Last year my husband and I were married at an all-inclusive resort in Barbados, and were accompanied by 33 family and friends. Looking for a quiet (and affordable) retreat for just the two of us, we found the Sea-U Guest House in Bathsheba, and booked in for 5 nights.

The Sea-U is a family run establishment, and is perched on a hillside overlooking the wild Atlantic ocean that crashes into the east coast of Barbados. Surrounded by gorgeous gardens, the guest house is a private oasis where you can lounge in a hammock and listen to the waves, sit on the porch and watch for green monkeys, or walk down the road to Bathsheba beach which features the dramatic "Soup Bowl", a surfers beach with a view to rival all others.

There are 7 rooms in total (4 in the main house, and 3 in the cottage) which feature romantic 4-poster beds, heavy wooden shutters, kitchenette and private entrances. Each room has it's own section of ocean-view balcony with a hammock and two deck chairs for reading. There are no televisions, radios or other distractions at the Sea-U, which is a nice break from the standard hotel experience.

The Sea-U also offers homemade, traditional Bajan dishes in a 3-course dinner for $25 per person. Continental breakfast is included, however eggs and breakfast meats are extra.

As honeymoons go - we couldn't have done better than our little bit of paradise in Bathsheba! The Sea-U is a true gem and we couldn't recommend it more highly...

Bathsheba, Barbados (east coast)