Barbuda-beautiful photos-interesting island
Jul 29th, 2008, 04:08 PM
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Barbuda-beautiful photos-interesting island
If you have ever considered going to Barbuda here are some great pics of the beaches. Appears to be the last of the island getaways.
http://www.newsok.com/vacations
click on the "The Wanderer". One of the recent blogs is about Barbuda
or this link may take you directly there:
http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/2...?tm=1216944160
Anyone been there? and stayed at the cottages? Looks like a new hotel is getting ready to open there as well.
http://www.newsok.com/vacations
click on the "The Wanderer". One of the recent blogs is about Barbuda
or this link may take you directly there:
http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/2...?tm=1216944160
Anyone been there? and stayed at the cottages? Looks like a new hotel is getting ready to open there as well.
Jul 29th, 2008, 04:27 PM
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We stayed at Coco Point Lodge on Barbuda this past April - spectacular white sand beach that stretches as far as the eye can see and thensome. The island has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. Less than 1,500 people live on this very quiet island. At present Coco Point is the only major resort (accomodates about 50 or 60 guests) operating on the island. Others are small inns and rental cottages. A new resort is near completion. Two others have been closed and gone into receivership.
There's not much to do on the island but relax on the beach, explore a few caves and visit the bird sanctuary. This is an island you visit to "get away from it all". If you want an active nightlife, a variety of restaurants and tons of activities this is not the island for you.
There's not much to do on the island but relax on the beach, explore a few caves and visit the bird sanctuary. This is an island you visit to "get away from it all". If you want an active nightlife, a variety of restaurants and tons of activities this is not the island for you.
Jul 29th, 2008, 07:26 PM
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Roams Around:
In April, was the hotel full? The few people I know that have been there rave about the island almost as if it is the last undiscovered place in the Caribbean. What keeps it from getting developed? Because Antigua has certainly been pro-development.
Is a week too long on the island? thanks
In April, was the hotel full? The few people I know that have been there rave about the island almost as if it is the last undiscovered place in the Caribbean. What keeps it from getting developed? Because Antigua has certainly been pro-development.
Is a week too long on the island? thanks
Jul 30th, 2008, 03:22 AM
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We were lucky enough to spend 2 days anchored off Barbuda when doing a bareboat sailing charter from Antigua. That is one way to enjoy the island and the beaches (and they are spectacular and empty!) without committing to a particular location or time period.
They only resort that was open at the time was Coco Point Lodge. However, they were absolutely NOT welcoming visitors from boats or otherwise -- resort guests only. They lost out on $$$$ from our crew, who would have gladly spent it at the bar and on an nice dinner.
Having seen the island, I would think a week might be too long to spend there unless you absolutely need serious de-compressing time. But as I've traveled more (and gotten older, alas), I'm finding that I have less tolerance for doing nothing. Your mileage may vary.
They only resort that was open at the time was Coco Point Lodge. However, they were absolutely NOT welcoming visitors from boats or otherwise -- resort guests only. They lost out on $$$$ from our crew, who would have gladly spent it at the bar and on an nice dinner.
Having seen the island, I would think a week might be too long to spend there unless you absolutely need serious de-compressing time. But as I've traveled more (and gotten older, alas), I'm finding that I have less tolerance for doing nothing. Your mileage may vary.
Jul 30th, 2008, 06:43 AM
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To Callaloo - Coco Point Lodge has a very strict policy of allowing only their guests to use their facilities. They have never in the history of the resort sold food or drink to anyone who is not a registered (and paying) guest. Their theory being that if the begin catering to the "yachting crowd" the resort would be soon overrun by "day-trippers". This "exclusivity' is one of the major attractions for the resort. Guest pay a very high "daily rate" and expect the privacy will be protected.
To nonstop - when we were there the resort was about 85% to 90% full. Manmy of the guests were "multiple" repeat visitors. Management "posts" a list of the guests who are in residence on a bulletin board with a notation as to how many times each one has visited. During our trip I recall about 2/3's of the guests were repeaters and more than half had been there 5 times or more. A few had been there 20+ times.
The accomodations at the resort are spread out over the entire length of the beach. There is a small section of about 10 or 12 guest rooms located adjacent to the main lodge. The remaining units are more like cottages - bedrooms on each end seperated by an large "great Room" (suitible for families) spread out along the entire length of the beach. The individual "cottages" are several hundred feet apart so there is plenty of privacy. To give you an idea as to how privet and remote this resort is I offer the following example: If all the guests at the resort stood evenly spaced on the beach at the water's edge at the same time each person would be anywhere between 100' and 300' from the nearest building and well over 500' from the nearest person.
This is a "true" All Inclusive resort. The daily rate includes all meals (excellent food), beverages, sailing, waterskiing, snorkeling (lots of places around the island)and just about every other type of watersport, deep sea and reef fishing, transportation to/from the island, etc. The only time you need your wallet is if you venture "off resort" to tour the island and when you check-out.
