Island inn Hotel Barbados
The Island Inn Hotel is small and charming, but with no real Curb appeal. But once you get inside it all changes, the place is full of charm and character including the staff from
Manager all the way through to the night security. It used to be the Garrison Rum Store, with only 24 rooms; the hotel offers a wonderfully sociable atmosphere. If you're the kind of person who enjoys meeting fellow travellers, you’ll likely know most of the guests by day two. It’s not a party scene, but it’s a lovely place to unwind and enjoy good company in the shared spaces, the pool, while small, is perfectly suited to the intimate size of the hotel, and the hotel itself is more for adults than families
The rooms are clean, and everything is well looked after, but looking a bit tired in places, and could do with an independent big brighter light in the middle of the room for when you are getting dressed, there is a drying rack outside your room, and you get used to the tree frog chorus of a night, and the early morning wakeup call as the monkeys run across the roofs. All rooms have irons and ironing boards, TV, kettle, hair dryer, safe and a big can of bug spray, which we didn’t use, but other people did. The air con in the rooms is excellent.
The all-inclusive is a bit different from larger resorts it’s menu-based and served to your table, which makes meals feel more personal and relaxed. Breakfast and other odd times like BBQ evenings are buffet. The food was consistently good, and we never went hungry. The eating area could do with better ventilation, Fans in the covered areas and something to create an air flow on the corridor eating area, as there seems to be no air flow to keep the temperature down as the heat builds up.
Watch out for the monkeys! There were lots of them at the resort, watching you at Breakfast; they snatch those bananas off the table like no tomorrow. The Green monkeys hang out at the closed brown sugar restaurant next door to the hotel. They are friendly as long as you don’t tease then with food if you decide to feed them, but the hotel would prefer you not to.
There is entertainment a few nights a week, a couple of singers and a DJ. There is a lovely atmosphere in the evenings. Because it’s a small hotel, you naturally end up chatting with other guests, and that’s part of the magic. It creates a friendly, family-like feel. The Managers Rum tasting and cocktail party is a lovely friendly event
For the readers there is a very large second hand book 'library' should you run out of your own reading material in reception.
The location of the hotel was great for Pebbles Beach, just a 2 minute walk, Pebbles beach is where they bring the horses from the racing stables to bathe at 6:00 a.m. walking then past the Hotel to the beach and then back home to the stables.
Carlisle Bay beach was a 5/10 minute walk away. We found it was only 20 minutes’ walk along Carlisle Bay beach into Bridgetown
Everyone was so friendly including the locals who helped put you at ease and feel welcome. It is easy to catch a bus of different types to many places on the island. George Washington’s house, museum, the Garrison and horse racing course are nearby.
If you are going out for the day or to the beach request a packed lunch the day before freshly made sandwiches, pastries, fresh fruit and beers. All packed in ice in a cool bag. Check out when cruise ships are in when planning your trips.
You can go to both sister hotels Mango Bay and The Sands Hotels, and used their facilities for the day, which always make for a nice change of scenery. Enquire at reception.
If you come back to the hotel after a certain time at night, the doors are locked, and you need to buzz to get inside.
This was our first stay at Island Inn Hotel and certainly won't be our last; we loved every minute and will definitely be back again.
