Hashtag Life sent writer May Pham, author of In Ara By May to the UNNA Resorts in Port Ferdinand, for a Luxury Stay with Soul in Barbados.
As we were looking for a perfect Caribbean getaway with tranquil waters and white-sand beach, we found Barbados. Barbados, combining its British colonial heritage and Caribbean flair, offers visitors a tropical getaway like no other. Visitors from around the world flock to Barbados for its warm weather, crystal clear water, abundance of wildlife, unique culture, and excellent Bajan cuisine.
So, we boarded jetBlue from LAX and 8 hours later we arrived at the Grantley Adams International Airport. Upon entry into the arrival hall, we were greeted by Port Ferdinand’s representative who guided us through immigration and customs and then we met with Dave, our awesome driver, who shuttled us to the resort and gave us a brief introduction of the island. As we arrived at Port Ferdinand Marina and Luxury Residences, our concierge showed us to our gorgeous 3-bedroom home with a welcome breakfast home-pack basket. What a perfect start for our adventure in Barbados.
The next morning, the concierge team-Danielle, Sandra, and Ana Maria- took us on an amazing tour around Port Ferdinand.
Situated on the exclusive Port Ferdinand Marina on the northwest coast of Barbados, the resort marina features 120 berths with 82 luxury homes and each home has its own uninterrupted view of the marina. These homes are available for ownership or holiday rental; they boast a villa-style experience with all the amenities of a resort. It is a wonderful option for those who wish for the privacy and space of their own residence but still desire a high level of personal 5-star service. A simple full-service home-away-from-home concept!
The community’s array of amenities includes a fully-equipped state-of-the-art fitness center overlooking the marina, a stunning swimming pool, direct access to the picturesque Six Men’s Beach, as well as a range of relaxing treatments at the Sandbox Tree Spa. For Hashtaglife Magazine’s readers who have young kids, Port Ferdinand features both indoor and outdoor kids clubs which provide an ideal environment for children to make friends and enjoy wonderful experiences of their own; also Port Ferdinand’s indoor golf stimulator provides the chance to have a great family fun night. The resort has an extremely helpful concierge who can arrange activities and excursions during your stay. From pre-stocking your home with groceries prior to your arrival to arranging childcare, Port Ferdinand’s concierge team is on hand and provides knowledgeable, personalized service that caters to guests’ unique needs.
After a great tour of the amazing residences, it was time to settle down for our romantic candlelit dinner at Port Ferdinand’s dockside restaurant 13/59. This unique restaurant believes in supporting small farmers, local fishermen, and local producers. The menus are designed combining beautiful traditional Barbadian ingredients with modern cookery methods, backed by an exceptional wine list. I was told by the concierge that the new team at 13/59 is bringing in new edge with Chef Kevin Shawcross, who has been French trained and is bringing French cooking styles to the Bajan menu. We had such a wonderful Bajan-French slant meal which included these delicious dishes serving with great style and creativity: yellowfin tuna tartare and roasted aromatic shrimp for appetizers, and grilled yellowfin tuna and aromatic curry of spiny lobster for main courses. Our dinner at 13/59 with gorgeous view of the crystal clear Caribbean waters and amazing dishes is truly an unforgettable experience.
Waking up the next morning in our gorgeous 3-bedroom home I found the view mind-boggling. From the grand terrace, there was a 120-berth marina and lustrous white yachts. My state-of-art kitchen was stocked with groceries before my arrival and all I had to do was preparing our continental breakfast in the comfort of our own home. In my fully-equipped kitchen lavishly finished with clean lines of cabinetry and stainless steel appliances I found everything I need to create a home-cooked meal, as well as extra perks like oven, dishwasher, coffee maker, an ample supply of utensils and elegant Mikasa dinnerware!
Central air conditioning and marble floor throughout help keep the place cool while another option is to open the living room’s doors that lead out to the terrace. Our home’s terrace featuring a large dining table and seating area with tasteful patio furnishings, showing off uninterrupted marina view is a perfect spot to enjoy our breakfast outdoor or just to relax with a book or a glass of wine.
Our home consists of three large en suite bedrooms accommodating up to six people. It was built by some of Barbados’ top designers using the finest craftsmanship with coral stone walls, solid wood fitting, marble and limestone flooring, and quality furnishings which retain a traditional cool Caribbean feel but in the most stylish manners. Daily housekeeping is included as an added perk.
One of the most exciting aspects of staying at Port Ferdinand is that we had access to its complimentary water taxi service that took us to UNNA’s other exquisite property on Barbados, Saint Peter’s Bay. So we hopped aboard, enjoyed the views along beautiful coastline and spent our day enjoying Saint Peter Bay’s lagoon-style swimming pool and lounging on the beach.
The next morning we got prepared for an exciting day with our turtle excursions. Our taxi driver, Jamar, picked us up at 9am right at the berth below our home and together we rode to Lone Star where most turtles can be seen. Unfortunately it was mating season and adult turtles were nowhere to be found; however we got a glimpse of a baby turtle who was too little and easily scared so we didn’t want to disturb him too much. We fed him a little bit before he swam away.
After our turtle excursion, we just spent the rest of our day enjoying the wonderful complimentary non-motorized water sports at Port Ferdinand including paddle boards, kayaks, snorkels,…and retreating to the island pool and its bar where the friendly staff are adept at mixing exotic cocktails! Later that evening, after a day’s adventures on land and sea while I relaxed with a luxurious Bamford Body Signature Treatment at The Sandbox Tree Spa, my husband worked off those rum punches at the resort’s state-of-the-art gym.
The next morning we got ready for a day exploring Speighstown, one of the four small towns located in Barbados. Port Ferdinand and Saint Peter’s Bay are both conveniently located within easy walking distance to Speighstown if you want to venture off Barbados’ tourist trails exploring the town on foot or you can always have the concierge arrange a water taxi ride to drop you off at the historic Speighstown and pick you up later. It was a beautiful walk through the streets of Speighstown. There are remnants of colonial architecture existing with modern buildings and charming traditional storefronts. Splashes of colors brightened up our days as we strolled though this iconic town. We bought lots of tropical fruits and groceries from fruit stalls and local markets for our home-cooked meal later in our villa.
Later that afternoon we came back to Port Ferdinand and walked along the beach. It is absolutely stunning! It has pristine white sand with beautiful crystal clear turquoise water. There are super comfortable sun beds for residents. It is the perfect spot to enjoy a cocktail whilst watching the stunning sunsets that are so often present in Barbados.
The next morning, we met up with our driver Dave and were transported back to the Grantley Adams International to catch our jetBlue flight back to Los Angeles. What an amazing experience! UNNA Luxury Resorts and Residences offer discreet elegance, luxurious surroundings, and high level of personalized service. From the concierge team to our drivers, everyone is dedicated to make the UNNA resorts an unforgettable and special experience. UNNA resorts truly deliver their spirit of “Luxury with Soul”- “We believe that luxury should go hand in hand with the true soul of a beautiful location. You can’t touch soul but you can feel it- from the first smiles that welcomes you home to the last word in prestigious properties.” They carry out their spirit of “Luxury with Soul” with a perfect precision and greatest care to detail. That’s why we left the resort with a genuine connection with the staff and felt like we were leaving our beloved home!
Contact UNNA: http://www.portferdinand.com/unna-life/