There is a simple reason why Barbuda remains undeveloped - the majority of the land is owned by the governmemnt and is not available for purchase. The land that is owned by "belongers" generally may not be sold to "outsiders". For all practicle purposes this means that foreign individuals cannot acquire land to build "second homes", that's it's very, very difficult for investor groups to acquire property to build new resorts and/or develope condos or timeshares or other residential or rental properties. In other words, the locals recognize they have a good thing and they are doing their very best to preserve what they have.
To answer your last question "Is a week to long on the island?" - that depends on what you are seeking. As I mention, Barbuda (and Coco Point Lodge) is a place you visit if you truly want to get away from it all. Aside from the bird sanctuary and the caves there's not much on the island except beaches, beaches, beaches and more beaches. There's no nightlife and only a handful of "local" eateries and/or roadside or beachside shacks that sell food and drink (warning they operate on "island time" so theirs no way to know if a place will be open when you are hungry or thirsty). If your idea of a perfect vacation is to relax in a beach environment, do a little fishing, take a sunfish out for a sail, go snorkeling and mingle with a few other like minded guests then a week or more on Barbuda will be paradise. If you are a Type-A personality who needs a constant flow of activies, places to see, things to explore in order to "enjoy life to the fullest" then Barbuda may not me for you.
To nonstop - when we were there the resort was about 85% to 90% full. Manmy of the guests were "multiple" repeat visitors. Management "posts" a list of the guests who are in residence on a bulletin board with a notation as to how many times each one has visited. During our trip I recall about 2/3's of the guests were repeaters and more than half had been there 5 times or more. A few had been there 20+ times.
The accomodations at the resort are spread out over the entire length of the beach. There is a small section of about 10 or 12 guest rooms located adjacent to the main lodge. The remaining units are more like cottages - bedrooms on each end seperated by an large "great Room" (suitible for families) spread out along the entire length of the beach. The individual "cottages" are several hundred feet apart so there is plenty of privacy. To give you an idea as to how privet and remote this resort is I offer the following example: If all the guests at the resort stood evenly spaced on the beach at the water's edge at the same time each person would be anywhere between 100' and 300' from the nearest building and well over 500' from the nearest person.
This is a "true" All Inclusive resort. The daily rate includes all meals (excellent food), beverages, sailing, waterskiing, snorkeling (lots of places around the island)and just about every other type of watersport, deep sea and reef fishing, transportation to/from the island, etc. The only time you need your wallet is if you venture "off resort" to tour the island and when you check-out.
There is a simple reason why Barbuda remains undeveloped - the majority of the land is owned by the governmemnt and is not available for purchase. The land that is owned by "belongers" generally may not be sold to "outsiders". For all practicle purposes this means that foreign individuals cannot acquire land to build "second homes", that's it's very, very difficult for investor groups to acquire property to build new resorts and/or develope condos or timeshares or other residential or rental properties. In other words, the locals recognize they have a good thing and they are doing their very best to preserve what they have.
To answer your last question "Is a week to long on the island?" - that depends on what you are seeking. As I mention, Barbuda (and Coco Point Lodge) is a place you visit if you truly want to get away from it all. Aside from the bird sanctuary and the caves there's not much on the island except beaches, beaches, beaches and more beaches. There's no nightlife and only a handful of "local" eateries and/or roadside or beachside shacks that sell food and drink (warning they operate on "island time" so theirs no way to know if a place will be open when you are hungry or thirsty). If your idea of a perfect vacation is to relax in a beach environment, do a little fishing, take a sunfish out for a sail, go snorkeling and mingle with a few other like minded guests then a week or more on Barbuda will be paradise. If you are a Type-A personality who needs a constant flow of activies, places to see, things to explore in order to "enjoy life to the fullest" then Barbuda may not me for you.
Jul 30th, 2008, 03:04 PM
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Roamsaround:
wow! very complete info on the hotel, strategies, etc. Very helpful info for all us.
The photos I referred to on my original post certainly reflect everything you are saying about the beaches, beaches, beaches.
Unless someone has a different idea this seems like many of the islands were 30-40 years ago which is what we are all trying to capture. Especially probably like Turks and Caicos or the Caymans were when I hear the "stories of old"
I gotta get there. Hard to believe we don't hear more about it especially in the Island magazines.
wow! very complete info on the hotel, strategies, etc. Very helpful info for all us.
The photos I referred to on my original post certainly reflect everything you are saying about the beaches, beaches, beaches.
Unless someone has a different idea this seems like many of the islands were 30-40 years ago which is what we are all trying to capture. Especially probably like Turks and Caicos or the Caymans were when I hear the "stories of old"
I gotta get there. Hard to believe we don't hear more about it especially in the Island magazines.
Feb 27th, 2009, 09:13 AM
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To Roamsaround, I'd like to go to Coco Point this spring. I'm
wondering if I will have a hard time getting a space under one of the lanai's on the beach, as i have to be careful when in the sun. When I look at the images posted by the hotel I do not see very many thatched lanai's in comparison to the number of rooms. I hate to go somewhere and have to compete for prime space on the beach. Any info would be helpful.
wondering if I will have a hard time getting a space under one of the lanai's on the beach, as i have to be careful when in the sun. When I look at the images posted by the hotel I do not see very many thatched lanai's in comparison to the number of rooms. I hate to go somewhere and have to compete for prime space on the beach. Any info would be helpful.
