UNN Port Ferdinand & St. Peters Bay- Barbados (April 2016)
FAM Report
Accommodations:
8 of us were lucky enough to stay at Port Ferdinand Luxury Residences
This is located nearby historic Speightstown on the Northwest coast of Barbados.
Offering 82 residences and 120 berths, each home has its own uninterrupted view of the marina, with many of the homes also offering direct views beyond the marina to the Caribbean Sea.
The villas are decorated with a combination of restoration hardware meets beachy comfort. While it was beautifully appointed, I felt the furniture was comfy, cozy, and laid back.
The villas come either 2 or 3 bedroom style, including a fully equipped kitchen with all the modern amenities, the living room and bedrooms are equipped with beautiful flat screen tv’s. Each bedroom has a full bathroom attached as well.
The staff was EXTREMELY attentive. The concierge staff is absolutely amazing.
Accommodations: site inspection of St Peters Bay—sister property of Port Ferdinand.
This resort is geared much more towards families with larger accommodations, more expansive beach, and a 160 foot lagoon pool.
Similar villa style accommodations to Port Ferdinand. Their luxury three bedroom fully furnished homes range in size from 2700 square feet to their expansive 4 bedroom penthouses offering over 6300 square feet of living area.
Every home enjoys amazing “picture postcard” views of the beautiful coconut trees, the beach, and the ocean.
St Peter’s Bay only dining option is The Gazebo Bar & Grill which offers simple food with a stunning ocean view. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and offers bar service throughout the day. Nothing better than sipping on arguably the best rum punch I have ever had, watching the sunset.
Dining:
The resort has 2 restaurants plus room service. A personal chef can be hired too.
13/59 is the fine dining restaurant. Drawing on their extensive knowledge from around the world, they combine beautiful Barbadian ingredients with modern techniques. We had dinner and brunch here and the food was over the top with an array of choices. I had freshly caught Wahoo fish for dinner and chicken and waffles for brunch so you can see the variety there.
The Quarterdeck/Pool Island Bar offers full cocktail and lunch service. Food service is also available on the beach from the pool island restaurant.
The cost of the food is additional as this is an EP resort.
On-Site Entertainment & Activities
Both resorts offer well equipped fitness centers with personal training.
Port Ferdinand has a great kids club, all included
Port Ferdinand has an “adult games room” fully stocked with card tables, pool table, and a golf simulator, perfect for a rainy afternoon.
St Peters Bay has a beauty lounge for salon services but the Sandbox Tree Spa located at Port Ferdinand with its private outdoor showers and quaint, quiet backyard, cannot be missed.
The resorts are connected by a quick 10-minute water taxi which not only brings you between the 2 resorts but will stop at a grocery store along the way to pick up groceries for your villa and other local restaurants and shopping.
Port Ferdinand is located adjacent to Six Men’s Beach via water taxi or about a 10 minute walk over, guests can enjoy lots of water sports all included (for the time being). I jetskiied, water tubed, and snorkeled all minutes away from my room.
Live jazz music fills the restaurants and dockside at Port Ferdinand during most days/nights.
General Comments:
Jetblue Mint service is really a premium class experience for not much more of a cost than economy. In the airport, Mint allows clients faster airport check in, speedy security lines and early boarding. While onboard guests can enjoy open bar, full meals and unlimited snacks, beauty boxes, and free Wifi and DirectTV.
Both resorts have the added benefit of skipping the customs line when you land in Barbados. With that said, I had landed, gone through customs, and got into my transfer all within 15 minutes.
Docked right at Port Ferdinand, we boarded Cool Runnings, a private Catamaran for a sunset cruise dinner. It is very popular among guests. Fantastic staff and the food was all prepared by a chef with local ingredients.
Few local things that are a MUST: Friday nights at Oistins Fish Fry—a small fishing village with a town square lined with little food huts and a big stage where local events are held. Guests come and fill their plates with all the local fixins. Very informal, very delicious! Sunday nights at Raggamuffins—every Sunday the small street in Holetown shut down for a block party. One restaurant stays open where all locals and guests can listen to music and get some drinks. The best part is the VERY low budget drag show at Raggamuffins with the queens in sky high heels singing some of the classics like Celine Dion, Rihanna (obviously) and Tina Turner. The whole place was up and dancing.
Barbados is known for its rum and it is NOT a myth. The rum punches are NO JOKE. It is part of Bajan hospitality to offer any guests a rum punch and you don’t turn them down.. With local rum and spices, it is perfectly unique to the island.
Speaking of local rum, the main rum distillery is the famous Mount Gay Rum. However, I was able to tour a smaller, more quaint St Nicholas Abbey distillery, the only rum made from pure sugar cane. Lots of history and education on the distilling process.
I was also able to take part in an island favorite of swimming with turtles. Couple of the water sports guys took us out on a boat armed with snorkel gear and raw fish to lure the turtles over. Such majestic creatures and such a fun experience.
The GM of St Peters Bay is super hands on with clients. Him and his family are very active and love to involve guests on moonlight kayaking trips, night fishing, and sunrise hikes. I jumped at the chance to see the sunrise on the last morning and hiked up Chalky Mountain at 5am.
