Bayaleau Point Cottages has become my home away from home in the Caribbean. Located on the sea in a very quiet, rural neighborhood on the windward side of Carriacou, it is a wonderful place to experience the real West Indies.

The 4 small cottages are spread across a nicely landscaped hillside among palm, banana & citrus trees and many flowering trees & shrubs. The self-catering cottages are very clean, well maintained and have all the basics to take care of yourself and family. Carriacou is not a high rise, bustling resort island catering to the every whim of pleasure seeking tourists, but it's probably as close as you'll find to the traditional West Indies of decades ago. Still Dave has a wifi internet connection so you can keep in touch back home ...if you wish.

Known for their boat building, the craftsmen on Carriacou still build boats by hand and eye, and haul them in and out of the sea by hand, which are great community events to take part in. Bayaleau Point Cottages is located about a mile easy walk to the village of Windward, the heart of Carriacou's boat building. Closer there are several small shops to take care of the neighborhood's basic grocery needs, including fresh baked bread - which is about all you can get on Carriacou.

The main town of Hillsborough is about 4 miles away on the leeward side of Carriacou with transportation provided by the many small buses that are the lifeline of the many villages on the island. The bus drivers epitomize both the entrepreneurial and caring nature of the people on Carriacou. The drivers pick up and deliver people and packages from propane cylinders, bags of rice & cases of beer to children to and from school & day-care … they can generally drop you right at your front door, and if they see you walking toward the bus stop, they come and get you.... these guys & gals - they take care of you.

Just like Dave & Georgie do at Bayaleau Point Cottages, they make sure you're comfortable and help you in any way they can... like making sure you know about local happenings like traditional boat haul-outs, music fetes, where the dive shops are or the local bar just down the street (Maphise's The Valley Bar) where yummy barbecue happens on Friday nights and you can try the very strong (90 proof) Jack Iron rum... or if it's your preference to be left to your own devices, they'll leave you be.

Dave also has a great tour boat service - the Mostly Harmless boat tours, that I've enjoyed for visits to Tobago Cays and a few of the small, nearby Grenadine islands. There's plenty of snorkel gear and a few sea kayaks at guests' disposal to explore the small reefs right off shore. Along with the cottages they have a deck over looking the bay that is a perfect place for liming (locally for just hanging out) or dining. This is a great place to vacation and enjoy the real West Indies... and I will be back - soon!

We found this beautiful place on the internet and were immediately drawn to the romantic coloured cottages. When we arrived we were taken with the beauty of the place and its setting and then the blue cottage we had booked surpassed all our expectations. The cottages are so thoughtfully put together, with colour and comfort being provided throughout. We were on our honeymoon and we were looking for somewhere to relax amongst beauty away from any hussle and bussle - we found it!!

We also took a boat trip with our competent and friendly local guides Andy & Dane - we visited the Tobago Cays - Wow!! Swimming with turtles and feeling like millionaires wandering around picture-postcard uninhabited islands with idyllic beaches - almost all to yourselves. Sumptous food and drink flowed freely too! We felt propoerly spoilt.

Georgie is an amazing host and couldn't do enough for us and made us feel so welcome, we were made to feel part of the family whilst respecting our privacy.

Georgie's personal art and craft adorns the cottages, their house and almost everywhere around the island. Colourful painted calabashes and paintings with a very West Indies feel. All made to feel even more real when Georgie regularly came to visit us at the cottage in paint covered clothing.

In short, this place is a gem in Carriacou's crown - we will be back!!

First off, Carriacou is a very special place and is unlike any other island I have been to in the Caribbean. Its charms ARE its lack of development and the untidy appearance that you occasionally come across. People here are friendly and genuine, and many of them earn their livelihood as seafarers...hence the 'rotting' boats. If you need casinos, all-inclusive resorts with wacky water sports and other mindless constant entertainment, do not go to Carriacou.

Now, however, if you are looking for a laid-back holiday in an extremely beautiful and peaceful setting, then do, by all means, visit Carriacou.

And if you are looking for a lovely cottage in a very quiet location, then give Bayaleau Point a try. The cottages are charming, functional and clean. The property is conducive to relaxation and there are beautiful views from the common area out onto Pt. Martinique and some of the Grenadines. Plus, it's tough to beat the price, especially considering the cottages are self-catering (although the food at the local take-away place in Windward is scrumptious and more than affordable). We stayed in Yellow, and while it has no view (other than the back of the blue cottage), it is cozy and is a good value.

Now, as lovely as the cottages are, Bayaleau is not perfect. Travelers need to be aware of the fact that Bayaleau is a bit removed from the main beaches and other attractions on Carriacou. We got by using a few taxis and lots of $1 buses, but if you plan on going to dinner in town frequently you will find yourself spending as much on taxis as you would a rental car.

Another item of note is the general state of disrepair that the common area has fallen into. The chairs are a hodgepodge of old, sun-beaten plastic chairs. This, along with the general lack of 'service' provided by the owner, Dave, makes the place feel as if it has seen better days. Indeed, it almost feels as if Dave has given up on this place and it is just running on its own inertia. He was rarely around and attempting to get information from him or his wife was not an easy task. The 10% service charge they tacked onto our bill certainly left me scratching my head.

Lastly, there is no beach here. The website claims there is a 'postage stamp beach', but it is not a beach and you will need to take a bus to get to the best beaches. While you can reach Shipwreck beach on foot in about 45 minutes, Anse la Roche was about a 90 minute hike (although it was a gorgeous walk).

Despite these downsides, I still give Bayaleau two thumbs up. Visitors just need to be aware of the good and the bad.

This past July I had the good fortune of finding Bayaleau Point Cottages, and the pleasure of absorbing its peaceful atmosphere on the island of Carriacou. My young family blossomed in the bliss that our week long stay at Bayaleau provided, and we were particularly moved by our immediate acceptance into the entire culture and Grenadian "isle of spice" life. Upon arrival, we were enthralled by the easy comraderie which followed the owner, David Goldhill, and his entire family. Upon departure, we were still surrounded by the same warmth and wanted nothing more than to begin plans for our return trip. In between, we experienced countless moments of calm in the comfortable cottages and honest care from our hosts. For example - we were inspired the entire island's launch of Bayaleau's brand new boat and the joy our personal invitation to this amazing occasion brought; we were given great guest space to meander in the sunshine at our own pace; we received spot on suggestions and ideas for everything from in-town markets to outlying islands; we were treated to tea like kin and borrowed kayaks with no bother; we were even eventually mistaken for Bayaleau family members by other islanders, which, considering our quick connection to the place, cottages, and people, seemed like a perfectly natural mistake to make. Do not make the mistake of missing out on this wonderful world in the West Indies - your stay at Bayaleau Point Cottages will stay with you for a lifetime.