5 Best Hotels in Barbados

This all-suites resort is situated on 20 acres of lawn and gardens bisected by action-packed St. Lawrence Gap. The property south of The Gap wraps around a stunning half mile of Dover Beach, where 16 beach villas provide an intimate setting steps from the sand. The bulk of the suites, however, are north of The Gap in a large three-story building offering garden and pool views. All suites have separate bedrooms, sofa beds in the sitting room, and full kitchens. There's a minimart for snacks and items to whip up for lunch or dinner—or dine at pureocean, the beachside restaurant. There's a full-service spa, and guests can play tennis, basketball, and miniature golf. And it's all within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and nightspots.

Just east of the fishing village of Oistins, this classy boutique hotel has a distinctly Mediterranean atmosphere and a perfect vantage point overlooking the sea. Beautifully appointed rooms are decorated with Italian fabrics, local pottery, and terrazzo flooring. Bathrooms have showers only and locally made earthenware sinks. The pool is on the roof, alongside the open-air Cafe Luna restaurant. Two suites each have a kitchen and a large oceanfront patio with a private hot tub. Guests who book a 10-day stay are entitled to a choice of a complimentary round of golf at the Barbados Golf Club, an in-room Champagne breakfast and massage at the minispa, or a fully catered day sail. Leave the kids at home, as Little Arches offers pure romance—and only accepts kids ages 16 and up.

A cluster of spacious self-catering cottages, built in updated chattel-house style with gingerbread balconies, overlooks a narrow strip of beach north of Speightstown just beyond the fishing community of Six Men's Bay. This little enclave of one-, two-, and three-bedroom (mostly) duplex suites is a perfect choice for self-sufficient travelers who don't need the hand-holding that resorts provide and who relish the chance to experience a delightful slice of Bajan village life. Two large suites are directly on Shermans Bay beach, sharing a building—an old stone fort with louvered shutters on the windows—with the excellent hotel restaurant, The Fish Pot. You can arrange for a personal cook from the restaurant and stocked groceries upon arrival. Although you're mostly on your own in terms of recreation, the hotel will arrange activities and tours. There are two pools on-site, and snorkeling equipment is available to use at the beach. For total relaxation, there's an inviting little spa. 

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.