Vroom, Vroom, Vroom – Not to be too cheesy with it, but we are excited for the upcoming motor sporting event this June with amazing local, regional, and international drivers, the 2022 Sol Rally Barbados event! Even more exciting, after the 2-year hiatus, the event is back and promises to be more thrilling than ever! Maybe you’ll catch our CEO of The Terra Group, Andrew Mallalieu behind the wheel this year or Rob Swann flying the rally flag for Blue Sky Luxury.

Key Dates of the Event

With an adjustment to the structure of the event due to the safety protocols, there are a few important things to note especially the dates. Here’s a little overview:

The Rally Show – Saturday, May 28th

King of the Hill – Sunday, May 29th

Sol Rally Barbados (Day 1) – Saturday, June 4th

Sol Rally Barbados (Day 2) – Sunday, June 5th

SuperSpecial Finish – Sunday, June 5th

Sol Rally Barbados Prizegiving – Monday, June 6th

Where can you stay?

Well, with us of course! Blue Sky Luxury has several select villas perfect for the event duration and able to accommodate large groups should you be travelling with fellow motoring fanatics!

Need something to do in your free time?

Around the event time, it will be the prime of summer! Sunny days and sandy beaches await you. Our Concierge Team can help arrange a full itinerary for you before you arrive on the island including restaurant bookings, car rentals, and baby-sitting services all surrounding the event. You never have to worry about what you’re doing next!

Stay tuned to more details as the Sol Rally Barbados event gears even closer. (See what we did there?)

 

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Direct Barbados: 1.246.622.4466

Freephone UK: 0800 0885574

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Email: experts@blueskyluxury.com

 

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Dear food lovers! This is an official foodie invitation to the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean! We promise you’ll rejoice at every step of the culinary journey in Barbados. So, let’s get the ball rolling with some of our top Barbados restaurants right now – all certainly bookable by our wonderful Concierge team.

The Tides

While seafood tops the menu at The Tides, everyone is sure to find something to woo their tastebuds. In addition to the truly amazing food, the ambiance is enchanting, setting the perfect mood for the perfect Barbados fine dining experience. Nestle into the Tree House, the Centre Lanai, The Gazebo (with an air condition section) or the Cocktail Lounge and Bar and let your palate be pampered.

Restaurant: The Tides

Mood: Fine Dining

Location: Holetown, St. James

Cuisine: Caribbean, Seafood

Amenities: Valet, lounge, bar

The Cherry on Top: Besides sitting right on the water’s edge, there is also a historic charm to the location. The restaurant is housed in a decades-old residence built after the second world war!

Local & Co.

the newest flavours to savour in Barbados are being whipped up at the Local & Co. This new foodie-crush is a rustic-chic restaurant in a beautiful 18^th century home in the heart of Speightstown. What’s extra special about this restaurant is that its ethos is based on sourcing fresh, organic fare from local and regional farmers and foragers – then transforming them into delectable dishes and products for everyone to enjoy.

Restaurant: Local & Co.

Mood: Farm-to-Table

Location: Speightstown, St. Peter

Cuisine: Local, Caribbean

Amenities: Rum bar, in-house marketplace, beachfront seating

The Cherry on Top: It is perfect for vegans with over 30 vegan options on its menu – including some raw vegan dishes, too!

Sea Shed

Come in beach-loving foodies, we have something especially for you. Sea Shed is one of our favourite beachfront eateries right now. It’s quasi-beach club, quasi-contemporary restaurant, but 100% scrumptious food – we can’t even begin to do it justice! And, they’ve proclaimed to be constantly ‘switching things up’ on their menu, so look out for a different surprise on each visit. So lounge, eat, cheers, repeat – right on the stunning Mullins beach!

Restaurant: Sea Shed

Mood: Beach Chic

Location: Mullins, St. Peter

Cuisine: Caribbean, International

Amenities: Bar, lounge, boutique

The Cherry on Top: You can opt to add the beach to your Sea Shed experience by reserving a table on the sand!

Champers

Champers has been giving casual dining plus first-class – and extremely consistent quality – food for almost three decades. As you get lost in its beautiful décor and location, ‘casual’ will seem like a misnomer. The south coast staple offers a blend of Barbadian and international fare that continues to make a delicious mark on the Barbados foodie journey.

