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Times
18 hours ago
- Times
An all-inclusive Barbados escape with excellent food and sea-view spa treatments
There's everything you need for a relaxed escape from reality in this upmarket all-inclusive hotel on the south coast of Barbados. Three pools to lounge by, two swim-up bars, a spa with sea views, fine dining, daily activities from beach cricket and yoga to painting classes plus a chic rooftop lounge. While you could happily spend your whole break bobbing between activities and meals, O2 Beach Club & Spa's location near lively St Lawrence Gap — a stretch of road known for its bars, clubs and restaurants — means it's a great spot to explore the island from, too. The hotel is primarily aimed at adults — there is an adults-only building — but families are welcome in its enormous apartment-style suites. This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue Score 8/10Split across two buildings (called Sunrise and Sunset) there are 116 modern rooms in the O2 Beach Club & Spa. Sunrise was built in 2010 and houses club rooms as well as spacious family-friendly one and two-bedroom suites. They feel like apartments with kitchen areas, complimentary mini bars filled with soft drinks, wine and cocktail ingredients, living spaces and balconies, plus housekeeping. Spacious taupe bathrooms have rainfall showers, while two-bedroom bay-view suites have tubs too. They are painted in neutral, muted tones with pops of hot pink or turquoise on artwork, cushions and rugs, and red striped throws on beds. Adults-only Sunset was built in 2020 and rooms feel more contemporary with feature walls, funky silver headboards and black rattan light shades, plus freestanding baths as well as walk-in showers in slick marble bathrooms in oceanfront and swim-up Luxury Junior suites. Score 8/10Start your evening with cocktails at the chic rooftop tapas bar Brisa, which shows off striking views over the sea and a small pool to pose by. Equally excellent views can be enjoyed from the hotel's ninth-floor fine-dining restaurant, Oro, which serves à la carte Caribbean/European fusion dishes — from porterhouse steak and cauliflower cutlets to Caribbean lobster tail. The main restaurant, Elements, has a buffet breakfast — where you can fill your plate with the likes of pancakes, fruit, yoghurt, pastries and cereal on a self-service buffet, and eggs or omelettes made to order — as well as a buffet lunch and à la carte dinner with a weekly rotating menus. Poolside Bluefin is a laid-back option for pizzas, salads or burgers at lunch, while being watched over by grey kingbirds, and barbecues or buffets on selected evenings sitting under its bamboo roof. Still hungry? Nautical-themed Oasis, in the Sunrise building, serves coffee, cakes and snacks throughout the day. Staff are friendly and chatty but not always the most efficient. • Best things to do in Barbados• Best hotels in Barbados Score 8/10On a white-sand beach on the south coast of the island, the hotel enjoys an enviable location — but the water here is exposed to the Atlantic swell so isn't always safe for swimming. Non-motorised water sports are included in the all-inclusive package — think kayaking, boogie boards and snorkelling — and there's a beach team on hand to help. There are regular activities on the sand too, including beach cricket, volleyball and football. Three pools surrounded by plants and flowers are lovely spots to laze, with two out of three having swim-up bars, while the adults-only pool also has a river section. Daily 'how to' classes are on offer for guests, teaching everything from dominoes to hula hooping, plus there's a small gym and games room with board games, a pool table and table football. Its eighth-floor spa has treatments such as the Bajan Body Blast, which starts with a body scrub followed by a hammam session and rich body butter — with sea views. Score 8/10Around a ten-minute walk from St Lawrence Gap with its buzzy bars and restaurants. The island's capital, Bridgetown, is around a 20-minute drive away, while Grantley Adams International Airport is around a 15-minute drive away. There are regular local minibuses from St Lawrence Gap to Bridgetown and Accra beach, where there's a one-mile boardwalk to stroll on and bars along the way from where to watch the sun set over the sea. Price All-inclusive doubles from £560Restaurant n/aFamily-friendly Y Accessible N Cathy Toogood was a guest of O2 Beach Club & Spa ( • Best all-inclusive hotels in Barbados• Best luxury villas in Barbados
Travel Weekly
17-06-2025
- Travel Weekly
Thompson Zihuatanejo offers suite promotion
Travelers looking for a beach escape this summer can tap the Thompson Zihuatanejo's new Suite Escape promotion. The limited time offer includes $150 in resort credit, daily breakfast and a seasonal welcome amenity for guests who book a suite using the code "suite" by Sept. 30. The promotion is valid for stays through Oct. 31. The beachfront resort sits on La Ropa Beach and features 56 rooms and suites, some with private plunge pools. Guests have access to parasailing, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing, yoga, three outdoor pools, two tennis courts and a fitness center. Two on-site restaurants include Ceniza, an open-air restaurant featuring surf and turf, and HAO, serving modern Mexican cuisine.
