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Altman Villa Rentals has been one of the leading villa rental agencies in Barbados since it entered the business in the late 1970s. It has grown with the villa rental business and is now a relatively large company of 70 people, situated in offices on the West Coast. This is where most of their rental villas are located. They have a portfolio of around 100 in all, ranging from apartments on the shorefront and in condominium developments to free-standing villas on the cliffs and beach. They have many in the Sandy Lane and Sugar Hill estates. Altman Villa Rentals offers a full service for holidaymakers (transfers, provisioning and housekeeping, up to a chef and butler if you wish) and they also offer services for home-owners, by marketing and managing villas for them. It is a slick and professional company that will enable you to get the best of a villa holiday in Barbados.
Altman also has a real estate arm, which is involved in all aspects of real estate in Barbados, including the buying and selling of private villas. Please see our review of Altman Real Estate.
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KEY FEATURES...
| Sleek and chic properties in all the best places, strong presence on Sandy Lane Estate, Sugar Hill, Schooner Bay and other top developments |
CLIENT PROFILE...
| Well heeled, well connected, Sandy Lane crowd, strong following from top tour operators and agents |
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Review
Staying independently in a villa has long been a favourite way of enjoying Barbados. Wealthy visitors began building holiday homes here in the 1960s - before many other islands in the area had even a hotel - and the industry has steadily grown since then. Altman started informally in the Seventies and it has grown with the industry. The company’s two founders, Richie Alleyne and Heather Aguilar, began to sell and to manage houses along the west coast for their friends. And of course they rented them out. In the early days the villas were mainly around the Sandy Lane Estate and along the shorefront of the West Coast itself, but the company kept pace as new villas were built inland and in villa developments as well as in free-standing lots.
Altman's is a large company now, with around 70 employees altogether (working in both arms of the company). Head office is located in offices just opposite the Cliff restaurant in Derricks, on the West Coast, and in 2007 they opened a second office on the South Coast in Worthing. Paul Altman himself joined in 1980. The name, previously Alleyne, Aguilar and Altman and then AAAltman has contracted to Altman. Of course, much of the effort of the company has been in the real estate side. In addition to selling houses the company has been involved in development, marketing and sometimes backing the extensive building that is going on in Barbados. Altman’s interest extends beyond Barbados to other islands nearby as well and on Barbados the company is the representative for Christie’s Estates.
However, villa rentals go hand in hand with real estate sales and management and so this is a key part of the business too. The advantage of a villa holiday is that you stay in your own house and you direct the pace of life as you wish. There is more privacy and less formality than in a hotel. Whereas on some islands in the Caribbean the level of staffing in private accommodation is slight, in Barbados you can expect to be well looked after. Even the smallest Altman villas come with a housekeeper/cook, but in a larger villa you can expect there to be a chef and a butler, who in addition to attending to their duties around the house will also offer a concierge service. Your butler can make suggestions to you of things to do around the island, they can book restaurants or an excursion for you, or they can bring in a masseur.
Barbados has an exceptional range of properties for rent and Altman has some of the finest available. They range from one-bedroom beachfront apartments, for instance in the Schooner Bay development, to three-bedroom apartments in developments such as Emerald Beach. Then there are the free-standing villas, many of which are in the Sandy Lane Estate, where Altman has handled villas for many years.
In addition to renting out houses, Altman Villa Rentals also manages villas for owners (sometimes where the owner does not have it for rent). This includes keeping the villa or apartment in good repair, tending the gardens, paying the staff and of course making it ready for your or your guests’ arrival when you do come.
Altman is one of the leading Barbados villa rental companies. They are professional and have many years of practice. They are well known for their villa management, and this will make sure that you get the best of a villa holiday in Barbados. |
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Christmas/New Year Availabilty
Please see here for a full list of available villas for the 2009 Christmas/New Year season in Barbados. Alternatively see PDF with a gallery of available villas as of 21 October 2009. |
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Services
Villa Management
Managing their portfolio of rental villas means that Altman Villa Rentals takes care of everything in the owners’ absence. This aspect of the villa business is often underestimated, but it is vital to the success of rentals that the management is well executed. For owners, Altman’s services include ensuring payment of utilities, insurance, staff wages, rubbish collection, pool maintenance, general maintenance and gardening.
In addition to the short term rentals, Altman Villa Rentals offers properties that are available for long term let of six months or longer.
Altman’s services to property owners include the marketing of Barbados villa rentals, which the company undertakes through a large network of contacts in America, Canada, UK and Europe.
Barbados Villa Rentals
Altman Villa Rentals provides services locally to villa guests, such as airport transfers, delivery of a rental vehicle to the villa, pre-stocking the villa with food.
