Barbados is part of the British Commonwealth, which means that they celebrate teatime, and they know how to play cricket. It's also important to American history—George Washington visited here with his ailing half-brother in an attempt to revive his brother's health. This was the only country he visited outside of the U.S. It was here that Washington saw how good life could be, and decided to make a name for himself.
The Club, Barbados Resort and Spa
The Club stands out as a rare—if not singular—adults-only, all-inclusive resort. Formerly Almond Beach Resort, The Club is flourishing under its new management. Swimming pools and hot tubs are available, but they can't compete with the gorgeous Barbados coast, which is why they offer water skiing, kayaking, wind surfing, snorkeling, and more. You can even go reef fishing. Their land sports include tennis and a fitness center for cardio and strength training. The Club also maintain that "cocktail sampling" counts as a sport. There are two restaurants—the main one offers entertainment in the evenings—and four bars. Two of those bars are quasi-attached to the restaurants, but it's still making a statement of sorts to list off more bars than dining options. They're also happy to offer recommendations if you do, for some reason, want to venture off the resort. Speaking of, they also offer numerous tours showcasing the history, wildlife, and culture of Barbados, from a "rum and history" tour to a turtle feeding trip.
Crystal Cove
Crystal Cove is located on the west coast of Barbados, where 88 rooms and suites are all decked out in bright Caribbean colors and arranged like a village in a cove. There are two restaurants onsite and two bars, including the "Cave Bar," a swim-up bar nestled underneath a waterfall. Of all of the resorts we've researched across the Caribbean, the Cave Bar is one of the coolest things we've seen. There are also food-related events like their weekly fish fry. If you'd like even more dining options, Crystal Cove runs an exchange program with Turtle Beach. And while there are limited time allotments, there are also a ton of watersports available, including waterskiing, banana boat rides, tubing, and more.
Turtle Beach by Elegant Hotels
Elegant Hotels owns five different hotels and resorts throughout Barbados, and Turtle Beach and Crystal Cove are its all-inclusive offerings. Turtle Beach has 161 rooms and suites, each done in cool blues and greens and each with its own patio or balcony. It offers two pools, in addition to a whirlpool and a splash pool for the kids. Water sports like snorkeling and kayaking are included in the all-inclusive package, though not as many as Crystal Cove. The main restaurant offers a rotating themed buffet in addition to an a la carte menu, and Asiago's offers Italian food and a bar. Of course, you don't have to go to the restaurant for a drink. There's also Chelonia Bar and a new waterfront lounge. If you manage to tire of the options here, you can take a water taxi to some of the other hotels in the family to see what's going on there.
Waves
Waves offers 70 rooms in two buildings on the Gold Coast of Barbados. Reviewers tend to remark that the accommodations themselves are a little timeworn, but the experience of the resort itself is generally positive. Scuba diving is complimentary for certified divers, and the cost of the certification course seems pretty reasonable for those who aren't. There are three restaurants, all of which offer locally-sourced ingredients. Seascape offers traditional Caribbean seafood, East is pan-Asian, and Oliver's Twist does pastries and sandwiches at lunch and tapas for dinner. Waves is a smaller operation than some of the others, but it's still worth considering as you plan your trip.
