Little Arches Hotel

In Depth

Tucked away on the south coast, Little Arches is intimate and private, in a very attractive building that has been converted from a private home, now rebuilt and brightened up to give it a touch of Hacienda. The hotel is a friendly, family affair. It is owned and run by Jacinta Cothran from Ireland and her American husband Mark, with Jacinta’s Mum in the office and Dad often putting in an appearance.

Its distinctive peach colour and the terracotta of the modern tiles is off-set by murals in rich blue, inlaid stones that trace swirling designs all over the walls of the hotel. And as you’d expect from the name, there are arches in the design. They appear in a small colonnade that stands on one side of the pool terrace, and in some of the rooms. But you will also see them on the border of the custom-designed plates in the hotel dining room, Café Luna, which has built quite a name for itself, with visitors and with islanders alike. Thursday night is well known as sushi night and people have been known to come all the way from the West Coast to get to it. They also have a lobster and Champagne night on Saturdays.

If there is a little influence of Mexico in the design, there is also a certain inspiration from the West Coast of America (Mark Cothran is from California) in the style. But instead of working to a formula that might have produced an air of slick but slightly world-weary savvy, the Cothrans have created an atmosphere that they themselves liked to find in a hotel. The result is an easy-going and unpretentious air. Little Arches is a very pleasant place to lock yourself away for a few days in personable comfort. It may be family run, but it is an adult retreat. There is a no children rule at Little Arches and it even extends to the owners’ two daughters.

Untypically for the hotels of Barbados, Little Arches is set in a cul-de-sac in a residential district just outside Oistins near the southern tip of the island. It stands slightly lagooned in its own delightful fertility (the other gardens around are not so profuse). It is just a stone’s throw from the excellent Enterprise Beach (more commonly known as Miami Beach). The sea in this area is spectacular. When the sun is up it has a fantastic aquamarine colour, an impossibly rich, tropical blue. The view from the terrace is superb.

You approach the hotel through the car park, passing a small fountain and heading up some narrow stairs, at the top of which is the Reception on the first floor (or the second if you’re from the States). Most of the bedrooms are also situated on this floor. Some give onto the main terrace, where there is a swimming pool and sitting area and others look onto the gardens. Two others are at ground level, beneath the pool terrace looking out to sea.

The idiosyncratic style of the hotel continues into the rooms themselves, which are clean and crisp, modern, air-conditioned with wicker and wrought iron furniture and wrought iron beds. Each has a small sitting area, so in the terminology of modern hospitality it is actually a suite. Little Arches recently upgraded their furnishings and two of their rooms. The former Garden Superior and the Garden Suite now have new decks with spa pools and have been renamed, Garden Junior Suites with Whirlpool.

For a while Little Arches was going to be called Hideaway Bay, but the Cothrans decided against in the end because they felt that Little Arches would be more memorable. The other name would have done well, though, because Little Arches is an excellent place to hide away for a few days, without the busyness of the West Coast or the crowds of the south coast, but still getting some of the best of Barbados.

Beach & Swimming

Little Arches is set across the beach access road from an excellent strip of sand at Enterprise or Miami Beach - not much farther to walk to the beach than in some of the big hotels, they joke. Miami Beach is across the road, a hundred yard walk and then a jump down onto the sand. It is very much a local Barbadian beach, and with its location in a residential district (and being right next to the Oistins police station) it attracts a local crowd. The Bajans come for their sea bath in the mornings and evenings, and to spend the day at the weekends, but the beach is often quite empty during the week.

Backed by casuarinas pines, Miami Beach has mounded bright white sand which shelves gradually into the sea, sometimes with a few rocks on the sea floor at standing depth. Being on the south coast there are decent waves. These are by no means large, as the beach is protected by the southern tip of the island, but there is also an area of what the Bajans call lower water (ie shallower and calmer) around the corner. This area is protected by a stone revetment. Back on the ocean side there is a wonderful old dilapidated snack wagon, Mr Delicious, if you need some refreshment. Mr Delicious serves one of the strongest rum punches on the island.

