7 Best Hotels in Bridgetown, Barbados

This family-run, modest but recently renovated hotel is popular among families, who love the activities room for kids, the kitchenettes, and the convenient beachfront location. Nearly all rooms stretch right along the powdery white sand, and the views and ocean breezes from the private balconies—all day and into the evening—are nothing short of spectacular. (A few units in a small annex across the street have no ocean views.) Accommodations are designated either rooms or studios—the main difference being that the rooms have a refrigerator, microwave, toaster, and electric kettle, whereas the studios have a full kitchenette with all the accoutrements found in the rooms plus an oven and stove. A minimum five-night stay is required in high season.

Comfortable, contemporary, and convenient, this hotel is pleasant and the rooms are well appointed. The informal Centro restaurant serves breakfast, plus light lunches and dinners; vending machines dispense snacks. There's a lap pool on the second-floor terrace, a fitness center, a guest laundry, a business center, and meeting space.

Beautifully situated on the sandy Needham's Point peninsula, all 350 units in this high-rise resort hotel have private balconies overlooking either the ocean or Carlisle Bay; 77 rooms on executive floors offer a private lounge and concierge services. Butler service is also available for an additional charge, regardless of room type. As it is just minutes from Bridgetown and the property has the largest hotel meeting space in Barbados, meetings are big business here. Yet the broad white-sand beach, the sprawling bi-level pool complex, and a host of activities on land and sea—both on-site and nearby—make this a hit with vacationing families, as well. Children under 18 stay free in a room with adults. Babysitting can also be arranged for a fee.

Constructed in 1804 as a rum storage facility for the British Regiment, this charming, all-inclusive boutique hotel—less than a mile from Bridgetown and steps away from beautiful Pebbles Beach on Carlisle Bay—appeals to singles, couples, and families. Modern, attractively decorated rooms (just 24 of them) form a horseshoe around the pool and gardens. The bathrooms are large and, well, stunning. Guests love the walk-in closets, too. The dining room serves three meals a day, both local and international cuisine, and the chef will prepare a picnic for you to take to the beach or on a day's outing. There's also entertainment on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings, as well as a rum tasting on Wednesday. A scuba-diving lesson in the pool is included. And for a change of pace, try your luck at the slot machines in the arcades next door and across the street.

Rooms in this high-rise hotel overlooking pretty Carlisle Bay, just south of Bridgetown, are modern and sleek with espresso-color furniture, sparkling white linens, and each with a desk with ergonomic chair, comfortable sitting chair and ottoman, 42-inch flat-screen TV, a mini-refrigerator, and the latest in-room technology. Vacationers love the magnificent white-sand beach—and its crystal-clear water and gentle waves—that stretches completely around the bay, as well as its proximity to The Garrison Historic Area, local restaurants, and other activities. At the same time, businesspeople find the location (and meeting space) convenient to Bridgetown. A breakfast buffet and other meals are served at the Aquatic Club restaurant, which is located on a long pier that extends into the sea; Neptune's Grill, on the beach, serves breakfast, lunch, and all-day snacks.

Appealing to those who don't require fancy surroundings or organized entertainment, the Savannah is convenient for walks to The Garrison Historic Area, the Barbados Museum, and the racetrack—and minutes from Bridgetown by car or taxi. Two modern wings spill down to the beach from the main building, once the historic Sea View Hotel. A lagoon-style pool flows between the wings in graduated steps, from a waterfall at the higher end to a more traditional pool by the beach. Definitely opt for a room in one of the wings; oceanfront duplex suites, at each end, are the best. The popular Rachel's Bar and Restaurant serves lunch and dinner, as does Drifters Beach Bar, often with entertainment.

Perched on a ridge about a mile from downtown Bridgetown, this restored plantation house (circa 1900) was once the residence of the Dutch ambassador and is now a delightful bed-and-breakfast. The main living and dining rooms, guest rooms, and carriage-house suite are individually furnished with antiques and art. Each morning, the chef prepares a fabulous four-course breakfast—fresh-squeezed juices, tasty egg dishes, local fruit, and home-baked treats—and high tea is served daily in the large formal dining room. Lunch or dinner is available upon request. Tropical trees and plants surround a small natural-rock swimming pool tucked into the broad lawn. Sweetfield Manor is a great choice for solo travelers and couples—for a night or two or a week or two.