Azzurro - Old Trees

In Depth

Azzurro is one of fourteen individually furnished, luxury Barbados condos in the exclusive Old Trees Bay beachfront residence at Paynes Bay, right at the heart of the West Coast. Just a handful of the apartments are available for rental at Old Trees Bay, which stands four storeys high and looks over a meandering, lagoon-like swimming pool set in gardens (the pool is for the use of all the residents, though all the apartments also have their own plunge pools) and through a line of tall casuarinas pines to the beach. Accessed through gates that lead directly onto the sand, Paynes Bay is a white sand beach with excellent swimming directly in front of the property. Beach chairs, umbrellas and showers for rinsing off in the gardens are provided, as well as paved areas for sunbathing. The setting at Old Trees Bay suits discerning couples in search of a comfortable beachfront environment within a short distance of all the best that the West Coast has to offer. There is on-site security, an electric, gated entrance on the main road and adequate parking bays in the forecourt.

Once you are inside Azzurro, which is located at ground level at the centre of the building, it becomes obvious the owner has an interest in abstract art and the music industry as well as a love of bold colours – the furniture includes a tangerine coloured sofa and a rich blue cabinet and there is a signed, framed copy of Jimmy Hendrix’s Axis - Bold as Love album cover hanging on the wall of the dining area. All of the apartments at Old Trees have similar floor plans and a uniform finish, with natural marble floors, pickled pine tray ceilings, coral stone clad walls and detailing to doorways, but they are all individually furnished and decorated.

An entrance hall leads into the open-plan dining and living room, which of course have been furnished with a good splash of colour. They have a stylish, bohemian air, contemporary rather than rustic. There is an elegant dining table that seats up to eight for dinner and a more exotic looking sitting area with the tangerine upholstered six-seater sofa and a large Indian wall mirror to set the scene. Arched French doors lead out to a covered veranda which has views of the Caribbean Sea and a further sitting and dining area for more casual living. The furnishings are of natural woven fibre, and there is a coral stone topped table that seats four. A small plunge pool is set at the edge of the veranda, partially screened from the gardens by an artificial rock feature and tropical planting. There is access to the gardens and communal pool just below.

There are two bedrooms at Azzurro. The Master bedroom is located off the sitting area, with French doors that lead out to a small patio adjoining the main veranda. It has views across the garden to the ocean and has been furnished and decorated elegantly, in restful creams and neutral tones, and it features pickled pine floors and a delightful king size wood and wrought iron four poster bed. A walk-in dressing area leads into a Moorish style en suite tiled bathroom with shower. The second bedroom is located to the rear of the apartment, facing the entrance, and is again decorated in cool creams, with two twin beds. It has an impressive marble tiled, en suite bathroom with whirlpool tub and separate shower.

A very well equipped, modern kitchen with breakfast bar is located off the dining area. The apartment is centrally air-conditioned and all rooms have ceiling fans.

Beach & Swimming

The Old Trees Bay property is located directly on a glorious white sand beach which stretches along the gently curving Paynes Bay, with Sandy Lane's famous beach within walking distance. The property has a communal freeform swimming pool (5ft deep) which runs along the gardens, just below the plunge pools of the lower level units. Garden and beach access is possible from the veranda. The free form private plunge pool at Azzurro is 3.6ft deep and has steps leading in from the main veranda.

Sports & Recreation

The Sandy Lane Golf Club, Tennis Courts, and dedicated spa are located within approximately 5 minutes drive from Old Trees Bay, as are a range of water sports from Sandy Lane Hotel's beach. The Royal Westmoreland golf course is about 10 minutes drive away, which has some tee times open to outsiders in the mid morning. There is a fitness club at Warren's approximately 10 minutes away.

Locality

Azzurro at Old Trees Bay is located just north of Treasure Beach Hotel which is followed by Tamarind Cove Hotel and Daphne's restaurant to the south. This strip of coast is known as the "Platinum Coast" and it's where all the hustle and bustle really starts, with Sandy Lane only a few minutes drive away. Just across the road you will find a Texaco service station which also sells snacks and groceries, and freshly caught fish can be purchased from the seafront next door. A short drive up Holders Hill opposite will take you to the Barbados Polo Club. And a few minutes further north you will reach the heart of St James at Holetown. This is also the main shopping district. 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. The Limegrove Lifestyle Centre is a recent addition with a range of designer shops, an art gallery, bars and restaurants. 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 of Azzurro. You might consider the famous The Cliff Restaurant, about ten minutes away to the south - also look out for Scarlet and Cin Cin By The Sea in this direction. Heading north beyond Holetown you could try celeb favourite the Lone Star, about 15 minutes north, Mangos By the Sea or the Fish Pot. There are any number of restaurants in Holetown itself, including The Mews, Café Indigo, Nishi 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 and Lexy Piano Bar.

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 Barbados apartments do not include 'tips', about which you will find advice in the guest information book at the apartment.

Initial groceries and additional shopping, transfers, and any other incidentals such as crib, high chair, TV rental are subject to a 17.5% VAT and 15% Service Charge.

Not particularly suitable for young children who would need to be very well supervised with the plunge pool situated directly off the living area within an adjacent terrace, which cannot be enclosed.
As with many coastal properties, do expect to hear some road noise due to the close proximity of the main route along the West Coast.

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.

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.