A Family Affair: Beach View Hotel Barbados

Last week Melanie and myself were invited to spend a night at Beach View Hotel. Some hotels around the island are a little weary of this Loop Barbados Duo reviewing their properties as we can be, well, honest. However, Beach View Hotel seemed confident in the product they offer and swiftly whisked up the opportunity for a review; and trust us there was good reason for their buoyancy.

Located on the West or Platinum coast of Barbados is Beach View, a set of 36 fully furnished and equipped suites. A fifteen minute drive from the capital Bridgetown and a five minute drive from fashion-forward Holetown, Beach View is positioned in one of the most pristine areas of the island. Not to mention the miles of flawless beach that run alongside it.  Hop over to Payne’s Bay where crystal clear waters are bordered by white sands or if you prefer, lounge by the pool and soak up that Barbados sunshine.

As we arrived at Beach View we were greeted by Carrie, the owner’s daughter, who showed us to our third floor, three bedroom, fully equipped suite which was spectacular to say the least. As you enter your eyes are immediately hauled to the never-ending ocean that lies behind the large glass doors. Unlike many hotels in Barbados, and in fact the Caribbean, Beach View is not laden with, for lack of a better word ‘cheesy’ tropical furnishings. Rather, there are high-quality elegant fixtures and details – Tropical Elegance if you may.  Now the rooms are sizeable and therefore perfectly suitable for a family or small group. There is enough space for toddlers to run around and couples to have their own privacy. Where else on the Platinum Coast of Barbados can you stay without yanking on all those wallet strings? There are few and far between; we can tell you that. 

Now for the view, each room to the West of our suite had picture perfect views of the ocean, pool and gardens. When you woke in the morning the first thing to meet your eyes were the idyllic shades of blue. What could possibly be better to wake up to? We can’t think of one single thing!

The grounds of Beach View are immaculately maintained bursting with tropical flora and fauna, perfect for short walks and exploration. As you’re taking a stroll upon the property you may stumble across a small wooden structure – called The Hut - where local favorites are served up for breakfast and lunch. This charming and cozy eatery is perfect if you want to grab a quick bite or sip on a refreshing drink, rumpunch anyone?

Tourism is one of the most strenuous industries on the environment, however every cloud has a silver lining. Beach View is committed to minimizing their impact. Let’s admit it, when we are on holiday we don’t think about details like turning off AC units or recycling. However, Beach View makes conserving so easy you don’t even have to think about it! Each room contains motion censoring so the AC ‘knows’ when guests are present and it turns on/off automatically. Separation bins are also present so as to allow for easy recycling. Additionally, Beach View provides shopping bags so when you visit the market or supermarket there is no need for plastic ones. These are just a few of the sustainable practices that Beach View has implemented to aid in neutralizing the impact of Tourism on our very versatile yet vulnerable environment.

Beach View Hotel is a family owned and run hotel so it’s nice to actually see the family who run it. How many times do we hear the marketing slogan “family run” and the owners are out of sight and therefore out of mind. Beach View pushes the boundaries of family style, the owner of the establishment, Robin Walcott can be seen scurrying around the property, greeting guests and ensuring everything is running smoothly. What tops the cake is every Thursday night Mr. Walcott along with his family invite all of the guests to their home for a cocktail party; rumpunch flows and tasty local canapés are devoured.  

Beach View is true Family style and we are sure by the end of the stay you will feel like part of the family too!