The Best All-Inclusive Hotels to Book in Barbados, Caribbean

On the west coast of the island, which is also known as the Gold or Platinum Coast, this small and friendly setting excels at good-value packages. Included is an impressive list of goodies: all meals, afternoon tea, unlimited specified drinks, water skiing and scuba diving lessons, plus a tour with a glass-bottomed boat and catamaran trips to soak up the scenery. All rooms have outside space, but book the Penthouse for gleaming wooden floors, four-posters with wafty fabrics and bucket loads of space – outside and in.

Stepping out of your hotel and onto the sand never gets tiring when you’ve got an ocean lagoon on your doorstep. This relaxed resort offers three meals a day, drinks, activities and entertainment with a separate spa with paid-for treatments. You’ll love the airy, boho-chic rooms and suites. If you want to branch out, there are restaurants and cafes scattered around the hotel, and the bustle of Bridgetown is just a 10-minute drive away.

The sands of Crystal Waters, a dreamy beach that you can explore using the complimentary water sports equipment, nudge the hotel’s gardens. There’s a beachfront bar – where an island rum is a must – and you can keep on gazing at the ocean from the comfort of the sizeable pool. Don’t miss nearby St Lawrence Gap, a buzzy street lined with restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Sleep well in rooms bathed in sandy and sky tones and with pool, garden or sea views.

This classy hotel overlooks a sublime stretch of beach, but you might prefer to paddle around the lagoon-style, palm-fringed pools snaking through the grounds. A cocktail in the swim-up cave bar built into the rocks is a must. Watersports and fitness classes are complimentary, as are meals including colourful curries. Families love the kids’ club and the bright and airy rooms with terraces or balconies. The location on Barbados’s west coast means plenty of other excellent beaches are nearby, too.

This tucked-away spot has an intimate feel, despite being on a pristine stretch of the Platinum Coast. If you live to eat, you’ll love the options, from pan-seared snapper at Tapestry to dining at more than 15 restaurants in sister hotels, including the adjacent venue Tamarind. Onsite mixology classes and a wine cellar should please those seeking a decent tipple. Suites with blue and pink accents channel coastal comfort, and Luxury Ocean View suites have a rooftop plunge pool.

Fancy staying at a Unesco World Heritage site? Head to this attractive hotel in the Garrison Historic Area, close to the charms of Bridgetown, including Cheapside Street Market and St Nicholas Abbey Rum Distillery. Back at the hotel, you’ll enjoy live entertainment three nights a week during dinner – if you’ve still got room in your belly following all those dainty cakes at afternoon tea, that is – before sleeping soundly in traditional rooms decked out in brown and cream. Choose a Superior Poolside Room for easy pool access.

If you like to have options, you’ll do well here. Take your pick of three pools, including an adults-only option with adjoining hot tubs, six restaurants and five bars serving plenty of cocktails mixed with Bajan rum. Never get bored with 1,000ft (305m) of white-sand beach on your doorstep and a ton of activities, including scuba diving, catamaran cruises and trips out to local attractions like Harrison’s Cave. Another plus is the bright and breezy rooms with a beach house feel.

This relaxed hotel offers awe-inspiring ocean views and easy beach access. Dine by the outdoor pool to make the most of the sunshine and sea views, but don’t miss the lively restaurants and bars in the Hastings area. Nearby Drill Hall Beach is a heralded surf spot but also great for lounging. If you need to relax, book a spa treatment in your minimal, cream-coloured room or on the beach for maximum holiday vibes.

The lagoon-style pool is zero-entry, with a sloping entrance mirroring walking into the sea, although there’s also a superb beach just moments away. Try out the officially certified scuba diving programs, any watersport you care to name, a high-spec gym and dining at 11 onsite restaurants. If you’re looking to splash out, the Butler Elite suites are something special, featuring free-standing bathtubs, huge balconies with ocean views, four-poster beds and ­– you guessed it – personal butler service.