Barbados

Caribbean Barbados sandy lane villas

Barbados on My Own Time

Barbados on My Own Time 1024 758 Keir Alexa

 

Caribbean Barbados sandy lane villas

Caribbean Barbados sandy lane villas

Caribbean Barbados sandy lane villas

Caribbean Barbados travel hotel wanderlust sandy lane villas

Caribbean Barbados travel hotel wanderlust sandy lane villas

Caribbean Barbados travel hotel wanderlust sandy lane villas

Caribbean Barbados travel hotel wanderlust sandy lane villas

Caribbean Barbados travel hotel

Caribbean Barbados travel hotel

British tradition and Caribbean flair make Barbados a unique destination. I’ve only been there one time and it was just stunning. It is one of my favorite islands in the Caribbean. There is so much to do there. Whether roaming the enchanted Huntes Garden, exploring underground caves or relaxing on soft sand beaches with sparkling turquoise waters, Barbados has so much to offer.

A while back I stayed at one of Sandy Lane’s Villas called Alila. It’s aptly named since Alila is a name associated with clean pure water. The villa was in the hills above the beach, teetering on the edge of the ridge on the western coast. The decor was Balinese inspired, which was just lovely. Bali is another one of my favorite places on earth so it was a great surprise.

The villa was amazing and the views spectacular. The view was full of lush greenery from the treetops and the ocean. The villa was a spacious four bedrooms with an open floor plan. This would be great for a larger group, like a girl’s getaway or a family vacation. I found the earth tones very relaxing; there is something about natural wood surfaces that agree with me aesthetically. Although this villa is set in an English colony it was decorated with Asian influences. A craftsman style footbridge spans the large infinity pool. This led me over to the gazebo, another panoramic view. This served as the perfect backdrop to the outdoor dining area. A koi pond and enclosed garden space was very intimate and lush. Like an oasis inside an oasis, I really enjoyed the open-air atmosphere, with many outdoor spaces like the bathroom, a half enclosed area that led out to a private patio with an amazing pool.

Our villa was located off the beach, but close enough to get that fresh salt-water breeze. Sandy Lane Beach was just the perfect setting for me to unwind. There were other little touches that made our stay, like ipod docks in every room as well as a private cabana on the beach. Sandy Lane Hotel is another great option for those of you who want a full service hotel experience. I highly recommend both the Alila villa and Sandy Lane hotel as this vacation was absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to return.

 

The nightly rate starts at about $1,050.00 USD

Barbados Huntes Garden Flowers

Enchanted Hunte’s Garden

Enchanted Hunte’s Garden 1024 683 Keir Alexa

Hidden in the hills of Barbados is the enchanted Hunte’s Garden. Lush, full of color and the sounds of wildlife, I couldn’t wait to go inside.

As soon as we arrived, I noticed a sign out front that said “The most enchanting place on earth!” I had no idea what to expect, but as soon as I entered the garden I knew that I entered a tropical paradise, full of the most beautiful flowers and plants I have ever seen.

The garden is a carefully cultivated plant utopia, full of smiling Buddha statues and Greek figures. I started heading down the staircase and quickly found myself exploring different pathways and relaxing on the benches that were tucked in different corners of the garden.

Barbados Huntes Garden Travel

It is so dense with plants that everywhere feels like its own perfect little garden of your own. Part of the reason it is so lush is that it is actually inside a sinkhole, so plants can climb up the steep natural walls that are all around you.

Barbados Huntes Garden

After 15 minutes of exploring, I ran into Anthony Hunte, who is the man that created the gardens. He is very welcoming and invited us up to his for ginger lemonade and talked about how it took him over 2 years to develop the garden.

I only got to spend about 30 minutes there because I was on a time crunch to visit some other parts of Barbados….. so next time I am planning to stay much longer. A taste of paradise was definitely not enough! I highly recommend bringing a book, wandering down a path and finding a sunny bench to relax on.

Barbados Huntes Garden Wanderlust

Below are some more images of the garden!

Barbados Huntes Garden

Barbados Huntes Garden

Barbados Huntes Garden

Barbados Huntes Garden

Barbados Huntes Garden

Barbados Huntes Garden

Barbados Huntes Garden

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