4 Best Hotels in Barbados

This sustainable boutique hotel is inspired by its natural surroundings—a cliff overlooking the sea that's thick with palm trees and other tropical foliage. Each guest room faces the ocean and benefits from the sea breezes. The main house has four guest rooms on the ground floor, each with a kitchenette (no stove for cooking), patio, and ceiling fan. Two suites on the top floor, one with a full kitchen, can be combined as a two-bedroom apartment. A cottage next door has two air-conditioned studios, also with kitchenettes, that can be connected to become a large suite. All rooms are furnished in a "modern Bohemian" style that includes antiques, local arts and crafts, Bajan artwork, and pops of color. The property has a sauna, a babbling brook, and beautiful views of the East Coast. The ECO restaurant is one of the best on the island, with an authentic, farm-to-table, primarily plant-based and organic menu created by a Cordon Bleu--trained chef. Rugged terrain, stone paths, and rooms on varying levels make this property less than ideal for people with disabilities. In addition, no children under 12 years of age are allowed.

A full-service resort in the middle of the busy South Coast, Accra is large, modern, and competitively priced—with a great beach. Most rooms overlook the large cloverleaf pool or the beach, and some of the oceanfront suites have hot tubs on the balconies; six duplex penthouse suites—the priciest accommodations—face the sea. The budget-minded can opt for the less expensive "island view" rooms, which face the street. It's not unusual to witness a local couple getting married here, and the hotel is a popular meeting venue for local businesspeople. That shouldn't interrupt your day lazing on the beach, mingling at the poolside swim-up bar, being pampered at the spa, or dining by the sea at Accra Deck Restaurant or on Asian cuisine at Pacifika Kitchen.

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.

It's hard to tell which is more appealing: the view of the rugged coastline or the magnificent historic (1832) manse strategically perched on the cliff to take advantage of the view. Guest rooms are tastefully decorated in subdued colors and attractively furnished. Each room has a great view of the ocean, and some rooms look out onto the pretty courtyard. Room 3 opens to a large sundeck with a small plunge pool. Although few activities are offered on the property itself, snorkeling, diving, horseback riding, hiking, and surfing at nearby Bathsheba's Soup Bowl can be arranged.