BARBADOS TIPS

SANDY LANE'S NEWS:  Sandy Lane, just reopened after an extensive renovation.  One change will be at the resort’s Bajan Blue restaurant on the beach level, one of four restaurants on the property.   The name will change, the new design will bring parts of the kitchen and large grill into the dining area, the menu will feature multi-cultural cuisine, seating will be indoors as well as outside and they will offer a wine store right at the restaurant,

Other changes include new soft goods, lighting fixtures and bigger flat-screen TVs in the 112 guest rooms. Two new Rolls-Royce limousines will be added for guest transfers.  Also, Sandy Lane will be working on a new line of treatments and products in the spa, and new furnishings and decor in public areas.

Mannie’s Suga Suga (bar/restaurant and spa at Mullins Beach):  This has permanently closed as of October 2007.  It has become Royal Westmoreland’s beach club.

ROYAL WESTMORELAND BEACH CLUB & SPA:

Royal Westmoreland has finally taken over Mullins Beach - at least the spa and the beach bar and restaurant.  New signage has now gone up across the road at the spa which is being called Indulgence Spa (like the one at Royal Westmoreland proper) and the walls leading to it now carry the sign - Royal Westmoreland Beach Club. The beach bar and restaurant is still under re-construction but all signs point to that too being re-baptized as Royal Westmoreland.  They have also purchased the famous Mullins Beach Bar and Suga Suga Spa, which are being completely refurbished to form a stunning new beach club for Royal Westmoreland villa owners and renters.”

INDULGENCE SPA, Mullins Beach (by Royal Westmoreland)

Situated next to Mullins Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Barbados, Indulgence Spa by Royal Westmoreland' has 5 therapy rooms, a nail studio, and an air-conditioned lounge and Spa Cafe.  (former site of Suga Suga)

Its unique and secluded environment also has a fabulous waterfall swimming pool and secret cave, luxury sun loungers and complimentary towels.

'Indulgence Spa' offers an excellent range of Elemis treatments and specializes in full and half day luxury spa programmes.  Specially choreographed body treatments combine Thai, Swedish and Hot Stone movements.  All body and facial treatments use exclusive Elemis products that are also available for purchase.

ESCAPE HOTEL:  Permanently closed

LIMEGROVE LIFESTYLE CENTRE  In March 2008 ground was finally officially broken in Holetown for the $150 M high-end Limegrove Lifestyle Centre.  Developers were at pains to point out that Limegrove will not be just another shopping mall.  The project which has been bandied about for the last several years is to finally come on stream as a hip residential development with trendy brand name shops like Louis Vutton, Hermes, Gucci, Calvin Klein, Armani and Cartier.  When completed in two years Limegrove’s 100,000 sq. ft. retail component will look more like The Shops at Bal Habour just north of Miami or the really high-end shopping areas of the themed luxury resorts of Las Vegas or the upscale shopping centers in or near some large cities across the USA.

Recent update from the West Coast Blog on LIMEGROVE states:

With the recession biting on the West Coast shuttering almost all the major tourism related construction projects, it surely must be reassuring to the public to see hard hats and cranes in action on the massive upscale mall under construction along the main road in Holetown.  When completed the multi-building shopping, entertainment and office complex will boast some of the leading top-of-line luxury boutiques in the world including: Armani, Hugo Boss, Breitling, Bulgari, Dior, Diane von Furstenberg, Gucci, and many others in its tenant line-up.  If this project survives the current recession it will change the face of shopping on the west coast of Barbados.  Also, associated with the project is the building of scores of condos aimed at the high-end market.

CHEFETTE - HOLETOWN:  March 2008, Chefette Holetown was sold and will soon be torn down to make way from yet more beachfront condominiums.  Apparently it was purchased by the same individual who bought the adjoining former Regent/Golden Palms resort which was sold at auction last year and is currently fenced off for redevelopment.

FOUR SEASONS UPDATE:  Work stopped on this project February 19, 2009 after the main financial institution funding it ran into financial difficulties.  Currently Barbados government will not provide a bailout.  The developers, Cinnamon 88, have not been able to say definitely if work will restart and how soon.  Rich and famous UK personalities Simon Cowell and Andrew Lloyd Webber who have committed to purchasing luxury villas there have expressed their concerns about its status.  I will keep you posted.

BOARDWALK PROJECT (SOUTH COAST):  According to Coastal Zone Management, the boardwalk project stretches over a 1.2 km length of coastline from Rockley Beach to just west of Sierra Hotel in Hastings, Christ Church.  1.2 km long boardwalk.  The ability to walk unhindered from Accra Beach virtually to the Hilton Hotel on a safe and comfortable boardwalk will be of tremendous benefit to the beachfront properties.  The five enhanced or new beaches will provide a significant increase in the beach amenity along this shoreline.