The hotel pool is medium sized and sits on a private deck on the reception level, with sunloungers to one side. If it gets too hot then you can retreat to the slightly more shaded area under the arches with its fantastic views of the sea

Sports & Recreation

A fully catered day cruise aboard Silver Moon, a 44ft catamaran is included (with transfers) if you stay for 10 nights or more, but you can also arrange to charter the yacht for small parties, for instance a wedding, or for a romantic dinner.

The hotel offers complimentary use of mountain bikes for guests wishing to explore the area and will recommend routes for you to follow. Yoga classes at either sunrise or sunset are available by appointment.

Little Arches is an official part-owner of the Barbados Golf Club, a 6805 yard championship course situated five minutes away by car in Durants (most of the golf courses in Barbados are over on the West Coast).

Use of floodlit tennis courts can be arranged for guests at nearby Silver Sands Hotel.

This area of Barbados is also known for windsurfing, and has something for every level. Just beyond Oistins heading west, in Maxwell, there are a couple of sailing schools, but if you head the other way, towards Silver Sands at the southern tip of the island, you will find some of the best winds in the Caribbean for wind and kitesurfing world championships have been held here).

Spa

Little Arches has added a mini spa which consists of a treatment room tucked away in the private gardens at the rear of the property. The treatment room is compact (just the one bed) and cosy, with natural ventilation. Massages and beauty treatments are available by appointment only, and guests can still opt to have treatments in their room or suite. Please see their website for a list of treatments.

A compact Guest Courtesy Room adjoins the spa treatment room. It has a shower and a small changing area.

Staff

Little Arches is family-run hotel, in the best traditions of friendly Irish hospitality. Jacinta Cothran is in evidence much of the time. Her Mum, Barbara is often in office and her father Dermot can also be seen around. The family are also involved in the successful restaurant Caf Sol and McBrides Irish pub in St Lawrence Gap. At reception you will often meet Emma Edwards, Cherrise Mottley and Soma Singh. The general manager is Barbadian Sandra Edwards and upstairs, at Caf Luna, the man in the kitchen and often behind the bar is Mark de Gruchy. He has had an exotic career, catering for film-sets on location in years gone by.

Dining

Caf Luna is set on the top-floor terrace of Little Arches, among sprays of bougainvillea and wrought iron lamps that light the place at night, beneath the hacienda tower with its rounded Latin tiles. Some tables are set out under canvas, others in the open air and looking over the pool deck and beyond to the sea. To one side is the covered bar area, with the bar itself set into the wall.

Caf Luna is headed up by Mark de Gruchy from Canada, whose menu takes tastes from around the world and puts them together in fun combinations. Theres a core of French, but plenty of Latin American and some oriental tastes too. The menu changes regularly and has specials from ingredients picked up at the markets that day. Caf Luna has a nice setting up top, but it is also possible to dine in your room or under the arches down by the pool. Breakfast is complimentary if you are staying 7 nights or more.

Weddings

Little Arches will arrange small weddings on their property (from just the two of you up to 40 people), with the ceremony on a low coral-stone cliff if you like, right above the electric blue sea at Miami Beach. The setting faces due west so it is ideal for a sunset wedding. Meals can then be served on the terrace upstairs at Caf Luna, which can be specially decorated for the occasion. The services of a wedding organiser are included so they can follow up your specific requirements.

A sample plan, which can be developed, would include all legal documents with transportation to and from Bridgetown, the services of a Minister or Magistrate, a tropical cascade bouquet for the bride and a buttonhole for the groom, floral decoration of the wedding venue and a wedding arch, professional photography, a 1-tier wedding cake and a candlelit dinner for two with French champagne or wine.

A slightly scaled down adaptation of the sample wedding plan comes as complimentary if you stay for 14 nights or more in a Luxury Ocean suite. It is even possible to have your wedding aboard Silver Moon, a 44ft luxury catamaran.

Useful Hints

Little Arches is definitely not the West Coast of Barbados, with all its trappings of glitz and conspicuous glamour.