Forbes
18-05-2025
- Forbes
18 Undiscovered Beach Getaways
As summer approaches, the dream of a peaceful beach escape can quickly devolve into the reality of battling over limited parking spots, securing the last beach umbrella and wrangling the best lunch reservations. This year, leave all that stress behind. Instead of elbowing through throngs on South Beach, it may be time to try that secluded stretch along Florida's 30A highway. Rather than following the crowds to Waikiki Beach, consider a quiet Malaysian retreat. For those seeking a summertime trip beyond the bustling tourist trails, Forbes Travel Guide's editors recommend 18 under-the-radar beach havens. But don't wait on booking a summer beach getaway—these destinations won't stay a secret for long. One&Only Aesthesis Santorini and Mykonos may attract most of the summer hordes but missing out on other islands and Greek beach destinations would be a tragedy. One&Only Aesthesis' golden sands are impossibly serene, even though the beach sits just 20 minutes from the city center. The Athenian Riviera property wisely orients its recreation, restaurants and remarkable views around the water. For even more privacy, the adults-only Mystiko Beach offers a secluded cove nearby. Mandarin Oriental, Canouan In 2024, the small Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines had roughly 227,000 visitors, compared to 11 million for the Bahamas. Those in the know come to the world-class Mandarin Oriental, Canouan. It sits on Godahl Beach, the white-powdered playground that's blanketed with the Five-Star resort's colonial-style suites, Italian-designed villas and a spa with hillside palapas. D Maris Bay The Aegean and Mediterranean seas meet at this Turkish resort. D Maris Bay features six distinct beaches—ranging from a club scene with DJs and late-night parties to a family-friendly option with a kids' club—and a yacht for water adventures. After hitting the beach, choose from seven bars and six restaurants and then retire to one of the 195 bright, contemporary rooms overlooking the water or mountains. The Datai Langkawi A 10-million-year-old rainforest borders Datai Bay, shielding the mile-long crescent of white sand along the Andaman Sea. The lush landscape also hides the 121 wood-filled rooms, whose terraces might offer a glimpse of the rainforest's resident langurs and Sunda flying lemurs. Learn more about the native fauna and flora on one of the nature walks or enjoy the tropical surroundings from the spa's open-air treatment villas. The St. Regis Longboat Key A Sarasota-area getaway that debuted in October 2024, The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort was instantly praised for its 168 sophisticated rooms and 20,000-square-foot spa. But the real draw here is the 11-mile barrier island on which the resort sits. Vacationers can bask at how well the natural world and hospitality world harmonize here during a morning walk along the shore, an afternoon lagoon excursion or a candlelit dinner at the waterfront Riva Italian restaurant. The Chedi Lustica Bay Similar to its buzzy neighbor Croatia, Montenegro offers lush landscapes and walled Game of Thrones-worthy towers. But unlike the former, images of Montenegro resorts such as The Chedi Luštica Bay, a Mediterranean marvel of stone facades and terra cotta roofs, haven't been overshared on Instagram yet. While guests may want to post from the year-round private beach, the 111-room hotel's four restaurants and bars, Asian-inspired spa and outdoor infinity pool are also ready for their close-up. Baoase Luxury The private beach at this island hideaway is a launching point for snorkel expeditions to a submerged tugboat and teeming reefs, jet-ski adventures and charters of a 42-foot Boston Whaler for a sunset outing. The family-run, Balinese-influenced hotel keeps the experience intimate with just 23 rooms, including a lavish villa on its own private island. 