Sundown

In Depth

Sundown is a modern villa, set right across the road from the very popular Mullins Beach at the northern end of the famous West Coast of Barbados. Set next to the Sugar Bay development of villas and townhouses, Sundown has been built to make the best of the view from a narrow strip of land. If you are looking for beach action in a slightly quieter area than the heartland of St James’ farther south, this could be ideal. However, the outside living space (the pool, sun terrace and dining gazebo) is clearly open to view from Mullins Beach Bar, so you would need to be happy to be seen from there. It is ideal for sociable guests who want an active set-up.

Sundown is a two storey villa, which was completed early in 2004 and has been nicely decorated in a contemporary Caribbean style, sleek and modern enough that it would not look out of place in a modern city apartment. The kitchen is ultra modern, with stainless steel fridge and professional cooker, blue marble worktops and includes a very unusual central station and breakfast bar combined, with high backed moulded wooden chairs. It partly open plan with the living area. Past the broad flight of stairs in the midst of the villa, is a very cheerful living room, with has a set of comfortable, woven natural fibre sofa and chairs with bright orange cushions. In keeping with the room’s colourful style there is a large abstract oil painting by a local artist. A formal dining area is located behind here and there is also an adjoining entertainment room with a 42” Plasma TV, Dolby surround sound stereo system, VCR & DVD player, high speed internet connection and board games.

Upstairs there are three individually decorated bedrooms, each with a bold colour to one wall, which has a stippled paint effect. The furnishings are all modern designs using highly polished woods, such as the modern inlaid wood sleigh bed in the master bedroom. This is located in the middle of the house and has a caramel coloured back wall with soft furnishings of similar shades, a king-size bed, 42” plasma TV and walk-in dressing room. The other two bedrooms are on either side and also have wide screen TV’s. One double bedroom has a king size bed against a blue stippled wall with matching blue soft furnishings and the other, a twin bedroom has a yellow stippled wall with green and yellow soft furnishings. The rooms are striking and would suit those with a taste for bright and bold colours. All bedrooms face the ocean, are air-conditioned and have ceiling fans and en suite bathrooms with showers only. A fourth bedroom is located in the basement and has a queen-size bed with en suite bathroom.

Beach & Swimming

The villa is situated just across from Mullins Beach, literally a couple of minutes by foot down the access drive and across the main road. This is a very popular beach and attracts a good many day visitors for the beach bar and watersports facilities. Mullins Beach stretches some way down towards Gibbs and is one of the nicest beaches on Barbados. The sand and swimming are excellent. Sundown's light bulb shaped swimming pool is located to the front of the villa, looking out toward the beach and has a surrounding deck. The pool currently lacks privacy from the road due to lack of planting to provide a screen from the road below.

Sports & Recreation

Watersports are available from Mullins Beach. The nearest golf course is Royal Westmoreland, which is about 20 minutes drive away and which has some tee times open to outsiders in the mid morning. Otherwise there are two courses open to the public at Sandy Lane about 25 minutes away. The nearest tennis courts are located at Sugar Hill about 15 minutes drive away.

Locality

Sundown is located amongst other villas between the Sugar Bay development and Royal Westmoreland Beach Club and Spa. It is right across the road from Mullins Beach, and the popular Mullins Beach Bar, which always attracts beach goers, and has plenty of activity. Speightstown, the island's second largest town, is a very short drive away (about 5 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.

There are a number of good restaurants nearby, including The Terrace at Cobblers Cove hotel, Mangos By the Sea in Speightstown itself,  and The Fish Pot at Little Good Harbour. To the south try Lone Star.

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, but a 10% service charge + VAT will be added to all shopping bills. Rental rates for villas in Barbados do not include 'tips', about which you will find advice in the guest information book at the villa.

The property is not entirely private as the villa pool and pool side gazebo are overlooked by the villa behind although the owners have now planted a number of large palm trees, which have made a difference.

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 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, 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 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 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.