Polo and More, Barbados 2014 Issue 9 | Page 100

& More 2015 Founded in 1887 “The Crane” is the oldest hotel in the Caribbean. Initially it was just an 18-room hotel, but it has always been renowned for its luxury, rugged natural beauty and world-class beach. It has been 128 years since its inception; but the centuries old heritage was evident as I meandered along the coral stone paths surrounded by lush gardens and stared in awe at the turrets, terraced balconies and architectural details of the modern day Crane. In recent times the property has been at the forefront of luxury resort living, effortlessly combining incomparable living spaces with an unmatched lifestyle. As I sat at L’Azure gazing out over the powdery white sand beach and a sea of never-ending blues it became evident why TV’s Lifestyle’s of the Rich and Famous declared Crane Beach “One of the 10 best beaches in the world”. There is a certain allure to “The Crane” and as I sat there I tried to envision what it would be like to wake up every day with such beauty surrounding me. So how have things changed? In 1988 Paul Doyle purchased 98 the original 18-room hotel and its surrounding forty acres and went to work to expand and further elevate the already internationally recognized resort. By the 100 year mark the hotel had experienced incredible changes. Today “The Crane” is a luxury resort community with 252 rooms and over 28 buildings. These include four restaurants; includ ing the world famous Zen Restaurant, two bars, spectacular cascading pools, a day spa, flood-lit tennis courts, fitness facilities, acres of landscaped grounds, a retail shopping village which includes an art gallery, bakery and an ice cream parlor. Their world-class amenities and services truly reflect the essence of island living. Fall 2014 sees the launch of an exciting new chapter for “The Crane”, the introduction of a separate luxury private gated community within the resort. Uniquely positioned as a private residential development; the master-planned residences will consist of two and three bedroom apartments ranging from 1,880 sq ft on five acres