Can we access Paradise Beach

[HeatherInFlorida]

Back in the early 80's we cruised to Barbados on Cunard. They had a "Sail and Stay" program where you got off the ship for a week and stayed at Paradise Beach and caught the ship when it came around again. It was fabulous:) .

 

We're going back to Barbados in November and we know the hotel is gone, but we would just love to go to Paradise Beach if we can access it.

 

Does anyone know? Has anyone been recently? Really appreciate any help!

[Sunniebgi]

You can access Paradise Beach from the Batts Rock public area. you need to walk from the public restroom buildings down to the far end of the batts rock area and then on to paradise beach. not to far..

 

enjoy

[HeatherInFlorida]

Sunniebgi, so to get there we can just ask a cab to take us to Batts Rock Beach? Once on the beach, would we walk to the left or right facing the water?

 

Is it easy to get a taxi back to the pier from Batts Rock?

 

Thank you so much for your help ... we just love Barbados!:)

[ORIENTEER]

Paradise Beach was alive with locals, Cunard travelers & hotel guests back in the 70's but they locked it down to the public & changed up the entrances.

 

A few years ago we found a way in down a small side road of buildings off the Harbour Road just before you get to the round about (closer to Bridgetown than Batts rock) that goes up to the university, but we were disappointed - the place had lost the atmosphere for me. So if you are thinking back to the 80's don't get your nostalgia hopes up just in case it doesn't bring back the memories you have.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Orienteer, you make a good point. The more I think about it the more I realize it might just make us terribly sad. We were there in the early 80's and my Mom stayed there a few years later. We both absolutely loved it .... beautiful beach.

 

But all boarded up and dilapidated it will probably lose its appeal ....Sometimes we're better off not going back:( . Thanks for you input!

[Aplmac]

Paradise Beach was alive with locals, Cunard travelers & hotel guests back in the 70's

but they locked it down to the public & changed up the entrances.

 

A few years ago we found a way in down a small side road of buildings

off the Harbour Road just before you get to the round about

(closer to Bridgetown than Batts rock)

That road you describe was the original old entrance to the complex.

 

Yes, he's right: it was a shock when I went there a few days ago.

here are two pics...sorry for the shocker,

but it will be real nice again one day.

 

As you can see they've left some of the trees...

always was a lovely spot with a fabulous beach.

 

Give it another 2 years and it'll be ready for you again

[HeatherInFlorida]

Thank you again, aplmac!!! I'd rather see it under construction than lying fallow. That is just too depressing. We rented a mini-moke with our friends and drove all over Barbados ... just an amazing trip.

 

I can't wait to see what they do there. I would just love to go back and stay again. They had a wonderful open restaurant right along the water. I can still remember walking in the sand after dinner. And the water was like warm silk.

 

Thank you for the pictures ... can't wait to tell my husband.:)

[Aplmac]

Thank you again, aplmac!!!

I'd rather see it under construction than lying fallow. ===> yes!

That is just too depressing.

 

I can't wait to see what they do there.

I would just love to go back and stay again. ===> you will!

They had a wonderful open restaurant right along the water. ===> a big Dining Hall..

I can still remember walking in the sand after dinner. ===> oh you're such a tourist!

And the water was like warm silk.===> Freshwater Bay is it's correct name

 

Thank you for the pictures ... ===> You're very welcome

 

You think you have memories?

When I was a younger lad I used to play there, in the band,

every Wednesday night of life between 1969 and 1971!

- on the seaward of the two bandstands

that flanked the steps on either side

as you went into the dining hall, from the dance floor area

[HeatherInFlorida]

Yes, such a tourist!!!;) I admit it ... and proud:) .

 

Wonderful memories ... THANKS!

[Aplmac]

Two signs greet the visitor to the construction site

[HeatherInFlorida]

aplmac, thank you!!! I just brought up that site and I'm going to take a look. A Four Seasons hotel should be magnificent!!! We just may be one of the first to visit:) . You are so great to take those pics.

[Aplmac]

A Four Seasons hotel should be magnificent!!!

We just may be one of the first to visit .

 

Lousy back-lighting I know

but this is what the site looks like

(on its Southern half as I discovered, driving around a bit).

 

Seems like not only is the entire (old)Paradise Beach Hotel property under development,

but it looks like all that woodsy area behind (to the North of) the old Paradise Dining Hall

seems to also cleared - by about the same amount of land again, if not more?

 

I glued together two pix, to give a sort-of-panorama

taken from up on the hill.

It'll give you an idea.

What you're looking at is where the old P.hotel stood.

but there's at least that much again, to the right of the camera position..

all cleared and ready to go

[HeatherInFlorida]

It's residences and a resort hotel. Here's a link to the "master plan" ...Here

 

It's going to be 32 acres ... much larger than the original Paradise Beach if memory serves.

[Aplmac]

Now I've played with Google Earth a bit

I can show you the entire site.

 

see satellite pic posted

which shows the old hotel property =the right half of the pic

AND the darkly-colored wooded area on the left half of the picture.

 

Pretty much everything coastal(for 200?yds. inland) in this shot

is now cleared and ready for development.

 

..........

 

Notice that (as luck would have it)

this beautiful bay is right where G.Earth stitched together two different satellite shots

and they don't always line up perfectly.

 

You'll notice the white sandy beach is staggered?

and the hiway where it leads into the roundabout at the bottom of Univ. drive?

 

If you have Google Earth, maybe you can take a look for yourself!

[Aplmac]

Sept. 16th., 2007

 

WORK at the Four Seasons Hotel has started.

 

The five-star property is expected to have 36 villas,

and a 106-room hotel, including penthouses and beach houses.

 

It will feature a 50-seat cinema, an Olympic-size pool,

tennis courts, three restaurants

and infinity pools for each villa.

 

...........................

 

but they're having start-up labour problems..

 

Developers were hoping Four Seasons Hotel would have started three months ago.

 

Pemberton said while the resort needed a minimum of 200 workers

to have a viable start,

by December they would need 500,

and then 800 at the peak of construction mid-next year.

 

The project needs more labourers if it is to be completed by 2009.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Thank you so much for these updates!! Somehow I missed the one in August. I'm going to Google Earth it later today ... couldn't open your picture, but I have Google Earth and I'll take a look.

 

Thanks again!!! Just a couple of months until we get down that way :)

[Aplmac]

Quick update for those interested in what's happening at the old Paradise Beach site...

As you know, Four Seasons is doing a big thing there..

 

I passed by today, on a Harbour Master coastal cruise,

and there are big things happening on the site.

Of course, it looks like hell right now,

but it should be very nice when it's done in 2-3? years time.

 

Attached is a pic of the site, as seen from the sea.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Thank you, aplmac!!! Yes, looks like a LOT is happening there!:D Just a few weeks and we'll be visiting your beautiful island. Let's hope the hurricanes continue to stay away:) .