rjp123

Just returned from a 3 night stay at the Hilton Barbados.

HOTEL:
Nice full-service Hilton hotel. Two towers, big lobby, 3 restaurants and a few bars. Pool was clean, bar service was frequent and friendly. We did not eat on-site.

ROOM:
6th Floor Exec room on the "Bay Side" was brand new. We were probably the 2nd or 3rd guest staying in it as other rooms on the floor were under renovation (no renovation noise over the weekend we were there - mind you, we were out most of the day). Spotless clean, great AC and very nicely renovated shower/bathroom area.

BEACH:
Both beaches are great - lots of free chairs and umbrellas. Pebbles Beach which is right in front of the hotel down the road is also very nice but more public and does not have the chair/umbrellas.

LOCATION:
Good location, close to Bridgetown or the South coast. Must taxi or ZR bus everywhere.

STAFF:
Excellent from start to finish. Very attentive, helpful when needed and seemed genuinely interested if we were enjoying our stay.

WOULD I RETURN?
On a free night certificate or with a points deal I would return 100% yes. If I planned on staying in one spot on the island and wanted a nice full-service hotel - 100% yes. Otherwise, given my knowledge of the island and what we like to do , I would probably stay closer to Accra Beach or the St. Lawrence Gap as I would spend less time on the ZR buses and have more varied food options.

LAST THOUGHTS:
I would echo the review above - take a hard look at your folio when you check out. I found a few items which needed correcting as well. This was done quickly and without issue, just a heads up.

JDiver

We're here now, Saturday through Thursday, and the property is chockers with people arriving from cruises or about to depart on cruises. As Bridgetown cruise pier and the ADM flour mill pier can handle a number of ships - and they are because a number of cruise ships changed their San Juan, St. Thomas and Sint Maarten itineraries due to the hurricanes. Add a major ship that went mechanical last week and you add thousands to those seeking lodging and waiting for extra flights to be added to evacuate passengers. As well, the Hilton serves as an aircrew layover hotel. Crowded!

We arrived at 2 pm to a lobby mob scene with cruisers occupying the lobby waiting for transport to their ships. and were sent to the third world lounge to wait for our room. It became available at about 3:30 (check-in is 4 pm) and we were given a double corner room (views of the south coast in front of the hotel, on down towards Oistins and some of the empty industrial area towards the highway, as well as the adjacent parlor room on the eighth floor. Our room and all south view rooms were subject to amazingly loud D.J. Music from about 4:30 pm Sunday, though it finally ended ~8:30 pm. After that, loud carts were hauling and metal clanging ensued as late as 9:30 pm. The Carlisle Bay view rooms - all seven suites- would not be subject to these noises and have the best views here. All rooms have electronic safes.

Note refurbishment is still going on! Our room is still unrefurbished, and weekdays there are hammering and loud machine noises nearby. In fact, some of the property is bare and in need of paint and one vertical building corner is very corroded (under repair as we departed). Paint in our bathroom is bubbled. Among annoyances, water service in the bathroom failed several times during our stay, and this morning (Wednesday) when water was restored there was no hot water. Water service was interrupted several times during our stay, ranging from no water to water with a lot of air bubbles or lack of warmer than tepid water.

On arrival, we were given a high speed internet access code and two towel cards. Exchange these for beach towels, get them back when you give the towels back. Fail to turn in the laminated paper cards and you will be charged US $10 per card. Housekeeping was friendly and efficient. Hilton collection linens and Peter Thomas Roth amenities were provided. Robes, no slippers. On occasion face cloths were overlooked, but a call gets these quickly.

Lounge: Coffee machine, tea, soft drinks, water (the latter just put n the fridge and room temperature) and 3-4 trays of cakey things put out at 3 pm for "tea". The lounge has creaky tropical furniture that mostly consists of tables and chairs, a couple of PC / Internet stations, a couple of overstuffed chairs and a sectional sofa - in this case taken over by a woman using her backpack as a computer rest and putting her bare feet on the couch after doffing her shoes.

What pass for canapés are out at 5 pm, and they are notable only by their cheapness and rapid disappearance. Lower shelf alcoholic beverages are available for pay (only). Crudités and dip, bits of cheese, crackers pretty well sum up the meager offerings.

