We were beyond impressed with Golden Villas. The apartments are contemporary, spotless and kitted out with Hamilton Beach blenders, Cuisinart coffee makers, black-out blinds (for even the most notorious insomniac), a gorgeous limestone shower (with HOT water, a rarity with most island stays) and NETFLIX even. And there's never a battle over outdoor lounge chairs!
With just eight private villas surrounding the courtyard and pool, the experience is intimate and private. It's a far cry from the obnoxious crowds at all-inclusives and the blaring poolside music. Here, you can watch parakeets fly-by and spend most of your hours without seeing anyone else. It's quiet--and most guests depart early in the morning and don't return until after sunset. We took full advantage of the Weber barbecue that was available--(most guests seemed to rent vehicles for the week, but, we didn't--you can pick up groceries just 15-20 minutes away on foot at several Asian supermarkets or the big conglomerate--Super Foods). Eagle Beach is a 30 minute walk from here--if you are staying for sunset, a headlamp or flashlight would be advised for the return walk. Papiamento's is less than a 5 minute walk away if you're interested in fine dining.
The King beds are a dream to sleep in, there's plenty of storage to hang and shelve clothes. The owners provide a large bar of soap, dish soap, Tupperware and a sufficient choice of pots, pans, strainers, glasses, etc. to cook (no oven--just a microwave and four element stove top). Every two days you are provided with a stack of towels for the beach, shower and pool even. They even have beach chairs that you can take with you on day trips.
*If you want to be proactive in your packing--the coffee maker is a 4 cup Cuisinart--which requires the small cone-style filters.
We stayed for a week and loved the location away from the Palm and Eagle beach madness. The owners Richard and Belle are so lovely and helpful--and their young daughter, Juna, has an infectious laugh. The housekeeping staff were also a pure delight to chat with--I've never seen such a thoroughly cleaned villa!
We'd recommend Golden Villas to couples or families wanting a quieter self-catering option. After staying in solar-powered beach huts in Colombia for three weeks, this was an indulgent spoil! Thank you!
*From the airport it is $25US flat rate. We'd recommend choosing Villa #5 as it offers the most privacy.