Located just outside of Bridgetown, Carlisle Bay Barbados looks like a postcard. Picture a peaceful natural harbor, soft white sand, clear blue water, palm trees, families having picnics, and friends going for a dip in the gentle waves.
The Carlisle Bay Marine Park has some of the best snorkeling and diving on the island, and the beaches are lined with fun beach clubs, delicious restaurants, and plenty of colorful sun loungers, umbrellas, and water toys for rent.
If you’re a beach lover, you’re probably wondering about the best hotels in Carlisle Bay Barbados.
Funny enough, there aren’t many hotels located directly on Carlisle Bay. This surprised me the first time I visited — I expected to see dozens of resorts and hotels lining the crescent-shaped bay. But not having huge hotels right on the beach is part of the charm and it’s great for keeping the atmosphere more mellow.
Carlisle Bay is easy to access and the road that runs along the beach, Bay Street, has tons of restaurants and amenities for everyone to use. When you’re floating in the water and you look back to shore, all you see are palm trees, beach bars, and a few bright umbrellas.
That said, there are plenty of fabulous hotels, rentals, and resorts close by. You can reach Carlisle Bay from any of these accommodations in just a few minutes of walking, or about 3-5 minutes by car or taxi. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the 6 best hotels in Carlisle Bay Barbados, and the surrounding areas.
Planning your trip to Barbados?
These are some of my favorite resources for booking Barbados travel.
✈️ Flights: I’ve had the best luck finding Barbados flight deals on Skyscanner. (Use airport code BGI for Bridgetown.)
🚗 Rental Cars: DiscoverCars has easy car hire pickup from the airport or town.
🏨 Hotels: Booking has good hotel and resort deals around the island.
🏠 Vacation Rentals: Check out VRBO for rentals and beach houses.
🌴 Guided Tours & Activities: Get Your Guide and Viator are my go-to’s.
6 Best Hotels in Carlisle Bay Barbados
- Radisson Aquatica Resort Barbados: Directly on Pebbles Beach and Carlisle Bay
- Hilton Barbados Resort: Beachfront, two pools, tennis courts, SCUBA and snorkel school onsite
- Sugar Bay Barbados: All-inclusive beachfront hotel in the Garrison Historical Area
- Coconut Court Beach Hotel: Family-run hotel in a beachfront coconut grove
- Royal Palm Penthouse Suite: Two-bedroom apartment located directly on Carlisle Bay
- Banyan Court Apartment: Two-bed apartment 5-mins from Carlisle Bay with shared pool
Radisson Aquatica Resort Barbados | Book Now
First on the list is the Radisson Aquatica Resort, one of the closest hotels to Carlisle Bay. The Radisson is located right between Pebbles Beach and Brownes Beach, which is the main beach of Carlisle Bay. This hotel is a bit on the older side, but it makes up for it with an outdoor pool, fitness center, and direct beach access. Every room has air conditioning and a private balcony, and you can choose between an island view or an ocean view.
The Radisson is also a short walk to the Garrison Historic Area and horse racing track. This is an interesting attraction on the southwestern coast and you can watch a race or grab one of the Radisson’s beach balcony suites to watch the racehorses go for their sunrise swim at Pebbles Beach.
Hilton Barbados Resort | Book Now
The Hilton Barbados Resort is a four-star hotel located in historic Needham’s Point, just steps from the beaches of Carlisle Bay. Every hotel room has an ocean view, and you’ll have walkup access to two beaches, two outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a spa, a gym, room service, and five onsite dining options.
The beach in particular is beautiful, with umbrellas, sun loungers, and a peaceful swimming area with a rock wall protecting against bigger waves. The Hilton Barbados also has a SCUBA and snorkel school on the property so you can explore what lies beneath the turquoise waters.
Sugar Bay Barbados All Inclusive | Book Now
Sugar Bay Barbados is one of the top all-inclusive resorts on the island and it’s located just a short walk from Carlisle Bay. Sugar Bay Barbados is also beachfront, but take a short stroll along the water (or a quick ZR van ride) and you’ll be at Carlisle Bay in no time.
The location is great if you want to be close to other fun things to do in Barbados since you can also walk to the South Coast boardwalk for great restaurants and bars, the Garrison Historical area, or Drill Hall Beach for a surf lesson.
There are four outstanding restaurants, five bars, a full-service spa, two resort pools, free WiFi, and complimentary water sports rentals. All spacious suites have air conditioning and sea or garden views, and you can also book family suites or two-bedroom suites if you’re traveling as a family.
Planning a family trip? Here are the best family-friendly all-inclusive resorts in Barbados
Coconut Court Beach Hotel | Book Now
Coconut Court is a friendly family-owned hotel on the south coast of Barbados, located just 3 minutes from Carlisle Bay by car or ZR van. Head in the opposite direction and you’re not far from Christ Church, Worthing Beach, and lively St. Lawrence Gap.
As the name suggests, Coconut Court is surrounded by soaring coconut trees and natural beauty, and you’ll have access to free beach loungers, a swimming area, and an outdoor swimming pool. They offer ocean-view beachfront rooms and full apartments so you can have as much space as you need.
Plus, there’s an onsite restaurant, grill, and bar where you can grab fresh seafood and other delicious local cuisine. You can dine from a la carte menus or choose an all-inclusive option.
Royal Palm Penthouse Apartment | Book Now
If you’re looking for something a bit different, this penthouse apartment is located directly on Carlisle Bay with incredible views and direct access to the beach. This two-bed one-bath apartment sleeps four people and has a beautiful balcony with sweeping views of the white-sand beaches. The apartment also has air-conditioning, a washing machine, and a full kitchen so you’ll have all the conveniences of home while visiting.
Banyan Court Apartment | Book Now
Located just a five-minute walk from Carlisle Bay toward the Garrison Historic Area, you’ll find this breezy two-bedroom apartment. It’s the perfect place for families and there’s a shared outdoor pool, free parking, and beautiful views of the surrounding tropical gardens.
The apartment has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, air conditioning, WiFi, and a full kitchen, as well as a shared swimming pool and laundry facility. For longer stays in Barbados, an apartment with homey amenities is often the best value since you won’t have to eat out every meal and can take care of laundry without going to the cleaners.
Should I stay near Carlisle Bay Barbados?
Carlisle Bay is definitely one of the highlights of Barbados, and grabbing one of these popular hotels near the water is a great way to get your fill of sun and sand. I’d say that staying in this area is best suited for visitors who love relaxing by the beach, snorkeling, SCUBA diving, and sunbathing.
On one of my earlier trips to Barbados, I stayed near the Garrison Historical Area just south of Carlisle Bay and I really loved that location. It was easy to walk to Drill Hall Beach and Pebbles Beach (my favorite swimming spot in Barbados), and walking to Carlisle Bay only took about 10-15 minutes. This area is also just a short ZR van ride (or walk, if you can brave the heat!) to the South Coast boardwalk, which is a great spot for food, “sundowner” sunset drinks, and live music.
For me, staying just a bit south of Carlisle Bay was the perfect balance of beach access and other things to do.
But of course, the right place to stay for you depends on the type of trip you’d like to have.
- If you’re looking for surfing, Oistins or Bathsheba will be a better fit.
- If you’re looking for a luxurious getaway, Holetown and Speightstown on the west coast are known for having the best high-end shopping, resorts, and eateries.
- If you’re looking for nightlife and parties, St. Lawrence Gap is the way to go.
Looking for more places to stay in Barbados?
