Standing on the long white sandy beach at Frangipani Glamping in Barbuda, I felt as if I had the whole island to myself. There was no one around, the only sounds I could hear were the birds as they swooped above me and the waves lapping at my feet. I had two days ahead of me in splendid isolation on this amazing Caribbean island.
Glamping, or glamorous camping, isn’t for everyone. Some people are put off either by the thought of being totally alone or of camping, even though it is more luxurious than a tent in a field. I had not been glamping before and was eager to experience it, especially in such beautiful surroundings.
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READ MORE: Barbuda, What You Need To Know Before You Go
Frangipani Glamping
The Cabana
Frangipani Glamping is the brainchild of two sisters, Asha and Afiya who have created a haven of tranquillity on the west coast of Barbuda. After many family trips to camp, fish and cooking their catch in the area, they wanted to offer the same simple lifestyle to others.
Finished to a very high standard, but still keeping a rustic charm, cabana has all you need for your time there.
Cosy and an oasis of calm, the cabana at Frangipani Glamping, is the ideal place to switch off from modern life and have a digital detox. The cabana is rustic, painted pale blue on the outside and whitewashed on the inside.
A comfortable queen-sized bed with crisp white linen, a chair to sit in and maybe read, hanging space for your clothes and a selection of books and games make it an ideal place to chill out in.
Netting on the windows protects you from the mosquitos and other bugs at night if you want to have the windows open. An incense burning coil keeps the ones who managed to get inside at bay. you can choose to have the shutters open to greet the dawn or closed to let you sleep on.
All the lighting inside the cabana is solar-powered including the cute lobster lights over the door. During the day the solar panels soak up the sun and at night the grounds are illuminated by the many solar-powered lights that dot around.
Shower and Toilet
In true glamping style, the washing and toilet facilities are outside. The shower is gravity-fed and the water, while it may not be the hottest shower you ever had, is refreshing and there is something invigorating about showering in the outdoors.
The toilet has its own cute little cabin with a boxed-in loo. Everything drops into the deep hole below to be dissolved.
Outdoor Cooking
The outdoor kitchen at Frangipani Glamping is at the back of the cabana. The covered area has a two-ring gas burner and an ice-filled cool box to keep any food and drink chilled. The kitchen is equipped with cups, glasses, cutlery, plates, cooking utensils and pots and pans. A selection of teas and coffee, juices and milk are provided, but you bring your own food.
There is a table and chairs beside the kitchen so you don’t have far to carry your food.
Two big blue barrels collect rainwater at the side of the kitchen to be used for the washing up.
If you don’t want to cook, contact the Art Café on + 1 (268) 726 9118. They do a snack dish-of-the-day lunch, and pop-up gourmet suppers (booking only) –
What can you do at Frangipani Glamping
The emphasis is on relaxing, chilling, having fun and living in the moment.
Simply made, but brightly painted in blues and greens, steps lead you up the dunes and down to the beach and the beach hut painted in ice-cream colours.
With an empty beach and the turquoise Atlantic Ocean to play in, you can choose to snorkel or swim looking for fish. Snorkels and fins, as well as canoes, are provided in the beach hut for a paddle on the sea. The hut also has some fishing rods or for the more adventurous, you can set a lobster pot and see what you can catch.
Take a walk along the beach to immerse yourself in nature. Try to identify the birds flying overhead and watch as pelican swoop down to pick up their lunch.
There are at least seven seating spots dotted around Frangipani Glamping. You can choose to chill and read on one of the hammocks or the swinging seat near to the cabana. Take your book up to Tommy’s Hill to sit facing the waves as you read or simply sit in one of the chairs by the cabana door.
In the evening, as the sun sets behind the cabana, start a bonfire and barbecue your catch or what you have brought with you. There is no light pollution so the skies are perfect for stargazing. Watch as the moon rises over the ocean and shimmers across the waves while sipping a beer or a heavenly Dark and Stormy cocktail made from rum and ginger beer.
It can get dark quite early and in November, I found that I was in bed for around 8 pm, but rose with the dawn at 5 am; getting back in touch with the natural rhythms of the day.
