21 Best Hotels in Barbados

An intimate vibe and (practically) private beach keep guests coming back to this family-oriented hideaway, with accommodations spread throughout 7 acres of gardens. One- and two-bedroom suites each have a separate living room and full kitchen, and all rooms have a toaster to ensure warm, freshly made toast with your room-service breakfast. Two modern Beach House suites, steps from the sand, have a moveable wall that opens onto a large sundeck with an amazing view of the ocean. Three Tree Top suites are luxuriously spacious, with wraparound terraces with a wet bar and plunge pool and bathrooms as big as some Manhattan apartments. Only the Beach House and Tree Top suites have TV; otherwise, guests may rent one by the week. Water sports, including water-skiing, are complimentary. Scuba diving, children's programs, massage, and other personal services are available nearby at its sister hotel, Coral Reef Club.

Few places in the Caribbean compare to Sandy Lane's luxurious facilities and ultrapampering service—or to its astronomical prices. But for the few who can afford to stay here, it's an unparalleled experience. The main building is a coral-stone, Palladian-style mansion facing a sweeping stretch of beach shaded by mature trees. Guest accommodations, sumptuous in every detail, range from just over 700 to more than 7,000 square feet! Even the smallest units include several TVs and other electronics, full in-room wet bar, a personal butler, and remote-controlled everything—including the draperies. The amazing and enormous (47,000 square feet) spa, housed in a magnificent Romanesque building, is a vacation in itself. Add elegant dining, the Caribbean's best golf courses, a tennis center, a full complement of water sports, a special lounge for teenagers, incomparable style—even an airport welcome and round-trip transfers via luxury car.

Hugging a seaside bluff on the Southeast Coast, The Crane incorporates the island's oldest hotel in continuous operation; the original coral-stone hotel building (1887) is the centerpiece of a luxurious 40-acre villa complex that includes private residences, numerous pools, restaurants, bars, and even a little village. The 18 historic hotel rooms and suites are decorated with original antiques; corner suites have walls of windows and wraparound patios or balconies with panoramic views of the sea. The upscale private residences—in a half-dozen modern high-rise buildings and three lower-profile buildings in a park setting—are spacious individually owned condos with hardwood floors, hand-carved four-poster beds, multiple bathrooms with spa showers, fully equipped kitchens, and private plunge pools; some have rooftop terraces. The huge pool complex closer to the villas includes a spa pool, built in a cliff-top ruin with a 360-degree view, and four connecting pools and other water features. Reef-protected Crane Beach is 98 steps (or a glass-walled elevator ride) down the cliff. You'll need to rent a car if you expect to spend much time away from the resort grounds.

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.

Designed with families in mind, this four-story all-inclusive hotel (with elevators) sits on a beautiful stretch of South Coast beach, and for the price of your room, you can enjoy activities ranging from beach volleyball or miniature golf to nature walks. If you like real golf, special packages are offered in conjunction with the nearby Barbados Golf Club. So grab a bodyboard or kayak and hit the water—or take a scuba-diving lesson in the pool. Join the aerobics class in the pool or in the gym, or sit by the pool (there's a separate one for kids) and socialize while working on your tan. Meals in the Poolside Restaurant are leisurely and informal, with theme menus that feature Chinese, Italian, barbecue, and Caribbean dishes. The Reef View Restaurant is a little more formal.

Attractive seaside town houses, each with a separate entrance, wrap around the pool or face the beachfront; the suites, decorated in appealing Caribbean pastels, are huge compared with hotel suites elsewhere in this price range and have full kitchens. Each also has a sitting area with a pull-out sofa—great for families with small kids. All suites have balconies or terraces that overlook either a pool and gardens or the sea; four units have a private plunge pool. Guests may have groceries delivered to their room or prestocked before arrival. You can even arrange for a private cook, who will prepare Bajan specialties. There are two on-site restaurants and weekly live entertainment—including a Caribbean-style floor show. A kids' club and games room keep children occupied when they're not at the beach. The minimum stay in high season is seven nights.

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.

This seaside colony of attached duplex cottages, whitewashed and trimmed in perky pastels, appeals to both couples and families. Each room is bright and spacious with a balcony or patio, most have hammocks and a water view, and some are literally inches from the beach. Winding garden paths connect the units, which spill down a hillside to the beach, where you can swim, sail, snorkel, water-ski, windsurf, or kayak to your heart's content—or play tennis, dip in the pool, or luxuriate at the spa. Guests enjoy buffets and snacks at Drifters Beach Bar and a table-d'hôte menu at Reflections Restaurant. Each night there's entertainment in the form of a steel band or other live music. For a change of scene, a free water taxi travels all day long (weather permitting) between sister properties on the West Coast.

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.

Every unit in this luxurious resort has immediate access to 11 acres of tropical gardens and an uninterrupted sea view from a broad balcony or patio. From ground-floor patios, you can step directly onto the sand. In the style of a Barbadian plantation house, the rooms have rich mahogany furniture, local artwork and sisal rugs on tile floors. The resort's traditional personalized service continues on the beach, where beach butlers cater to your every seaside whim. There is also an on-site kids' club. Breakfast and lunch are served alfresco at Taboras Restaurant overlooking the beach; afternoon tea and dinner take place in the exquisite Palm Terrace Restaurant.

