My Barbados Blog

Known as the party coast, the South Coast of Barbados is the side of the island we choose each year for our vacation stay. My favorite beaches are Sandy, Dover and Casaurina. My favorite places to stay in the Gap are Casuarina Beach, Divi Southwinds, Southern Palms, and this year we add the Rostrevor to our list. Since we are time share owners at Divi, most of our time through the years have been spent there, so let's start with Divi. (Click on Images for larger views).

Divi Southwinds sits in a prime location right in the middle of the St Lawrence Gap, and offers Garden, Pool View and Beachside rooms. All rooms have complete kitchens, cable TV and air conditioning. There are 3 pools at Divi (adult, children's and members), a grocery store, small gym & spa, tennis court, main restaurant, beach bar restaurant and a great beach. Coin operated washers and dryers are provided along with room safes. One thing Divi does not offer is great food, but being in the middle of the Gap, you have at least 20 other places to choose breakfast, lunch and dinner. Divi is in the process of renovating all rooms with new kitchens, bathrooms and new furniture, so it will be at least a year before availability in all rooms.


Divi on Dover Beach
Divi Southwinds Lobby

 

Casuarina Beach Hotel is an environmentally friendly resort that sits in a lush tropical setting. No trees were cut down when this property was built, so nature and beauty surrounds you everywhere you go. The hotel offers beautiful Bajan artwork throughout the lobby areas, and you will find little private nooks everywhere to read or just relax. The rooms are very roomy and colorful, and the resorts sits on beautiful Casuarina beach. The hotel is located far enough from the St Lawrence Gap to have its own privacy, but close enough to get in on all the action. Restaurant, bar, shops, pool, and a wonderful childrens playground provided.

Casuarina Beach

Southern Palms is a staple hotel within the Bajan community. Each Sunday many Bajans come to Southern Palms for a Bajan buffet and Steel Pan entertainment. Most of the rooms offers oceanview, with a few offering just pool view. The hotel sets itself apart with its pretty color, and is set in the middle of Dover beach, and the St Lawrence Gap.  More local entertainment is being offered in the bar/restaurant which sits directly on the beach. Internet cafe on site.

Southern Palms on Dover Beach
Southern Palms Restaurant and Pool

The Rostrevor Hotel is quite deceiving from the front, and offers moderately priced oceanview rooms. The best of this hotel is seen from the inside courtyard, and offers accommodations on par with some of the more expensive hotels in the Gap. We had a one bedroom oceanview with a balcony big enough for 15 people. No entertainment here, but the hotel offers a pool, great oceanview rooms, a small private beach and a prime St Lawrence Gap location. The bar serves snacks and drinks, but for meals I would suggest the many restaurants within walking distance. The hotel attracts more Canadian and European visitors than American. It is apparent most guests come back here year after year and know each other, however Barbados does attract more return visitors than any other island.

Taken from the balcony of our 1 bedroom  Oceanview Apt
Rostrevor - Inside Courtyard

While there are many other fine hotels and beach resorts in the St Lawrence Gap, these are the properties we have personally stayed at and feel confident in recommending them for your vacation.