Altman has a number of Villa Managers, who are your contact with the company when you are on island. One will come to visit you fairly soon after your arrival (usually the next morning as flights tend to arrive late in the day in Barbados) to make sure that everything is ok. They can give advice on restaurants, shopping, restaurants and other places of interest and activities around the island.
Grocery Supplies
Altman Villa Rentals is happy to lay in some supplies for your arrival. Ask them or your travel organiser in advance. The cook will then prepare a welcome meal. Altman has a standard package that includes breakfast and a main meal.
Thereafter, staff will shop for you during your stay if you wish to delegate this chore, however you should provide transportation and funds for the staff to do so. Initial groceries and additional shopping, transfers and other incidentals are subject to a 15% VAT and 15% Service Charge. |
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Staff
There are around 70 staff at Altman’s working on both the villa rental and the real estate side of the company. As a holidaymaker you can expect a minimum of a housekeeper/cook in the simplest apartments and houses, but in larger villas there will be other staff, perhaps including a butler and a chef, housekeepers and gardeners. Butlers work as concierges and they can help to arrange anything for you.
The company has been headed up for many years by Paul Altman, who has been in the real estate business since the late 1970s. He is a former President of the Barbados National Trust and in 2000 he was awarded the Centennial Honour by the Barbados government. |
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Meet & Greet
If you are booking direct, ask Altman Villa Rentals to send a taxi to meet you at the airport. Their representative will be waiting outside the Arrivals hall at the airport holding a sign with your name on it and they will direct you to your taxi. Your airport transfers are paid for locally and it usually takes 30-45 minutes to reach the villas on the west coast, depending on the traffic.
Unless you are a seasoned visitor and know your way around Barbados well, we do not recommend that you collect your hire car at the airport, or for that matter take an airport taxi to villa accommodation - the driver may well not know how to get to the property itself. Also, taxi drivers arranged by your travel organiser or by Altman Villa Rentals will keep in telephone contact with the villa staff and will tell them when to take your welcoming drink out of the refrigerator! |
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Check In/Check Out
The check-in and check-out regime is necessarily strict for villa properties because priority is always given to preparing the villa for incoming guests. Unless you make specific alternative arrangements at the time of booking, the check out time is at noon. The earliest check-in time for arrivals is 3pm.
If your arrival on Barbados is earlier than this, please make sure that you tell your travel organiser or Altman Villa Rentals so that suitable arrangements can be put in place. You will find that everyone will be as accommodating as possible, providing they have the relevant information well in advance. |
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Departures
If you have a hire car, you can choose to return it at the airport (making sure the luggage will fit, or order a taxi to help you out) or have it collected from the villa prior to your departure. If your travel organiser hasn’t already made the appropriate transport arrangements to take you back to the airport, you can book a taxi, minibus or limousine through Altman Villa Rentals. |
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Booking Conditions
Deposits and Payments
If you book direct, you will need to send a deposit of 25% of the total rental fee to confirm a reservation. Payment of the remaining 75% is required 60 days prior to your arrival for a winter booking and 30 days for a summer booking. In special circumstances, Altman reserves the right to request a deposit of 50% of the total rental fee before accepting any booking. Payment may be made by telegraphic transfer or International money order. If you are booking within 60 days of your arrival (30 for summer), full payment must be made to secure the booking. If your payment is late, the company reserves the right to cancel the booking and you will forfeit the deposit paid.
Cancellation Policy
You must cancel at least 60 days prior to your proposed arrival (in winter, 45 days in summer) in order to receive a refund of your deposit. If you cancel within 45 days of your arrival (in winter, 30 in summer), you will be liable for the total cost of the rental. Similarly if you book within 30 days of arrival and cancel during that time, you will also forfeit the total cost of the rental. Again, if your payment is late, the company reserves the right to cancel the booking and you will forfeit the deposit paid.
It is worth noting that rates, length of stay, payment and cancellation policies vary for Christmas bookings.
Security Deposit
In addition to villa rental fees, a security deposit of US$500 will be collected against any accidental damage that may occur during your stay or for miscellaneous charges that remain outstanding after your departure. This deposit is refunded seven days after departure less any charges. The security deposit may be included with your final rental payment or on island via MasterCard or Visa credit card.
Travel Insurance
Since accidents can happen, we recommend that you take out a travel insurance policy that gives you full protection for damage to Third Party property. For further advice, please see here. |
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Useful Hints
Rental rates for villas in Barbados do not include ‘tips’, about which you will find advice in the guest information book at the villa.
If you let them know in advance, Altman Villa Rentals can supply (at extra charge) equipment including fax machines, TV/VCRs, cell phones as well as roll-a-way beds and cots for children. |
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Portfolio Listing
DefinitiveCaribbean features a representative selection of the properties that are available for rent through Altman Villa Rentals, which you may book directly, or through tour operators/travel organisers that have an agreement with the company.
