The Best Hotels in Barbados

Enjoy an all-inclusive Barbados holiday at Waves Hotel and Spa. You’ll have access to a pristine stretch of West Coast beach, a spa, plus two sparkling pools – one is adult-only and complete with a whirlpool. Rooms boast wooden furnishings and most have sea views from their private balconies. In the evenings, there’s live music on offer and the all-inclusive meal package includes Asian fusion dishes at Shiso.

Little Arches lies near the fishing village of Oistins, which is popular for its food stalls and local life. The adult-only Barbados hotel has a coral-rock pink exterior and is decorated with mosaic tiles. Relax in the pool and spa, or on the wicker sofas and sun loungers in the open-air lounge. Rooms have their own individual character – the most expensive Ocean Suites come with plunge pools and kitchens. Dine on fresh seafood at Cafe Luna, which is on the rooftop terrace.

Set slightly off the main tourist trail in Tent Bay, Atlantis Historic Inn was one of the first hotels in Barbados. The property dates back to the 1800s but has been extensively refurbished in neo-colonial style. Expect white shutters and wooden furnishings, cool tiles and nautical prints. Rooms feature four-poster beds and ocean views from the French windows – there’s also a pool, a bar and a restaurant that serves twice-weekly West Indian buffet lunches.

Bougainvillea Barbados is owned by a local family and provides a personalized hotel service on the white sands of Maxwell Beach. Exotic gardens are full of palm trees and colorful bougainvillea plants, and surround two waterfall pools – one of which has a swim-up bar. Other four-star facilities include a tennis court, gym, kids’ club, spa and water sports. Stylish rooms come with kitchenettes and Caribbean art, plus some even have private plunge pools.

This boutique hotel in Bridgetown is set in an early 1900s plantation home with impressive grounds. Peacocks roam the flowered gardens, where you’ll find fish ponds and a pool with a hot tub. Rooms are furnished with antiques and wooden shutters, carved beds and rocking chairs. Opt for an outbuilding room which gives you a tranquil garden space. Sweetfield Manor also has its own spa as well as a fine-dining courtyard restaurant, Pavao.

If you’re craving a restful, adult-only break, the Soco Hotel delivers. Set directly above Hastings Beach, the sea views here are first class. There’s a chic, boutique feel to the property, with neutral decor, wooden furnishings and modern art. The pool terrace is lit by flaming torches at night and is home to a popular bar. Stay in one of the stylish rooms with sea-view balconies.

Mango Bay lies in the historic Holetown neighborhood on soft, powdery sands. The all-inclusive package includes all meals and drinks, as well as afternoon tea, live entertainment and water sports. Don’t miss a complimentary boat trip along the coast where you can swim with turtles. Choose from Superior, Deluxe and Oceanfront rooms – or book the Penthouse for your own patio plunge pool and double jacuzzi tub.

The focal point of the House is an airy living and dining space that gives way to a stone deck overlooking the beach. Take a dip in the split-level pool, or head straight onto the chalk-white sands of Paynes Bay. With a sophisticated, adult-only vibe, the hotel offers afternoon tea as well as jet lag massage, water sports centre and spa. Rooms and suites have ocean-view terraces and local Bajan art, some with plunge pools.

This eco-friendly lodge lives up to its name, boasting solar-heated water, sustainable toiletries, an organic garden and meat-free restaurant. There’s a bohemian feel in the 10 bedrooms, which feature plenty of wood, handcrafted ceramics and hammocked verandas. There’s no pool but you’re not far from the aquamarine waters of Tent Bay – and in high season, the hotel owners run a shuttle service to some of the best West Coast beaches.

Known as one of the top luxury hotels in Barbados, the Sandpiper sits in tropical gardens filled with palm trees and pink bougainvillea. The family-run hotel lies near Holetown and has two pools, a gym, tennis courts and a kids’ club. Go for a suite if you want a waterfront terrace and kitchenette. The open-air restaurant is decked out with lanterns and serves locally-caught seafood, and there’s also a bar directly behind the beach.

Check into Bayfield House for a touch of Barbados history. This 1930s former plantation home is run by British couple Trevor and Pam Ramsey, who greet you with a rum punch on arrival. The hotel is less than five minutes from Mullins Beach, in a garden filled with fruit trees and a pool. There’s a large wraparound veranda with rocking chairs, where a full English breakfast is served in the morning. Book the Porters Suite for an antique, four-poster bed and whirlpool.

Stay on Barbados’ classy West Coast at Alleynes Bay. The Lone Star Hotel is famed for its beachfront restaurant, which serves European and Caribbean fusion food – think seafood risotto and rum bread pudding. The building was once a garage and retains a car theme, with rooms named after classic motors. The Lincoln penthouse apartment even has its own kitchen and terrace. Enjoy the free bottle of rum punch on arrival, and try an in-room spa treatment.