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.

Owner Ricard and his family have a special way of making their guests feel at home. We stayed here a week and then moved to the Marriott Ocean Club. The only thing there that was better was being on the beach. However, the beach is not far from Golden Villas. Several very good restaurants are nearby. At Golden Villas there is no need to scramble in the early morning to claim a lounge chair by the pool. It is lovely, spacious, uncrowded, and quiet. We look forward to a return trip.