As a mum to two girls, I’m constantly on the hunt for hotels that truly welcome families through the door. And below I’m going to share with you my top picks for beautiful Barbados. There is genuinely something for all budgets on the vibrant Caribbean isle, from basic-but-brilliant B&Bs to want-for-nothing all-inclusives. And with Aer Lingus providing purse-friendly prices when it comes to fares to get there, there’s never been a better time to add Barbados to your bucket list.
The Rockley, Christ Church
If relaxed home-from-home vibes are your bag, this elevated B&B is for you. The family-friendly-if-not-centric hotel opened in 2024, after a complete overhaul to an existing building. As a result the space is clean and fresh. Rooms are bright and painted white with funky accents like yellow chairs and local artwork. In-room spa treatments are a real highlight as a result. Super king beds are comfy and rooms on higher floors have a nice view of Rockley Beach. Down below, the food in the hotel’s restaurant is tasty and as fresh as the decor. The burger is particularly good. For cheap and easy eats, there’s a Cheffette next door, Barbados’ answer to McDonald’s. Rihanna loves their curried roti, and so do I.
A great place to use as a base, The Rockley is right in the action in Christ Church and provides an affordable option for those looking to explore the island before coming back to a comfortable rest. When it comes to downsides, The Rockley only really has one: it’s across a busy road from the beach. On the beach however, free sunbeds and brollies are provided for guests. Lifeguards are on duty. And there are some brilliant local drink shacks serving ice cold beverages and vibes when the Caribbean sun gets a little too stifling.
For those who prefer a swimming pool, in front of the hotel lies one the perfect depth for kids, fairly shallow. There’s a box of floats and toys too, meaning parents don’t have to fork out on something which will only be used for a few days. Again, its downside is that it’s next to the road so peace is limited and pollution is higher than one might like while sunbathing. But that’s nothing one of The Rockley ’s delicious pina coladas can’t fix. Indeed the hotel does a very good one.
Cost: rates at The Rockley start from £174 per night for a B&B double
Sea Breeze Beach House, Christ Church
Sea Breeze Beach House is an all inclusive hotel that has location location location in spades, set on a particularly beautiful bit of beach in the south west. The sunset takes centre stage each evening and is a real highlight. The hotel is beautifully airy, with – as the name suggests – an almost constant sea breeze cooling down the communal spaces. There are plenty of them, meaning that even when full, Sea Breeze doesn’t seem to feel mega busy. You can always get a sunbed too, whether by a pool or on the beach.
When peckish, there are three a la carte restaurants to choose from, along with a relaxed buffet and coffee shop which serves small snacks. Tipsy, the beach bar is a great place to unwind and sometimes has a DJ on in the evening for those looking for a party. Elsewhere, Aqua Terra serves a tasty blackened mahi mahi, which was the best thing we ate during our stay. The buffet restaurant, Mahogany, is a hot room with limited but tasty options – although there wasn’t enough green veg and salad on offer to win me over.
After a recent renovation rooms are modern, clean and really rather lovely. Driftwood, rattan and wicker features (along with regular top ups of the mini bar) mean they are a tranquil place to unwind – especially those with an undisturbed sea view. Some rooms exit directly onto the pool area, which would be good for those with older kids. There’s an adults only pool, a family pool and a lap pool.
While the beach is beautiful, shade is very limited, and the small bed canopies don’t really cut it if you’ve got small children. Umbrellas with a big wingspan would be a welcome addition. Staff however are brilliant and can’t do enough to help. They’re particularly good with children, remembering names and drinks orders and generally showering them with attention.
Cost: rates at Sea Breeze Beach House start from £350 per night for an all-inclusive double
The Crane, St Philip
The oldest hotel on the island, south east-situated The Crane dates back to 1887 and has been lovingly kept in fantastic nick ever since. As a result, it’s a real family favourite, especially for those not looking for an all-inclusive. Large but not overwhelmingly so, it consists of several big blocks of rooms (252 in total), surrounding a ‘village’ with shops, bars and restaurants. You can buy a rubber ring, fridge magnet and the best flat white we had in Barbados without leaving the complex.
