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Style: Eight blazing white Spanish style Barbados villas cleverly set around a glorious lagoon like pool, lush, colourful gardens with a picture perfect beach below. Resort setting without hustle and bustle
The Beach: Practically a private beachfront, with lovely stretch of sand and good swimming
The Rooms: 3 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms
Key features: One of the Exclusive Caribbean Resorts on Barbados West Coast, private plunge pools, large shared swimming pool with sun terrace, sunloungers for pool terrace or beach use.
Children: Welcome, but with plunge pools on the terraces, low balconies, narrow stairways and open stairwells Merlin Bay is not ideal for toddlers
Staff: Cook, maid/laundress, garden and pool service, with 24 hour security personnel |
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Description
Merlin Bay villas make a great choice for families or groups of friends looking for a Barbados beachfront location with the Caribbean Sea just a few steps away. Nestling amongst well established and well manicured gardens, with lots of exotic palms, the eight villas are snake their way around a central pool, with two facing directly out to sea. There are parking bays for each villa, and each has a small walled garden to the entrance. Despite being one of a number of properties in this popular area known as the Garden, once you step within the boundaries of the property or indeed your villa, the outside world seems to disappear. Instead the striking contrast of the brilliant white walls splashed with cascading tropical flowers and shrubbery and fabulous pool and sea views take over. The colours are sometimes so wonderful, that you might find yourself reaching for the camera or your paint box. With the villas being so close together, you might think that privacy could be an issue, but each villa has been arranged in such a way that there is little feeling of intrusion, and of course they are surrounded by such abundant planting.
The Merlin Bay Villas typify the earlier work of well known architect Ian Morrison, who favoured a natural Mediterranean look, with red clay roof tiles, whitewashed walls, exposed limed log beams and wood fixtures, terracotta floor tiles, built-in stone seating and shelving, all to create a rustic, relaxed environment, with a touch of the exotic. Each villa has a slightly different floor plan, with some set over two floors and others over three, however there are many similarities in the basic design. Each has three air-conditioned bedrooms, one located on the ground floor with a private patio and two upstairs with private balconies. All the villas have a split level living and dining area with adjoining kitchen, and lead out to a private patio with plunge pool, and all the bathrooms are en suite, with showers only upstairs and tub/shower downstairs and all the villas.
The focal point of Merlin Bay is the expansive, lagoon-like swimming pool with water feature and surrounding coral stone sundeck, which would put many a hotel pool to shame for its sheer size in comparison to the number of rooms it caters to. A set of steps lead from the terrace, down onto a lovely little beach which is virtually private, as access is limited. There are wonderful views down the West Coast and some very good swimming and snorkelling in front.
The following gives a short description showing the slight differences of each of the Merlin Bay Villas currently available for rent, all of which are individually furnished.
Firefly #6 – Tucked to the rear of the central swimming pool with views across it and to the sea. This is a two storey villa with a good size bedroom with king size bed and en suite tub/shower off the main dining and living area. The living area leads out to the plunge pool (14½ ft by 11½ ft and 4½ ft deep) and sun terrace, which also has a table with umbrella for dining. Upstairs the master bedroom has a king size bed with en suite bathroom and tub/shower and private balcony facing the pool and ocean, whilst the third bedroom has twin beds and en suite shower only, and is adjacent to a sun deck. Firefly has cable TV, DVD, CD/radio/cassette player, VoIP, ADSL internet access and WiFi, fax/phone, hair dryers in all bathrooms and a barbecue.
Gingerbread #7 – A very pleasantly furnished villa set over three storeys, located to the far side of the central swimming pool with good views to the ocean. On the ground level a spacious bedroom with king size bed and raised dressing area has an en suite bathroom with tub/shower. This gives out onto a patio with plunge pool (10 ft by 11½ ft and 4ft deep) and abuts the central pool. At mid entry level, a bright and cheerful split level dining and living area leads out to a covered dining terrace overlooking the pool. Upstairs are two further bedrooms with a twin to the rear with en suite shower only, and a master bedroom with king size bed and private balcony with pool and sea views, and en suite bathroom with an indoor-outdoor shower. Gingerbread also has a private roof deck. Facilities include cable TV & DVD, CD player, fax machine, ASDL internet and WiFi access and hair dryers in all bathrooms.
