Klairan

In Depth

Klairan is set within the heart of the exclusive Sandy Lane Estate, on a ridge overlooking the 3rd fairway of the Old Nine golf course, but its meticulously kept gardens are so abundant with tropical greenery that there is a sense of being somewhere far remoter. Well over an acre and a half of grounds are flanked by mature mahogany trees and there is a central section of manicured lawn that gives lovely views over the lower estate to the Caribbean Sea. This is one of the most sought after residential areas in Barbados. Klairan is amongst an elite of luxury villas in Barbados within close proximity of the best that the West Coast has to offer in its beaches, sports and recreation, restaurants, shopping and night life.

Guests arriving at Klairan’s palladian-style entrance are greeted by potted ferns, green, graceful and almost too large to be true. The gardener at Klairan certainly has green fingers and the lush surroundings add an air of privacy and seclusion to an already extremely well appointed villa. In the central living area a sense of space, calm and cool is created by the use of cream marble floors, all white walls and pillars and high exposed pickle pine ceiling. The room is of a good size and there is plenty of space for more furniture, but it has been intentionally simply furnished and is therefore not imposing. It is divided into two distinct sections. One is a small reading area furnished with two natural wicker chairs, a small wicker sofa and a low coffee table with a hand painted mural of a bookcase. This suggests that it should be the library, but in fact there is a study/small library located off the living area. The other half of the main living room has a sunken sitting area with a group of comfortable sofas to curl up in and an entertainment system housed in a large cabinet, with a cable TV, VCR and stereo system. Just off the reading area is an elegant dining room that can seat up to ten for a magical dinner. Double French doors open wide onto the gardens just a few steps beyond.

Klairan has been designed for the full enjoyment of its delightful setting, and has a well furnished covered veranda where guests tend to spend their time. The views are superb, carrying over the pool below, across the gardens and out over to the coast. The veranda is divided into a second (more casual) dining area, set up close to the formal dining room, a very pleasant sitting area, which is furnished with comfortable natural rattan patio furniture.

This is the corner where the villa makes a massive turn architecturally, going from contemporary classic to romantic and rustic charm, particularly in the completely captivating guest cottages. The focal point for all of this is a splendid pool area with an enticing kidney shaped swimming pool set a couple of steps below the veranda. It is surrounded by a good sized sun terrace and is a dazzling west facing sun trap. A pool side gazebo has recently been added. A well tended lawn extends beyond the terrace, giving way to a gap between the trees and allowing views across to the West Coast. A short distance across the lawns, just beyond the dining room, you come to a romantic gazebo accessed via stepping stones across a lily filled goldfish pond. It provides a shady retreat and is ideal for afternoon tea.

Four of the total of five bedrooms are available during rental. One of them is in the main house (where the second, the owners’ suite, is not included), located off the living room. It has a queen sized bed with matching furnishings in an unusual style of bamboo inset into bleached wood. The remaining three bedrooms are located in two bleached wood guest cottages which you will find off the main veranda. Built in the style of local chattel houses, these are utterly charming and have bleached pine floors matching the basic structure of the cottages, beds draped in mosquito netting, all-white rattan furnishings with a dash of colour provided by a plain bedcover or the occasional scatter or seat cushion. These bedrooms are accessed by a decked walkway facing the pool, and the last cottage has an additional decked terrace with steps into a section of the garden enveloped by mahogany trees. A true delight.

All bedrooms are air-conditioned, have ceiling fans and en suite bathrooms.

Beach & Swimming

Klairan has a lovely kidney shape swimming pool set below the covered veranda with a surrounding sun terrace. The pool has depths of 4ft to 6ft, with steps to the shallow and a ladder to the deep end.

The beach by Sandy Lane Hotel is located approximately 5 minutes by car, where guests of Klairan have use of the Sandy Lane Property Owners' Beach Facility, where beach chairs are provided. The swimming from Sandy Lane beach is some of the best on the island, however at certain times of the year there can be a swell with some undertow, so do make sure to look out for the red flags which warn against swimming. The beach, and even right in front of the hotel is lined by Manchineel Trees whose leaves produce a caustic sap and should never be used for shelter during rainfall or shortly after to avoid skin blistering. The yellow, apple-like fruit are also poisonous, so do be watchful around small children. If consumed seek medical treatment immediately. Most trees either carry signs or have a red painted ring around the base of the trunk.

Sports & Recreation

The Sandy Lane Golf Club, Tennis Courts, and dedicated spa are located within approximately 5 minutes drive from Klairan, 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. The nearest polo field is at Holders Hill approximately 6 minutes by car.

Locality

Set on a ridge overlooking the 3rd Fairway of the Sandy Lane golf course and therefore very convenient for keen golfers, there are also tennis courts nearby and of course the world famous beach at Sandy Lane, where guests have the use of the Sandy Lane Property Owners' Beach Facility. This is literally just down the road, within an approximate 5 minutes drive, and a couple more minutes will get you to the heart of St James, and the nearest shopping district which is Holetown. 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, cafes 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 Klairan. You might consider the famous The Cliff restaurant, about ten minutes away to the south - also look out for Scarlet, Daphne's 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, 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 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. 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 nothing is within a comfortable walking distance, therefore 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.