Barbados has calm Caribbean beaches, wild Atlantic scenery, rum shops and some of the Caribbean's most famous hotels, all on an island you can drive around in a day. Each coast has a very different feel, so where you stay makes a big difference to your holiday.
This guide explains the best areas to stay in Barbados for luxury, couples, families, nightlife and quieter breaks, with hotel picks and links to compare prices in each area.
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The best areas to stay in Barbados at a glance
| If you want… | Stay in | Why | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luxury & calm seas | Holetown | The heart of the upmarket west coast | See hotels |
| Couples & a quiet stay | Speightstown | Laid-back town on the north-west coast | See hotels |
| Nightlife | St Lawrence Gap | Bars, restaurants and Dover Beach | See hotels |
| Families & value | Rockley | Wide beach and a seafront boardwalk | See hotels |
| Local flavour | Oistins | Fishing town with a Friday night fish fry | See hotels |
| A beach escape | Crane | Pink-tinged sand below low cliffs | See hotels |
| Surf & scenery | Bathsheba | Wild Atlantic coast and the Soup Bowl | See hotels |
Hotels in Barbados worth a look
Fairmont Royal Pavilion
A luxury beachfront resort on Glitter Bay Beach near Holetown, set in extensive gardens on the calm west coast.
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Coral Reef Club
A family-run hotel set in gardens beside the sea just north of Holetown, with cottage-style suites.
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Cobblers Cove
A small, elegant hotel on the beach near Speightstown, with suites set in tropical gardens.
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The Crane Resort
A resort on the cliffs above Crane Beach on the south-east coast, with large pools and apartments with kitchens.
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Sea Breeze Beach House
An all-inclusive beachfront resort at Maxwell on the south coast, with several pools and restaurants.
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Coconut Court Beach Hotel
A good-value, family-friendly beachfront hotel at Hastings, close to Bridgetown and the south coast boardwalk.
Check pricesWhich part of Barbados?
Barbados is only about 34 km long, so nowhere is more than an hour or so's drive away. The west coast, from Paynes Bay and Holetown up to Speightstown, faces the calm Caribbean Sea and has the most upmarket hotels. The south coast, around Rockley, St Lawrence Gap and Oistins, is livelier and better value, with good beaches and plenty of bars and restaurants. The east coast faces the Atlantic and is wild and beautiful, but not for swimming.
Where to stay on the west coast
Holetown
The heart of Barbados's upmarket west coast, with calm, clear water, smart hotels and villas, restaurants and the Limegrove shopping centre. It was the site of the first English settlement on the island, in 1627.
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Speightstown
A quieter, more traditional town on the north-west coast, with a seafront boardwalk, old colonial buildings and beaches such as Mullins close by.
Compare pricesWhere to stay on the south coast
St Lawrence Gap
A lively strip of bars, restaurants and clubs beside Dover Beach. Hotels here range from good-value apartments to beachfront resorts.
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Oistins
A working fishing town famous for its Friday night fish fry, when the fish market fills with food stalls, music and dancing. Miami Beach is close by.
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Crane
On the south-east coast, Crane Beach is known for its pink-tinged sand and turquoise water below low cliffs. It's quieter than the south coast resorts and not far from the airport.
Compare pricesWhere to stay on the east coast
Bathsheba
A small village on the wild Atlantic coast, famous for its huge rock formations and the Soup Bowl surf break. The scenery is spectacular, but strong currents make it a place for rock pools rather than swimming.
Compare pricesBarbados holiday packages
Booking your flight and hotel together can work out cheaper, especially in the school holidays, and flight-inclusive package holidays from UK travel companies are ATOL protected.
Arriving in Barbados and getting around
Direct flights from the UK to Barbados (BGI) take around eight and a half to nine hours. The airport is in the south-east of the island, around 15 minutes from Oistins, 20 to 30 minutes from St Lawrence Gap and around 45 minutes to an hour from Holetown, depending on traffic.
Buses and shared minibuses run along the coasts and are cheap and frequent. Driving is on the left, as in the UK, and a hire car is handy for exploring the east coast.
Car hire in Barbados
When to visit Barbados
Barbados is warm all year, with daytime temperatures of around 28 to 31°C. The driest months are usually December to May, which is also peak season. June to November is the wetter season and the Atlantic hurricane season. For more Caribbean winter sun, see 8 best Caribbean islands for winter sun.
Things to do in Barbados
- Carlisle Bay turtles and shipwrecks: a boat trip to snorkel with turtles over the wrecks.
- Catamaran cruise: snorkelling and lunch on a catamaran.
- Island highlights tour: the best of Barbados in half a day.
- Rum distillery tour: including the Mount Gay visitor centre.
- Barbados Wildlife Reserve: see the green monkeys at feeding time.
- Historic Bridgetown: a guided walk through the capital.
Travel insurance for Barbados
Book your cover as soon as you've paid for your trip, so you're protected if you need to cancel. The GHIC doesn't cover you in Barbados and medical treatment can be expensive, so make sure your policy includes good medical cover. If you're travelling between June and November, check what your policy says about disruption from hurricanes.
Cover for any tripCoverwiseGet a quote
Flexible coverExplorerGet a quote
Compare insurersTravelSupermarketCompare quotesBarbados FAQs
Which is the best area to stay in Barbados?
Is the west coast or south coast of Barbados better?
Where should families stay in Barbados?
Can you swim on the east coast of Barbados?
When is the best time to visit Barbados?
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