Restaurant: Champers

Mood: Casual, Business

Location: Rockley, Christ Church

Cuisine: Local, International

Amenities: Bar, beachfront dining

The Cherry on Top: Art lovers rejoice – the restaurant is home to On The Wall art gallery, which effortlessly complements the Champers’ journey of the senses!

Worthing Square

If you want several food experiences in one place, our pick of the moment is the newest melting pot of flavours – Worthing Square! This super casual, food truck-esque stop is jam-packed with many cuisines in a relatively small area: Barbadian, Indian, Venezuelan, Trinidadian, Jamaican, Arabian, French, Japanese… just check it out! Although no reservations are necessary, our concierge team can still point you in the right direction and share their favourite Worthing Square haunts!

Location: Worthing Square

Mood: Outdoor Fun

Location: Worthing, Christ Church

Cuisine: Local, Caribbean, International

Amenities: Seating, Bars, Cafes

The Cherry on Top: It’s the perfect open-air location for a family outing – and there’s something for everyone!

With all that said, our Blue Sky Luxury Concierge team is ready to book you at any of these amazing eateries. And be sure to ask them about more restaurant and culinary options the island has to offer!

Cin Cin!

 

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Direct Barbados: 1.246.622.4466

Freephone UK: 0800 0885574

Toll Free US/CND: 1 866 404 9600

Email: experts@blueskyluxury.com

 

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Your Barbados vacation is booked. Your bags are packed. But, are they PACKED packed? Let us offer you five must-brings (or at least good-to-knows) that you may not have on your checklist to add an extra serving of ‘wow’ to your Barbados experience.

Extra charge…

It’s not what you think, so please put away your wallets. Barbados is chockfull of gorgeous scenery and Insta-cool experiences that are sure to turn you into a shutterbug. So, if you have one, be sure to pack your power bank – or battery chargers for the professional content creators out there – so that you won’t be left hanging mid-click! And, don’t forget to bring the necessary electrical plug converters to charge your devices.

A nice outfit

We know you’re probably at ten-and-counting beachwear and casual options when it comes to your Barbados vacation fashion haul, but have you even packed a formal wear option? Trust us with this one, since you’ll probably want to have a chic, fine dining night out while on the island. And for the night owls, don’t you want to take in the full Barbados nightlife offering in style?

A pair of sneakers

While we’re on the topic of your vacation fashion, go ahead and make some space for your flip-flops’ more athletic and adventurous sibling. In Barbados, we call them sneakers, but maybe you’ll relate if we say tennis shoes… or gym shoes… or runners. Whatever you prefer to call them, the point remains that you’ll have several more options of Barbados experiences if you have them. This includes hiking through nature trails, parks, and gullies, scenic walks, or even spelunking through the island’s caves. Or maybe your lovely holiday home has a tennis or basketball court and you want to capitalize… in this case, you can!

Pack the romance

This one is a bit more figurative than the others. But, with villas this gorgeous and island vistas so memorable, we couldn’t resist hinting at a love-themed stay. You will be luxuriously spoilt for choice with the options of a stunning garden, seaside or even underground cave wedding. Or, be the envy of your friends with a beautiful Barbados honeymoon. Propose to the love of your life in paradise, or for those veterans at love, renew your vows with the island’s blessings.

Pack up house…

Unlike the romance, we mean this literally. If for some reason you haven’t heard, Barbados is offering you the amazing opportunity to live where you vacation. This has been made extremely easy thanks to the Barbados Welcome Stamp Visa, which is a programme launched back in 2020. So, if you have professional flexibility that allows you to work remotely, have a slice of paradise for a little longer than normal! And, what’s amazing about this prospect is that you can bring the whole family – even your fur babies!

Book your Barbados adventures and experiences with our Concierge team – they’re waiting to make your next trip an unforgettable one!

 

Stay in touch, we love to hear from you!

Direct Barbados: 1.246.622.4466

Freephone UK: 0800 0885574

Toll Free US/CND: 1 866 404 9600

Email: experts@blueskyluxury.com

 

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Cricket season is here, and we couldn’t be more excited! If you’re anything like us, you’re ready to return to some live sporting action. Why not enjoy the exciting atmosphere of Cricket and the vibe of camaraderie? Book an exciting vacation to sun-kissed Barbados for the international test match. You won’t regret it!

