Yahoo News 7 seductive hotels for a pampering spa break in Barbados
Barbados isn't especially known as a destination for a spa-focused holiday, but nonetheless it has hotels with enticing spas to suit most tastes and budgets. Whether you're looking for a spa (and a hotel) with just about every conceivable facility under the tropical sun; or perhaps one of the island's interconnected, all-inclusive Sandals properties; some pampering at a more intimate property; or a supremely elegant, lavish experience, here's our pick of the best spa hotels in Barbados.
It's all about conspicuous luxury, shameless pampering and oodles of glamour in what is arguably the Caribbean's most famous hotel. Pink is its colour, appearing on its much-papped sun loungers on the beach and furnishings throughout the property. The atmosphere manages to be very smart yet unstuffy, and while the place is often packed with celebrities in the peak winter months, it's full of normal people (albeit very well-heeled ones) at other times. The 11 treatment rooms at its Romanesque spa complex all have private gardens or outdoor plunge pools, and there's also a sauna, steam room (sometimes used for rhassoul treatments) and large communal hydrotherapy pool.
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The Coral Reef Club has the atmosphere of a country-house hotel in the tropics. With soaring mahogany trees and palms, frangipani, bougainvillea, ponds and much else besides to enjoy, the expansive grounds are the loveliest of any hotel in Barbados. Among the facilities, the spa is a highlight. Beautifully integrated into its garden setting, with foliage all around, it has four treatment rooms, a hydro pool and steam room; yoga takes place here twice a week. There are also two big and attractive swimming pools set tranquilly in the grounds, a watersports centre (with diving on offer), two tennis courts and a gym.
This adults-only all-inclusive offers beautifully landscaped grounds, striking swimming pools, luxurious rooms, a wide choice of high-quality à la carte restaurants and spirited evening entertainment. Hibiscus and bougainvillea, waterfalls and poolside fire pits, mattresses in giant pods and swinging love seats all help create a romantic atmosphere. The attractive Red Lane Spa provides a wide array of pampering treatments (including facials, scrubs and massages for couples), fitness sessions (from interval training to power walking) and grooming services.
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'Stay at one, play at both' is the mantra at Sandals Royal Barbados, which sits adjacent to the existing Sandals Barbados resort. The all-suite property bills itself as the most exclusive all-inclusive ever and comes with every added extra befitting the luxury-inclusive brand. Facilities here are excellent. Land and water sports on offer include tennis, yoga, stand-up paddleboarding and trips to a nearby marine park for diving and snorkelling. Among various firsts for Sandals are a rooftop pool and a glass-fronted infinity pool overlooking the ocean, plus a men’s barbershop and four-lane bowling alley. Coconut, ginger and coffee give Caribbean flavour to treatments at Red Lane Spa.
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Waves is a tastefully-decorated, compact but good-looking, all-inclusive, set above a lovely west-coast beach. The main beachfront section of the hotel focuses on a large lounge bar (beige sofas enlivened with orange cushions, and coffee tables hewn from large chunks of wood) and a long wooden deck above the beach, with a row of palms rising up through the floorboards and outdoor sofas to chill out on. Pool and beach 'ambassadors' will serve you at your sunbed, including bringing iced melon balls and cold towels. A major selling point is the spa – a sizeable operation with eight treatment rooms and a sauna and steam room. There's also a gym.
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This unflashy and peaceful adults-only getaway lies just inland from the coast in north-west Barbados. Low-rise, Mediterranean-style, whitewashed and terracotta-roofed buildings are set around expansive grounds encompassing tiered lawns dotted with sun loungers, palms and mango trees. Facilities include a good-size, free-form swimming pool, a gym, squash court, mountain bikes and a substantial spa offering massages, pedicures, hydrotherapy and a steam room. The ambience is very relaxing, with many guests opting to spend days chilling on loungers in the grounds and around the pool.
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There is a somewhat faded colonial-style aesthetic to this hotel that is not uncommon in properties in Barbados. The adults-only aspect ensures that the vibe is relaxed and friendly, with the four pools on separate levels usually calm if not uncrowded. The top pool has a volleyball net and complimentary balls if all the lazing around gets a bit much. The hotel sits on the shore of the Atlantic, with a short stone wall separating guests from the slightly lower public beach. A small spa offers a good range of reasonably priced treatments, including couples massages, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, salt scrubs and body wraps.
Contributions by James Litston
