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Style: Exclusive, elegantly casual, understated luxury with a natural, semi open air style and design. A good Barbados villa for a family and a perfect hideaway for those that prefer a more relaxed atmosphere as opposed to West Coast glitz.
The Beach: Private pathway leading to Sandy Lane beach
The Rooms: 6 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms
Key features: A cool choice for Barbados rentals, swimming pool, satellite TV, VCR, built-in CD sound system, barbecue, sunloungers provided on the beach, guest privileges and golf discounts at Royal Westmoreland.
Children: Welcome
Staff: Butler, cook, maid, laundress, gardener & night watchman |
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Description
Bluff House is tucked away among shady mahogany trees in more than an acre of mature gardens in an exclusive residential enclave just north of Sandy Lane Hotel on Barbados’s West Coast. Set on slightly raised ground, the original villa has been completely refurbished and extended by the ever popular architect, Ian Morrison, who has transformed it into an elegant coral stone affair with bleached timber and natural marble floors and with an airy central lanai that sets the relaxed tone of the property.
Bluff House, which shares its small estate with two other villas, Landmark House and Cottage, has been furnished nicely with colours kept to a minimum and neutral tones that complement the fabric of the building. The result is a cool and calm ambiance, to which traditional pieces of colonial-style furniture add an air of elegance. Although Bluff House is located right on the edge of Holetown, in the midst of the ‘Platinum Coast’ and is next door to the illustrious Sandy Lane Hotel, its abundance of tropical greenery gives it a wonderful sense of seclusion and privacy - a cool choice for Barbados rentals.
A sweeping driveway (with electronic gates with intercom) leads up a slight hill to a brick paved entrance with a local coral stone fountain at its centre. The entrance hall of Bluff House leads past the concealed kitchen and into the formal dining room, where shuttered doors open to gardens on one side, and on another onto a central courtyard which contains the lanai. An almost completely white room, it contains a long coral stone table topped with glass that can seat ten comfortably and has elegant off-white French cane chairs. A large picture window and entranceway leads into the sitting room where there are comfortable white upholstered sofas and reading chairs, and a satellite TV concealed in a corner cabinet. The sitting room opens to the gardens at the side and also out onto a covered dining and cocktail terrace, where up to twelve guests can enjoy alfresco meals with a view of the gardens and pool. The villa has been designed to create a sense of space, with rooms that merge into one another and with the outside areas, bringing the gardens and pool area into the living space.
The focal point of Bluff House is the large swimming pool, which is set in the midst of a tiled terrace where there is plenty of space for sunbathing and poolside dining. Glimpses of the sea appear though the mature mahogany trees just over the rooftop of Landmark House (a neighbouring villa), and at night the lighting magically transforms the entire scene. The lanai, at the heart of the villa sits pavilion-like at the centre of the coral stone courtyard and faces the pool terrace. This is where the interior living space of the villa merges seamlessly with the outside and provides an ideal and convenient spot for entertaining, night or day. Furniture and décor has been kept to a minimum. There is an extensive built-in coral stone seating arrangement with two side tables on each corner that will easily seat twelve guests. The neutral tone of the space, of the marble tiles, the exposed bleached roof rafters and exposed timbers and natural coral stone walls is broken by a couple of low, dark-stained coffee tables with selected accessories. A built-in sound system provides music to all the main living areas.
Bluff House now has six double bedrooms. The original four are located to the rear of the gravel courtyard which flanks the lanai on three sides. All of these bedrooms have twin beds (they can be pushed together to make kings) and en suite bathrooms with tub/shower, apart from the original Master bedroom which is located on the corner and has access to the gardens at the side. It has a shower only. The two new Master bedrooms are located in the new south wing of the villa, with the main Master upstairs. These two impressive bedrooms have been extremely well furnished, are spacious and have a private terrace or balcony. The lower Master bedroom has a beautiful mahogany four poster, king size bed and a traditional colonial feel. It has large doors with sliding shutters on two sides, one leading out onto a covered terrace, with steps to the gardens and pool terrace. The bedroom has a dressing area and en suite bathroom with marble shower. Upstairs, the primary Master bedroom, accessed by a gracious wide marble staircase, has a lovely cream antique French sleigh bed (king size) and matching décor and furnishings. Two sets of sliding doors reveal the surrounding tree canopies. One set of doors leads out to a covered balcony overlooking the gardens and pool, from where there are glimpses of the sea through the tree tops and across the neighbouring villa. There is a separate dressing room and luxurious en suite bathroom with whirlpool tub and separate shower. All bedrooms have ceiling fans, telephones and are air-conditioned. |
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Beach & Swimming
Bluff House is located a short distance from a fine stretch of beach just north of Sandy Lane Hotel, accessed by way of a private pathway, with sun loungers provided on the beach for guests convenience. The swimming from Sandy Lane beach is some of the best on the island, however at certain times of the year there can be a swell with some undertow, so do make sure to look out for the red flags which warn against swimming. The beach, and even right in front of the hotel is lined by Manchineel Trees whose leaves produce a caustic sap and should never be used for shelter during rainfall or shortly after to avoid skin blistering. The yellow, apple-like fruit are also poisonous, so do be watchful around small children. If consumed seek medical treatment immediately. Most trees either carry signs or have a red painted ring around the base of the trunk.