It might be important to you to know that there will be some aircraft noise in this South Coast vicinity during the day. This is not really a problem during most of the day as inter-Caribbean flights are in small propeller planes that do not make much noise, but for a short period in mid-afternoon a few jets fly in from Europe and the States.

Practical Facts

Annual Closure dates: n/a

Dress Code: Casual

Facilities: Swimming pool, Caf Luna restaurant, bar, spa treatment room, guest courtesy room with shower, tented garden gazebo

Complimentary: Wine and cheese welcome on arrival and a full daily breakfast is included if you stay seven (7) nights or more, in-room dining service, nightly turndown, beach sunloungers and umbrellas, mountain bikes, snorkelling gear, Wednesday sunset cocktails

Other Services: Picnics for self-drive itinerary, in-room spa treatments, laundry service, preferred tee-times/rates at Barbados Golf Club, daily international newspaper service, yoga classes, 2 rental cars for exclusive guest hire

Accommodation: 10 rooms and suites

Room Types: Each suite or room is differently styled but comes with a king size four poster bed, en suite bathroom with large walk-in shower and feature locally crafted pottery hand basin, air conditioning and ceiling fan, cable TV, coffee maker, coffee and tea selection, bathrobes and Judith Jackson Spa bath products, electronic safe, direct dial telephone, alarm clock with iPod dock and hairdryer. 2 x Luxury Ocean Suites with Pool, # 1 & 2, have living area with CD player and queen-size sofa bed, a dining area, excellent sea views plus a plunge pool and private terrace. 4 x Ocean Deluxe Rooms, # 3, is on the ground floor with a private terrace and queen-size sofa bed whilst # 4 is a split level room with large open-air patio enclosed by hand forged wrought iron vines with ocean view. Two more open onto the rooftop pool deck with arches framing the view of the sea # 7 has a double sofa bed. 2 x Garden Jr Suites with Whirlpool were created in September 2010, # 8 is the former Superior Garden Room with garden view balcony, queen-size sofa bed and now has a new spa pool. The second Garden Jr Suite with Whirlpool is the former Garden Suite, # 10, which has a balcony giving views of the garden, plus a queen size sofa bed and a deck with spa pool. Poolside Deluxe Room with Partial Ocean View, #6 is a poolside room which has ocean views deck. The Garden Standard is a room with king-size bed and large bathroom.

Children: Little Arches is a child-free zone for Under 16s

Weddings: The Cliffside wedding package costs US$1,600 including taxes and service charge

Credit Cards: Visa & MasterCard only

Locality

Little Arches is set in a quiet residential beach district away from any main roads on the South Coast of the island. That said it is a short walk from fishing town Oistins, Barbadoss third town, where you will find supermarkets, shops and banks etc. Its also worth attending the Friday night fish fry. From Oistins it is an easy trip by bus or car to the busy beaches and the night-time action of St Lawrence Gap or beyond to Bridgetown.

Meet & Greet

Little Arches is just six miles from Barbados airport, and a taxi will cost about US$15. If you are travelling independently, taxis are usually available at the airport, but one can be arranged for you by the hotel (US$32.50). It is worth putting in the request at the time of booking. 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. (Click through to their page on our site)

If you are travelling with a tour operator/travel organiser, their representative should meet you at the airport and arrange your transportation, which would normally be included in your holiday cost.

Getting Around

If you want to explore independently, or to visit some of the restaurants on the West Coast, then you should consider getting a car for a few days. The hotel has two Kia Picanto (2007) rental cars exclusively for guests from approximately US$105 a day/$410 per week in winter - contact the hotel direct for further details. Alternatively, we recommend Stoutes Car Rental, who will deliver to the property and issue your Barbadian driving licence, price Bds$10. Vehicles can be returned at the airport or be collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day. Be aware that in the winter season there is often a shortage of cars in Barbados, so you are advised to book well in advance. Also book early if you want one for a week or more because the pre-booked rates can be more advantageous.

Little Arches may be tucked away, but it is not far off the bus routes. Just walk into Oistins, from where you can get a bus or a Z-Van heading west into Bridgetown, via all the important beaches and busy spots on the South Coast, including St Lawrence Gap, Worthing and Accra Beach .