Don't have much to add here in review of Sea U Guesthouse. It is a fantastic place to stay and I can't wait to return.

So instead of going recapping what many others have said before, I thought I'd include some tips as a guest who stayed at Sea U for over a week.

ACCOMODATIONS
We stayed in 2 rooms over the course of our stay - Room 4 and Room 6. We loved both, but particularly loved Room 6 because it was a bit more spacious, had a near-private veranda and had a full kitchen. I would recommend the rooms in the Cottage if you plan to cook, but all are very comfortable.

FOOD
We ate 5 dinners cooked by the wonderful chef at Sea U; the following 4 dinners we cooked ourselves (after we moved to room 6).

The dinners cooked by Sea U were delicious and fairly priced. The food was plentiful and great-tasting and served family-style at exactly 7:30 each evening. If we hadn't moved to a room with a kitchen we would have been content eating there each night (esp. since the roads to Bathsheba are quite treacherous at night and there's no chance we would have been able to drive back from St. Lawrence Gap or Holetown after dark).

We decided to cook our own meals mainly to economize (and because my husband's a great cook too). What many sites don't tell you is that you can have reasonably priced groceries DELIVERED FREE to your door...that's right, even to the remote East Coast. You order online at Supercentre.com and presto, within 24 hours you'll have a full stock of groceries...you can even order before you land in Barbados. Everyone says the food in Barbados is exorbitant...it isn't. It's about the same as a mid-level grocery store in the US, esp. if you buy native Barbadian food (like Flying Fish). As a point of comparision, we bought enough groceries for 4 dinners (including basics like seasoning and oil and flour) for about $50 US, delivered.

DRIVING
The guidebooks are somewhat right...driving in Barbados is an adventure. While my husband and I got used to driving on the 'wrong' side of the road pretty quickly, the lack of signage presented some challenges. However, especially for those staying in Sea U, driving is really the only way to go....and it's all part of the fun right? Some practical tips:
* Try to stay on the 'highways' - these are pretty much country roads, but they are BIGGER country roads.
* Instead of using street signs for directions, look for signs for attractions or cities along the way. Even if you're not going to say, Harrison's Caves or Welchman's Gully, they can provide invaluable directions to tell you if you're headed in the right way
* Look for bus stop signs, which dot the 'highways.' If you stop seeing these signs, chances are you took a wrong turn. Also the bus stop signs will let you know if you're headed the right way ('to town' vs. 'out of town'). It's a good way to regain your bearings if you get lost
* ASK. Ask the locals...often. People are generally quite friendly (one elderly man had us follow his car for several miles to lead us the right way).

EXCURSIONS
* Catamaran excursion: We went w/ the company recommended by Sea U (Rabayait) and were pretty pleased with it. The crew was friendly, the food good and the clientele was a mix btwn local expats and tourists and it was fairly intimate (there were a total of 9-10 people on our catamaran..though I imagine there are morein high season). The only downside was that I expected a catamaran to take us to snorkeling sites we couldn't reach from the beach...that wasn't the case, we went to Carisle Bay and Paynes Bay. So while the cruise was nice, it felt slightly pricey given that we visited beaches we could easily get to on our own...but if sailing is your thing, then you'll love this

* Zed's Surfing: Two other guests at Sea U talked us into joining them for a surf lesson at Zed's and we're thrilled we went. Despite being from California, I'd never gone surfing before (the waves in CA are cold and intimatidatingly huge). The instructor at Zed was fantastic...patient, friendly and I even managed to stand up and surf in a few times, despite having the natural balance of a drunken sailor. Zed's is located in the South Coast (near Oistens) or about a 40-50 min drive from Sea U...well worth the trip though.

If your idea of an island vacation does not include touristy accommodations, constant shopping and upscale dining, this is the perfect "island" inn for you! Our room was extremely clean and tastefully furnished; wood-shuttered windows stay open all of the time, allowing in the buttery ocean breezes. Our porch had both cushioned chairs and a hammock, with views of the ocean through tall coconut palms. Light breakfast was included, and dinner is served some evenings, if there are enough guests requesting it. This is a great place to actually meet new people and visit on the dining patio. Otherwise, the Round House down the road (on a bluff overlooking the ocean) should be on your "places to eat" list. Two suggestions, if you are staying a full week and want to see EVERYTHING ... 1) be sure to rent a car (Sea-U! will have one brought to you after breakfast your first day), and 2) spend a night or two on the west side of the island, as running back and forth every day can be exhausting. Roads are fun and well-paved, but you can (and probably will) get lost! The locals are incredibly friendly, however, and they will try to get you heading back in the right direction. Oh ... staff at Sea-U! ... all smiles and so, so nice!

Hard to add much here, except to say that Uschi and the rest of the gang here at the Sea-U Guest House are friendly, helpful, and consummate professionals.

The Sea-U overlooks the Atlantic Ocean on the east side of Barbados, and it's well-positioned for those who are looking for a quite stay on this lovely island. The buses nearby run quite frequently, you can walk over to the Andromeda Botanic Garden, or just wander down to the beach. A grocery store (People's Choice) is about a mile away...a steep climb, but would you really pass up the opportunity to walk around such a gorgeous place filled with gullies, banana and breadfruit trees? No, I certainly hope not.

Forget the South and West coasts (they are fine too :) as this is where it's at. You'll want to come back before you leave just like me!

I was looking for a relaxing place to stay while traveling with my surf crazy family and friends. Sea U barbados was more than what I expected. We arrived at night and I felt like I was in a dream. Everything about Sea U was so relaxing. The staff was very friendly and the view was spectacular. I was worried when I heard there was no TV because I had my 9 year old son but it worked out ok.
You definately need to rent a car to get around but it's worth it. We went to lots of beaches, monkey reserve, scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing (watch out the reef will tear you up!), wind sailing, and so much more.
I would definately come back again and stay at Sea U. We did go to the other side of the island but the hotel didn't compare. I wish I would havestayed at Sea U the whole time.
Say hi to Sea Cat for us!