Bougainvillea Barbados

This is a great property and we enjoyed our two weeks here. It’s not prefect (where is) but it’s certainly way better than some of the reviews indicate. The hotel has a pretty lobby and helpful reception staff. The grounds are beautiful and the staff work very hard to maintain them. We arrived 2 days after Hurricane Beryl and there was no sense of disruption. The public areas are clean and tidy, with a real Caribbean feel. We were in a junior suite and it was very spacious with a great ocean view from the bed. It had excellent AC and a big shower room with White Company toiletries - the genuine product. The bed was super comfortable and big - great sleeps! There is some sign of wear and tear in the rooms and on the stairwells but it didn’t get in the way of comfort. In addition some of it is because of the climate. The balcony was a good size with decent furniture. The room cleaning was fantastic. The kitchen area was too small to be much use as a full self-catering option but is handy for snacks with a useful fridge and freezer. There is a small shop, a gym and a spa. We brought our gym kit and did not use the gym once but I think it still counts as exercise if you bring the kit and don’t use the it. There was a swim up pool bar which sold (powerful) cocktails and a restaurant which sold good quality food. It is in a lovely location on the beach and gets a nice breeze. Like everywhere on the island, none of the catering was particularly cheap but it was in line with Barbados prices. There is also a nice restaurant next door (Deia Beach) which sold similarly priced food and drinks. The menu might become a little repetitive if you ate here every day. There is no real ‘bar’ area - a few tables around the pool bar which stays open until 10. This suited us as we came to relax and hate loud music in the evening. The service everywhere was excellent - staff are very accommodating and every single member of staff greets guests around the property. I felt welcome and at home because of the staff. I had been in quite a bit of communication with the staff prior to arrival and they were incredibly helpful (and patient!). There was low key entertainment in the evening which was appropriate for the size of property, and finished early (by about 9.00/9.30). We didn’t want to come to a noisy party hotel with forced day time activities and this hotel was busy but relaxed. Most guests were mindful of the relaxed atmosphere and we encountered only minor irritations - the room doors slammed if not closed carefully (some guests were more aware of this than others) and a large group repeatedly left towels everywhere instead of returning to the towel stand. The only (fairly minor) cons are the location, the connecting rooms and the sunbeds. It’s too far to walk to the St Lawrence Gap restaurants in the heat and if you’re here for two weeks, you might feel a bit stir crazy as it’s a smaller resort. We hired a car so this was less of an issue for us. There were insufficient sunbeds at the pool and the usual problem of people ‘claiming’ beds then not using them for a good portion of the day. Beds are claimed by 8.00am. There were usually free beds on the beach but not always with shade. There is also a seagrass issue from time to time on the beach. There seemed to be Sisyphean effort by staff to clean it but if you like white sand with clear water, you might be disappointed and it’s not the hotel’s fault. We had a ‘connecting’ room and whilst the door was locked, it afforded no privacy AT ALL. Fortunately the other room was only in use for the last few days of our holiday but I’d have been very unhappy at 2 weeks of trying to be quiet so as not to disturb/being disturbed by other guests. Some of the other room options would not have this issue. If I were to return, a non-connecting room would be a deal breaker. It’s hard to find a perfect hotel but we had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday at the resort. Read less

Fantastic place to stay as a family. We have had a week here and are really sad to go back. The location is fabulous and you can literally roll out of bed and be on the beach. They are offer various watersports and I would especially like to thank Chris a veteran sailor of 15 years who took me out on a catamaran at short notice today. He was a great instructor and we had an exciting sail this afternoon. The staff have been fantastic and we have been allowed to stay in our room for a small price to enjoy our last day. It feels like we have had an extra day here. Everything has been seamless including car hire which reception helped with. We have really enjoyed the cuisine and the fuss free hospitality and we look forward to visiting again as a family Read less

Bougainvillea is one of many hotels I have stayed at in during my numerous visits to the Barbados and I have to say that hands down it was one of the best experiences. Why do I say this? Every interaction I had with staff teams left a great impression. Nothing was too much. Reception and porter service impeccable. Housekeeping and maintenance outstanding. Bars and restaurants, exceptional. Water sports, simply the best. I encountered so many people and know that I have forgotten lots of names but I will give it a go as each individual deserves a special mention. Elisabeth and Natasha Miss Roxanne, Lizbeth, Marvie, Khadija, Joshua, George, Vivian and the rest of the team. Michael, Chris and the rest of the team. I have to say that they went above and beyond to show nothing but care and concern for all of the guests who used the beach. Your spa team were truly amazing and the taster session on the deck made me immediately book a full treatment. Now Andrea did not disappoint. A massive shout out has to be made to her as the treatment I received was exceptional. When I come back (oh and I will be back) I look forward to further treatments. During our time hurricane Beryl decided to pay a visit - thank you to your hurricane team who stayed overnight to ensure that we as guests were taken care of during this very difficult time. Massive congratulations on your hurricane planning as we did not lose power or water throughout the entire time and for the continual up dates and check in's. Finally, having attended the managers cocktail party (and there was local vendor shopping opportunities) I managed to speak with members of your management team who sang the praises of their teams. Thank you for recognising the good work that they do. So see you next year. Read less

This was my second stay at the Bougainvillea in the past eight months, and once again, it exceeded all my expectations. From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed and at home. The highlight of my stay, as always, was the amazing time spent on the beach, thanks to the incredible water sports team, Michael and Chris. Every day was filled with joy and adventure when they were around. The experience of being taken out to sea on the Hobie Cat was unforgettable and truly a highlight of my trip. During my stay, Hurricane Beryl hit, and I was truly impressed by how well the hotel managed the situation. The staff went above and beyond to ensure the safety and comfort of all guests, which was greatly appreciated. The front desk staff, especially Elisabeth and Natasha, were exceptional. Their professionalism and friendliness made the check-in process seamless and pleasant. The restaurant staff were fantastic, with special mentions to Miss Roxanne, Marvie, Lizzy, and Josh. Their warm hospitality and excellent service made every meal a delightful experience. I left my heart in Barbados and cannot wait to return to the Bougainvillea for another unforgettable stay. Thank you to everyone who made my visit so special! Read less

The hotel staff overall is unwelcoming. We watched staff behave friendly and accommodating with other races, colorism appears to be an issue in this establishment. Hospitality is not this hotel's strong suit. The restaurant staff from the pool to Calabash in particular is very rude and unprofessional. I would not recommend this place to Black people. Read less