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The global economy might be in meltdown but Barbados just keeps booming. In its recorded history of real estate, the island’s property values have never once declined. And judging by the pedigree of upcoming players, Barbadian ultra-luxe doesn’t appear to be under threat. Both Four Seasons and Rosewood are currently building luxury residence projects on the island’s fabled Platinum Coast. And no less than three major golf resorts (including one by Banyan Tree) are now under development, all racing to vie with Royal Westmoreland (widely considered the best in the Caribbean).
All of which might explain why the island’s two grande dames are now sprinkling a spot of fresh glitz before the coming onslaught. Opened in 1887, The Crane claims to be the oldest resort in the Caribbean, and has already set about reinventing itself with a new multi-cascading pool complex, a glass elevator down to the beach and the restoration of its historic marine villa. By early 2009, the resort plans to unveil the first of its new 350 ultra-modern rooms (think 25-foot vaulted ceilings and private octagonal plunge pools).
Longtime rival Sandy Lane (pictured) breathlessly bills itself as “the premier luxury resort in the world,” and reopens this week following a multi-million-dollar refurbishment — that’s after the whole place was knocked down and rebuilt from scratch in 2001. The new makeover still boasts monster-size rooms (averaging 900 square feet), but has overhauled the furnishings and upped the in-room tech (hello 70” flatscreens). They’ve also spiffed-up the 47,000-square-foot spa (one of the largest in the Caribbean), and hired a Las Vegas design team to sex up the restaurant. You can even book a new helicopter service (a seven-minute transfer from Grantley Adams airport). Though, if you prefer, you can still settle for one of Sandy Lane’s old-school accoutrements and take the house Bentley instead.
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