Aliseo - Sandy Lane - St. James - Barbados

Italian in origin, the name "Aliseo" translates to mean "Tradewind" in English, and as its name suggests, this property is a breath of fresh air.

This beautiful tropical villa, complete with 9 en-suite bedrooms capable of sleeping up to 18 persons, is ideal for the perfect family vacation. Situated high atop the picturesque Sandy Lane Estate, the property is run like an exclusive boutique hotel, and maintains extremely high standards on par with its elite location.

The gracious and un-assuming Butler of the property, Edmund, otherwise known as "the man of business" is prepared to fulfill all requests by the patrons of Aliseo, all requests no matter how small are swiftly and efficiently dealt with, from organising a personal trainer to a yoga or pilates expert, or an in-house spa experience, encompassing the full spectrum of treatments, a cocktail party or customized island tour with picnic. Edmund goes above and beyond to ensure the satisfaction of his guests; he does it all with an easy grace, his sweet manner making life at Aliseo just that extra bit special.

You will some of the most delightfully furnished rooms. Every room is out-fitted with air conditioning, beautiful panel ceiling fans, en-suite bathrooms, walk in wardrobes and flat screen TV's. Every room is unique in its design and layout, the décor has a very English Baroque feel to it with heavy drapery and ornate rugs co-existing alongside beautifully made mahogany and oak pieces. You almost begin to feel as though you are residing in an old castle by the seaside. However, there are distinctive touches which highlight the nature of its tropical location.

The two-storey villa hones in on an old Bajan Plantation element that one cannot help but feel comfortable in; the upper level houses very tastefully designed bedrooms, all with arresting views of the manicured grounds. The "Bajan Suite" or Master Suite, has its own private terrace overlooking the stunning garden and swimming pool below. It is elegant and private with a beautiful 4 poster king size bed alongside gorgeous mahogany armoires and vanities, giving it that special old world Caribbean charm. The Ocean Suite and Monkey Suites are equipped with two twin beds fitted in crisp white linens and corresponding décor to match the themes suggested in the names, such as a monkey lamp and wall art, tropical fish dresser and light fixtures all with little jungle animal accents. These youthful artistic touches make these suites ideal for families with young children.

The suites on the lower level provide the very same luxurious furnishings with light crisp fabrics juxtaposed with heavy antique accents, providing a grand yet understated elegance. The Garden Suite is the only room which allows full access to the exquisite lawns and garden directly from the room itself, with beautiful doors opening onto the expansive poolside terrace. The open spaces and airy, feel is a compliment to this exceptional villa, as one wanders from room to room engaged in awe at the beautiful art adorning the walls. Every room has something beautiful to offer.

Luxurious décor aside, Aliseo is much more than just a pretty face. The staff here are dedicated to making your stay as comfortable and carefree as possible. A holiday at Aliseo can start with a VIP meet and greet at the airport where guests are whisked through immigration queues and escorted to air conditioned luxury vehicles that await to take guests to the villa, an elegant start to what would be a very stylish vacation.

Apart from the delightful Edmund, Aliseo offers guests the services of a housekeeper, laundress and a top rated chef, who can prepare an intimate breakfast or a sumptuous feast for 18, a relaxed lunch by the pool, or a more formal 3 course dinner if required; your wish is his command and he caters to the individual needs of each client. All guests also have access through Sandy Lane to the beach facility where they are provided with sun beds and umbrellas. Guests are also entitled to use the hotel's award winning golf course, tennis courts, restaurants and spa by reservation. Edmund can also arrange for cocktail evenings or afternoon canapés for some in-house entertainment, or even perhaps a wedding or two. Also, his rum punch is a force to be reckoned with!

Aliseo is the perfect venue for a wedding reception, what an ideal place to start your journey together. The beautifully manicured grounds offer more than enough space and the tropical flora ensures an amazing backdrop for the exchanging of vows on that special day. Ginger lilies cascade down from a coral stone wall alongside banana and coconut palms, neem trees and a shocking violet bougainvillea, all coming together to form a botanical vista that could compete with the Garden of Eden. The focal point of the garden would have to be the elevated private gazebo; its lofty heights descend down to the pool and provide a wide vista of the arresting beauty of this luxurious property as well as breathtaking sea views.

Apart from the innate beauty of its surroundings, the interiors have some distractions of their own; the villa offers an entertainment room with a karaoke machine and jukebox, fully stocked bar and an adjacent smaller kitchen. The room opens up straight onto the terrace and garden, giving guests access to all areas of the villa from this central point, assuring an effortless flow of traffic for all. There is also a media room come cinema which could rival any major movie theatre. Box-office movie posters adorn the walls as well as a giant screen directly opposite a russet coloured plush leather couch of extreme degrees of comfort; I know because I gave it a go. You would not need to ever leave the walls of this villa, as it has got everything you need to guarantee a great vacation.

There is also a games room that appeals to a whole other palate of amusement entirely; kitted out with pool/casino table, table tennis board, and retro décor on the walls from the likes of the Rat Pack and artist Arthur Sarnoff.

For all those on vacation who want to stay in shape in the comfort of their own home, there is an in-house gym with treadmill and weight machines. One can clearly conclude that there is something for everyone here at Aliseo. Customized arrangements can be made with the villa staff. Special wedding packages are available on request.