Digital Detox
This is not the place to come and expect to be connected with the outside world. There is a non-smartphone provided so you can contact Asha. Otherwise, there are very few places you will get a signal for calls or the internet, and when you do it is patchy.
My advice is to switch them off and forget what is happening on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and just be in the moment, you will be more refreshed for it.
Safety
With nothing and no one to see for miles, you may be concerned for your safety and privacy, but rest assured your tranquillity will only be interrupted by the occasional nosey wild donkey or cat.
Eco-Friendly and Sustainability
With a minimal environmental footprint, Frangipani Glamping uses many of the earth’s natural resources. Solar power provides electricity and the sun also heats the water. There are solar-powered power banks if you need to charge your phone, but there are no plug sockets for larger items such as hairdryers. The water for washing up is recycled rainwater.
Most of the materials used for the cabin, the bathroom area and the grounds have been recycled. The shower surround is made from chicken wire supported by branches and filled with rocks and covered with old fishing nets.
The wooden seating around the area are made from old tree stumps with planks attached and the barbecue is simple and brick built. The beach hut is made from was made from recycled Hurricane Irma materials. And while the raw materials might be simple, the construction is done to a very high standard.
Where is Frangipani Glamping
Near Two Foot Bay, Frangipani Glamping is about a 20-minute drive from the centre of Codrington. Once off the main road, the track is windy and quite bumpy so preferably go in a 4-wheel drive vehicle, even so, you get a Barbudan massage going over the bumps.
Verdict about Frangipani Glamping
Being completely off-grid may make some people uncomfortable, but it is amazing how quickly you switch off and slow down. Giving your brain time to think and dream. I came back from my two days totally refreshed and sad to leave. It was the perfect break from my hectic life.
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Wow! This looks so relaxing. I can spend days sitting all alone on Tommy’s Hill and read a book or listen to music. Frangipani Glamping looks absolutely a bliss. The name is also so beautiful. I have camped a number of times, but is yet to experience glamping in a secluded place where I can have the entire place for myself.
If you get the chance Amrita, do try glamping. It takes camping to a new level!
Oh wow, this sounds like the most perfect place to visit and stay. Right up my alley. I think I love it. What a wonderful find you made. Also, Frangipani is my favorite flower, so it was already awesome in my mind. Off grid makes it even more special. What a beautiful place.
It is one of the most relaxing, freeing experiences I have had, I am sure you would enjoy it.
Wow! This looks so nice. I would love to stay in a cabin like that – luxurious yet so rustic. And I love the fact that they have an outdoor kitchen. Makes cooking so much fun. And then have the food by the setting sun. Divine!
It was an amazing adventure and having the whole place to myself was perfect solitude.
OMGosh! What a way to spend a relaxing trip. This is a beautiful place and would make a great way to decompress.
It was utter bliss Cynthia and a great way to just live in the moment.
Oh wow, this looks so perfect, I love an off-grid cabin stay! I especially love the idea of setting a lobster pot and hopefully catching one to grill – YUM. How awesome that they provide fishing gear and canoes too. This is right up my street, thanks for sharing this special spot.
I do hope you manage to get there some day.
This place looks amazing.
You mentioned about limited cell signal. Is there electricity in the cabin for charging devices?
I may want to do some writing on a laptop.
Hi Frangipani is a glorious place to hangout. There was only solar charging when I was there. It depends on how long you will be there for how much charge you will need in your laptop.
I love that Frangipani Glamping is great for the environment, with the solar lighting to the shower and the toilet facilities being eco-friendly. Camping just reminds me of the very basics, but the cabana is so well equipped with the room facilities including the mosquito netting and coils, to the kitchen facilities. I am definitely converted to a clamper 🙂
It was an amazing place to stay and well equipped. The ideal place to just switch off.
I have always wanted to go glamping. I still camp in a tent so I know I would love it. I also love that this particular camp is so rustic and primitive with nobody around. I am not sure that I would be able to go without my cell though. Social media I’m good with, but I wouldn’t feel safe without having contact with the outside world.
I must admit that I thought I would be like that too, but they provided a phone to use and I soon forgot about the outside world and just enjoyed the peace.