The focal point of Bluff House is the generous sized swimming pool, set within a limestone sun terrace, it has wide entry steps and depths of 4.6ft to 7ft. |
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Sports & Recreation
The Sandy Lane Golf Club, Tennis Courts, and dedicated spa are located within a few minutes drive from Bluff House, as are a range of water sports from Sandy Lane Hotel’s beach which is a short stroll away. There is a fitness club at West Coast Mall approximately 5 minutes away. The nearest polo field is at Holders Hill approximately 7 minutes by car.
Bluff House has guest privileges and golf discounts at Royal Westmoreland Golf & Country Club which is approximately 10 minutes by car. |
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Locality
Bluff House is nestled within an exclusive residential enclave close to the world famous beach at Sandy Lane, just north of the actual hotel and very close to the golf course. Landmark House & Cottage are neighbours, and Mon Caprice villa is just around the corner. This is the heart of St James, and the Platinum Coast and conveniently close the nearest shopping district which is Holetown. Here you will find the Cave Shepherd Plaza and the larger West Coast Mall. These contain a supermarket, bank, photo centre, duty free shops, video rental, and various shops and boutiques. Also close by is the Chattel House Village, a series of traditional looking Caribbean cabins selling souvenirs, the 24 hour Sandy Crest Medical Centre, and a market stall where you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables. The town also has a gas station (as petrol stations are known locally) which has an in store mini-mart and an outlet of KFC, both open until late evening.
Holetown, the place where the English first landed in 1625, later settling it in 1627, is also a local Barbadian community, with police station, post office, parish church, bank, pharmacy, clinic, fitness centre, school and so on.
There is a host of restaurants within 15 minutes drive along the main West Coast Road in either direction from Bluff House. You might consider the famous Cliff Restaurant, about ten minutes away to the south - also look out for Scarlet, Daphne’s and Calabaza in this direction. Heading north beyond Holetown you could try celeb favourite the Lone Star, about 15 minutes north, or the Fish Pot. There are any number of restaurants in Holetown itself, including The Mews, Café Indigo, Olive’s and The Tides as well as an excellent patisserie, Flindt’s and several pizza parlours, cafés, a beach bar and some fast food outlets. There is also good nightlife in Holetown with lively weekend gatherings in 1st and 2nd Street, where the restaurants and bars stand shoulder to shoulder, with some providing live music. Drinkers tend to spill out into the street to mingle, creating an easy-going ‘street party’ type of atmosphere. The current ‘hot spots’ are The Mews, The Elbow Room, Spago’s and Lexy’s. |
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Useful Hints
Ask your travel organiser or the management company (if booking direct) for initial food and drink supplies to be laid in for your arrival. The cook will then prepare a welcome meal. Thereafter, staff will shop for you during your stay if you wish to delegate this chore, however it is up to the guest to provide transportation and funds for the staff to do so. Rental rates for villas in Barbados do not include ‘tips’, about which you will find advice in the guest information book at the villa. Initial groceries and additional shopping, transfers, and any other incidentals such as crib, high chair, TV rental are subject to a 15% VAT and 15% Service Charge. |
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Rates
| | 15 Apr-14 Dec 2009 | 15 Dec-14 Apr 2009-10 | | Bluff House 1-12 guests | 2,300 | 3,700 | Prices are per night in US$ and exclude 7.5% Government Tax. Minimum stay of 7 nights. Rates do not include the Christmas/New Year period for which special rates apply, with a minimum stay of 14 nights. Rates are subject to change without notice. |
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How To Book
If you wish to book direct, bookings should be made through the local managing agents, Altman Villa Rentals. You will need to send a deposit equal to 25% of the total rental fee to confirm a reservation and payment of the remaining 75% is required 30 days in summer and 60 days in winter prior your arrival. If you are booking within 30 days or less prior to your arrival, full payment must be made to secure the booking. You may contact Altman Villa Rentals by using the WEB LINK or DIRECT ENQUIRIES facility at the top of this page, or if you wish to telephone them, please click on TELEPHONE CONTACT to reveal the number. For a review of Altman Villa Rentals and details of their services please see here. |
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UK Tour Operators
If you wish to book through a tour operator or travel organiser, please follow the link.
See List of UK Tour Operators
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Airport Meet & Greet
If you are booking direct ask the villa management company Altman Villa Rentals to send a taxi to meet you at the airport. Once you request their transfer service, they will have a representative at the airport outside the arrivals hall holding a sign with your name on it, who will direct you to your awaiting taxi. Your airport transfers are paid for locally and take approximately 40 minutes.
Alternatively, if you would prefer to be taken care of from the minute you arrive at the airport, with a range of services that can include limousine transfers and a Concierge Service is offered by St James Travel & Tours.
If you are booking through a travel organiser, it is likely that their representative will be at the airport to meet you. This service and your return airport transfers should be included in the cost of your holiday. Please check at the time of booking. |
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Getting Around
Although most things are relatively close at hand and Holetown can easily be reached by public transport, a hired car is strongly recommended for all private villa holidays, unless you prefer staff to call taxis for you as required. A car will be useful if you want to dine out at night or do lots of sightseeing and particularly when it comes to shopping for groceries. Book car hire via your travel organiser or direct with Stoutes Car Rentals and ask for your vehicle(s) to be delivered to the property approximately 3 hours after your scheduled time of arrival on Barbados or, if preferred, the following morning. Vehicles can be returned at the airport or be collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day. |
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