night in the bedrooms when needed. The WIFI never let us down. The villa is modern and clean with a very nice kitchen (we enjoy doing some cooking when we travel to Jamaica). The large, tiled walk-in showers with benches were fantastic. This villa gets great shade during the hot afternoons and has an outdoor shower to rinse off the sand from the sea. Leroy's Beach Bar and Julet's Restaurant and Bar are both about a 3 minute walk and will serve you local flavors everyday, right on the beach. In between them you will find Tadla's Bar, which will keep you entertained well into the night. You'll be able to watch the fishermen go out and return with their catch and you will find talented carvers amongst the little shops - be sure to stop in and see Nash and tell him Michigan says hello! We will be back! -
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tracy T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Slice of heaven
We love this location! The villa is very comfortable and you can't beat the location, just steps from the beach. If you want to go on excursions or just stay around the neighborhood, there's plenty to do without having to drive far. Great food, kind people, sunny skies and ocean breeze - this was our second stay at this villa and we're going to keep coming back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shon S., Melbourne, Iowa

Liked: Cleanliness
Absolute gem on a beautiful beach!
One of our favorite vacations we've ever been on! The Villa is amazing, close to the water, and was perfect for our family of 4. Aki and Effie are the most hospitable hosts we've ever experienced! Both were the greatest with helping us plan and prepare. Roxanne was the greatest! She was there each day and cooked some amazing meals! I could go on and on about this Villa and trip..... everything was perfect. We highly recommend Effies!
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Jan 2024
It was our pleasure to host you and your lovely family. Hope we can meet one day. Much thanks to all of you:)

10/10 Excellent

Charles K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent Getaway
Great people and lovely beach.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tabita S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful location
We had a great time and the property manager Roxanne was excellent. Our stay made us fall in love with Jamaica. We will definitely be returning!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Judy d.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice, but not exactly what I was expecting
My family and I stayed here in June/July. The place is a little less than an hour away from the airport and somewhat nearby shopping if you’re driving. We did not rent a car during the week we were there which I half regret as the prices for taxis were very expensive. But then again depending on where you’re going driving can be very nerve wracking. Our housekeeper and cook was lovely and the food was amazing. The property is cute and cozy and located a half a block away from a gorgeous beach. All the bedrooms have a full bath attached and there is air conditioning in each of the bedrooms. But the rest if the house does not have a/c which for us was a problem. There were fans in the living room but to be honest we were unprepared for just how hot and sticky and uncomfortable we would feel. The pool upstairs was cute and the water was warm, too warm considering hot hot we already were. Even was ocean water was warm due to the temps so I had a hard time cooling down unless I was in the bedroom. I think most of the homes in Jamaica are like this, even the restaurants too. Just a tip- bring bug spray. You will need it, especially at night when all the doors are open to let in the very light ocean breezes or the mosquitoes will come in and feast off of you like they did on us. Btw, there are a lot of stray dogs in the neighborhood to keep you company which we loved since we were missing our furry kids back at home. But keep in mind they are not allowed in the house.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Megan R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Jamaican vacation
We had a wonderful stay at Effie's home. Property is very conveniently located near the beach with great views of the ocean from the pool and gazebo. Effie and Aki were very communicative and helpful. Our housekeeper Roxanne was so sweet to my Mom bringing her treats from the local bakery and made us delicious Jamaican dishes during our stay. Highly recommend her oxtail and fried chicken! We would love to return someday.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Jun 2023
Thank you for your kind words, and for choosing us in your vacation plans. Aki said it was a pleasure to meet you both, and that you both are wonderful people. Wishes of health and happiness always!