See here for a complete listing of the Altman villas that we feature:
| The Bolt Hole, Barbados
A splendid, elegantly furnished 2nd floor apartment in the exclusive Old Trees Bay beachfront development with three en suite bedrooms on a glorious stretch of white sandy beach. A sophisticated and stylish retreat. | | The Casuarinas, Barbados
Stylish second floor corner apartment in the exclusive Old Trees Bay beachfront development, with three en suite bedrooms and a large balcony located on a glorious stretch of white sandy beach. Marble floors and pickle pine tray ceilings giving a cool retreat. | | Calliaqua, Barbados
Contemporary, colonial themed 3-4 bedroom two storey executive villa with a one bedroom guest cottage set in a 50-acre gated villa community and use of the Royal Westmoreland beach facility at Mullins Beach. | | Chilterns - Schooner Bay, Barbados
A contemporary, deluxe one bedroom apartment set over two levels within the exclusive Schooner Bay beachfront development, by Speightstown, with partial sea views from a private terrace and balcony. | | Azzurro, Barbados
Stylish, ground floor apartment within the exclusive Old Trees Bay beachfront development, with two bedrooms, located on a glorious stretch of white sandy beach. Best for couples looking for a bit of beachfront sophistication. | | Bluff House, Barbados
Elegantly casual, 6 bedroom coral stone villa with a relaxed and understated style set in over an acre of mature grounds in a much sought-after location next to Sandy Lane hotel. Good indoor/outdoor living and entertaining areas with a pathway to Sandy Lane beach. | | Landmark House & Cottage, Barbados
An elegant, sprawling, Moorish style beach retreat, with 4 en suite bedrooms in the main house, shaded tropical gardens with open air living and dining areas, set on the world famous Sandy Lane beach. | | Mon Caprice, Barbados
Contemporary, plantation style villa with grand furnishings, in a sought after location just steps from Sandy Lane beach, 5 bedrooms, family room, formal sitting and dining room, upper terrace, and pool terrace. | | Moon Reach, Barbados
There is a wow factor about this Barbados villa where an impressive avenue of royal palms leads you to a gracious two storey beachfront villa with swimming pool. Unusually, there are five similar bedroom suites each with its own balcony giving view to the sea. | | Sea Shell Beach House, Barbados
A timeless, traditional and very nicely furnished 3 bedroom beachfront retreat that makes for a classic Barbados villa set in 2 acres of park like grounds filled with birdsong, and a mangrove watercourse teeming with fish. The bedrooms are oversized, a glorious beach is at the garden’s end and there is plenty of room for outdoor living. | | Dolphins - Schooner Bay, Barbados
An exceptionally fine 3 bedroom/3 bathroom, 1st floor corner, beachfront apartment, by Speightstown, with stunning views, set within the exclusive Schooner Bay development. | | High Constantia, Barbados
A delightful, cosy, 2 bedroom cottage in a countryside setting with expansive lawns and lovely coastal views. Well-priced, and popular with honeymoon couples. | | High Trees, Barbados
Traditional, old style, rather gracious 3 bedroom home with a wonderful beachfront setting, spacious lawns with dining gazebo, and a large covered living & dining veranda with sea views. | | Emerald Beach, Barbados
Charming cluster of six individually furnished, semi-detached 3 bedroom, 2 storey villas with private terraces and balconies, set back from fantastic Gibbs Beach in a tropical garden oasis brimming with colourful shrubs. Excellent choice for small groups of friends or wedding parties. | | Klairan, Barbados
A super villa with splendid pool area, beautifully landscaped gardens with coastal views, an elegant dining room, romantic gazebo, fish pond, with 3 of the 4 bedrooms located in romantic garden cottages. Excellent for entertaining. | | Landmark Cottage, Barbados
A charming, 2 bedroom bleached timber, tree house style cottage with Demerara shutters and lattice wood work to the wrap around upper gallery. Within short stroll of Sandy Lane beach. | | Sunwatch - Sugar Hill, Barbados
A very stylish villa of high quality based on traditional West Indian design, with a modernistic, artsy decor with hint of the exotic set on 2 acres within a 50 acre gated villa community. Spacious, breezy layout, with uninterrupted views of the St James coast with excellent entertainment areas. | | Sweet Enough - Sugar Hill, Barbados
Classic, well appointed and luxuriously furnished, colonial-baroque style, five bedroom villa with sea views set in a 50 acre gated villa and tennis community. Good for families. | |
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How to book
Definitive Caribbean has around 20 reviews of a representative selection of the 100 villas available for rental through Altman Villa Rentals. The range includes some small properties but also some of the smartest villas on the island. If you wish to make further enquiries or a reservation, please use the WEB LINK or DIRECT EMAIL ENQUIRIES facility at the top of this page to make contact with Altman Villa Rentals in Barbados, or if you wish to telephone them, their telephone number will be revealed if you click on the CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER link. |
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