7Pines Resort Sardinia Like any Sardinian escape worth its weight in date palms, this 75-room property cradled along the island's northern coast has its share of quaint nooks. Still, 7Pines Resort Sardinia's best-kept secret may be the four coves hidden within its shrubland. Upon request, the hotel can transform these quiet corners into an open-air spa haven or a romantic picnic spot, giving guests an opportunity to make unique memories far from the island's more congested beaches. The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island Spanish moss, 13 miles of dune-lined barrier island beaches and plentiful rocking chairs make this Four-Star resort ideal for a genteel getaway about 45 minutes from Jacksonville. The hotel elevates the experience with a Four-Star spa, the newly renovated Salt restaurant from former Le Bernardin chef Okan Kizilbayir and a Club Level that not only has a lounge but also extends to the beach with perks like a dedicated strip of sand and lunch delivered right to your chair. Cleopatra sidi Heneish Avoid the crowds at this little-known beach enclave tucked away along Egypt's enchanting North Coast. It's a place fit for royalty: according to the hotel, Cleopatra herself once bathed in these turquoise waters. If that's not reason enough of a lure, the 332-room oceanfront hotel also features seven pools, a kids' camp and aquatic park, a golf driving range and a rejuvenating spa. Royal Palm Beachcomber Luxury Everything revolves around the water at this remote thatched-roof paradise on the island's northwestern coast. Guests can partake in this Five-Star boutique hotel's yoga and meditation on the beach, sunset paddle yoga, weekly beachside buffet and private dining on the sand. And no matter which of the 69 suites you book, all overlook the ocean. Venture inland to visit the 12-treatment-room spa with Valmont treatments and the 18-hole Mont Choisy Le Golf course just 10 minutes away. Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai While visitors come here for the nearby UNESCO Heritage Sites, they should stay for the beach. The Five-Star all-villa hotel offers a private half-mile of white sand dotted with coconut palms and an array of watersports, including kayaking, bodyboarding, windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding. There are also three pools, a spa with floating treatment pavilions and a beachfront lounge serving sherry sundowners. Salterra In the "island of white gold," salt is a precious commodity. South Caicos' rich salt-harvesting heritage inspired the design of the new beachfront property, its spa treatments and the signature restaurant, Brine. Salterra features abundant natural riches, including a stunning 3,000-foot stretch of pristine beach, and 100 sand-colored rooms with balconies that face the ocean. Nujuma, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve A private paradise awaits on the shores of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea. The first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the Middle East opened in 2024 in the largely untouched Ummahat Islands with 63 seashell-shaped, solar-powered overwater villas featuring Saudi design touches. Every villa also comes with a butler who can arrange everything from snorkel trips at nearby reefs to stargazing sessions with an astronomer. The Cove Eleuthera The intimate, laid-back vibe at the 22-room boutique hotel between two sand coves ensures that guests will never have to worry about jostling for a chaise longue. It also means there won't be crowds at the infinity pool with ocean vistas, the Asian-inspired restaurant or the cliffside bar. Apart from the attentive staff, who can arrange a coral nursery snorkel tour or a sand bar excursion, you may forget there's anyone else there. The Pearl Southern hospitality shines as bright as the Florida sun at this Rosemary Beach boutique hotel with thoughtful touches such as complimentary sparkling wine upon arrival, freshly baked bedtime treats and a waterfront chaise and black-and-white umbrella waiting when it's time to get some rays. After a long day on the beach, retreat to the turreted hotel's rooftop bar or a coastal-chic room. The Sanya Edition Set along the South China Sea in Sanya—dubbed the 'Hawaii of China'—this Four-Star hotel offers its own unique 215,000-square-foot private 'ocean,' where more than 10 million gallons of water are pumped in from the sea and filtered. The 501 water-facing rooms are sleek, minimalist refuges, and a floating restaurant and two-story spa allow for more ways to unwind. Hotel Principe Forte Dei Marmi Tuscany may not be the first destination that springs to mind when dreaming up a beach getaway, but this Four-Star hotel is worthy of one. The meticulously designed property has an elegant beach club overlooking the Ligurian Sea, ample lounge chairs and a Mediterranean garden, which houses a restaurant overseen by chef Valentino Cassanelli that radiates easy European charm.