10/10 Excellent

Halima A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing stay at a beautiful villa
My 24-year-old son and I spent 5 days at this beautiful property during our first trip to Jamaica. We wanted something less crowded and more laidback than an all-inclusive-resort, but didn’t want to sacrifice easy access to good food, fun activities, and the beach. Our experience at Effie’s place was the perfect balance. Effie and Ackee were extremely helpful both before and after we arrived. They provided information about activities, driver contact info, and even had groceries purchased ahead of our arrival. Trisha had a delicious meal waiting the afternoon we arrived. She prepared other meals throughout our stay at our request. The villa was comfortable and offered cool breezes most of the time we were there. Though air conditioning units are available in the bedrooms, we didn’t use them during our stay. The best feature, in my opinion, is the proximity to the beach. Most of the time we had the beach to ourselves, with the exception of 3-4 dogs that followed us around. There were rarely more than 2-3 people at the same time. Effie and Ackee connected us with a fisherman who took us out to a reef nearby for snorkeling. Using the driver contacts we were given, we were able to enjoy swimming in the luminous lagoon, horseback riding, parasailing, a bamboo river raft ride, diving at waterfalls, water tubing, and tours of local areas. Overall, we greatly enjoyed our stay and intend to return again.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laura M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing relaxing stay at Effie's Villa
We had the most wonderful and relaxing vacation stay at Effie’s Villa. Effie was exceptionally helpful throughout the planning progress and answered all our questions. We were greeted by Tresha, the housekeeper when we arrived. She was very kind and helpful throughout our stay. She is a wonderful cook and prepared several flavorful Jamaican meals for us. Tresha accompanied us to the grocery store and bakery located at Duncan Square to purchase some groceries, cinnamon rolls and Jamaican patties. The house and accommodations were perfect. We spent hours relaxing while enjoying amazing views from the rooftop pool and the front yard gazebo which faces the emerald blue waters of the sea. It was easy to fall into a relaxing routine of breakfast under the gazebo, sunbathing by the pool or on the beach and then heading over to Leroy’s to enjoy a few Red Stripe beers and listen to live music on Saturday night. We had the most amazing fried fish dinner at Leroy’s. Just paces behind Leroy’s is Tadler’s Beach Bar. Tadler, his sister and son sat with us to play the Jamaican board game, Ludo and then cooked some crab for us. We watched and visited with the locals as they cooked the crab right on the beach. Everyone was very friendly and accommodating. We felt completely safe during our stay. It was hard to leave this vacation spot with beautiful views, sunsets and white sand. We will most definitely return to Jamaica and will recommend Effie’s Villa to our friends and family.
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 11 May 2023
Thank you so much for your the beautiful review. You both are kind and lovely people! Take care:))

10/10 Excellent

Dave S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fabulous time at Effie's
We will be back!! Is there a better indicator of our satisfaction with our stay?? After having been to Jamaica 8-10 previous times and always staying at AI resorts, we wanted to try something different this time and are so glad we did. Everything about the trip was fabulous, from pre-trip communication, to airport pick-up and transportation to the actual property itself, the wonderful housekeeper and chef to the beach and ocean proximity and cleanliness. Everyone we encountered was very friendly and helpful and it was just a great trip. Thank you Effie and Ackee for a great vacation!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 1 May 2023
Thank you for your kind words Dave. So happy to hear you had a great trip. Ackee said, you both were so friendly!

10/10 Excellent

Scott B., Raleigh, NC, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Look no further!
Great location, a great house, and great hosts. 100 steps from front gate to wet feet. The friendliest, most helpful hosts we've ever met (and we've stayed in a LOT of vacation homes). The neighborhood is perfect - a combination of long-term renters, locals, and ex-pats. There's a sense of community there that you don't find in most vacation spots. We will be back again!
Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Fritz R., Zurich

Liked: Cleanliness
Traumhafte Lage
Sehr schönes grosses Haus direkt am Strand, ideal für Familien
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Joshua B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing location
Great experience, Tresha was always very helpful and Effie was great. Beautiful location very close to the beach.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Marcia S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic One of a kind
First time in Jamaica. Wanted to have a real experience. Not tourist adventure. Effies more than filled my expectations. From arranging a driver at the airport to making sure we had all the comforts of home. She and her husband helped arranged tours for us plus we got to meet all the local people who were just wonderful. The beach was minutes walking distance from house plus pool. The house was large and . nicely furnished. Our stay went bye much too quickly. Can't imagine a better way to spend a vacation in Jamaica.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Christine W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Most Relaxing Vacation We Have Had
My parents (60s) and I (30) had an absolutely fantastic time while in Jamaica. Effie's Villa had more than we had expected! The housekeeper available (at no extra fee) was fantastic, flexible and cheery. She prepared meals at our request from the local food markets. Fresh fish, fruit and style. Even did our laundry! The Villa location is exactly as described in the listing, a few hundred feet away from the beach (which is very nice, clean, and private). It was our first time to visit Jamaica but it won't be our last. We are already looking forward to when we can return to snorkel, sight-see, mix with the locals, and eat!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kayne B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Jamaica beauty as it should be experienced!
This vacation exceeded all expectations I had! Cary and Effie made me feel comfortable and safe prior to travel, helped plan our arrival and requirements, and supported our needs while in Jamaica! The pictures don’t do the property justice! Steps from the beach- which is private and filled with the softest sand and turquoise waters! Spacious, safe, and comfortable! Linda was there to cook, clean and make sure we didn’t lack anything! This is a local community- gated and safe- but local! Leroy’s bar served drinks and food for the family. This is not resort life! This is peaceful relaxation within a private community- everyone was welcoming! I will book again! And would be honored to spend more time with Acki! We miss our time already
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Jan 2022
Thank you for the kind words. You are all welcome back anytime! Aki was so thrilled to meet such a kind, wonderful family. Be well, and take care of each other:)

