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Style: Comfortable, easy-going, seaside living, with a light and airy ambiance.
The Beach: Excellent beachfront setting with good stretch of sand and very good swimming
The Rooms: 4 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms
Key features: Barbados vacation rentals for beach lovers, plunge pool (14ft x 10ft), cable TV, DVD, VCR, CD/radio/cassette player, hairdryer and high speed (ADSL) internet/WiFi access, giant chess game, fuse ball, air hockey and 2 kayaks.
Children: Welcome
Staff: Cook, maid/laundress, night watchman and part time gardener |
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Description
Nirvana, a spacious villa with gardens fronting a perfect Caribbean beach, sits amongst an eclectic mix of vacation homes, chattel houses and various residences in Fitts Village on the West Coast of Barbados. The strip of land between the Caribbean Sea and the road tends to be pretty narrow around this area, with homes built very close to the road in order to make the most of the narrow beachfront setting. Nirvana has an enclosed driveway directly off the main road, and has ample parking. Fitts Village will give you a feel of real life in Barbados, with all the sights and sounds of daily life rather than just the ‘holiday scene’.
This is a two storey, coral stone house whose entrance from the driveway into a hallway is decorated with two large paintings of palms, and an unusual glass-topped console supported by three monkeys ‘See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil”. The entrance opens out to the open-plan living room which displays the owner’s penchant for monkeys! There is a monkey planter next to the television, a small figure on the low coffee table as well as faded monkey prints on the scatter cushions in the comfortable sitting area where there is a chunky bamboo sofa and chair plus a comfy reading chair. Two of the windows have trompe I’oeil, coral stone surrounds and the floor tiles also have an effect of natural coral stone. Across the room, a hand painted dining table, done in dark green marble effect seats eight, whilst out on the covered patio a teak dining table and chairs seats four, for more casual dining. As one moves around Nirvana, distinctive artistic touches are noticeable, such as the pink hand-painted balustrades to the staircase above the dining area. This is the work of local artist, Linda Roach, whose work can be seen in a number of luxury West Coast villas.
The living area has lovely sea views from two sets of windows and double French doors which lead out to the covered patio and the enclosed garden below. Here stepping stones lead across the small lawn to a gate at the bottom. Surrounded by palms and flowering shrubs which encourage a feeling of privacy, the garden has direct access onto a wonderful beach with excellent swimming and snorkelling. To one side, a slightly raised wooden sundeck with four loungers is shielded from the beach by a low bougainvillea hedge that provides a superb visual colour contrast to the fabulous blue sea. It also offers the choice of running out to the sea for a dip (there is an outside shower for rinsing off), or opting for the adjoining plunge pool. The deck has been built around one of two coconut palms in the garden which offer some shade, in addition to which there is an umbrella.
Nirvana has four extremely nicely decorated bedrooms. There is one downstairs bedroom together with ensuite bathroom with tub/shower, which is located downstairs, off the main entrance. It has two twin beds pushed together with inserted caned panel in muted mauve to match the soft furnishings. The natural coral stone walls have been left exposed on two sides. Matching pickled rattan bedside tables with carved lamps stand beneath carved wall mirrors, one depicting fish, the other seashells. Other little touches include a dressing area with hand painted anchors on the wardrobe handles, and all wood panels with mauve detailing.
The three upstairs bedrooms are located off an attractive landing which features a wrought iron console and striking copper candelabra with breadfruit leaves encasing glass holders. To the rear are two delightful twin bedrooms and, similar to the one downstairs, both have exposed coral stone walls and distinctive furnishings. One is in stylish, muted neutral tones and has an en suite bathroom with shower only, whilst the other has touches of pink and an en suite bathroom with tub/shower. Taking up the entire front section upstairs is the Master bedroom, which has an enclosed balcony with French doors that open onto a glorious sea view. This is such a romantic spot, with a small table and two chairs where you can enjoy morning coffee and have the best vantage point at sunset. The bedroom itself has a suitably charming white four poster bed, with white muslin drapes and hand-painted blue flowers entwining the posts to match the blue floral valance and cushion. The wardrobes also feature the same hand painted flowers, and at the bottom of the bed is a pretty antique painted box. The en suite bathroom is rather special, with a roomy luxury shower with pebble-like tiles and built-in seat with a glass tiled wall. All bedrooms are air-conditioned and have ceiling fans.
A spacious, well equipped kitchen, with striking black Decoran counter tops against white built-in cupboards is just by the entrance. |
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Beach & Swimming
There is an excellent stretch of sandy beach to the front of the property, reached via a gate at the bottom of the garden. It stretches both north and south, and has very good swimming and snorkelling. The 14ft by 10ft and 3’6”-4ft deep plunge pool is set into a wooden sundeck raised one step above the lawn. |
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Sports & Recreation
Nirvana has a giant size chess game, fuse ball, air hockey and 2 kayaks for guests use.
The Sandy Lane golf club, tennis courts, and dedicated spa are located within 10 minutes drive of Nirvana, as are a range of water sports from Sandy Lane Hotel’s beach. There is a fitness studio at West Coast Mall approximately 12 minutes away. |
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Locality
Nirvana is located off the West Coast main road, in the Fitts Village area, from where it is a five minute drive south to the local supermarket, Jordans, and a fish market. The nearest hotels are Crystal Cove, about five minutes north, and Sandy Lane, about five minutes beyond that. At Paynes Bay you will find a Texaco service station which also sells snacks and groceries and inland from here, a short drive up Holders Hill will take you to the Barbados Polo Club. Farther north along the West Coast is the heart of St James and the nearest shopping district, Holetown, where 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) with 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 in either direction of Nirvana. The famous Cliff Restaurant is just a few minutes away and Calabaza is about five minutes south. Look out for Scarlet and Daphne’s, both of which are at Paynes Bay. The celebrity favourite, the Lone Star, is about five minutes beyond Holetown. There are any number of restaurants in Holetown itself, including The Mews, Café Indigo, Olive’s and The Tides, but you will also find pizza parlours, cafés, beach bars, fast food outlets and an excellent patisserie, Flindt. 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, some providing live music. Drinkers tend to spill out into the street to mingle, creating an easy-going ‘street party’ 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
| | 15 Apr-14 Dec 2008 | 15 Dec-14 Apr 2008-09 | 15 Apr-14 Dec 2009 | | Nirvana 4 bedrooms | 550 | 1,100 | 550 | 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. Separate rates apply for the Christmas & New Year period - prices on request. |
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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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All the information on this page comes to you free of charge. Please remember to mention DefinitiveCaribbean when you contact Bajan Services Limited for your Barbados beachfront villa or Stoutes for your Barbados car hire arrangements.
Thank you for your interest. |
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