The Art (and Business) of Blogging

Feeling Right at Home in Barbados

When you arrive at “The House” in the gorgeous St. James district of Barbados, don’t bother looking for the reception desk, because there isn’t one. Would you find a reception desk in your friend’s home or at the beach house of your wealthy and rather eccentric cousin? No you wouldn’t. And you won’t find one here because this lovely 34-room establishment feels more like a comfortable, private home than a hotel. I stood in the lush courtyard for mere seconds before a beautiful young woman came up to me and asked, “Ms. Grant?” as she extended her hand. I said yes and she introduced herself as Nadia, the assistant manager. She invited my friend and me to take a seat in the spacious, open-air lounge while she retrieved our reg

istration information. Meanwhile, our bags were whisked to our room and we were offered our choice of a welcoming rum punch, fruit punch, beer or water. Within minutes we relaxed into the warm hospitality of The House.

At the centre of the whitewashed lounge was a spacious seating area furnished with oversized couches dressed in white cotton slipcovers and large, low tables in dark wood. Running down one side of the outdoor room were the serving area and bohemian-looking bar, and on the other side was a row of dining tables. Beyond, the space opened onto a beautiful deck, which in turn led to the wide, sandy beach.

“Shall we head to your room?” asked Nadia after she observed that we had finished our drinks. We followed her through the courtyard and up the outdoor stairway to our room – an ocean-facing, one-bedroom suite with two balconies and two bathrooms. Simple yet elegant furnishings complemented the setting, but the view of the ocean trumped everything else!

Nadia explained that any member of the hotel staff could deal with virtually any request. There were no hard-and-fast roles, as every “ambassador” (as they were called) moved fluidly from one job to the next depending on the guest’s needs at that moment. Not only did this wonderful staff have in common the capacity to assist with any request at any time – they shared a lovely manner that was at once friendly and respectful, helpful and unobtrusive.

As comfortable as the room was, we felt the draw of the ocean and it was not long before we found ourselves on the expansive outdoor deck under one of the many royal blue umbrellas, enjoying lunch. A generously proportioned club sandwich, lightly crisped French fries (addictive!) and a green salad with a whisper of herb dressing made the perfect mid-afternoon repast. We were so taken with the view, we forgot to have the 30-minute “jet lag” massage that is complimentary for all guests – whether you have flown from afar or walked down the road!

Next there was work to do, so we stopped into the small but efficient business centre. Just down the hall was the small but efficient gym and best of all, mere steps from both, was the petite plunge pool in a corner hidden from outside view with vines and tropical plants. Why work when you can plunge?

By the time we came down to dinner, the lounge had been transformed into a different world. The entire space was lit with candles and torches, and enchanting Euro-lounge music was playing in the background. Subtle in-floor lighting guided us from one zone to the next but the predominant sense was of the ocean breeze, the candles and the music. It was magic. And then it got better. We told the ambassador at hand that we wanted to have dinner and he said that one of the two beachside cabanas had not been reserved. And so we were led to our private dining space, under a cabana, lit by torches, on the beach. Unbelievable! We proceeded to enjoy champagne cocktails, followed by an excellent dinner of seared tuna and Caesar salad. We ended this magical experience with a delicious assortment of cheeses. All the while the moon shone and the waves crashed, as though on cue from a theatrical director. Does life get better than this?

Photos by the Elegant Hotel Group

www.thehousebarbados.com