On the soft gleaming white sand one sunny morning at the newly renovated Tamarind Hotel on the west side of Barbados, I sipped powerful coffee from a French press delivered by super-friendly staffers, taking comfort in the fact it wasn’t raining.

Nearby were a couple manchineel trees, gloriously big shady affairs, each bearing a sign that read “The fruits of this manchineel tree are poisonous. Do not stand beneath tree when it is raining.”

Seems when it is raining, this toxic tree exudes a sap so strong it blisters human skin. You read that right.

The stuff is so powerful that native Carib Indians used it to poison their arrows, including those in Florida where, in 1521, fabled explorer Ponce de Leon died after being wounded by a manchineel-tainted barb.

But before you panic, let me assure you—it doesn’t rain that much in Barbados.

 A New Look for the Tamarind Hotel

Besides, the manchineel is another part of the charm of this wonderful island, and in particular, the Tamarind that re-opened after a $6-million renovation that included moving a restaurant and totally redoing all 104 rooms and suites.

It was to re-open November 1 of last year, but Hurricane Tomas blew by, causing minor damage to the Tamarind. Workers scrambled to clean up the minimal mess and Tamarind opened one day late.

It’s a terrific mid-range hotel, nestled comfortably geographically and economically between lower-end accommodations and high-end stuff nearby.

Staffers have shown renewed pride in what they do, thanks to the extensive renovations, according to Simon Sherwood, the chairman of Elegant Hotels, which owns the Tamarind and five other holdings on Barbados. With the new look came a new energy, and staffers have absorbed and reflected that, Sherwood said.

When you check in here, you can do so at the desk. Or a nearby comfortable couch. Or outside. The idea is guest comfort and they go over the top here to provide it, including the “Beach Ambassador” program that brings you things like terrific morning coffee by the ocean.

Water Sports for All

One must-do: The free water sports which includes water skiing, quite unusual for a resort that is not an all-inclusive.

Tamarind is family friendly, too; there’s a supervised club for kids 12 and under and for teens, there’s a lounge with billiards, foosball, air hockey, a giant TV and video games, the place is more man-cave than teen enclave.

I saw more than a few dads bring their teens and stick around to play themselves.

New and Improved Amenities

The Tamarind’s three restaurants were redone, renamed and one of them moved; the 246 Restaurant, named after the island’s area code, now boasts deck dining hard by the beach, as close to the ocean as any dining on the island. Before, it was way behind sight-sullying gardens and a long lawn, “just the way the Brits like it,” the native Brit joked. Now you eat with the sea as your window. Chef Dave Trotman is a culinary genius and what he does with local fresh fish will make you go weak in the knees.

Also redone was one of three pool areas, it renamed the Rilaks Deck, inspired by South Beach décor and hosting outdoor dining, drinking and regular music.

Nearby is the newly done fitness area; it was on a top floor but was moved to the first, the vacant space reworked into rooms with terrific pool and ocean views. And gone is an unsightly roof extension near the pool, giving lower rooms a view they didn’t have before.

The spa here is new and tiny; I had a half-hour massage one morning that was good, but not extraordinary. What is great is the private pool just outside the spa, an adults-only getaway gloriously isolated and comfortable, with a mini-waterfall spilling into a smaller pool off the main one.

The beach is beautiful, a 750-long, crescent shaped one that had been chopped back somewhat by Hurricane Tomas.

But what nature taketh away, she restored; the tides shifted much of the sand back ashore and it’s a fairly roomy place to stretch out and relax again.

Inside the Rooms

The redone rooms are spacious, bathed in light and most offer ocean views. Mine had a gigantic balcony and the living area was more than roomy. The bathrooms were also redone, with Crichton and James toiletries gracing all the new marble and tile.

The walk-in closet has a laptop-engulfing digital safe, a nice security touch—one that almost made up for the lack of a decent coffee maker.

Another nice touch: The “Taste of Elegance” dine-around program. Guest on meal plans get a resort credit to apply at any Elegant Hotels sister property: Crystal Cove, Daphne’s and Colony Club.  And if the best part—there’s a free daytime-only water-taxi that shuttles between three of them, Tamarind, Crystal Cove and Colony Club. How cool is that?

Another Elegant property, Daphne’s—the Zagat-rated island sister to one in London—is next to Tamarind, and is included in the dine-around program. The grilled lobster tail I sampled at Daphne’s was scrumptious. 

The Bottom Line

The new and improved Tamarind is a great Barbados getaway. Minus the menacing manchineel. But remember, you only have to think about that when it rains.

(For more information, visit www.eleganthotels.com)

Rates at Tamarind Resort start at $250.