I am not a picky traveler and usually prefer to travel on a budget because I care much more about experiencing the island and exploring the destination than staying at a luxury hotel. Unfortunately, my recent stay at Divi Southwinds was still very disappointing and by far the worst hotel I've ever stayed at in the Caribbean!
We stayed August 2026, and experienced several issues throughout our stay. Our room was never actually cleaned. Housekeeping was only available to remove trash, and because of the housekeeping schedule, there was no room cleaning or bathroom servicing during our entire stay. The room itself had several maintenance issues, including a broken bedroom drawer, rust in the shower, and a bathroom sink that repeatedly overflowed. The shower water was also only lukewarm. Our room key bracelets stopped working about two days before checkout, which was another inconvenience. The resort’s pool bar/restaurant was closed for our entire stay, and there was essentially no entertainment, which made the resort feel very quiet and underwhelming. The television also only had about five channels, and most of the time they didn’t work because of poor signal. The grounds and overall property appeared dated and in need of updating. We also had cat feces directly outside our room, which was especially unpleasant. I understand that this is not a luxury resort, and I wasn’t expecting luxury. However, basic cleanliness, functioning amenities, maintenance, and some level of entertainment are reasonable expectations.
Barbados itself was beautiful. Savvy on the Beach, Pat's in Oistins, and the Fish cakes at Sharkey's are a MUST! Also, the local bus vans are very convenitent for 1.75 US per person. We enjoyed experiencing the island but unfortunately the hotel was a significant disappointment. I would consider returning to Barbados, but I would choose a different resort next time.