Hibiscus #3 – Set just behind Eden on Sea with terrace leading out to the pool, and benefiting from both good pool and sea views, Hibiscus is set over two floors. The ground floor has a split level dining and living area which leads out to a partially covered terrace with additional dining area and the plunge pool (14½ ft by 11½ ft and 4½ ft deep). There is a bedroom on this level with en suite bathroom with shower only and two twin beds (can be made up as a double), with doors leading out to the terrace and plunge pool. Upstairs are two more bedrooms. The master bedroom has cable TV, an en suite bathroom with tub/shower, king size bed and a private balcony and very good sea views. The other bedroom has two twin beds (one base) an en suite shower only and it adjoins a terrace with table and chairs suitable for outdoor dining. Facilities at Hibiscus include TV in sitting room and master bedroom, fax machine, VoIP, ADSL internet access, WiFi and barbecue.
Nutmeg #4 – A well appointed villa which has been recently been refurbished in elegant neutral tones, and is very nicely furnished. Located in the midst of Merlin Bay, just off the main pool terrace, it is a two storey unit with split level dining area set above the sitting room, which itself has built-in corner seating and leads out to the terrace with plunge pool (14½ ft by 11½ ft and 4½ ft deep) and additional dining area. One bedroom opens out to the plunge pool terrace and has two twins and an en suite bathroom with tub/shower. Upstairs are two bedrooms with king size beds. The master bedroom has a private balcony and en suite bathroom with tub/shower, whilst the other bedroom has shower only and adjoining sundeck which is suitable for dining. Facilities include cable TV, DVD, VCR, portable CD/cassette player, ADSL internet access and WiFi.
Ocean View #5 – Although set far back from the main pool and terrace, Ocean View still has, as the name implies, views straight through to the ocean. This is another two storey unit with the split level dining area. Beneath it is the sitting area, which has built-in corner seating and leads out to the terrace with plunge pool (14½ ft by 11½ ft and 4½ ft deep) and an additional dining area. One bedroom opens out to the plunge pool terrace and has two twins, and an en suite bathroom with tub/shower. Upstairs are two bedrooms, the master bedroom with king size bed, a private balcony and en suite bathroom with tub/shower, and the other bedroom with twin beds and a shower only. It also has an adjoining terrace which serves as a third dining area and sundeck. Facilities include cable TV, DVD & VCR and portable CD/cassette players in the sitting room and the two upstairs bedrooms. ADSL internet access and WiFi.
Secret Garden #8 – A very well presented and fully detached villa set back into the grounds of Merlin Bay and the only villa in the resort with a completely private garden. It is fully enclosed and has a gate leading to a pathway through the grounds and out to the main pool. Another charming feature of Secret Garden is the fernery, which is an atrium-like coral stone extension to the inner dining area, and has a large solid pine table which will seat twelve comfortably, a bar and hanging baskets brimming with ferns. It makes for very special dining. On the ground floor of Secret Garden is a raised dining area which steps down into a sunken sitting room with built-in corner seating, leading out the terrace with garden dining table with umbrella, and plunge pool (11ft by 15ft and 4½ ft deep) set into the enclosed lawn. A bedroom is located off the terrace and has two twin beds that can convert to a super-king bed, and has an en suite bathroom with tub/shower. Upstairs is another twin room which converts to a super king bed, with en suite shower only and adjoining sundeck. The all white master bedroom has a super king size bed, private balcony and en suite bathroom with tub/shower. Facilities include cable TV & VCR in the sitting room and master bedroom, CD/radio/cassette deck, ADSL internet access, WiFi and barbecue. |
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Beach & Swimming
There is an excellent sandy beach to the front of the property which is reached by a flight of steps from the central pool terrace. The beach does not attract much activity, so it is virtually private and has good swimming and snorkelling. The gardener will take beach chairs down to the beach.
