We have just returned from our 3rd visit to The House and enjoyed our stay every bit as the last two trips if not more. The staff are always so friendly and helpful with suggestions of things to do and places to eat. The room was always kept tidy and clean and our breakfasts were delicious, espeially the glass of Champagne which would usually accompanied us to the pool. Thank you to The House and we will return!

So it's been 4 months since our 5 night stay at "The House" on Barbados, and I have to say I still don't know what to make of it! We stayed here post cruise following a 7 night southern Caribbean tour on the Windsurf (which we loved) and were expecting a luxurious chilled out boutique style beach break to end our stay.

While our stay was perfectly nice, I think the hotel slightly over sells itself trying to be something that it’s not (don’t expect Ritz style elegance). In short, there just appeared to be a slight amateurish feel about the place when compared to other hotels in this price bracket.

We stayed in a one bedroom suite with a plunge pool, but the pool was never in the sun so was never used. The rooms were large, but the amenities far from luxurious for this kind of price – most of the bedroom was empty space, with an oldish CRT television, a standard radio cd player, and a fairly tired wall space with a rail for a wardrobe. The bathroom was super large, but maybe in need of an update to keep up with the sleek white minimalist ones with large bathtubs etc currently occupying this kind of market. The gratis toiletries though were plenty, and were very nice while bathrobes and slippers were also provided and the bed was very comfortable.
The separate lounge room was nice, with tea, coffee and a kettle (but no sign of an espresso machine). Watch for the birds coming into your room to steal the sugar – they know exactly what they want and where to get it!

So that’s the room – nice, but not exactly modern or luxurious. In fact on our last day (as we were flying in the early evening) they gave us the use of one of their standard rooms as a day room, and my partner preferred it! I think my advice would be to save your money and stay in one of these.

The hotel is boutique in size – there is just the one shared lobby where breakfast is served - and is best viewed at night when they light candles to give the place a fantastic looking ambience (especially when viewed walking in from the outside). Although kept nice and clean, this area can look a little weather worn during the day. There is no restaurant as part of the hotel, but they have a resident restaurant on the premises, Daphne’s, where we ate once. There is a small pool which was quite nice (but rarely used since the sea is on your doorstep), while the beach loungers were definitely one of the best features of the whole place. These were very padded and comfy, with plenty of towels, a choice of having shade or not, and the ambassadors regularly milled round this area keeping it clean and offering water. Due to the limited number of guests, we never had a problem in getting them. We found the beach to be a nice size – yes it’s not too wide (not sure why some people think this is a problem!), but this meant that it was also quite private, and we were rarely bothered by any of the beach bums, only being paid a visit (and serenaded) by the “original pineapple man” on our last day there.

The ambassadors were nice, helpful and polite, and the female manager (who seemed lovely) took the time to ask us how our stay had been, and left a bottle of chilled champagne in our room on arrival (I think to apologise for the long check in time, which we weren’t even too bothered about – obviously they’re used to more demanding clientele!). When we enquired about horse riding on the beach, our ambassador was super quick to make the necessary arrangements and get back to us. We also had a very nice massage (each) included in the price of the room, and we took these in our suite on an afternoon of our choice.

All good so far, but I guess what made our stay disappointing (apart from the place looking a little bit tired), was the “extras” it sells it self on. Breakfast was a fairly dreary affair, more fitting for a cheap med style b&b than a 5 star boutique hotel. After being on a moderately sized ship the week before with a huge choice of buffet and a la carte options for breakfast (maybe we were a little spoiled), just the small selection of hot plates, fruit and cereal was a bit disappointing. Obviously we weren’t expecting an enormous resort style buffet, but what is normally done for this size and price of accommodation is a very good standard a la carte menu with fresh breads and pastries served separately. And while some people think that opening a bottle of cava (it definitely wasn’t champagne) to offer their guests in a morning is the epitome of luxury, it really didn’t conceal the very rough edges apparent elsewhere.

And afternoon tea at “The House”? Again we might have been spoiled by our experiences of the previous week where every day at 4 pm afternoon tea was served with a huge selection of beautiful sandwiches, cakes, breads, sweets and ice cream, but it really was a pitiful effort for all the fuss they make of it. Once more, if this wasn’t a feature of the hotel that they salivate over on their website (and thus condone the rate with), we wouldn’t have been disappointed. But half a small stale sandwich and a small piece of cake wasn’t really worth the hype. Again, with a bit of research into this kind of service, they would find that a small table full of cakes, pastries and teas for patrons to help themselves to at a certain time of day would have given the place more of the feel they were after. The library, gym and computer room is just a converted 1 bedroom suite of the hotel with 2 computers and a couple of treadmills, but they did have Wi-Fi throughout the hotel which was useful. There was also a self service cake option in the evening on our return to the hotel at night, but it was always a bit of an unexciting supermarket style sponge cake. A glass of port was also offered, and this was a nice touch. The shared board games were a little tired, most with pieces missing.

