Barbados holidays aren’t all about adults. The island’s got plenty of family-friendly options up its sandy sleeves too, where swanky spas and cocktail hours are paired with kids’ clubs and movie nights. And with these hidden gems in mind, discover the top Barbados family resorts for you in 2022 and beyond...
This pretty-in-pink property has planted itself on the white sands of Dover Beach. It’s not just a scenic spot, but a convenient one, too – the restaurants of St Lawrence’s Gap are within walking distance and the airport is 15 minutes drive away.
You’ve got everything you need at the hotel, including two tennis courts and a spa. The restaurant and main pool both come with stellar views of the ocean. You can also retreat to a smaller, quieter pool. Plus, there are great-for-families additions, like a nine-hole mini golf course and a watersports hut, serving up windsurfing equipment, bodyboards and snorkelling gear.
Room-wise, we’d recommend upgrading to a suite. This way, you’ll get a living room, a dining table for four, and a small-but-perfectly-formed kitchen with a fridge, stove and basic cooking utensils. What’s more, we’ll let you in on a little secret: you can still catch glimpses of the beach from lots of the garden view rooms.
Sandy Lane
Talking about Barbados without mentioning Sandy Lane just wouldn’t be right. With three golf courses and an award-winning spa, it’s a favourite among celebs. You’ll find it in the west – often dubbed the Platinum Coast – parked up on a curve of sand, south of Holetown. While the beach is public – like all in Barbados – it’s basically private, as access for non-residents is tricky. And waiters will fulfil your every sunbathing need, bringing round sorbets, drinks and cold towels.
The kids’ club – the Treehouse Club – is one of the best in Barbados, lining up themed dinner parties, movie nights and pool parties. Daily activities include arts and crafts, drama, sport and sailing. Tots under three have their own branch, where parents can take them to play with toys and puzzles. Meanwhile, teens can slope off to The Den – their own lounge with pool tables, a jukebox and TVs. They’ve also got a grown-up activity schedule of island tours, coastal cruises and watersports.
And, while the little ones are at the kids’ club, it’d be a shame not to try the hotel’s spa. It’s been crowned the Number One Hotel Spa in the Caribbean by Travel + Leisure, and the treatment rooms all come with private gardens or plunge pools.
Finally, on the dining front, there’s a fine dining French and Mediterranean restaurant, along with an all-day eatery, with a wine bar, sushi station and grill. The latter hosts a fancy Sunday brunch, where you can tuck into fresh seafood and suckling pig. There are lots of places for inbetween bites, too, including a gelato bar for smoothies and ice creams, as well as afternoon tea every day from 3-5pm.
If you’re looking for an All Inclusive Barbados holiday, try Turtle Beach. Here, you get your meals and drinks, non-motorised watersports and a kids’ club as part of the package. Your little ones will love kayaking, bodyboarding or snorkelling. Plus, there are surfing lessons for guests aged five and over.
On dry land, the kids’ club runs daily from 9am-9pm. There are lots of activities to get involved in, including movies after dinner. They can even take a course to get clued up on all things Bajan, learning the local lingo and how to cook traditional food. And, once they’ve finished, they’ll get a certificate and mock Bajan passport for all their hard work. Plus, there’s always something going on for the whole family to try – whether it’s pastry lessons, Calypso dance classes or beach cricket.
When it comes to food, the main restaurant deals in buffets for breakfast and dinner, and there’s a beachfront place for lunch. Stalls regularly pop up during the day for a local treat fix. Plus, you can slurp sundaes and milkshakes at the ice cream parlour. As with all Elegant Hotels, you’ll get a Beach Ambassador service, so drinks, fruit and lollies are delivered to your sunbed, by the pool or beach.
Speaking of the beach, the hotel’s at the end of Dover Beach – one of the island’s top-rated stretches of sand… and Barbados has
a lot of standout beaches. It also means you’re a 10 minute walk from St Lawrence Gap and a quick 15-minute drive from the airport. Last but not least, all the bedrooms here are suites with a sofa bed, so they easily fit a family of four.
You’ll find this place on the 17th-century ruins of Charles Fort – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But it gets better. There’s not one, but two dove-white beaches on your doorstep. You’re under 15 minutes drive from the capital Bridgetown, too. And it’s only a little further to the airport, so transfers are quick and painless.
At the hotel, you’re spoilt for choice with dining options. There’s a grill place that specialises in seafood and steaks, along with a buffet restaurant with an outdoor terrace. There’s also a grab-and-go coffee joint.
Little ones can make use of the free watersports, or head down to the kids’ club. Meanwhile, adults can book themselves into the spa’s heated sand massage bed – it’s the only one of its kind in the Caribbean.
This place is another all inclusive option, so you get meals, afternoon tea and drinks included, as well as nightly entertainment. Watersports are thrown in, too – think water-skiing, kayaking, pedalos, snorkelling and scenic catamaran tours. There are free scuba diving lessons up for grabs, as well.
The restaurant puts on themed buffet and barbecue nights, with live music setting the soundtrack between 8-10.30pm. But if you fancy venturing out, the restaurants and bars of Holetown are right outside. The beach starts from the hotel’s back garden, too.
Families should opt for a one-bedroom suite, so you’ll get a separate living area with twin beds for the kids. This block of rooms also comes with its own separate pool. But the whole place has a real intimate feel, with less than 70 rooms in total.
Ready to book your Bajan break? Find out more about our Barbados holidays here. 
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