Little Good Harbour

Hotel review

As you drive up the west coast of Barbados from Bridgetown, past the swanky resorts of Sandy Lane and Coral Reef, the traffic gradually thins, and you start to see glimpses of a less developed and more rural Barbados. Eventually you'll come to the quaint settlement of Speightstown, one of Barbados's oldest ports, and a few miles beyond, two very special properties: on the right of the coastal road, the delightful boutique hotel of Little Good Harbour, and to the left, on the beach, the famous Fish Pot restaurant, part of the hotel but drawing in diners from far and wide.

In a country so over developed in recent years for an uber-luxury clientele (and with prices to match), Little Good Harbour is a breath of fresh air, a reminder of what Barbados hospitality used to be like. Family owned and run by an Australian, Little Good Harbour has something of an elegant but laid-back Down Under feel, with light and spacious rooms in a cluster of standalone, colonial style cottages (plus two rooms directly on the beach), spaced out sensitively in a riot of tropical vegetation bordered by flowering jasmine. With just 20 rooms, the hotel is small enough to offer a personal service, with none of the corporate feel of it's brasher cousins, while at the same time being big enough to host a small spa and no less than two small swimming pools, one of which is under shade for cool dips in the heat of the day.

The style here is wicker and wood and whitewashed walls, with good local artworks on the walls. Plantation shutters and four poster beds complete the vibe. Each of the cottages comes with a kitchenette and a sitting/dining area, with wide verandahs for eating out and enjoying the spectacular sunsets. This hotel is a true hideaway, unpretentious, luxurious, and unhurried. Best of all, guests have first dibs of one of the best restaurants on the island, the fabulous Fish Pot across the road, with its well deserved reputation for great fish, food and wine. The occasional roving musician jams on the terrace in the evening. After dark, with its flickering candles, it's incredibly romantic. Beside the Fish Pot, a small beach with beach chairs and umbrellas is available for guests. Quiet and gently shelving, it's ideal for couples and families alike.

James Dunford Wood Review published: 20/09/2024