As I said earlier, we ate at Daphne’s next door once and it was nice overall. My seared tuna salad starter was beautiful, the risotto ok, and my partner said the fillet of beef he ordered was the best he’s ever eaten. The meal and a few cocktails came in at just over £120, but the whole of Barbados is an expensive place to eat. In fact it’s expensive full stop! One money saving tip is to get the buses and red striped mini buses (“reggae” buses) that the locals use to get around Barbados in – they’re very very frequent, very very cheap, can get you from anywhere to anywhere, and above all else are excellent fun… “Turn yar music down maaan, the base is travellin’ through me backside…” Excellent.

We ate once at a Mexican restaurant in St Lawrence Gap which left us stuffed, while the Sushi across the road at Scarlets was wonderful and boasted a fantastic black and red interior, reminiscent of a Japanese massage parlour. We also ate quite a cheap tasty meal at Spago in Holetown which had a lovely relaxed quaint atmosphere and an acoustic duo act playing just behind the tables. Bubbas sports bar was ok for an afternoon drink and to watch the football. Bridgetown is definitely worth a look, although limited in terms of nice places to eat. And although we were offered “a smoke” more than once during our stay, we never once felt threatened or unsafe.

So Overall we enjoyed our stay in Barbados even though I’m almost positive I wouldn’t return. If I did, I’d rent a villa with a few family or friends and rent a car to get about – it’s that small an island you’re never too far from anywhere regardless of where you stay.. As for our experience at “The House”, while I did enjoy our time there, I couldn’t help wondering what our experience would have been like had we paid the extra £ and stayed at Sandy Lane (admittedly, this would have been in their lowest rate room). I got the feeling that for all their effort service wise, it really needs the owners of “The House” to come in and shake this place up a bit, to rid the place of its amateurish feel, and to warrant the £400 a night price tag.

In summary, an adequately nice stay and (were there the option) I would probably have given this place 3.5 stars (what’s more, I’m not sure if any of the other similar hotels such as the Royal Fairmont would have been any different, maybe it’s just the Barbados way). But for this price I expected to be “wowed”, and in my opinion “The House” just doesn’t quite do what it says on the tin.

If you want to stay at a hotel where the staff are so kind and welcoming and you want to be pampered and your every need met with a smile and a genuine interest in making your holiday fantastic, then this is the place for you.
The whole place has a lovely relaxed feel and you do feel as though you are staying with friends in a small idilic house by the sea. The rooms are large and comfortable with huge beds and crisp white sheets. Large bathrooms (the one bedroom suites have two!!) and a balcony with the sea so close you feel you could touch the sand from your bed. You start your day with a champagne breakfast and eggs cooked to order. Then select your sun bed- never a race though the odd couple or two did drop books conveniently on them to "ptotect their teritory ahead of breakfast. There was however never a shortage and the beds are so comfortable. After a heavy morning holding down a sun bed grab a bit of lunch at Daphers next door and then back to your sun bed - that has been well stocked throughout the day with free chilled water -and wait for the mid afternoon ice cream and then fresh fruit. While you await the fantastic sunset just tuck into your fresh afternoon tea with cake and sandwiches.
After you have had your evening meal up in Holetown or wherever, pop back to The House and grab a piece of cake and a nice glass of port. Then off to bed to repeat theo whole exercise the following day. they do have a Gym if the mood takes you!!
What also makes this place are the staff. They treat you with respect but they also take the time to chat to you and to get to know you. To them you have a name and they always remember it when they talk to you. Special thank you should go to Catherine - the general manager and to Agness, Kelvin and Arden who all made sure everything was how you would want it to be. We met Fransoire on his first day. A lovely charming young man who will go a long way .
It was our honeymoon and that made it very special for my wife and I and everyone at The House ensured that it would be a very special place in our life and that they did and more. We had a romantic meal served on our balcony for a small service charge one night, it was lovely to sit there as the waves crashed onto the sands and the moonlight lit up the sea. As our taxi went through the gate for the last time as we left for the airport my wife had to wipe the tears away. it was like leaving freinds behind!
Go there and enjoy!!!!.

Just got back from a three day stay at the House ; the last leg of our trip which included a cruise on the Royal Clipper out of Barbados. We wanted a few days of chilling before we came back to cold London - and the House gave us that and so much more.

The hotel is tiny - but never really felt overcrowded despite a hundred percent occupancy rate when we were there. We had an ocean viiew suite - which was tranquil in decor and with a fantastically comfy bed, huge bathroom and a spacious balcony, with chairs and a table looking out over the ocean.

There is no conventional reception and the whole place feels really chilled. The staff are excellent and offer a full service at all hours of the day - they deliver bottled water to you in an ice bucket as you lie on your oversized sun lounger on the beach - and in the afternnon, they first offer you ice cream and then around 4 pm. afternnon tea is served . I have never had a tea tray complete with scones and jam and delicate sandwiches delived to my sun lounger !! Must admit i couild have got used to it though!

A massage, in a shaded spot overlooking the beach was part of our room deal and the therpapist was very good indeed - and had we been staying longer i think i would have tried to book other treatements.

I am a seasoned traveller and am quick to crisitse - but this hotel is one of the best i have ever stayed in . If you are a planning a trip to Barbados, are a couple who really enjoy luxury and pampering in a child free environment, you will love this place!