Cricket is the national sport of Barbados and the West Indies. Barbadians and visitors come together to watch world-class matches at Kensington Oval. It is a highly anticipated event with crowds roaring through the stands! Did you know that Cricket was first played at Kensington Oval in 1882 and was the first Test match played in 1930?

The upcoming International Test series with West Indies Vs. England, Barbados will host the second Test match from March 16 to 20 at Kensington Oval. The first Test Match will be in Antigua from March 8 – 12 and the final Test in Grenada from March 24 – 28. Learn more about the match details or buy tickets for the matches here.

Build Your Unique Cricket Holiday

When the series reaches Barbados for the second Cricket Test, the action will be even more thrilling! Prepare to experience world-class Cricket and a unique stay with Blue Sky Luxury. We accommodate large groups of friends or family and offer fully staffed villas if you prefer. View some of the top vacation villas on our website blueskyluxury.com

Our Concierge Team can help arrange a full itinerary for you before you arrive on the island including restaurant bookings, car rentals, and baby-sitting services. Let Concierge make your arrival to Barbados easy with fast-track services. Breeze through airport lines and health checks and arrive at your villa in no time. Outside of the game, unwind and enjoy white sand beaches, indulge in authentic local experiences, or have fun with watersports.

Foodies can indulge in a great dining experience on the island and choose from an array of restaurants and eating spots. For suggestions on where to find absolutely delectable meals, check out our blog on the top 5 restaurants in the north or south of the island.

Don’t miss out on this local Cricket experience for your next vacation!

 

Stay in touch, we love to hear from you!

Direct Barbados: 1.246.622.4466

Freephone UK: 0800 0885574

Toll Free US/CND: 1 866 404 9600

Email: experts@blueskyluxury.com

 

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This month’s featured vacation home is Sunset Reach! Perfect for family vacations with days spent relaxing by the water. The charming beachfront Barbados villa has recently undergone renovations. The newly built master suite makes this charming beachfront villa a 3 bedroom rental vacation option. Enjoy impressive panoramic views of the vibrant turquoise Caribbean Sea stretching out as far as the eye can see from the master’s patio. While to the left is the remarkable Mullins Beach. Take a stroll down the beach to The Sea Shed restaurant, the delectable dishes are sure to entice you back for more.

Click here to book your next stay!

 

What’s Nearby:

East Moon – Authentic Chinese food! Dine-in or call ahead for take-out.

Bombas Beach Bar – Perfect spot for tropical combos of cocktails, stunning sunsets and magical evenings under the stars.

Sea Shed – The beachside atmosphere, a touch of tropical elegance and great food.

Speightstown – Located on the north-west coast. Take a stroll through the city and discover restaurants, churches, shops and much more!

 

Watch Video On Sunset Reach

Stay in touch, we love to hear from you!

Direct Barbados: 1-246-622-4466

Freephone UK: 0-800-088-5574

Toll Free US/CND: 1-866-404-9600

Email: experts@blueskyluxury.com

 

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The importance of keeping a complete, cataloged inventory listing of all of the items (including appliances, equipment, furniture, soft furnishings, cutlery, towels, and linens) at your home cannot be overstated. All items in all buildings such as garages, storage areas, and gazebos should be included. This is very important when requesting insurance coverage and having the necessary documentation should an insurance claim need to be made.

For Blue Sky Luxury holiday rental properties, your property manager will count, itemise and log all of the property’s effects and complete a thorough check of the quantity and condition of the items. Your property manager will be required to conduct spot checks after each guest’s departure. You will be notified of any proven damages or losses at any replacements needed at that time will be purchased. These replacements and any other additions that may occur during the year will then be itemised on the annual inventory listing when retaken.

For homes that rent long-term, full inventories are always taken and updated in between tenancies. In both cases, your property manager will be responsible for checking the home after each departure. The reconciliation of the security deposit can be completed with wear and tear expected depending on the length of time the tenants resided there. Similarly, any replacements and additions will be captured on the updated listing for the next expected tenant.

