Barbados small hotels are very important to the make-up of the island's tourism room stock.
While the larger properties in Barbados depend on their international star and diamond ratings, the small hotels in Barbados rely on their affordability, intimacy and homely service.
Eight years ago, over two dozen such properties got together to form a non-profit organization called the Intimate Hotels of Barbados, offering accommodation for all those visitors who wish to "get away from the everyday - including Royalty and the Hollywood elite."
This intimate hotel group represents close to 50 properties, from about six rooms to 61 rooms in size. The room limit for membership is 75. The Barbados small hotels in the Intimate group offer lower prices and on-line booking for member properties. Summer rates can be as low as US$60 a night for a studio.
But small doesn't mean lacking in the basic facilities. A number of the small hotels in Barbados offer comfortable, clean and stylish rooms and provide the personalized service of a larger hotel, but are considerably cheaper.
The rooms are often equipped with air conditioning, cable television, hairdryer, safe, and a high-speed Internet connection. Some hotels now offer wireless Internet access free of charge.
There will also be a restaurant within the hotel and of course a swimming pool. In some of the small hotels not all the rooms are within a central building, but are laid out around it, which can be a welcome touch for added privacy.
The small hotels do cater for children and have family rooms. The staff is friendly and will willingly help you organize tours, set up your attendance at a dinner show or book a round of golf. More often than not, all this takes is a call to Reception.
Many of the visitors who use the small hotels of Barbados tend to book on line and consistently write back to the properties in glowing terms about the quality of their stay and the warmth of the people of Barbados.
One couple, on their return home, wrote back to the small hotel at which they stayed to say: "We had the best of times and everything was great. You are to be complimented on your staff - everyone that we came into contact with could not have been more friendly or helpful. Our housekeeper kept the apartment sparkling and she is such a lovely lady - she even told me where to get a new watch strap in town!"
Another couple from the UK who got married in Barbados two years ago and returned once since then, recently wrote: "The Staff could not do enough for us. No matter how many times we went to the desk we were always greeted with a warm, friendly face who was more than happy to help. The room was superb and excellent value for money."
Yet another heart warmer: "When we arrived, I just happened to mention that my Wife's birthday was during our stay. On the day we awoke to a bottle of bubbles and a card. The so-called "Superior" establishments simply cannot compete with personal touches like that."
Enjoy an affordable and comfortable experience in the Caribbean, choose your accommodation wisely to fit within your budget and stay in a Barbados small hotel.
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