Part the Next … Oh, this is rather nice!
What have we booked? An All-Inclusive Garden Shed on a rocky outcrop by the sea? To some extent, that’s true. It’s all a bit “Rustic Chic”, with the emphasis on “Rustic” … or “Rusty”. Thousands of feet of 4x2 and 6x6 timber has been devoted to creating this unusual environment. For those of you who need marble floors, gold taps and all the frills … this is not for YOU. This is a quirky, but surprisingly comfortable, “Chill City” … no, make that “Village”, as they only have 30 Cottages.
By the time we had arrived, checked in, and all that [Rum Punch and Cold Towel included, and our cases taken up the hill to our Cottage] it was getting a bit dark. So a quick 1-course meal in the Restaurant, another Rum Punch for me, shower, unpack, and after a quick ciggie on our veranda … SLEEEEP. After getting up at 0430, I think that was a 22-hour day. Oh, bug-grit … there’s a Disco or something further along the bay, which didn’t stop until 2300 local [at least they have a Law banning outdoor music after 2300]. Make that a 24-hour day
We’ll see what it looks like in daylight the morning
This place is nice, and pleasantly weird. We’re still trying to work out where it is trying to sit in the marketplace. OK, it’s ‘cute’ and has a nice beach [2 beaches actually, although access to the southern one requires climbing the hill and then down again]. Our cottage is comfortable and adequately equipped, with a large outside deck overlooking the beach and the pool. Two comfy chairs, a side table and a hammock make it a nice 'outdoor room'. The various Bar/Lounge areas are also comfortable, as are the multi-level restaurant areas, again in the ‘Rustic Chic’ style. The food is nice, if unspectacular: just good, honest, cooking … and being all-inclusive, I guess you could eat and drink yourself to death
All the staff are absolutely delightful: possibly the friendliest we’ve ever encountered anywhere. They are a major asset! But … some of it is quite shabby: the maintenance requirements of a site like this are substantial, and we didn’t get the feeling that they’re really keeping on top of that. With rates ranging from USD 500 - 1000 per day, we do vaguely wonder whether it really offers value.
However, perhaps I’m over-analysing things? Have a look and see what you think! We had ended up booked into the lowest category of Cottage, which actually suited us very nicely as we didn’t have to climb the steep hill to the “Sunset” Cottages … we’ve seen enough Caribbean sunsets, and would prefer to minimise the hill-climbing!
This image from Google may clarify the set-up a bit ...
Up the hill to Reception …
The main [covered] Lounge deck and Bar …
... needing a bit of maintenance, though! Some of the furniture and furnishings need a bit of TLC!
More Lounge decks, with the Restaurant decks in the background …
The main Restaurant deck …
There are a few feral cats who have wisely made their home near a constant supply of food provided by patrons saying “aaah, kittens!” …
Our Cottage,
#9 , was perched on stilts on the hillside overlooking both the pool and the beach. Ours is the right-hand one here …
A surprisingly enjoyable outdoor shower once you get used to the idea of standing outside naked! … there’s another one in the conventional bathroom.
The beach is wide and clean, with soft white sand and clear, warm, blue water, and a generous provision of sun-loungers and umbrellas. As with St. Lucia, the beach is public territory although seemingly almost unused by the general population. There are a few hawkers, who wear licence tags, trying to sell tours, snorkelling and boat trips: we declined politely, and weren’t pestered. Anyway, such things are best organised through Reception, if that’s your thing.
The hotel has a Bar on the Beach, also providing Waiter Service
I guess a few pictures of the food would be appropriate … and everything is
a la carte: No Buffet here!!
Breakfast - Cocos Breakfast Sandwich = Egg, Cheese and Sauteed Spinach w/Onions [and some Bacon on the side, please] …
Roast Duck for Lunch … Rice was the universal accompanying starch item.
Butterfish for Dinner … which was a new one on me, but simply delicious …
We did venture out once, taking a 15 minute walk along the beach, through the
Jolly Beach Resort (a Caribbean version of Butlins, and the source of the noise on the first couple of nights!) to the local Supermarket and around
Jolly Harbour where some rich people keep their boats