Good To Know

When offering your home for holiday rental, it is important to know and provide adequate par levels for all glassware, cutlery, dinnerware, linen, and towels. For example, you want to ensure that the home has place settings, matching glassware, and cutlery for the advertised number of guests that can be accommodated at the property + 50%. For example, for a 4-bedroom rental property that accommodates 8 guests, the catered capacity will be 12 people.

Similarly, adequate par levels, while different from the expectation of a holiday rental home are also expected when a property is offered for long-term rental.

When the inventory listing is created, the location, make and model of all appliances and equipment is noted. During this process, it is a great opportunity to create an asset register of these items. The asset register will have all of the above details and photos plus the serial numbers are included. Information, where available, on the age and value of each, will be recorded.

Many services are offered during the onboarding of new homes to Blue Sky Luxury. Contact us for a quote, if you are interested in any of these services as a one-time, separate service. We can’t wait for your call!

Written by Peter Layne, Team Manager of Residential Property Management at Blue Sky Luxury

 

Stay in touch, we love to hear from you!

Direct Barbados: 1-246-622-4466

Freephone UK: 0-800-088-5574

Toll Free US/CND: 1-866-404-9600

Email: experts@blueskyluxury.com

 

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Let Blue Sky Luxury help you put together 3 flawless steps at the ideal beachfront villa to help your client escape this Winter.

Step one, book the next available stay at Milord Sunsets. Each of the 3 bedrooms is positioned to enjoy views of the turquoise Caribbean waters. The soothing blue vistas will follow you from the white-on-white open-plan living room and dining area. Step two, take advantage of the beachfront plunge pool it’s the perfect spot to catch a green flash sunset! Step three, guests will enjoy a home-cooked meal prepared by a private cook/housekeeper. Bon appetit!

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Stay in touch, we love to hear from you!

Direct Barbados: 1-246-622-4466

Freephone UK: 0-800-088-5574

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Email: experts@blueskyluxury.com

 

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The weather in Barbados is hot and humid. While this makes for a great holiday home location, it also means that your air condition systems have to work really hard to ensure the air inside your home is cooler than the air outside.

Our Barbados climate can cause unique challenges for the electrical and mechanical appliances on our properties. The extreme heat we experience here can put a lot of stress on your AC unit and the moisture in our air often creates rusting issues that can lessen the life of your AC unit.

All these challenges can be easily avoided with a bit of TLC and of course, regular maintenance to prevent serious problems.

Jonathon Gonsalves, Managing Director of Coast-to-Coast Cooling notes the simple and basic procedures that are carried out during a routine service to ensure that an air conditioning unit is efficient and effective –

• Check unit operation and condition for any obvious obstructions, rusting, or damage
• Thoroughly clean filters and coils
• Clean blow wheels and drain pan
• Thoroughly clear drain
• Clean the louvers and body
• Clean condenser coils and check gas pressures

As property managers, we see all kinds of avoidable issues with our AC units such as garden debris, bird nests, and insect infestation. These problems can end up being costly and incredibly inconvenient – not to mention – HOT.

For those with rental properties, it is crucial to have your air conditioners serviced routinely. We suggest at a minimum every three (3) months.

Unfortunately, doors get left open with the AC on at full blast when guests are enjoying themselves and don’t think about the consequences of such a seemingly innocent mistake. This ends up causing sweating, condensation issues and generally overworking the unit.

A regular AC service from your provider significantly improves your power efficiency and the air quality drawn into your home. It also reduces the likelihood of failure of the equipment and its parts.

It makes sense to have your unit services routinely to avoid clogged filters, clogged drains, unpleasant smells, mold growth, reduced air movement and flow, icing of coils, and clogged coils which may lead to overheating and compressor failure.

As Jonathon noted, with COVID affecting us worldwide, it is that much more important that we avoid stagnant air wherever we are.

A Look at Why AC Maintenance is Important:

 

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Direct Barbados: 1.246.622.4466

Freephone UK: 0800 0885574

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For the golf enthusiast, Blue Sky Luxury offers Royal Westmoreland-High Spirits. A 4-bedroom villa commanding breathtaking views of a stunning Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed golf course. If spending the day on the green isn’t enough, guests also have access to first-class recreational onsite facilities. Celebrity graced tennis courts, a fitness center, spa and a clubhouse with a resort pool complemented by varied dining options.

