Emerald Beach

In Depth

Emerald Beach is nestled in more than an acre of mature and well maintained grounds just off the West Coast road in the northern area of Gibbs. There are three sets of semi-detached villas set in a horseshoe around a central pool, and they each have views of the Caribbean Sea. It is an excellent beachfront location and there are a fair number of luxury holiday homes and residences dotted along the coast here. Unlike the busier strip of coastline in St James, this area of St Peter has a much quieter feel, and its tree-lined road creates an air of coolness and calm. Another noticeable feature of this part of the island is that there is not a single hotel along the beaches of Gibbs and Mullins. Instead you find villas and smart homes, though one or two of these are so large that they could almost be considered mini hotels. There has been some development in the area over recent years, but the only activity of note takes place around Mullins Beach Bar, as it has done for decades.

The most impressive feature of Emerald Beach is its setting, with the villas grouped around a large central pool nd with gardens brimming with a tropical plants and flowers, where each villa has its own patch of lawn to sit on. The beach which lies just beyond the enclosed pool area is simply fantastic, and has dazzling white sand and crystal clear water.

Each villa has been individually decorated by its owner, however they all share the same general floor plan and architectural features. There are one or two exceptions, in which an owner has replaced the original terracotta floor tiles with marble or ceramic, or has revamped a kitchen, but all have whitewashed walls, bleached, exposed timbers and roofs, and a slightly Mediterranean feel.

On the ground floor, a split level, open-plan living area features a compact well equipped kitchen, partially open over a breakfast bar down to the formal dining area and sitting room a few steps below. Outside, a covered patio with views onto the gardens gives an additional area for relaxing. An adjacent dining gazebo can be used for casual, alfresco meals, though some owners have chosen to turn the gazebo into a sitting area and dine on the patio. With well-established planting, each patio area has an element of privacy, and opens onto a small area of lawn where guests can carry the umbrellas and chairs provided. A large coral stone sun terrace extends from the villas around a large central swimming pool where sun loungers are provided. An area of lawn, enclosed by a low wall, runs along the bottom of the garden, where coconut trees provide a shady spot to recline. A gate leads straight out onto the blazing white sand and a shower is strategically positioned for rinsing off when you come back in off the beach.

Each villa has two bedrooms on its upper floor and one downstairs, with king or twin beds. The downstairs bedroom has a private patio connecting to the gazebo, whilst upstairs both bedrooms have private balconies with partial sea views over the tops of palm trees. The Master bedroom has a slightly larger balcony. All the bedrooms are air-conditioned and have a ceiling fan, a dressing room and en suite bathroom with tub/shower.

Beach & Swimming

Emerald Beach is situated on one of Barbados' best beaches, Gibbs Beach on Mullins Bay which runs into Mullins Beach and boasts a long stretch of golden and some of the best swimming on the West Coast. A large central swimming pool with surrounding coral stone sun terrace is available for the use of all guests with depths of 6ft. Access to the beach is via a gate just beyond the pool area, which leads out onto dazzling white sand and excellent swimming directly in front of the property.

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 the three courses at Sandy Lane about 20 minutes away. The nearest tennis courts are located at Sugar Hill about 12 minutes drive away. Watersports are available from Mullins Beach.

Locality

Emerald Beach is set in over an acre of mature gardens, with a string of luxury homes and holiday villas nearby. It lies just south of Mullins Bay and the popular Mullins Beach Bar. Speightstown, the island's second largest town, is a very short drive away (about 7 minutes). Once known as Little Bristol because of connections to Bristol on the west coast of England, Speightstown still has a feel of old time Barbados about it. There is a small fish market on the seafront, fruit and vegetable sellers known as "hucksters" on the road side, a couple of local restaurants and bars and a smattering of shops, plus a reasonably well stocked supermarket. The nearest good restaurants to the north are Mango's by the Sea, The Terrace at Cobblers Cove hotel and The Fish Pot at Little Good Harbour. To the south try Lone Star.

A simple supper in one of the fishing villages to the north of St Peter or in St Lucy at Shermans or Half Moon Fort on a Friday or Saturday is an option, for this is when freshly caught fish is cooked by the roadside - this is becoming a popular alternative to the busier Oistins Fish Fry. Here you will find the small wooden fish stalls interspersed with make-shift bars right on the beach at the side of the road, or the occasional rustic dining area perched above the sea. Local fishing boats are still built in this area and can be seen along the road side.

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 17.5% VAT and 15% Service Charge.

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 50 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 Speightstown or 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.