Schooner Bay 401 by Barbados Sotheby's International Realty

Apartment 201 (Flamboyant) was beautifully furnished and modern, with WiFi, TV, a wide balcony for sunset views, and an optional housekeeper. It sits in a medium sized complex with a large wading and swimming pool, beach access, a workout room, and elevators. The town, with its small grocery store, bank, farmers market, and specialty shops, is a six minute walk away. The villa is just south of friendly Speighstown. The complex is generally wheelchair friendly, though each building has a small step at its entrance. It's kid friendly, but there's NOT a lifeguard. The neighboring street has a local hangout where people play dominoes late into the night and can be quite vocal. On the beach, sunbathers may sometimes be asked to buy things like coconuts or beads.

The owners weren't friendly and seemed to treat weekly renters like intruders. Management was nowhere to be seen. This place isn't the paradise they advertise.

The pool area is lovely, with plenty of attractive trees and plants, though the sun beds and chairs there are faded, ripped, and badly in need of replacement. Schooner Bay is clean and well kept, right on the beach, and the gated complex has a security guard. We also felt safe walking outside it during the day and evening. The sea right in front is a little rocky, but looking left shows a safer place to swim without rocks. Shops, a supermarket, and restaurants are within walking distance, and the location is convenient for visiting different tourist attractions.

At Port St. Charles, the beach is larger, swimming is better, and privacy isn't an issue. The recommendation is to rent one of its roughly 30 true beachfront apartments: the sea views are excellent, and you avoid noise problems. The town houses near the port and Pier One restaurant are best avoided if possible, as they have no lifts. Renting in the marina means walking or taking a shuttle to the beach, which is definitely inconvenient. I can't say how noisy it might be near the marina pool. We recently stayed at both complexes, and each is 15+ years old, which shows. Schooner Bay's beach, in front of its 30-unit apartment complex, is getting rather small; for proper swimming you need to walk 200 yards plus towards Cobblers Cove. Its large central pool can be noisy when children are staying, with plenty of screaming. With apartments surrounding the pool, privacy is generally limited. Port St. Charles is considerably larger, and its pool is in the marina rather than on the beachfront.