Elegant Hotels, Barbados Editor’s Review

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Elegant Hotels offers a unique collection of five luxury hotels situated along west and south coasts of sun-soaked Barbados. We had the delight of staying at two of the hotels within the collection, The House and Colony Club.

From the moment you enter the gated private driveway, The House by Elegant Hotels, just oozes quality and attention to detail.

The driveway itself is a lantern lit hardwood bridge over a carp filled pond, which leads to a welcoming open-aired forecourt and “reception” area. With no formal, reception desk, the initial welcome and check in takes place in the relaxing surroundings of the decked bar area, in large, comfortable, cushioned seating – along with complimentary Bajan Rum Punch.

The Hotel consists of 34 newly-refurbished suites, each providing a relaxing, contemporary design and some magnificent views of the Caribbean Sea. Situated on the West Coast of Barbados, the House is perfectly located to provide one of the most stunning sunsets you are ever likely to see. Each room contains plush king-sized beds, well-stocked mini-bar and luxurious bathroom – with additional sweet treats being left as part of the turn-down service. The chocolate-dipped strawberries going down particularly well!

The adult-only policy of the House provides a calm, tranquil ambiance, for couples looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of modern life. With the soft white sand literally on the hotels doorstep, early morning or late-evening walks along the beach can be enjoyed within minutes of stepping out of your suite. The beachside deck is a sublime spot to enjoy a cool afternoon cocktail or pre-dinner drink.

The House prides itself on the service delivered by its Ambassadors, each member of staff acts as concierge, barstaff, waiter, receptionist and personal assistant, you can ask anything of anyone and they are willing and able to provide whatever service you require. The desired service excellence is delivered in abundance. A perfect example of the service on offer occurred when our planned catamaran trip was cancelled whilst we were sitting waiting for the taxi to take us… within 5 minutes, not only had the Ambassador cancelled the taxi, but also phoned around other catamaran trips, found one and had us booked to be picked up less than 20 yards along the beach. A potentially disappointing day had been saved and a thoroughly enjoyable day snorkelling with turtles was had.

Being so close to the beach, The House is able to offer complimentary watersports – ranging from kayaking and sailing to paddle boarding and water-skiing. In addition there is also the opportunity to snorkel in the clear blue waters of the Caribbean – with reef fish in abundance and no-more than 10 metres from the beach, it is a nature lovers dream. This became a regular occurrence for us, each day brought different conditions and with it different fish.

After dusk, the beachside deck transforms into a torchlit backdrop for evening meals and drinks. The beach can accommodate intimate private dining, with the sound of waves breaking just yards from your table. The food comes courtesy of the neighbouring, award winning Daphne’s Restaurant – fine dining in a unique location – exquisite excellence personified. The combination of Italian classic cuisine with island seafood, left us struggling to make decisions on what to eat. As it was, the risotto, which I was reliably informed, was the best ever tasted, and the linguine with shredded spicy crab turned out to be particular favourites – simply gushing with flavour and aroma. Naturally all rounded off with delicious desserts – our choice being lemon meringue pie with Grand Marnier sauce and peanut butter cheesecake with salted caramel sauce.

The decked lounge area of the House is multi-purpose, whether it be for hosting champagne breakfasts, quiet reading, a meeting place, the complimentary afternoon tea or simply to relax out of the hot Bajan sun. Just yards away is one of the hotels swimming pools, a small waterfall providing a gentle splash of sound in keeping with the mood, a haven to cool off after taking full advantage of the sun-loungers.

Mornings always start in the best possible way with a complimentary champagne breakfast al fresco on the deck, a wonderful array of delicious fresh breakfast options and eggs cooked before you to your own perfection. Also included complimentary on the deck are afternoon tea and early evening canapés.

You cannot help but feel like a VIP staying at The House, every whim catered for and staff, location, surroundings and food all exceeding all possible expectations.

Activities Included:

Fitness – personal training sessions, several beachfront activities including socaAerobics, bootcamp, super circuit.

Watersports – waterskiing, banana boating, snorkeling, sailing, boogie boarding, kayaking, windsurfing and paddle boarding.

Spa & Beauty Services – For an extra cost there are many spa and beauty treatments which are available either in the spa, beachfront or in the privacy of your room.

Tours – Apagey chocolate tour and several island tours are available.

The House Highlights

-Newly refurbished all suite accommodations with king-sized beds and luxury furnishings

-24 hour Ambassador service

-Complimentary 30 minute jet lag massage

– Complimentary daily champagne breakfast

-Gourmet evening canapés

-Full spa and fitness services

-Complimentary motorised and non-motorised watersports