West Indian decorative arts scholar Michael Connors presents a lavishly illustrated and comprehensive history of architecturally significant dwellings and estates in the West Indies in his beautiful new book Caribbean Houses from Rizzoli. The book is divided into five chapters, one for each European heritage that brought their own influences and designs to the region: the Spanish, Dutch, English, French, and Danish. In addition to the gorgeous photographs done exclusively for the book, Connors discourses on the area's rich architecture and interior design history, and gives the reader a "unique view of houses that combine the tradition of European styles with the vernacular island forms and decorative motifs." The featured islands include: The Spanish Antilles – Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic; The Dutch Leewards – Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao; The English Islands – Barbados, Turks & Caicos, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts; The French Lesser Antilles – Martinique; and The U.S. Virgin Islands (formerly Danish) – St. Thomas and St. Croix.

You plan a vacation to Barbados to loll around the beach, sipping a rum punch, two activities that just don't lend themselves to gray, miserable weather. But this eastern-most Caribbean island really doesn't have much terrible weather -- even hurricane strikes are rare -- so much so that the island's tourism authority is willing to guarantee it. Should the average daily temperature fall below 78 degrees, and should rain accumulate at more than a quarter of an inch, travelers that sign up in advance through the Perfect Weather Guarantee program will receive a $100 per crappy day rebate.

There's no cost to enroll in the program, but you have to book it at least ten days before you travel, and you must do so before June 7th, 2009, for travel between May 28th and December 18th, 2009.

Your chances of getting a payout aren't great. According to Weather.com, the average high in Barbados is 85-86 degrees F, and the low is 78-79 degrees F, making it highly unlikely that the average would fall below 78 degrees. There's a better chance of rain during these months, the average monthly rain fall reaches a high of 6.7 inches in October -- but this still averages out to less than a quarter inch a day. Which means you may just have to enjoy a sunny Bajan vacation after all -- perhaps on the pinkish sand beach at The Crane, pictured above.

Bastion of top-drawer British style Bamford Ltd., known for its beautiful customized Rolex watches, has opened an understatedly luxurious new beach boutique in Barbados. Bamford founder Carole Bamford was inspired by her "longstanding love affair" with the posh island resort in creating the airy, bright Barefoot on the Beach boutique from a traditional chattel house in St. James. The luxe boutique (above) is a treasure trove of Bamford's naturally luxurious women's and men's ready-to-wear and body collections, home wares and lifestyle products from the hands of skilled artisans. The shop offers elegant, hand-worked silk kaftans, organic khaki cotton accessories from India, ceramic rosary beads, quirky slogan beach baskets, straw hats and sandals, as well as the brand's beloved men's collection, Bamford & Sons, and the Bamford Body product line.

Since it first opened in 1961, Barbados' luxurious Sandy Lane has played host to a never-ending stream of royalty, socialites and movie stars. Arguably the Caribbean's plushest resort, Aristotle Onassis and Maria Callas, David Niven, Jackie Kennedy, Frank Sinatra and Queen Elizabeth all took sojourns there in years past, while the list of current habitués is no less impressive, including Tiger Woods who tied the knot there in 2004.

The ne plus ultra in exclusivity, luxury, privacy and white glove service is embodied by the palatial neo-Palladian-style main building of cream coral stone set in a grove of mahogany trees on a beautiful stretch of beach in the middle of Barbados' "platinum coast." A chauffered limousine (a Bentley for high-rollers) picks you up at the airport and you're greeted at the front desk with cold towels and fruit punch, a preview of coming attractions, so to speak.

Sandy Lane was rebuilt in 2001, and it's currently in the midst of a multimillion dollar makeover including upgrades to rooms, the spa, restaurants and public spaces. When it re-opens on October 3, in addition to 16,000-sq.-ft. of new marble, one of the biggest improvements will be an open plan, multi-cultural, all-day dining facility featuring a residential-style kitchen in the manner of a Caribbean Palladian conservatory, with a wine store, beach bar, sushi bar, lobster and live seafood tank, a fresh herb garden and a wood burning oven.



The resort's 112 rooms average 900 square feet and feature marble floors and bathrooms, mahogany plantation furniture, private verandahs, plasma TVs and all the bells and whistles. The property features two Tom Fazio-designed 18-hole golf courses, nine championship tennis courts, a 47,000 square foot spa, a John Frieda salon, shops galore (Joan Collins still owes money in one of them) and seven bars and restaurants to choose from. On the beach, attendants will fetch you drinks, clean your sunglasses and even spritz you with Evian water should you so desire.

In addition to the main accommodations, there's also a five bedroom villa that sleeps 14 with a private pool, butler, housekeeper, chef and 24-hr. security guard for $25,000 a night during the holiday season. But if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it.

This may have been a mostly mild winter so far but the need for escape to a tropical island still exists. If you need a place to wear your new resort clothes check out Calliaqua, a plantation home in the Sugar Hill Resort on Barbados. The four bedroom home has a pool, a large terrace and balcony, beautiful views and access to Suga-Suga beach. The house is run by a cook and a maid. HIgh season runs now through April and costs $12,500 for a seven-night package for eight guests that includes a car rental and airport transfers. You can see more pictures of the interior of Calliaqua here.

Trouble for the Talitha G yacht in Barbados this week. The luxury yacht dropped anchor off  Weston Beach but ran afoul of the Coast Guard when it was believed that the megayacht might have damaged the pink coral reefs in the area. Recently, according to the Nation News, another yacht did damage to the reef and then disappeared. The yacht has often been seen sailing up and down the coast or berthed at Port St Charles. The article mentions that another megayacht, the Virginian, was fined $28,000 in 2001 for damaging a reef in St. James.  Since so many people visit Barbados to dive in the reef, marine protection is an important issue from both an environmental and tourism angle.

Silverpoint is a new villa hotel that will be opening in Barbados this summer. The resort is a four-star beachfront hotel that will have full security and gated access. Details include four pools, spa, restaurant, bar and swim-up bar. There are three types of accommodations planned and they will have natural stone kitchen and bathroom countertops, cedar closets and coral stone accents.

[via Breaking Travel News]