10/10 Excellent

Susan V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect in Every Way
If you are looking for the "real Jamaica", look no further! The location, the spacious Villa, the ocean and beach, the People, the food and drink....this little corner of Jamaica has it all. Leroy will get you to and from the Airport in style and anywhere else you want to go on your stay. He and his wife will also make sure you are entertained at "Leroys" beach bar and restaurant. The fried chicken is delicious. Julettes restaurant around the corner is equally finger licking good! The "locals" welcomed us and made us feel part of the family. The ocean and beach were beautiful, no crowds, just sun and sand. Views from the spacious Villa are amazing and the open air concept so relaxing. The raised gazebo a favorite morning coffee area to greet the day and the locals passing by, all the while Ms Chrissie is preparing our breakfast feast. All our meals expertly prepared and so delicious. We appreciated her time to shop with us and her efforts at every meal. An amazing woman! Beds were made and laundry done before we knew it! Check in and check out were a breeze. If we had questions...we got answers. Ackee, LeRoy, Diggy, Ashley....all so accommodating...we had no concerns. We were four ladies in age from 34-63, one legally blind!! We could not have found a more perfect place for our stay in Jamaica. I have been to all inclusive resorts 5 times in Jamaica and would highly recommend this amazing alternative where you can safely relax or do as much touring as you want. Location on the island is A+ for doing excursions to Montego Bay, Negril or Ocho Rios. You will not regret your stay at "Effies" or your vacation in Jamaica. We will not hesitate to return and embrace all the Duncans area has to offer. Thank you for sharing your Jamaica with us!

10/10 Excellent

Michael G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Almost your own private beach
The property was how it was described very well appointed far above others in the area. The residents in the area were very pleasant and helpful. The beach is a quick 50 steps from your door and whenever we went we never seen more than 1 or 2 people, but usually we were alone. Chrissy the housekeeper/Chef was outstanding and made our visit a true home away from home. The owners kept in contact with us in case any issue arose but were not intrusive.When we return to the Island we will be sure to stay again at this wonderful villa. Thanks for the memories!

6/10 Okay

Heather H., Ann Arbor, Michigan

wonderful beach
The house was close to a quiet beach. there were several issues though. no wifi, wasp infestation at the outdoor shower and to much furniture. overall i would not return to duncans with my two young children. the beach was very nice though but there were a lot of stray dogs.
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Mar 2020
Sad to hear you will not be returning. To be fair, myself and Ms Chris were available and went above and beyond to ensure you and your children had a comfortable stay. The shower was not infested. I was physically there the morning you arrived and the day you departed. I did not encounter any wasps. This is not accurate. We did our very best to please you, despite all of this you left us with several concerns. You left my belongings that we let you use, out of the kindness of our hearts, at the beach. It was my friend that noticed you did not return them back to the villa. We even drove down your groceries so you could save the delivery charge, as well as left some spices/veggies etc to add to your comfort. Unfortunately you did not treat our villa and staff very nicely. You left a stinky/awful mess, that took most of the day to clean up. Again I showed you compassion and understanding, as we did not take out a additional cleaning fee from your deposit. After all of these efforts, my heart is heavy after reading your comments.,

10/10 Excellent

Monica G.

Perfect unplugged family vacation
We loved our stay at Effie’s. A picture perfect beach is steps from the front door. We had so much fun swimming, snorkeling and exploring the tide pools...especially at night. Miss Chrissie took amazing care of us while we were there and made us feel right at home. Her cooking is great and she keeps the villa neat as a pin. She took us to the grocery store and we had fun walking the aisles with her. She also humored us by preparing whatever oddball fruit we picked up and brought back to the Villa. We also ate at Leroy’s beach bar and Juliet’s. Both were within an easy 3 min walk and like going to dine at someone’s house with friends and relatives about. So good. Inexpensive too. Leroy took us out on field trips. We saw the glistening waters and Dunn’s River Falls. We always felt in good hands. My 16 year old son would want me to give props to Scotchies Jerk Hut and The Ultimate Jerk Experience. We all loved it, but he is still raving about it. Overall, this was a cost effective way to take a super family vacation. Unlike staying at a resort, we felt like we got to see some of the “real” Jamaica. Go if you get the chance.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2018

8/10 Good

Brian M.

