Island Villa • 3 minutes to the beach - Bajan style, updated with mod cons

Welcome to your stylish island home-away-from-home in Saint James, Barbados!

This beautifully updated 3-bedroom Bajan-style villa blends traditional Caribbean charm with modern comforts—just a three-minute walk (yes, really!) via a shortcut to the stunning Folkestone Marine Park and beach.

The detached villa features a small back garden and a street-facing porch for people-watching and morning coffee. Additionally a covered inside/outside seating area - with extendable table if you want to eat there. I particularly like sitting there when there's a tropical downpour (they usually last minutes).

Inside, it’s decorated in a fresh, modern style while keeping the character of Barbados alive.

There’s excellent air conditioning (split system) throughout, so depending on the weather and your mood, you can either close up and cool the house with A/C or run ceiling fans and throw open the doors and let the sea breeze flow through naturally. There's also constant hot water from solar panels (electric override available - but it's never needed) and a spacious, comfy area with smart TV for relaxing after a day in the sun. Internet connectivity is excellent (unless there’s a power cut on the island, which happens very rarely).

There are 3 double bedrooms, with the master bedroom featuring a brand new ensuite bathroom, and the guest bathroom a shower with excellent water pressure. Each of the three bedrooms is set up with two single beds that can be separated or pushed together to create a nearly seamless double—perfect for couples, friends, or families. Guests have often told us they’re the most comfortable beds they've ever slept in!

The kitchen is fully equipped and includes a very large gas oven, a farmhouse-style sink, and everything you need to prepare and enjoy meals at home.

While there’s no dishwasher or dryer (common for the island), There’s a great old fashioned high-capacity top-loading washing machine and plenty of outdoor drying space (it doesn’t take long to dry clothes!).

Two adorable low-maintenance small dogs live here. They love sea swims, but don’t need long walks, and have no separation anxiety so are happy being left alone (as long as they have plenty of water to drink) outside all day or for a long evening, and offer extra comfort (they're very quiet unless someone comes to close to the fence!). If you don't want them around, let me know and I can usually arrange to board them out. Another thing I can do is arrange for a dog walker to come and take them out.

If you’re looking for a relaxed, authentic, and stylish Barbados stay just steps from one of the island’s best snorkelling and swimming spots, this is your place.

Note - that pile of sand in front of the house should be gone by the time you come! It's for some work to render the wall of the back garden.

Excited at idea of finding the right people on here, who maybe want to do regular exchanges. Please do reach out. Especially if you have a London place available 30 Aug - 10 September. But any offers after that!

About the location

The Local Area – Authentic Bajan Life on the Platinum Coast

The villa is located in a unique and character-filled pocket of Saint James, right on Barbados' famous Platinum Coast—home to the island’s most desirable beaches. You're just a short walk from everything: 10 minutes walk (3 min drive) to Limegrove - with its upmarket shops and restaurants, 12 minutes (walk) to the large Massy Supermarket, which has everything you'd expect in a European or US supermarket, and around 13 minutes (walk) to the lovely Chattel House Village with its cafes and shops. Even closer are the excellent Sea Cat restaurant, the well known gastro pub The Horny Ram, Snowy's coffee and bar on the beach and numerous other places to eat and drink.

Most importantly, Folkestone Marine Park is literally a three-minute walk away via a local shortcut, and that beach carries on to the next, and the next, etc. etc stunning west coast beach.

The famous Barbados busses (love them or hate them!) run regularly along the West Coast highway, a very easy walk, and taxis are easy to find. So, whether you want to explore the island or just stay local, you’re well connected.

All that said, this is not a gated, polished expat-style resort area. And it's not noisy and lively on the doorstep, as with the South coast. This is a vibrant, lived-in Bajan neighbourhood, and what makes it special is that it hasn’t been overly manicured. You’ll see real life here: tethered cows calmly grazing, a few chickens pecking around, the occasional wandering flock or sheep or the man who washes his two horses in the sea every morning, riding them by, and those rusty old cars someone’s always meant to fix up…one day. The surrounding homes range from traditional chattel houses to more modern “wall houses” as they’re called.

Locals will usually nod and greet you with a “good morning” before carrying on with their day. The overall vibe is quiet and easy-going, though, as with anywhere in the Caribbean, you'll hear nature at night (crickets and whistling frogs) plus the occasional party at a local bar. Inside the house, it’s pretty quiet and private, but not totally soundproofed (like almost all island homes).

What we love most is that while the location gives you unbeatable access to top beaches and local amenities, it’s still a place where you can experience the real Barbados—friendly people, local flavour, and an atmosphere that’s rooted in everyday island life. If you’re looking for something genuine, and just off the tourist path, this might be your perfect spot.

Conditions of exchange

Facilities

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