Firefly at Old Trees

Old Trees sits on the sand at Paynes Bay, on the stretch of St. James the island calls the Platinum Coast, and Firefly takes a whole floor of it. Five bedrooms, two terraces and a plunge pool, with the bay in front of the windows and a private stair down to the gardens and the beach.

Five en-suite bedrooms sleep ten, with five and a half bathrooms, and the staff come with the house. We’d suggest it for three couples with room to spare, or for a family that wants the beach without a villa’s upkeep. Of the villas in Barbados we place on this coast, it’s the one we’d pick for a group that wants to sleep to the sound of the water.

THE APARTMENT

Everything is on one level. Furnished living rooms, a white marble kitchen built for a cook, and a media room sit behind the terraces; every bedroom has air-conditioning, a ceiling fan and its own bathroom. Wi-Fi, Sonos, smart TVs and a wine fridge are standard, a piano less so. An elevator serves the floor, and the building runs on solar power with a generator behind it for the rare outage. A safe is in the house, and a reverse osmosis tap in the kitchen.

THE TERRACES

One terrace holds the plunge pool, a pair of sun beds and a lounge; the other has a wet bar and a dining table that seats fourteen, which is where most evenings end up.

THE BEDROOMS

Both the master and Bedroom Two have a king bed and the sea view; Bedroom Three has a king facing the drive. Of the two twin rooms, one converts to a king. All five are en suite.

THE GARDENS AND THE BEACH

A private stairway leads down into the communal tropical gardens, where a freeform pool with a waterfall sits under the palms, and from there straight onto the white sand of Paynes Bay. Chairs and umbrellas are set out on the sand for the house, with a beach butler to look after them. A shared gym is equipped, and two paddle boards, a double kayak and two single kayaks are kept for guests (a waiver is signed first). Electric gates and 24-hour security close the estate.

THE SERVICE

A housekeeper and a laundress come six days a week in every season. In summer and winter a cook prepares two consecutive meals a day, six days a week; over the festive weeks a chef takes over and cooks three. A gardener, pool service, a beach butler and a security guard are in place year-round, and a concierge manager and a property manager are on call seven days a week. Staff hours can be adjusted to the group.

THE LOCATION

Paynes Bay is on the west coast of Barbados, in St. James, with the calm water that side of the island is known for. Check-in is from 3 pm and check-out by noon; a late check-out can be bought for half a night’s rate. If you’re working out where the island actually sits, our guide Where Is Barbados? covers it.

To check dates or request a quote for Firefly at Old Trees, write to [email protected].