Literally just a 30 second walk and you are on the beach. The owners were very attentive
The only reason we didn’t give it the 5th star was the fact that we didn’t have any WiFi while we were there. Cary did all he could with the service provider, and kept in constant contact with us during our stay. Ms Chrissie took great care of us, and helped us throughout our stay. She went with is to the local grocer, cooked us breakfast dinners when we were there. She even did laundry for us during our stay. We probably enjoyed the last night with her the best when we cooked dinner for her, and got to sit and hear about her life and family. She was awesome with us, and my kids hope she can see this and want he to know we wish her, her children, her grandchildren, and her small pig all the best. We did also frequent Leroy’s down on the beach. Leroy will also drive you around if need be, he was always willing to take us. I would suggest if you will be driving to a lot of different towns/activities/exscursions that talking to a taxi company and setting up the pick ups for the entirety of the stay is the way to go, and they will work with you on the price for multiple pick ups. We used Byron’s Jamaica Tours, and they were great as well. The house was perfect. The breeze that comes through when you have all the doors open is wonderful. You can hear the waves while you sit at the kitchen table. We also enjoyed just sitting out on the gazebo, the breeze, the waves, it was awesome. We did seem to have our own dog that would sit at our gate, there seem to be a few dogs that run free, all were very friendly and we loved it. The pup that was at our gate we found out they call smiley, the dog actually smiles at you, he literally smiles. We loved it, and not sure if we were suppose to, but we fed him every night and named him Irie. A bonus was the air conditioning in the bedrooms. If you prefer to close up the windows the AC units in the bedrooms work very, very well. Overall we loved our time in Jamaica, and would definitely stay at Effie’s again. The house was everything she says, and the addition of Ms Chrissie and Irie was even more. Book with confidence, especially if you want to relax outside on the beach. With the exception of Sunday’s, and we were there for Emancipation Day, the beach will be yours to yourself. We love Jamaica
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Kelsie S.

If you are looking to exploreJamaica away from the tourist resorts, this is your spot!
Effie’s house was so spacious for our family of four. Plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the amazing beach views and ocean breeze. House was clean and ready for our arrival. Her care taker prepared us some meals and she was lovely. The beach in front is beautiful white sand with a lot of room to explore. We swam to the reef and got in some amazing snorkeling. The reef is a ways out, so you could probably also ask one of the fishermen on the beach for a lift for a few bucks. We day tripped to several places we wanted to see on the island and spent the rest of the time relaxing at the house and beach in front. A car is needed in my opinion unless you plan to stay at the house the entire time. Enjoy your time if you are lucky enough to visit!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Andrew W.

Awesome
We loved are stay at Effie’s!!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Mar 2020
Thank you very much for your review. Really appreciate it. Blessings to you and your family.

10/10 Excellent

Jon T.

Peaceful and Lovely
Wow. Yes, you DO want to stay here. A great home in a great location. Effie was very easy to book with and answer all sorts of questions before we arrived. Valerie made it even better with hugs and love and great meals and just to talk and learn from. It truly is steps from the beach ... 1 small house between Effie's and then you are on the public beach. Besides the weekend, the white sand beach was pretty much empty besides us. The house is spectacular, awesome cross breeze and very good AC in the bedrooms as needed. Very comfortable accommodations. The yard is decorated with seashells and flowers. The gazebo was amazing with great views of the ocean. If you are looking for the best bang for the buck, then stay here... I can't imagine staying anywhere else. Our stay was 25-30 March 2017. We never got to try out LeRoy's bar but did visit the low key vendors by LeRoy's.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2017

10/10 Excellent

John F.

Beautiful, clean, well kept, and relaxing
This beautiful bungalow is in a small neighborhood near the ocean. We frequently enjoyed our ocean view from the gazebo in the yard, where we had many of our meals. The people who live in the neighborhood were friendly and welcoming. On Sunday the beach was particularly fun and busy; it seemed that the community came together for family time, swimming, and sports on the beach. We always felt safe and relaxed. I think I have never had such a totally relaxing vacation, and that is because of Mrs. Valerie. She was our helper with cooking, cleaning, laundry and such. She even took us to the market, showed us around, and introduced us to foods that were new to us. She was friendly but unobtrusive, helpful without being overbearing, and she always had a smile on her face. She never seemed burdened by us but rather seemed happy to be helpful. She had a contagious laugh. Honestly I left with a more positive attitude toward my own work, because she has such a positive attitude about her own. I am so grateful for my time with family at this getaway and grateful to have met Mrs. Valerie.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2017

10/10 Excellent

Danea B.

