BARBADOS TIPS

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SOUTH COAST

PLUM TREE CLUB

ROCKLEY PLUM TREE CLUB - (on Rockley Golf Course) - Located on the South  Coast - a 15 min. walk to Sandy Beach (or use beach shuttle from hotel which takes you to Accra Beach).  Originally built some twenty-six years ago, the recently renovated PLUM TREE CLUB offers guests all the advantages of a genuine hideaway, without the disadvantages of remoteness......an intimate cluster of 40 one and two bedroom apartments all with ensuite bathrooms, full kitchens, living rooms and each with its own private patio offering a choice of views overlooking the golf course, the swimming pool or the beautiful landscaped gardens.  All units now have new furniture throughout.  Toll Free: 1-866-978-5007

If you contact them (Kris Hoad the Reservations Manager, or Ann Smith, Property Manager is usually in the office), let them know Lois Swanson referred you and they will take good care of you.  There are only 6 of the 2-bedroom units (we always get this).  The 1-bedroom units are identical to the 2-bedroom (only difference is there are one bedroom/bathroom less).  Plum Tree Club is a great buy.

Miami Beach area - past Oistins

LITTLE ARCHES

Here you will have a chance to discover intimate luxury a 2 min. walk away from Miami Beach - partly calm, partly rough waters.  The hotel and restaurant are fantastic.  This hotel is something you will want to experience while in Barbados – even if only for a few nights.  There are only 10 unique, luxurious rooms here so it’s a good, “get-away” location. - very romantic.  It is located in the Atlantic Shores residential area – a bit away from things.  Prices range from $255 - $355 off-season.  High season prices range from $347 - $480.  The room we saw (room #10 – “Carriacou”) is to the rear with a garden view -- was gorgeous!  Great roof-top restaurant too  - Café Luna (we tried it for lunch)  The chef is “Moo” and everyone continually raves about the food here.

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Rockley Beach Area:

ACCRA BEACH HOTEL AND RESORT – “Voted “A” Class Hotel of the Year for 2006 by Tourism Board:  The resort has also opened its very own Spa – CHAKRA. Chakra Spa is a haven for relaxation, rejuvenation and healing. The spa offers a variety of body massage treatments, as well as manicures and pedicures, which are all performed by our international Reiki trained therapist. Our philosophy at Chakra Spa is; before you heal your self, you must connect with your physical, emotional and spiritual sides. To embrace what is uniquely you.

Accra Beach Hotel & Resort is pleased to announce that it has become a 100% Non-Smoking Hotel offering free high speed Internet in all of our guest rooms!

As of May 2007, Accra opened its new wing of 80 rooms, which includes four two-bedroom oceanfront suites and 24 ocean-view luxury suites.  The suites include in-room Jacuzzis.  This brings the hotel's inventory to a total of 222 rooms. All rooms offer views of the island, pool or ocean.  The centerpiece of the gardens is a large swimming pool complete with swim-up bar.  The resort also features a spa, hair salon and fully equipped gym.  For incentive groups and meetings, the resort has four meeting rooms and a board room, which totals 6,500 square feet of meeting space.  Lots of business guests (as it’s close to government offices and Bridgetown), but also frequented by visitors.  The rooms not listed as ocean front may get lots of street noise, or noise from the nearby taxi area.

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Worthing Area & St. Lawrence Gap:

CORAL SANDS BEACH RESORT (on Sandy Beach - a fantastic beach – calm, turquoise waters with sandy area going into the sea).  This property has a great location (although the beach out front is shrinking due to beach erosion), all-suites with 2 double beds in each suite and with nice kitchens - 8 year old property with a small pool (this closes at 6 pm).  This resort always gets great reviews by people who have stayed there.  Lift to all floors, in-room safes and satellite TV; 15 min. from airport. 

Something to be aware of from a report by a recent visitor during high season:  The visitor told me that there was no bathtub, only a shower with the most basic shower-head.  Also they said that the hotel did not provide chairs and umbrellas for the beach.  They were told they could be rented on the beach next to the property.  There was no service to speak of, no manager's cocktail party, no water sports, not even a pool noodle.  The view from their balcony was great once the vans left for the day.  The resort is beside a beach-access road and the tour operators parked there all day.  This meant they looked out on vehicles on the beach.

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Aquatic Gap:

BARBADOS HILTON:  The hotel opened on June 6, 2005.  You can use your Hilton Rewards Points here.  HHonors Hotel Reward Category: 6 (40,000 points per night). 

You have to search for the road off of Highway 7 that leads to the Hilton as we did not see any advertising signs indicating it was there.  The Hilton features 350 ocean-view guest rooms, including 77 executive floor rooms and 33 suites.  All guestrooms will offer private balcony, high speed internet access, two-line speakerphones with data port, and cable television. 

We toured the grounds which are beautiful -- especially the pools.  The hotel is surrounded by powdery soft white sand beaches and pristine blue water.  The beach area is protected by seawalls, so the water appears calm.  The new Hilton Barbados affords every guest breathtaking views from their balcony.  You are welcomed by tropical breezes drifting through the open air lobby, the resort offers everything from cascading pools, health and wellness and exciting dining options to the very best meeting facilities in Barbados.  The beach here is sheltered by rock walls in the sea, but there is still more surf here than some places.

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Hastings Area:

THE SAVANNAH – The new section of this hotel is nice.  98 rooms.  It is often used by business travelers as it’s close to the Garrison and Bridgetown.  However, the beach there is not very nice – it’s very narrow with hardly any space for a beach chair.  Carlisle Bay (Browne’s Beach) is a short distance from here -- go to that beach instead. 

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Budget accommodations:

Escape at the Gap – ok beach in this area.

Little Bay Hotel (upstairs over Bellini’s) - no pool.  Be careful here though -- you might get some noise here from the non-stop music at various night spots in The Gap.

Coral Mist Beach Hotel (formerly Blythwood Beach Apartments) – Some newly built units here.  Studios, one and two bedroom units.  Pool.  Rates range high season $193-$290; Summer season:  $136-$195.  Great beach in this area.

Blue Orchids – On the other side of Coral Mist Beach Hotel.  Large rock seawall in front of hotel.

Rostrevor Apt. Hotel- good budget accommodation in the heart of the Gap 59 apts. --  only 28 of which are newly refurbished with a/c.  No beach here.

Chateau Blanc Apartments on Sea - Budget accommodation (very basic and in need of updating - in 2003), but on a great beach (no pool).  However, in May 2005 I was told that the apartments and facilities had been updated and that they have added two new rooms that are even more beautiful with state of the art designs and very modern kitchens and bathrooms with a seafront view.  I did not get to visit this property on our recent trip, but from the outside, nothing looked any different than when we toured it.  Rates off-season - 1 bedroom $105/night, 2 bedroom $140/night (approximate).

Yellow Bird - budget priced at the beginning of the Gap (pool).  However BEWARE – lots of noise here late at night from night spots in The Gap.  So, it’s ok if you don’t mind noise.