Rooms at The Crane are really rather massive, more apartment-like than hotel-like in style, with dark wood features, views out over the resort and sea beyond, and four poster beds. Each one has a little kitchen and there is a shop on site to buy ingredients if you fancy self-catering: a great option for families.
When it comes to pools, there are five, with lots of shallow areas and shade for tiny humans to enjoy. Because there are so many, guests are able to really spread out and enjoy space and relaxation. Food and drinks are available to order from your sunbed all day. Elsewhere, restaurants at The Crane are varied enough to keep you on site, from a romantic Italian to Zen, an upmarket Japanese and Thai eatery which is considered one of the hottest spots in Barbados.
The beach is accessible via a lift. It’s considered to be one of the most beautiful on the island, but needs a good clean as the sea unfortunately throws up a fair bit of plastic waste each day. The Grove, a bar set back just steps from the beach, provides shade, lunch and drinks throughout the day.
Cost: stay at The Crane Resort from £391 per room, per night in a Junior Suite on a room only basis. Rate includes VAT and service charge
EAST Resort, St Philip
For families looking to truly switch off, EAST Resort is ideal. Connected to The Crane, it consists of a single row of self catering single-story villas, each with a private infinity pool and hot tub that look out over the wild waves of Barbados’ east coast. It’s pure, unadulterated vitamin sea. Inside, villas have a large and airy communal space with open plan kitchens and sofa areas. Through a door lies a comfy bedroom area and modern wet room-style bathroom, with a rainfall shower and large bath. Both the bedroom and the living room have floor to ceiling windows to soak in the view. But only the bedroom area has air conditioning, meaning the kitchen can get quite hot.
Mainly self catering, guests can order from a fairly limited grocery list from the store at The Crane or head to one of the local supermarkets nearby for supplies. This is a really fun trip out, especially for the kids, to check out the local produce and ingredients. For this reason, hiring a car is recommended. A car also allows for easy island sightseeing, although there are some lovely walks from the door too. A daily cooked or continental breakfast can be delivered to the villa, alongside fruit plates, juices and coffee, which was a nice treat.
Cost: Stay at EAST from £279 per room, per night for a Junior Suite with Pool, on a room-only basis, exclusive of taxes and fees
Wyndham Grand, Bridgetown
Situated in the quiet south east of Barbados the all-inclusive Wyndham Grand was formerly called Sam Lord’s Castle, because of the castle ruins that remain on site to this day. The story goes that pirate Sam Lord would lure ships into the dangerous waters nearby, where they would crash and sink – and Sam would pinch all their treasure. Although after a huge renovation this vast hotel only opened recently, the history of the place lives on. No more so than on the beach, where the ocean is still too perilous to venture into.
Despite treacherous water however, the beach at the Wyndham Grand is beautiful and a great place for a wander once the fierce heat of the day subsides. For those desperate to take a dip, the hotel offers a free shuttle service on Wednesdays to a nearby beach for safe swimming. Another free shuttle takes guests down the road to the famous Oistins fish fry night market on Fridays.
For those who don’t wish to leave the vast complex and its 422 rooms, there is plenty to do. There are four pools, with a good amount of shallow areas for children. Elsewhere there’s a kids club and families can hire board games and buckets and spades to play with.
There’s a lovely fresh feel to the entire complex, with sleek, stylish and spotless communal spaces. The Burnt Cask rum bar in the lobby area is a must, with over 100 rums on offer. Rooms are tasteful, with marbled bathrooms and scandi-style wood features. When peckish, you can choose from the upscale Castle View restaurant, relaxed poolside Sam Lord’s Grill eatery or – my favourite – the Mediterranean Market buffet. Food options change daily and food is well considered and tasty. There was lots of green veg, salad and other healthy tidbits.
Cost: double rooms at the Wyndham Grand start from £393 on an all-inclusive basis
GETTING THERE
Aer Lingus operates three weekly flights directly from Manchester to Bridgetown, Barbados on Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday. Return fares start from £389 including taxes and charges for travel until March 31st.