The villas each have a private plunge pool varying in size and they have use of a large central swimming pool measuring approximately 70ft by 30 ft with depths of 4ft to 7ft. There are steps at the shallow end and two sets of ladders around the deep end. |
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Sports & Recreation
The nearest golf course is Royal Westmoreland about 15 minutes drive away, which has some tee times open to outsiders in the mid morning. Otherwise there are two courses open to the public at Sandy Lane about 20 minutes away. The nearest tennis courts are located at Sugar Hill about 12 minutes drive away. Watersports are available on site by request. |
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Locality
Merlin Bay Villas are located off the West Coast main road (Highway 1) between Holetown and Speightstown, not far from Fairmont’s Royal Pavilion and Glitter Bay Hotels. There are one or two local shops and rum shops in the area, but the nearest shopping district is Holetown (about 10 minutes south by car). 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 ranging from posh to pizzas within 15 minutes’ drive in either direction of Merlin Bay Villas, from the celeb favourite the Lone Star, about 5 minutes away to the famous Cliff Restaurant, which will take about 15 minutes, both heading south. Also look out for Scarlet, Daphne’s and Calabaza in this direction. 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. A 15% service charge plus VAT will be levied on the value of all shopping bills. Prepayment for your provisional groceries should be made when sending the final balance for the villa. Please see here for Bajan Services general grocery pack list with approximate prices.
Miscellaneous items such as airport transfers, extra beds and baby equipment are also payable in advance (see here for a price list). In the event that Bajan Services can only provide an estimated cost for customized shopping lists, or where the final payment for your villa has been made prior to other requests, you will be required to complete a credit card authorization form.
Please note that rental rates for villas in Barbados do not include ‘tips’ about which you will find advice in the guest information book at the villa. |
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Rates
| Merlin Bay Villas | 15 Apr- 14 Dec 2009 | 15 Dec- 14 Apr 2009-10 | Christmas/ New Year 2009 | 15 Apr- 14 Dec 2010 | | Firefly #6 Gingerbread #7 Hibiscus #3 Nutmeg #4 Ocean View #5 Secret Garden #8 | 450 450 450 450 450 450 | 850 850 850 850 850 850 | 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200 | 450 450 450 450 450 450 | Rates are quoted in US$ per night and are subject to 7.5% VAT. Minimum stay 7 nights. All rates are subject to change without notice. Minimum stay over the Christmas & New Year period is 14 nights and a 50% deposit is required to secure a reservation. |
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Christmas/New Year Availability
As of 26 October 2009, Nutmeg #4 is available for a Christmas booking between 20-27 Dec at US$1,200 per night plus 7.5% VAT and Hibiscus #3 from 31 Dec to 10 Jan at US$1,200. You will need to book for a minimum period of 7 nights and a 50% deposit is required to secure a reservation. See here for a full list of villas available over Christmas through Bajan Services Villa Rentals. |
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Special Offers
7 nights for 6 in Barbados this Christmas
Pay for 6 nights and stay for 7 or Pay for 12 nights and stay for 14. Offer valid for stays from 20 December 2009 to 10 January 2010 at the following villas:
Hibiscus, #3 Merlin Bay
Nutmeg, #4 Merlin Bay
Offer valid for new bookings only. See above for Christmas rates. |
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How to Book
If you wish to book direct, reservations should be made through the local managing agents, Bajan Services Ltd. You will need to send a deposit of 25% of the total rental fee (50% for Christmas/New Year bookings) to confirm a reservation. Payment of the remaining 75% is required 30 days prior your arrival, as is payment for groceries, transfers and baby equipment. If you are booking within 30 days of your arrival, full payment must be made to secure the booking. You may contact Bajan Services by using the WEB LINK or DIRECT EMAIL 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 Bajan Services Ltd 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 that features this property, 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 to send a taxi to meet you at the airport. Your airport transfers take approximately 45 minutes and should be paid for in advance with the final payment for your villa. 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, 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 hire 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 to be delivered to the property approximately three hours after your scheduled time of arrival on Barbados or 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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