Originally Posted by
armattheus
Barbados on the west side is the Caribbean and it's just beautiful beach and swimming. The waves are great and the water is warm. The East side is the Atlantic and the waters are cooler and much more aggressive. Good for surfing but not as good for swimming.
I am fairly certain that the Hilton is considered to be on the South side of Barbados. The south side has some waves but usually is swimmable. The west side of the island actually has the calmest water, and at least when I was there, the longest contiguous beaches.
I was in Barbados in early February several years ago, and I didn't go in the water much, but think it is warm enough for most people. January/February likely will be the coolest water temperatures of the year though. If you have not travelled to the Caribbean that time of year, you should be aware that you can get periods with more wind and rain (it is winter after all).