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.

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. 

A 1940s-era service station just north of Holetown was transformed into a sleek beachfront boutique hotel that—fortunately or unfortunately—has since been discovered by celebrities. The hotel's six large, architecturally fascinating suites—two penthouse suites, two oceanfront, and two in a separate beach house—are elegantly decorated in neutral colors and furnished with enormous Bajan mahogany beds and chic Italian-designed upholstered chairs, sofas, and settees. The bathrooms are stunning. Each suite—appropriately dubbed Buick, Cadillac, Studebaker, Lincoln, Shelby, and Corvette—has its own communications and entertainment center. A shady terrace overlooks the beach; golf, tennis, fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and horseback riding are available nearby. The beachfront restaurant has a great atmosphere.

This beachfront resort in the heart of Holetown is within walking distance of shops, restaurants, nightspots, historic sights, and the public bus to Bridgetown and Speightstown. All-inclusive rates include accommodations, meals, brand-name beverages, and a host of water sports (including water-skiing), as well as off-property sightseeing experiences such as a glass-bottom boat trip, a shopping excursion to Bridgetown, and a catamaran day sail along the coast. A partially enclosed dining room provides both alfresco and air-conditioned dining options; dinner cuisine is superb.

A luxury residential marina development near historic Speightstown, Port St. Charles is a great choice for boating enthusiasts who either arrive on their own yacht or plan to charter one during their stay. Each villa is an intimate private home, decorated by the individual owners, with its own megayacht berth. Port St. Charles also serves as a customs and immigration port of entry for boaters. Villas have from one to six bedrooms that surround the protected lagoon or face the beach. Many units have private plunge pools. Complimentary water taxis ferry guests around the property during the day—including to the pool and pool bar at Sunset Island in the middle of the lagoon.

Located along the busy Worthing Main Road along the South Coast, this beachfront all-inclusive resort offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner at two restaurants (dress code in effect). It is located along a turtle nesting area and offers mostly sea views. There are different categories of rooms, including a penthouse that can accommodate up to four people, with a mixture of modern decor and contemporary finishes.

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.

You enter the sleek lobby of this cool condo-style hotel, across the street from spectacular Accra Beach, via a footbridge across a double-wide lap pool that runs the length of the property. All studios and one- or two-bedroom suites have a kitchen, a dining area, and a pull-out sofa in the sitting area—making them suitable for parents and a couple of kids. Children 12 and under stay free when in the same room as adults. The on-site Swagg Cocktail Lounge and Bistro serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner—indoors or poolside—and the neighborhood is filled with restaurants offering everything from fast food to fine dining.

This resort is pretty in pink, you might say, with its (pink) plantation-style main building opening onto an inviting pool area and 1,000 feet of white sandy beach. Friendly, low-key, and peaceful are good descriptions of the day-to-day atmosphere. Rooms and suites are distributed among six buildings. The duplex suites are a good choice for families, and kids under 12 stay free. All accommodations have either a balcony or patio, where you can enjoy the ocean breeze or simply stare out to sea. Play miniature golf or shuffleboard with the kids, learn to windsurf, take a scuba lesson in the pool, join a beach volleyball game, grab a bodyboard or a tennis racquet, or hit the gym. In the evening, live local bands entertain the after-dinner crowd, and a steel band accompanies the Sunday buffet lunch.

This sleek Mediterranean-style resort, which sprawls along 750 feet of prime West Coast beachfront south of Holetown, is large enough to cater to active families and sophisticated couples, including honeymooners. Most rooms provide a panoramic view of the sea. Four-poster beds in 10 luxury oceanfront suites add a touch of romance. Junior suites are great for couples or families with one or two small children; families with older kids might prefer the space and privacy of a one-bedroom suite. Teenagers enjoy hanging out in Club Tamarind, with its large-screen game consoles, and participating in other age-appropriate activities on and off the resort grounds. Flying Fish Kids' Club is fun for little ones. Tamarind offers an array of water sports plus tennis, yoga classes, and a spa. A free water taxi shuttles guests to sister hotels on the West Coast.

Families flock to this resort, part of the Marriott portfolio, because it offers large bright suites and enough all-included activities for everyone. The Flying Fish Kids' Club keeps kids, tweens, and teens busy with treasure hunts, supervised swims, games (electronic and otherwise), and other activities from 9 to 9 each day. That lets parents play tennis, learn to windsurf or sail, relax at the 1,500-foot swath of white-sand beach, join the daily shopping excursion to Bridgetown, or enjoy a romantic dinner for two at Asiago's. Families also enjoy time together—cooling off in the three pools, riding the waves on bodyboards, dining buffet-style at open-to-the-view Chelonia, or having a casual waterfront meal at the Sand Trap.