The most historic and the oldest hotel on the east coast of Barbados, the Atlantis bed-and-breakfast, is a charming and romantic hideaway. Far from the glamour and hubbub of the island’s west coast, this hotel, which was built in 1881, faces directly onto the rough seas of the Atlantic Ocean.

The hotel has eight rooms and two cottages, all of which have a similar layout with large four-poster beds, exposed stonewalls and hard-wood floors. Two nights at the low-key retreat is the perfect combination with a chic, beach hotel on the west coast.

Many Barbados visitors seeking privacy or traveling with a group prefer to stay in a fully staffed villa. Houses available for rent run from one-room cottages to ten-room mansions and can be anywhere the island. Indagare has scouted several villas available for rent. Contact our bookings team for help finding the right property.

Cobblers Cove's pink-washed main building (dubbed the “Pink House”) was built in 1942 as a private mansion in the castle-like style of so many large Bajan villas. Its two upper turrets house the hotel’s largest and most luxurious suites, the Camelot and the Colleton, with canopied beds and marble floors. The rest of the property’s forty rooms are located in two-story cottages (with two suites per floor) that surround a large cluster of tropical gardens. All accommodations, which are elegant but modest, have sitting rooms with foldout sofa beds and terraces with gingerbread-house railings; most open into the gardens, though the ones in the back have views of the beach. Rooms, with their understated wicker furniture and fully stocked bookshelves, are meant to evoke a homey atmosphere, and most of the suites on each floor can interconnect for families and large groups.

The hotel is somewhat secluded, located just north of the main hotel drag in St. James, and the vibe here is extremely low-key but refined. You can expect lots of little British touches and customs like daily afternoon tea. Tennis and some water sports are complimentary. Children under twelve are not permitted from early January until late March and the hotel closes from late August through early October.

The Coral Reef Club could be mistaken for a member's-only enclave, so discreet and lovely are the property and service. The eighty-eight guest rooms are spread among little cottages and two-story buildings scattered throughout a maze of gardens and pathways. Each boasts a slightly different décor, but all reflect the property's "elegantly informal" dress code. (Read: lots of wicker and nothing too outlandish or colorful) Lush, tropical landscaping gives each building a secluded feeling though as a result, most rooms have garden views (some close to the water have ocean views). Families and large groups can choose from a wide array of possible room combinations and villas. The five Luxury Plantation Suites are the most spacious accommodations, and, with their mahogany furnishings and large canopied beds, they are also the most opulent. All have private pools and sundecks, as well as covered terraces and views of the Caribbean.

To maintain the hushed, country-retreat feel, only a few (the Luxury Plantation Suites) have TVs, though these can be rented on request and no children under twelve are permitted from mid-January to mid-March.

Tennis and nonmotorized water sports are complimentary, and the restaurant, set directly on the water, is a relaxed spot for meals throughout the day as well as sunset cocktails. The perfectly appointed spa is a favorite among guests, as well as people who have houses on the island.

The best value on Barbados must be the Fairmont's Royal Pavilion, located toward the northern end of the island's west coast. The property boats 72 large, chic rooms and 24 Junior Suites that open to terraces that lead directly to the beach. The property also has a three-bedroom villa.

The sprawling entrance and lobby are a study in open-air, flow-through architecture. The pink façade, terracotta roof tiles and tiled floors add slightly old-fashioned grandeur to the relaxed beach vibe. Guests have access to the excellent Royal Westmoreland course nearby, and nonmotorized water sports at the nearly mile-long beach are complimentary. However, the property does not have a spa and the gym is limited.

Located within walking distance of Barbados's most charming hamlet, Holetown, the Sandpiper is convenient but still elegant. With seemingly endless possibilities for connecting the forty-four guest rooms, a well-located pool and a protected beach, the hotel is supremely family-friendly; some suites even have full kitchens. As at the Coral Reef Club, here many water sports are complimentary, and the casual restaurant and bar are open throughout the day.

Once a playground for British royalty, Sandy Lane today is today the epicenter of Caribbean resort luxury, and caters almost exclusively to billionaire guests who are looking for utmost perfection.

The thirty-four suites at The House have a minimalist design scheme, and the open-air living area, complete with a twenty-four-hour bar, has the vibe of a chic, laid-back urban lounge. Arrivals are meant to be slightly dramatic: the property is separated from the road by an arched stone gate, and cars must pass over a little wooden bridge to reach the entrance (at nighttime the walkway is also lit by torches). All rooms surround a central garden area, though the nicest, priciest ones overlook the Caribbean. While rooms attempt a contemporary style, a recent visit proved that they fall short with regards to both cleanliness and details.

The real concern here, however, is the service. There is no reception area and staff leaves much to be desired; this is most definitely a property best suited to those who do not need or want any help. No children under eighteen are permitted, and the crowd tends to be on the younger side. Despite the departure from the traditional Anglo model, there is still a daily (and complimentary) tea service from four to five. Water sports are available at the nearby Tamarind Cove hotel, and there’s a daily, complimentary Champagne breakfast.