Sweet Enough - Sugar Hill

In Depth

UPDATE: As of March 2012 Sweet Enough is no longer available for short-term rentals.

Sweet Enough is one of a number of luxury villas in traditional Caribbean plantation style that occupy a ridge overlooking the West Coast in the Sugar Hill Resort Community, which includes the David Lloyd designed tennis centre and the Tennis Village. It has an elevated position above landscaped gardens and so it works for travellers that would prefer to be in an exclusive resort with a residential atmosphere. Like all of the villas at Sugar Hill, Sweet Enough was designed to ensure that you can enjoy the best in open air living, with rooms that give straight onto a covered veranda or ‘gallery’ (a traditional feature of old Barbadian plantation estate house). It is a contemporary version of the estate house and features coral stone clad walls, traditional arches, lattice woodwork. Reflections of a bygone area are in the formal style of the furnishings.

The villa has been decorated throughout in neutral tones, so nothing jars. An atrium at the entrance leads into the well set out sitting room, which has comfy fawn coloured, brocade upholstered sofas and a luxurious feel about it. Two arched double doors open onto the covered veranda, which has been furnished with high quality wicker pieces and looks straight over the pool. A series of arches on the veranda has elegant cream drapes which can be drawn should the sun prove too much during the mid afternoon. To one side is the formal dining terrace, which adjoins the living room and is set back within the covered veranda. This features a coral stone dining table which can seat six, comfortable padded chairs, and a conveniently located wet bar with its gleaming black granite surfaces and a wine chiller. A modern, well equipped kitchen is located to the rear. For more casual meals, guests can dine alfresco in the poolside gazebo just around the corner.

The tiled pool and sun deck, which has non-slip, heat resistant tiles, is just one step below the covered veranda, inset with a classic, oblong-shaped pool running almost the entire length of the villa. This is a real sun trap, so sun worshippers will be in heaven. The villa faces the west coast full on and so it gets the sun all afternoon, and of course watches it go down.

Sweet Enough was extended during summer 2008 from a three to a five bedroom house, with the additional bedrooms in an adjoining cottage located off the pool terrace. In the main house there are two bedrooms downstairs and the spacious Master suite, which is on its own upstairs. The Master has a king-size bed, one lower bedroom has a king which can be split into twins and the other has a queen-size bed, all are air-conditioned and have ceiling fans. Downstairs, the rear bedroom has an open terrace on the north side and an en suite bathroom with shower only, whilst the other bedroom opens onto the main terrace and pool and has a four poster cage bed and en suite bathroom with a double tub (with shower). Upstairs, the Master bedroom is sumptuous and has polished purpleheart floors, a traditional tray ceiling of bleached wood and a brocade-covered bed with blond wood headboard and scatter cushions in pale golds. A cream painted cabinet houses a TV and in the corner there is a chaise longue facing one of the two large doors that lead out onto the private double balcony. This balcony has good views down to the coast and again has cream sun drapes if needed. Furnished on one side with two comfy sun loungers and on the other with a couple of chairs and a drinks table, the Master suite offers a luxury retreat for one lucky couple, and it is especially good for honeymooners. There is a large en suite bathroom with a corner tub and separate shower.

The other two bedrooms in the cottage both have queen-size beds, are air-conditioned and have an en suite bathroom with shower only. The furnshings are dark wicker, set off by the calm neutral tones throughout the interior. The cottage is set in the gardens to the southern side of the pool and enjoys sea views. It has a full kitchen, sitting room and covered patio.

Beach & Swimming

The nearest beach with easy public access is literally just down the hill next to Colony Club, which is about 5 minutes by car. Guests can choose to travel up the coast to St Peter, and use the members area at the Royal Westmoreland Beach Club, which is about 10 minutes by car. At the club guests benefit from discounted watersports, such as waterskiing, hobie cat sailing, kayaking and boat trips, plus sun beds are available and use of a private beach deck. There is also a popular bar and restaurant.

The communal infinity edge swimming pool up at Sugar Hill's clubhouse measures 2000 sq ft however Sweet Enough has its own private, classic shaped swimming pool of generous proportions. With entry steps to the shallow end, and set within a sun terrace with special heat resistant, non-slip tiles the pool has depths of 3ft to 6ft.

Sports & Recreation

The resort's clubhouse has a fully equipped, air-conditioned gym and there are four floodlit, all weather tennis courts at the David Lloyd Tennis Centre where tuition is available at an additional cost. Guests also have access to the Royal Westmoreland Beach Club & Indulgence Spa at Mullins in St Peter, with sun beds, beach umbrellas and a selection of watersports available. The nearest golf course is Royal Westmoreland just a few minutes drive up the hill, which has some tee times open to outsiders in the mid morning, otherwise there are the three courses at Sandy Lane about 10 minutes away.

Locality

Sweet Enough is among one of many Barbados villas and townhouses set within the fifty acre Sugar Hill Resort Community, located on a ridge over looking the West Coast, with Calliaqua villa a close neighbour. Facilities include the David Lloyd Tennis Centre with 4 floodlit courts, a clubhouse featuring a communal pool, the popular Sassafras restaurant and an air-conditioned gym. The nearest shopping district in Holetown (about 6 minutes south by car). 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 from Sugar Hill. 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, 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 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.