Island GetAway was exactly what I needed for my extended stay on the island, where I worked remotely on the Barbados Welcome Stamp. The accommodation has a lovely “home away from home” atmosphere and is a good value for the money. Its location on the outskirts of Speightstown is ideal. The property is managed by a true superhost. When I moved in, the first thing I noticed was how immaculate the apartment was -- clean, comfortable, properly furnished, and tastefully decorated. The kitchen comes equipped with everything needed to prepare a full meal. There is a dedicated workspace with a fast and reliable internet connection.
Everything you could want or need is less than 10 mins walk away – Jordan’s supermarket, bakeries, a fish market, fresh local fruits & vegetables, bars, restaurants serving local dishes, banks/ATMs, a bus terminal dispatching buses to many parts of the island, convenience stores, pharmacies, and most importantly the beaches ….BEACHES with white sand, and clear, calm turquoise waters! About 3 mins walk from the apartment is one such beach. It is perfect for a healthy salt water soak, an easy swim and a cool splash. I spent much of my time at the beach taking photographs, and I came away with some stunning photos, especially of the sunsets. A few of my favorite bars - Little Bristol Bar, Fisherman’s Pub, John Moore Bar, Adrian’s at Mullins Beach, Braddy’s - are fun spots where such photo ops were combined with a local beer or rum mix, something tasty to eat and a chat with tourists and “Bajans” (colloquial word for "Barbadians"). I must also mention Babbies Cool Spot, since it is on the same street as the apartment and is where I first learnt about “liming" – Barbadian vernacular for hanging out, chatting, and having a drink and a bite to eat with others…who you may or may not know! Barbados is actually great for this type of banter and easy acquaintances. I definitely met some really cool and nice people on the island, locals and visitors alike.
As far as alternatives to cooking go, there are upscale restaurants nearby such as Fish Pot, Sea Shed, and Lone Star that are nice to go to now and again, but I preferred local places serving food like fried fish, grilled chicken, macaroni pie, fried plantains, and so on…all for a reasonable price. There are also some late-night options, such as the local fast food, Chefette, where I liked to have the fried chicken and curry roti, and it is open until 10pm. Afterwards, I would walk home, sometimes quite late, and I never once felt unsafe or uncomfortable, as the neighborhood is safe and friendly.
Staying at Island GetAway was fantastic. I was able to work uninterrupted and relax in my haven while having quick and easy access to any service or amenity I could want.
Superhost
This lovely home comes with the loveliest of hosts: Yolande. She could not have done more for me. Yolande is one of the most professional, organized, caring, thoughtful, and responsive hosts I have ever encountered in my extensive travels. When I needed help with an urgent medical issue, for example, she tapped into her local social network to find an extraordinary doctor to fix me up right away. She is extremely knowledgeable about all things Barbadian, and gave me lots of tips about how to navigate Barbados as a temporary resident. She also brought me treats like rum punch, bay leaves, fresh garden herbs, and local delicacies. But the real highlight was the trips Yolande took me on. She took me on two tours of the island in her car, where we visited some of the most remote areas in Barbados - places I couldn't get to on the bus. And I bet that the panoramic views and photo ops of the landscape and coastline are from spots most tourists will never see. I'm sure long-term visitors will be in for some treats and Bajan experiences (free of cost, of course) if they book with Yolande.
All in all, I can say Barbados provided me with a safe haven from the Covid-19 pandemic, as it is being managed very well by the government and people on the island. I highly recommend Island GetAway to guests from anywhere in the world - whether your stay will be short or long. It is a great value and Yolande provides amazing hospitality
All bookings are direct with the owner 