Palm Paradise Guest House + 2 Apartments

Up a quiet residential street that feels a little like you’re about to get lost, Palm Paradise suddenly appears around a bend, as a appealing private residence dominating the lush hillside. There’s parking for a couple of vehicles out front, and terra-cotta stairs leading up to the main entrance, where Pat (the Brit who built, owns, and runs the guesthouse) warmly greets guests. The interior is spacious and sunlit, with decor that’s terribly dated, but equally homey and obsessively clean. The entrance opens into the living room -- a vast tiled space framed with an assortment of lounge chairs and sofas conducive to relaxing. The bar area at the rear feels more like a casual restaurant, with plenty of dining tables and chairs, as well as bar stools for perching at the bar itself. 

This place was purpose built as a guesthouse, so the overall layout more or less resembles a traditional home, with en-suite bathrooms in all rooms, which are set over two levels. Lush tropical gardens with plenty of color and palm trees neighbor one side of the home -- garnished with a circular above-ground pool, as well as a large dining pergola at the garden’s center. Palm Paradise is like sharing a huge home with fellow guests, so social mingling is common, but there’s also plenty of space to spread out and find solitude, and the larger units provide private in-room sitting areas.

Palm Paradise is located in an elevated residential pocket of Paynes Bay, about a five-minute walk inland (up a slight hill) from the main west coast road and nearest beach, Paynes Bay Beach. The Payne’s Bay Fish Market is six minutes away on foot. Other nearby highlights within a short drive include Barbados Polo Club (a six-minute drive), Sandy Lane Old Nine Golf Course (four minutes away), Limegrove Lifestyle Centre (eight minutes), and Folkestone Marine Park and Museum (eight minutes). Down on the main coastal drag, there are supermarkets, public beaches, and many restaurants scattered in either direction (although some require a drive). Palm Paradise can arrange taxis, but many guests opt for the inexpensive public bus service. It’s a 20-minute drive to Bridgetown, and around 40 minutes to Grantley Adams International Airport. 

Unfolding over two levels, Palm Paradise offers en-suite bedrooms of varying sizes, as well as self-catering options that include a studio (that sleeps up to three) and a one-bedroom apartment (that sleeps up to four). Most rooms are named after colors (green, pink, yellow, etc.), echoed by color-matched decor in everything from wall paint to linens and drapes, shower curtains to toilet brushes. Furniture is predominantly wooden, and while rooms are simply decorated, they’re all kept impeccably clean. Layouts vary in size, but the Terracotta Studio has a sitting area in addition to an eat-in kitchen (the apartment also has a kitchen), while the huge Paradise Suite has a large private terrace with great views of the garden, all the way to the sea. 

All rooms have air-conditioning, but there’s an additional daily charge to use it. Rooms also offer oscillating wall fans, mini stereos, desks, hairdryers, and safes. Some, but not all, rooms have TVs, either tube or flat-screen. (A communal TV is located in the main living area for units that lack TVs.) Bathrooms vary in size, but they’re mostly large, with either shower/tub combos or showers, as well as large bottles of hand soap and shower gel. 

Pat and her assistant, Gilly, oversee everything at Palm Paradise and go the extra mile to make sure guests are comfortable and their needs are met. Gilly cooks the meals (which guests frequently praise), and will keep the bar open as late as guests choose to imbibe. The in-house menu and bar offer extensive dining options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner --- and it's top notch home-cooked fare, with plenty of fresh seafood, curries, and meat dishes on offer. When dining in for dinner, guests are advised to make their selections earlier in the day to allow adequate preparation for the freshest, best possible meals. Breakfast and half board rates are available, but meals can otherwise be billed to the room at leisure. 

The kitchen is reserved for staff, but guests have access to a choice of dining/relaxation areas. There’s the indoor bar area, the garden pergola, and the front terrace -- all with plenty of tables and chairs to spread out on. The indoor living area has a flat-screen TV and a selection of DVDs, plus a small library of books and plenty of cozy lounges. There’s also a communal terrace upstairs that’s great for sunset viewing. 

The tropical gardens are a highlight here, attracting colorful local birdlife (and the odd monkey) and providing a tranquil setting to dine in under the gazebo, socialize with guests, or simply chill out. There’s a small above-ground pool that’s more suited for kids, but perfectly adequate for a cooling plunge, and there are a few deck chairs scattered throughout the garden. 

Bathroom towels are provided, but towels for pool and beach use incur a rental fee. There’s free and fast Wi-Fi throughout. The guesthouse can arrange airport transport and taxis, and Pat will happily arrange island tours and excursions on behalf of guests.