Bougainvillea Barbados

E

The hotel is dated, but clean. The beachfront is very clean, and the water sports team is excellent. Chris from the water sports team took me out on the catamaran and it was an exhilarating experience. The waters were very choppy, but he navigated it like a pro. Thanks to Chris for a fun and exciting sail. Vivian, the bartender, was the best I ever met. He is down to earth and gave great conversations. The wait staff at Calabash, the on-site restaurant, were great, and the breakfasts were delicious.

Hautegirl Essential Oils

Great location. Terrible customer service. Everyone except the bellman has a terrible attitude. Every question or request is met with disdain or treated as an inconvenience. At this price point, I would expect better. Also, ask for your charges and review them before leaving. I was charged twice for the same meal. Do better.

Robert Beatty

We just finished a wonderful one week stay at Bougainvillea. The one bedroom suite had a view of the pool and the ocean beyond. I believe all of the rooms at Bougainvillea have an ocean view. The room was very spacious and included a pull out sofa bed. Additionally the room included a kitchenette (with a full fridge/freezer) and dining area. On the patio outside there was a recliner, a table with four chairs, and a rack to hang swimsuits to dry, which we found convenient. Note that there are no elevators at this resort, so if you have mobility issues perhaps request a first floor room, but we never found the stairs a bother. The location is very nice, on the south side of the island, next to the Sandals. I feared that the Sandals nearby would be loud and busy but unless you walked a fair bit down the beach towards them you'd never notice. For first time travelers to Barbados like we were, I'd recommend renting a car. We did and it was very helpful to have as locations like St Lawrence Gap and Oistins are a little too far to walk. I heard some frustrations from other guests who didn't rent cars as taxis are very expensive. Apparently there are busses and vans that drive around the island and are quite affordable, but we did not utilize those. Parking at the resort is free and there were always spots available. The beach did have some Sargassum but that's an issue across the Caribbean. It didn't bother us. There were always chairs available at the beach, we didn't have to play the difficult game of trying to save chairs all day. Seats by the pool are a little more difficult to come by but I say skip the pool, the beach is much cooler with a nice breeze. If you're concerned about shade, the guys at the watersports desk will bring out an umbrella to you and set it up wherever you like. Speaking of the watersports desk, they have a number of things like boogie boards, spikeball, and even cricket equipment for the Brits. Also, the resort does not have a towel card system, they just lay out towels for you to take as needed, which is quite nice. The water at the beach can be a little rough at times but I consistently saw children able to navigate the water comfortably. The service at the resort is exceptional. The ladies at the front desk took care of check in quickly and easily and even offered us a cocktail. They do have bellmen available to help with bags, which I suggest you take advantage of because of the lack of elevators. Unfortunately I forget our bellman's name but he was very kind, showed us our room, and even offered us some tips on places to visit on the island. The bar was a wonderful spot, and Sonja there was consistently a delight and made us wonderful drinks. They offer a happy hour between 3:30 and 4:30. The restaurant also had very good food, and Lisbeth the manager there was amazing. I don't know when she gets a break but she was always there making sure everything ran smoothly. At night there was often live music from singers or a steel drum, who you can watch under strings of lights on the deck by the beach. The resorts did attract a fair amount of families, there were often kids playing in the pool or on the beach, but it certainly didn't feel like a "family resort." Many guests there were couples and I feel like the resort does a good job of catering to both types of travelers. Overall, a wonderful experience and a place we are already considering a return to.

L'Erin

We come to Barbados often and this is by far my favorite place we've stayed with the kids. We loved being at Bougainvillea so much we struggled to leave for activities. It's more compact than a typical beachfront resort, and it manages to feel spacious anyway. The rooms are gorgeous! Beds are soft and cozy, the view of the beach is breathtaking, and the well-stocked kitchen is a plus. Food at the resort was delicious and the poolside/beachside restaurant vibe is great for lounging all day. I love the giant chess board and swing! Sharing a beach with Sandals (next door) is also a bonus - it feels safe, well-tended and soothingly calm. For this price point we got all of the luxury and relaxation of a far pricier resort with none of its hassles.

Lee Woodhead

I took my wife here for a surprised 40th birthday the hotel reception were most lovely. They even put some balloons in our room for wife's birthday which was lovely. The hotel seriously needs some renovation work. Our air con in may was very noisy and kept us awake every night. Had to have it on because it was soooooooooo hot. The food at the on site restaurant was amazing. Most staff in there were absolutely lovely. Roxanne was the most loveliest person we came across. The chamber maids always made sure our bed was fresh and clean. The cats on site were very annoying jumping up at our table and nicked my wife's food a few times. Very annoying. Was nice to see lizards and crabs every morning walking through off the beach. The beach ws nice beds out everyday with umbrellas fresh beach towels when ever we wanted them available. The guys walking on the beach. Local guys get a bit annoying putting things on you and then charging the earth for them. But you feel obliged to buy. Bracelets and the smoke kind. Security at the hotel were pretty good when you could see them. They dealt with a lot of the locals and sent them packing. But like me early riser going for a walk no one about.. Beach was well kept with the staff clearing the beach of sargasm every morning. Which was a real shame there was tones of the stuff. But got cleared. If you want calm sea I would say go more west. Because in the south it's more choppy. Still had amazing time here though.