The Blue Sky Luxury vacation rental portfolio contains some of the finest golf communities in Barbados, like Royal Westmoreland. What makes Royal Westmoreland distinct, is its fantastic lifestyle bubble, high-end villas, and of course, one of the finest golf courses on the island. Explore this exclusive golf community here.

 

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At Blue Sky Luxury, we value our property inspections, our detailed and consistent twice annually inspections, which are crucial to protecting our valued tenants and homeowner’s investments, as well as the continuous reinforcement of our ‘Blue Standards’.

As Barbados’ leading property management company – Blue Sky Luxury holds a vested interest throughout our managed properties. But more importantly, we help our tenants and homeowners, breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that we are truly safeguarding their interest.

In our world of Property Management, inspections from time immortal, are our best line of defense against property damage, and oftentimes, personal injury, as we focus on the health, safety, and wellness of our tenants and homeowners. As you can appreciate, whether it is due to tenants’ misuse of a property or maintenance issues that go unchecked, property damage can lead to hefty repair bills – especially when it goes unnoticed for long periods of time.

As our mission, we prefer to be proactive, rather than reactive. Over time, you perhaps heard of many nightmare scenarios of tenants turning beautiful homes into anything from brothels to drug labs to party houses.

While we appreciate that not every tenant can be painted with the same brush, we are committed to ensuring that all our tenants are held to the ‘Blue Standard’, so that our homeowners’ investments remain protected.

In this topic, we will examine the below listed key areas.

What is a Property Inspection?

A Property Inspection is a detailed and systematic visual inspection of the property, its structures, design, and fixtures that will provide a transparent understanding of the property’s ‘vital signs’ and condition as observed on the inspection date.

The Value of a Property Inspection

Like most homeowners, the purchase of standalone homes, villas, or condominiums, or even the most luxurious multi-million dollar homes, purchasers have very little to no prior knowledge of, or expertise in or property management.

Property management companies, such as Blue Sky Luxury, specializes in property management professionals, who have the knowledge, skills, and experience to detect costly problems. For example, most of the value of residential land comes from the house. To explain further, a house with one or more severe structural, electrical, or even plumbing issues can cost tens of thousands of dollars or even more. Consequently, scheduled property inspections are necessary in ensuring your investment remains in pristine condition. Property inspections are an added value mechanism, every homeowner with a vested interest in his or her property should maintain. After our annual inspection, as a homeowner, you will have a much clearer understanding of your property’s condition; highlighting the necessary maintenance and preventative maintenance measures you need to undertake.

There’s Even More Added Value…

• Increase revenue – where applicable i.e.: rental properties
• Decrease operational costs
• Reduce Maintenance Calls
• Improve Renter Retention and lease compliance
• Improve Rental Owner Satisfaction
• Decrease Mold Liability
• Concise Data for planning and budgeting
• Knowledge of the True Condition of the Property

The Inspection, Key Areas of our Focus

Depending on the age, size of the property, and its general layout, inspections can generally be lengthy, ranging anywhere between 2 and 6 hours, in terms of navigating the property. The property manager will examine the property and its structures, to include, but is not limited to:

• Internal/external structural integrity of buildings
• Foundation
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Appliances
• Special Features (CCTV, Security Systems)
• Air Quality and Air Conditioning
• Furniture and furnishings
• Ventilation
• Roof and gutters
• Grounds (for drainage problems or evidence of environmental hazards)
• Interior finishes and fixtures (floors, ceilings, walls, cabinets, sinks, etc.)

Our Final Word – The Value in conclusion!

Property inspections are essential if our tenants and homeowner rights are to be protected while ensuring that our homeowners get maximum returns on their investment. The property management team at Blue Sky Luxury is committed and will continue to go the extra mile, to ensure that our wide-ranging portfolio of properties is magnificently maintained, such is vital to the longevity of the property.

Here, we have highlighted the value and equally so, the importance of property inspections and their importance to the tenant and our homeowners. As a tenant or a homeowner, you don’t have to worry, we have your safety and comfort, as our top priority.

Stay in touch, we love to hear from you!

Direct Barbados: 1.246.622.4466

Freephone UK: 0800 0885574

Toll Free US/CND: 1 866 404 9600

Email: experts@blueskyluxury.com

 

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