About this hotel
General information
The Sandpiper is a small beachfront hotel on the west coast of Barbados, set in a white-sand cove in the middle of a wide bay. Its gardens of orchid trees, coconut palms and bougainvillea, with koi ponds along the paths, run down to the sea. The hotel was built in 1970 and has 50 rooms and suites; it is a member of Small Luxury Hotels.
The atmosphere is discreet and unhurried. Every room is decorated individually and has a patio, balcony or terrace looking over the gardens, a pool or the sea, and the Tree Top Suites and Curlew have plunge pools of their own. The grounds hold a restaurant open on three sides to the garden, a thatched beach bar, two swimming pools and a gym, while the spa is a two-minute drive away at the neighbouring Coral Reef Club.
Location
The Sandpiper stands in the middle of Barbados’s west coast, in the parish of St James, within a five-minute walk (or two minutes by car) of historic Holetown, which has local restaurants, boutiques and a supermarket. The best restaurants and beach bars along the coast are at most about 15 minutes’ drive away. Grantley Adams International Airport is some 29 km (18 miles) from the hotel, and airport transfers by taxi can be arranged through the hotel.
Spa
The Spa at Coral Reef Club lies in the neighbouring hotel, two minutes away by car, and the hotel provides the transfer. Its colonial-inspired building of simple modern lines stands in tropical gardens, with four treatment rooms, each opening onto a private patio and garden for the foot ritual, an Outdoor Pavilion for couples, an open-sided relaxation room, an outdoor hydro-pool with shaded cabanas, a thermal suite with a crystal steam room, and a manicure and pedicure room looking over the treetops. Skincare is by Natura Bissé, alongside body treatments made for the spa from local plants and fruit, among them the signature Lemongrass and Ginger Rub; the Caribbean Calm Massage is also on the menu. A boutique and a hairdressing salon are also at Coral Reef Club.
Sports & leisure
The hotel has its own watersports team, two tennis courts and a gym, with golf and diving close by.
- Watersports from the beach — Hobie Cat and Laser sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding and snorkelling, plus speedboat waterskiing, wakeboarding and towed inflatable rides
- Diving — a NAUI and PADI school at the neighbouring Coral Reef Club, shipwrecks along the west coast and night dives; deep-sea fishing can be arranged, and the Barbados Sea Turtle Project next door welcomes non-divers too
- Tennis — two Astroturf courts lit for night play, with the resident pro coaching adults and children each afternoon except Sunday
- Fitness — a gym with Life Fitness cardio and strength machines and free weights, and group yoga sessions at the spa
- Golf — two clubs less than ten minutes away by car: Sandy Lane, with three courses (The Old Nine, The Country Club and The Green Monkey, designed by Tom Fazio), and Royal Westmoreland, a par-72 championship course by Robert Trent Jones Jr.
- Gardens — garden tours once a week
For children
Children are welcome throughout the year. In the summer months a family programme for ages 2–12 offers three half-hour sailing trips with the watersports team and three half-hour swimming lessons a week, and older children can use the non-motorised watersports and join the daily tennis clinic.
- Babysitting can be arranged, and cribs, high chairs, play pens and baby monitors are available on request.
- A children’s dinner is served on the room’s patio or the restaurant terrace; children under 5 may be in the restaurant and lounge only until 7 pm.
- The lap pool is not supervised and is closed to children under 12 from 9 am to 1 pm; the other pool is open to them all day.
- The Oceanfront One Bedroom Suites, the Tree Top Suites and Curlew do not accept children under 12.
Restaurants & bars
The hotel has one restaurant and a beach bar, with room service as well.
- The Restaurant — international menus with a Caribbean accent in a dining room that opens to torch-lit gardens and koi ponds; dinner menus change five times a week, with a West Indian and international buffet on most Wednesdays and a barbecue on most Sundays, and the dress code is smart casual
- Cocktail Lounge — the bar and lounge of the restaurant
- Harold’s — a bamboo-and-thatch beach bar for lunch, sundown cocktails and casual dinners from an all-day menu, with cocktails such as Harold’s Smile
- Juice Bar — at Harold’s, with fresh juices, smoothies, coconut water, coffee and home-made soft-serve ice cream
- Room service and private dining — breakfast on the room’s patio and dinner for two on the beach
- Live music — low-key sets of calypso, reggae, jazz, Top 40 and oldies on most evenings, and a cocktail party for guests on Wednesdays
Swimming
The hotel stands on a white-sand beach in a cove, with turquoise Caribbean water in front and coral reefs full of tropical fish just offshore; snorkelling equipment is available from the watersports team. There are two pools, one finished in mosaic tile and one a 60-foot (about 18 m) slate lap pool, and the Tree Top Suites have plunge pools of their own.
Pets
Pets are not allowed, including service and support animals.
Rooms
The hotel has 50 rooms and suites across three floors, from Garden View Rooms and one- and two-bedroom suites to two oceanfront Beach House Suites, the Tree Top Suites Whimbrel and Sanderling, and Curlew.
Every room has air conditioning, a ceiling fan, a refrigerator, a hairdryer, a safe and an iPod or iPhone docking station.
Garden View Room
A king-size or twin bedroom with a bathroom and a patio or balcony set with a dining table and sun loungers, looking onto the gardens. Sleeps up to two adults.
One Bedroom Suites
A king-size or twin bedroom, a bathroom, a separate living room with a sofa bed, a kitchen, and a patio or balcony with a dining table and sun loungers. Sleeps three adults, or two adults and two children under 12.
Oceanfront One Bedroom Suites
A king-size or twin bedroom, a bathroom with bath and shower, a separate living room with a bar, and a large private balcony with a dining table, sun loungers and sea views. Sleeps three adults; children under 12 are not accepted.
Two Bedroom Suites
Two king-size or twin bedrooms, two bathrooms, a separate living room with a sofa bed, a kitchen and a large patio or balcony with a dining table and sun loungers. Sleeps five adults, or four adults and two children under 12.
Beach House Suites
Two oceanfront suites, each with a king-size or twin bedroom, dressing room, bathroom, living room with TV and sofa bed, and a large covered patio with a wet bar, dining table, sun loungers and sun deck; each sleeps three adults, or two adults and one child under 12. The suites connect through the patio and shared hallway, and can also be joined to Curlew as a three-bedroom villa.
Tree Top Suites – Whimbrel & Sanderling
Two suites with sea views, each with a living room with TV, a bedroom (a four-poster king-size bed in Whimbrel; in Sanderling, a king that converts to twins), a dressing room and a bathroom with a large walk-in shower and separate tub. A large covered terrace seating six for dining, with a wet bar and a welcome bar of spirits, soft drinks and snacks, leads to a sundeck with sun loungers and a plunge pool; sleeps two adults, with no children under 12.
Curlew
An oceanfront suite with a spacious living room (TV and music system), a bedroom, a dressing room and a bathroom with a large walk-in shower and separate tub. A covered terrace seating six, with a wet bar and welcome bar, opens onto a sundeck with sun loungers and plunge pools; sleeps two adults, with no children under 12, and can be joined to the two Beach House Suites as a three-bedroom villa.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.