Seaforth Barbados

The house is roomy, and every room has its own bathroom and shower. It was generally clean, though I noticed stains in one shower. Shops, a grocery store, food vendors, and a gas station are nearby. Getting in and out had its own hassles. The Airbnb was hard to spot from the main road because the sign wasn't visible, and the narrow driveway opens onto an intersection, making it tricky to park a large vehicle without hitting the automatic gate or meeting oncoming traffic. The padlocks and keys for the back porch aren't clearly marked, which could be a serious problem in an emergency evacuation. Only the bedrooms have AC, so the rest of the house gets hotter as the day goes on. The beach behind the property is rocky and not very inviting for swimming. And a cockroach fell onto my chest in the middle of the night. Since all the windows are screened, it must have come in through the floorboards.

The beach had been closed for months because of a sewage leak, and nobody told us before we arrived. The house is right at an intersection, so getting in and out was difficult, with constant horn honking too. Worst of all, someone entered while we were out and took money from a wallet. We always locked up when we left, so it seems keys are in the wrong hands. We raised all of this with our host and didn't even receive an apology. Seaforth home in Barbados was a big disappointment.

The gardener was excellent, the furnishings were clean and matched, and the paintwork was well kept. Wi-Fi was fast and reliable, although the several places listing the SSID and password contradicted each other. Free VOIP calling came with the internet. The cottage was a welcome retreat for one couple in our group from the near-constant horn honking. Sitting out back with the sea air and waves was pleasant. There are serious safety concerns: the bars are secured with padlocks, which could make the house a death trap in a fire. A/C is only in the bedrooms, including the nearly windowless cottage, and written warnings say extra charges apply if it's used when you're not sleeping. Expect to sweat in 89-degree F heat and high humidity. Traffic, horns all night, vagrancy, and crime were all high in the area. The kitchen felt dated, with tile counters and cabinets, some blocked by the refrigerator. The knives were too dull to be useful. Lighting was an ad hoc mix of CFL and warm and cool bulbs. The disposal was missing its splash guard, the microwave controls were filthy, and the old cabinet child locks mostly didn't work. The grill seemed added as an afterthought to the fish-cleaning table out back, with a platform you have to stand on to reach it. The beach had eroded away completely, with water reaching the back gate at high tide, so the online beach photos were misleading.

The beach is right out back, and it's awesome. The property also works well for a family or a big group of friends, with grocery stores nearby and restaurants within walking distance.