reviews
meet your new, serene, peaceful home
At Glenville, we pride ourselves in our warm, serene, beautiful environment. It is its own ecosystem with foliage, flowers, fruits, chickens, tortoises and monkeys. It is our pleasure to share our home with you, along with our many amenities. Here, we are a family helping to give you your best Barbados experience. But don't just take our word for it!
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Reviews
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An Unforgettable Experience
We stayed in Glenville Gardens for only 4 days (the total length of our visit to Barbados) but they were the most memorable – when you think of accommodations during a vacation – that we have ever had. The reasons are exactly what Phyllis and Gary mention in their review.
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We were 2 families (4 adults and 3 kids) and we rented 2 cottages. The stay was
fantastic – very homely … as good as staying with family. During our 4 day stay, we met
many of the wonderful other guests including Phyllis and Gary. Barbara and Sugrim
treat their guests like family (or very close friends) from the beginning to the end. For
example, on our last night of stay, we were out visiting the town and got late coming
back to the Glenville Gardens complex. When we opened the gate, we found Sugrim
(and the other guests) worried that we may have gotten lost or had car trouble. Ever
had a hotel manager worry about you? Family and close friends DO!
If you visit Barbados, you have to stay with Barbara and Sugrim – we highly
recommend the experience. Notice that I did not say “stay at Glenville Gardens” –
Glenville Gardens is just the property, Barbara and Sugrim are the experience. A hotel
experience is too cold and impersonal in comparison.
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Families of Parag and Mayur - Ohio and New Jersey, USA
Just Perfect in every way!
We were looking for a place to stay in Barbados for 5 nights. I am very particular as our son, 5 years old, can get very sick with little notice.
We wanted a family vacation, quiet but safe for the kids (we also have an 8 year old daughter) to be themselves. I saw a review of Glenville Gardens and then contacted
Barbara. Since our 5 nights started December 30 most places would not allow us to stay
but Barbara was very welcoming even before we arrived.
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We stayed in Estelle Cottage and it was perfect for us. The kitchen had everything we
needed and more, with some essentials in the fridge waiting for us so we didn't have to
rush out to a store. The gardens were so peaceful and the location a short walk away
from everything we could want.
We loved sitting outside and watching our kids discover the gardens; they came alive
and felt free enough to be themselves. Natalie and Ian would look to help Barbara and
Sugrim with whatever they were up to and Barbara and Sugrim never once made them
feel they were imposing. Barbara showed them the turtles and monkeys and even left
some beach toys for them to play with during our stay. My husband and I felt safe to let
them run as the property is gated so we could relax and know they couldn't get onto the
road.
We celebrated our 11th anniversary while there and Barbara surprised us with a lovely
cake! It truly is home away from home! All too soon it was time to leave. I want to
stress how perfect Glenville Gardens is for people looking for more than a generic hotel
room. Glenville Gardens is a home away from home where you are welcomed like
family. If you want a true island experience, talk to people and get to know them, and
like to be surrounded by tropical splendor then Glenville Gardens is for you.
Gail & Rob – Ontario, Canada
Hidden Peaceful Oasis in the Middle of Bustling Surroundings
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While walking, we found these 3 “cottages” sitting on a huge treed property hidden
behind a high fence covered with blooms of all kinds. It was love at first sight. We
stayed for 4 months and we have only positive comments to make about the location,
the cottage itself, the gardens, and the wonderful energetic owners, Barbara and
Sugrim.
Location: As you can read for yourself in the description provided by Barbara and
Sugrim, Glenville Gardens is close to everything. For us, the short walk to the beach
(5 minutes), followed by crossing the street and going for our “latte” and getting our
daily dose of people watching, was a real bonus. We even discovered that the gym 2
minutes away from Glenville Gardens also offered yoga classes. We don’t bother with
car rentals while in Barbados, so the proximity to the bus route was ideal.
“Estelle” our cottage: From an immaculate airy cottage (3 screened doors to provide airflow) with a well appointed kitchen, 2 large bedrooms (one to accommodate our many visitors), a/c in the bedrooms which we never used (the ceiling fans were sufficient for us) to the special touches –cut flowers throughout the cottage, -fresh fruit
from the garden left on our doorstep, -plateful of Barbara’s famous coconut bread, we
soaked it all in and enjoyed every minute of it -including the basket full of children’s
beach toys we found on our doorstep when our grand-children came to visit.
The gardens: There is no need to socialize if you want to meditate. Each cottage
has its own private space. On the other hand the grounds are full of fruit trees which we
tasted often and our grandchildren were delighted to spot the turtles and the green
monkeys. Barbara was the living encyclopedia that filled me in on the names of
plants/bushes/ trees.
Barbara and Sugrim, the energetic owners: Legend has it that Sugrim and Barbara came to Barbados on their honeymoon and Sugrim is to have said: “One day I will retire and buy a house here and walk to the beach everyday….” Well the dream came true and they seem energized by this new venture that is Glenville. Their time and energy is spent in making everyone’s stay at Glenville a memory to cherish. They are perfect hosts, welcoming and warm, helpful without “hanging in your face”.
Even as we sit 2000 miles away from Barbados, both my husband and I can still “hear”
Barbara’s warm, hearty laugh and we smile as we re-live our Glenville experience.
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Paula and Gerald - Canada