19 Best Hotels in Barbados

This upscale resort, with pristine coral-stone cottages scattered over 12 acres of flower-filled gardens, offers elegance in a welcoming informal atmosphere. The public areas meander past the cottages, through the gardens, and along the waterfront. Spend days at the beach or around the pool, taking time out for afternoon tea. Garden rooms suit one or two guests and have a small patio or balcony; junior suites have sitting areas and larger patios or balconies. Luxury cottage suites have a plunge pool, bedroom, and separate living room with a sofa bed—great for families. Kids under 5 are not welcome in the dining room after 7:30 pm, but children's room service dinner is available. Five Plantation suites have spacious living rooms, private sundecks and plunge pools, and stereos—and are the only accommodations that come with TVs (though you can request one at no charge). Mingle at the bar before dining in the alfresco terrace restaurant. Pamper yourself with a massage at the on-site spa, one of the island's best.

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.

Flanked by tropical gardens on one side and the sea on the other, this English country–style resort has 10 two-story cottages, each with 4 elegant suites that include a bedroom, a comfy sitting room with sofa bed, a small library, and a wall of louvered shutters that open wide to a patio. For all-out luxury, the sublime (and enormous) Colleton and Camelot penthouse suites, on the top floor of the main building, each have a richly decorated sitting room, king-size four-poster bed, dressing room, whirlpool bath, private sundeck, and large plunge pool. Socializing occurs in the library, which doubles as a TV lounge, and at the alfresco Camelot Restaurant, which receives well-deserved raves.

The signature hotel of seven Elegant Hotel properties on Barbados is certainly elegant, but with a quiet, friendly, understated style primarily targeted to adults. A lagoon pool meanders through 7 acres of gardens, and 20 rooms have private access to the lagoon directly from their patios. Relax on the beach, soak in one of four pools, and enjoy an exquisite meal in the open-air Laguna Restaurant. Motorized and nonmotorized water sports, an in-pool scuba-diving lesson, and tennis are all included. A free water taxi provides transportation to three sister hotels located along the West Coast.

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 is one of the island's few adults-only (age 16 and up) all-inclusive resorts and the only one on the West Coast; only spa and salon services and room service cost extra. Several rooms and suites face the sea, although most units in this horseshoe-shape property overlook the pools and gardens. The balcony view from oceanfront rooms, however, is exceptional. Guests enjoy a lavish breakfast buffet, four-course lunch, afternoon tea, and intimate dinner service, all presented in the oceanfront Sunset Restaurant; or you can enjoy classic West Indian cuisine at Enid's, the colorful Bajan restaurant that is open for dinner and special events. There's nightly entertainment and an air-conditioned piano bar; Rum Shop Bar and Beach Bar are casual meeting spots during the day.

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.

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.

Romance is definitely in the air at this truly magnificent (couples-only) Sandals property, which surrounds an 8-acre garden and lagoon—the longest and largest in Barbados. Crystal Lagoon Village offers spacious suites, each with a separate sitting room and stocked bar, an oversize spa-style bathroom with an enormous soaking tub for two, swim-up suites on the first floor, and upper-floor suites with a second soaking tub (also for two) on the balcony. Rooms in Ocean Village offer panoramic views of Turtle Beach and the sea beyond. Caribbean Village is convenient to the pool and cabanas. Choose among 11 dining venues (including Indian, Japanese, seafood, English pub, regional Italian, pizza, French patisserie, and New York–style steak house) and endless activities, all included. As a special indulgence (at extra cost), a personal butler will provide attentive service—including drawing a bubble bath complete with Champagne and snacks, making dinner reservations, reserving a particular pool chaise, setting up tours, and more.

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.

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.