A Dream Week By the Ocean
Our vacation here was nothing short of fantastic! Effie was a gracious host, who kept in close contact with me booking through our return home. No detail was overlooked! The house is truly lovely, and suited our group of 2 couples very nicely. Rooms were great, the master shower was AWESOME! We could see the beach from the gazebo where we spent a great deal of time just longing. The wifi and direct TV were an added perk. Valarie took outstanding care of us! She's a lovely hilarious woman who always whipped up the most amazing meals. Our favorites were curried goat and coconut curry shrimp...but you really can't go wrong no matter what she makes! We also spent a good deal of time down at Leroy's which is a super short walk away. he and his wife Cordella were also awesome! I can't think of anything that could have made our trip better..aside for a longer stay 😃
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2017

10/10 Excellent

Catherine R.

Holiday of a lifetime
Staying at Effie's villa in Duncans bay was everything we had hoped for. As a holiday away from the usual tourist hotel experience it couldn't be beaten. The house was perfect and Valerie, made our stay so relaxing, how wonderful to be looked after! The villa was in a perfect location, to have a beach so stunningly beautiful , with warm water and almost always totally empty right on your doorstep was a real high light. It was also an ideal location to get to different tourist attractions. Effie was wonderful with her help and advice before our trip. I would recommend this property to anyone who wanted a safe base to explore Jamaica without being in a hotel.

10/10 Excellent

Allie P., Land O Lakes, FL

Vacation paradise
We travel a lot and like to "live like the locals". So, it was nice to say a friendly good morning or hello to the other villa neighbors and locals as they were passing by. With only a few steps to the beach, we enjoyed frequent walks, swims and just lounging. We had a lovely view and breeze from our gazebo. Valerie, the housekeeper and cook was a valuable source of information, always helpful, kept the villa very clean, and cooked fabulous meals including fresh local produce, fish and crab. Effie, the owner was very helpful throughout our rental. We chose to spend most of our days relaxing, but did enjoy a drive to Frenchman's Cove where one of the rivers meets the sea, and enjoyed a delicious lunch on the beach. Effie's Villa is the perfect spot to enjoy the real Jamaica. We look forward to returning.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2015

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Beautiful Home!
What can we say that hasn't already been said by earlier reviews. A beautiful home located so close to the beach you can hear the waves. A true Jamaican experience. Awesome weather, friendly neighbours and wonderful owners made for a restful vacation in November. Having been to Jamaica on several occasions staying in Silver Sands, this home is every bit comparable to the rentals within the gated community. We have not had a bad experience yet and highly recommend Effie's Place. Can't wait to go back!
Stayed 9 nights in Nov 2015

8/10 Good

Martin S.

Eine sehr schöne Ecke von Jamaika
Hallo, wir waren zu viert in diesem schönen Haus im Juli 2017. Es sind tatsächlich nur wenige Schritte zum Meer. Der Strand ist sauber und sehr schön. Das Haus ist so wie abgebildet und birgt keine Überraschungen. Zu dem Haus gehört noch eine "Angestellte" die als guter Geist für einen da sein soll. Diese Dienstleistung sollte mit 20-25 US$/Tag vergütet werden. Da wir Dienstleistung nicht permanent benötigten, entstand eine dezente Unruhe. Unser Tipp. Unbedingt vorab klären. Leider hat der Vermieter hier nicht mit offenen Karten gespielt. Auf dem Gründstück parkt Leroy (von der Bar) noch seinen Bus und ist täglich 2-3x damit unterwegs. Das Essen in Leroys Bar ist sehr gut (aber etwas teuer). Das Haus liegt zentral für alle Ausflüge nach Westen wie Osten.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Mar 2020
Thank you kindly for choosing Effie's. It was a delight to have you and your family as my guests. I would consider your return a true blessing:) I strive to reach the best to ensure my guests have total comfort during their stay. I do contact my guests frequently to see how things are. I did make an effort to contact you, with very little reply. I completely respect that you needed your privacy. I wish you could have communicated with me. I would have definitely found an alternative solutions to this vehicle. Where ever you are, or plan to go, i truly wish only the best for you and your family. Cheers to health and happiness always! Take care of each other.