For someone wanting privacy, with the wonderful amenities of an entire home and a staff to pamper you a villa is a good choice. This is a perfect solution for a large family or group traveling together. Instead of several hotel rooms, you will have the luxury of a home, fabulous amenities and a great staff to serve you.
We have had excellent results from the staff at Island Hideaways. You can find them on the net at: www.islandhideaways.com. They give you personalized service and make great efforts to find the perfect villa for your specific needs and desires. They have wonderful properties and the Island Hideaway staff visits frequently to be sure they know exactly what they are recommending to visitors. Villas can be very modest or very lavish – there is something for every budget, so check it out before you book a regular hotel; you may be pleasantly surprised. They cover most Caribbean islands if you are considering someplace other than Barbados.
With a villa your holiday is customized to your schedule, you will have plenty of room to spread out and privacy that will give you a chance to spend quality time with each other. It’s a great way to enjoy a reunion with family or friends, celebrate a special family occasion, have a wedding and reception, or enjoy a honeymoon. They are stylishly furnished and you typically have a cook and a maid/laundress. You can save money on costly restaurant meals and daily you can have your clothes laundered and pressed – it’s wonderful. The staff is not intrusive. Typically there is an area of the villa where they will stay while they prepare some meals (if you desire), and clean the villa. When they are finished they leave.
We just toured these condos while in Barbados in July 2010 and stayed in them during our October 2011 visit. Jane Shattuck Hoyos owns several condos in this complex and gave us a great tour. They are gorgeous with fabulous ocean views from all of the windows. If you want to be in the heart of the Gap where the action is, these condos are for you. Everything is brand new and in premium condition. They are right next door to the new Apsara Samudra restaurant and down the street from the new Beach One Tropical Lounge and Restaurant.
Jane told me that all of the windows facing the street in the Gap are double paned so that there is no noise from the lively action in the Gap.
Check out Jane’s website at: http://www.barbadosbeachvacationrentals.com for pricing and availability. Also let Jane know you heard about the condos from Barbados Tips & Lois Swanson. You can also write Jane at: PlanetBarbados@gmail.com
RON STOUTE VILLA RENTALS:
We have used them several times. They specialize in properties on the east coast of Barbados.
You can see what they offer at: http://www.ronstoute.com/vacation-rentals
In 2011 we wanted to try something new, so upon our arrival we booked a night at one of Ron Stoute's villas on the east coast. The scenery is always so dramatic there, and we wanted to experience it for ourselves. It was a wonderful first night on the island.
We stayed at Hunter - one of the Castle Close cottages. It's one of 10 cottages on the Castle Close Estate. Gorgeous gardens, fabulous pool with waterfall, and right by a path to the beach. This is a 3-bedroom cottage that is very roomy. There was an enclosed courtyard for us to enjoy right off of our bedroom that had a king-sized bed. All bedrooms were nicely furnished as was the entire cottage. The dining table would even seat 8 people, although we did not use it. The living room was great with its peaked ceiling. We loved the coral stone walls throughout - you really felt you were in the islands. We did enjoy the pool and the soothing waterfall added to the ambience. We definitely would go back as it was a lovely villa.
That evening we had dinner at Zen which was very close. It was a delicious meal at The Crane - again, a new experience for us. There are several restaurants there to enjoy and a close drive if you stay at the cottage.
The next day, with Gillian, we had a great tour of the other wonderful properties that Ron Stoute has to offer. These are really nice options for people who want to explore and enjoy the beauty of the east coast which is simply spectacular. They have lots of properties ranging from one bedroom on up to 5 bedroom villas, so there is something for everyone. And Gillian is a wonderful person to handle all of your special requests.
In 2015 we rented Wavecrest (Coral Point I) through them. Set on a promontory overlooking the southeastern coast of Barbados, Coral Point affords its guests complete seclusion. Immediately below, the Atlantic Ocean rolls in against the rocks with a steady, tranquilizing sound. To the west, steps cut into the coral and lead down to a sheltered, palm-shaded beach. Guests who prefer the convenience of a swimming pool, or who like to take a fresh-water dip after a swim in the sea, will appreciate the fact that this villa has its own pool set on the cliff front with a dramatic view of the beach and ocean. In addition, the complex has a shared pool which is the central feature of the artfully-landscaped garden-court that is shared by three luxury villas on the point.
Pictures of the Jacaranda Villa we rented are on the right.
You can contact any of the staff, or ask for Jen Fulton Molinelli (she’s helped me many times over the years). You can tell her that Lois Swanson from Barbados Tips recommended that you talk with her. Island Hideaways can be reached toll free at: (800) 832-2302 US or 0808.234.5122 UK or by e-mail at: villas@islandhideaways.com What I particularly like is there is no pressure – they try to find the type of accommodation that will best suit your needs and your budget. One of the villas we rented through them was Jacaranda Villa. It's a 3-bedroom villa with two private pools, one outside and one inside.
If you’d like a self-catering villa without staff, check out www.vbro.com We have rented through them as well. There are other services like this as well such as http://www.airbnb.com/
You will also find villas on a resort property like Sandy Lane. At Coral Reef Club if you book one of their Plantation Suites or the Luxury Cottage Suites – these are really like villas on a resort property.
ST LAWRENCE BEACH CONDOMINIUMS
Location: south coast, St. Lawrence Gap