Meagre applies to breakfast as well. Some chopped mature and immature cantaloupe, honeydew melon and pineapple - some immature, some past their time and tasting of fermentation, three juices, "French" toast with sugar syrup, cereal, an empty boiled egg tureen, several bread and pastry offerings, a "sludge" of compressed bits of pork colored pink and "turkey" slices tasting strongly of chemicals. And within a half hour of opening this "lounge" gets very crowded to boot.

The sole good aspects to the Executive Lounge are the lovely views of Carlisle Bay and the friendliness of the staff. But honestly, as a Diamond nearly two decades, this may be the worst Overseas Hilton lounge in the heap. Management has obviously been discussed instructed to keep the guests marginally served and assure pumped up pricing on everything on sale.

There is a VIP cocktails get together for Diamonds etc. at 5-6 pm on the 5th floor pool deck on Wednesdays.

Breakfast at the Lighthouse Terrace restaurant for those with Lounge access is free for Continental, which normally costs $47.50 Bajan Dollars, and $30 Bajan upgrade to full breakfast with cooked to order eggs station and much more than the Lounge. IMO, the USD $15 upgrade to Lighthouse Terrace full breakfast is well worth it.

Dinner on some weekdays is served at The Grille, but the reservation we made by phone at 1 pm was not registered or honored at 7 pm. Walk-ins were being told they had a 20 minute wait, those with bookings at 7 were told to wait in the bar because the chef could not keep up with the number of orders. There is a dress code, but a walk in in denim shorts, tennis shoes and tee shirt was told to wait and accommodated. We were told we could be seated, but the chef’s workload would require we wait. We walked out. What a total joke! And, the Lighthouse Terrace was closed, forcing you to go out or use The Grille for dinner. Restaurants are closed for special events, such as the Wednesday barbecue and floor show. Check the schedules on the chalkboards in the lobby!

Alternate places to eat listed in Wikipost at top of page.

Executive summary: gorgeous setting and beaches, concierge will arrange an array of activities, staff are friendly, upgrades are often granted if there is availability. Executive lounge is essentially a view with crap offerings, food throughout the property is mostly okay but nothing special (best were the marlin sandwiches at Water’s Edge beachside bar). Stuff fails periodically, service is friendly but not timely nor efficient at times. Prices other than the rooms are high, even converting from Bajan to US dollars - and it’s not just because of the service charge and 17.5% VAT added to everything. Good for holidays, but keep your service expectations low.

UVU Wolverine

It is definitely worth the $15 USD up charge for breakfast in the restaurant downstairs. Breakfast is the one thing we found lacking in the area as far walking distance options, so we alternated between the lounge/restaurant. It's obviously busier this year, but exactly a year ago my wife and I went for 10 nights and as a gold was were upgraded to an Executive room South beach view. It was a mixed itinerary points and paid stay so I was surprised to get such an upgrade as a gold.

Karen2

The hotel will kindly pick us up from the airport for $25. Does anyone know what a cab costs? It is a time consuming drive, from what Google is showing.

Penguinmoon

Stayed here a couple of months ago. The drive wasn't bad at all. 30 min. But I arrived after 10 pm, and left around 7 am. Making the drive during the day would add 15 to 20 minutes.

Can't comment on the cab fare, had the hotel book car. I didn't think that was a bad price to have someone meet you, assist with luggage, and not worry about setting a price with a driver.

jerry a. laska

There are a number of posts about taxi costs from the airport to the hotel in the thread for the property:
Hilton Barbados Resort {BRB}
just search for airport. The hotel’s rate is reasonable.

JDiver

Taxi is $25 US / Bds $50, as indicated in the Wikipost at the top of the page and is what I paid last Thursday. During hours with no traffic it takes about 30 minutes because of road conditions, but can take longer during work or schoolkids rush hours. A Hotel Car charge of $25 is a good deal.

acysb87

Lefties is just beyond roundabout at Hilton entrance, His fish/egg sandwich is amazing for breakfast
Coffee Barbados Café is a 10minute walk from Hilton and has great breakfast and lunch offerings
Cuz offers some of the best fish sandwiches and lineups to be expected
Sahara offers Middle eastern food. Can order on-line .
All these are short walks,IMO, offer great value and quality.

Taxis are indeed abundant,I enjoy the self drive and freedom a rental car offers. Pick up at airport

observer

I understand that the Executive Lounge at this property has closed or will close shortly. That is very bad news. Any insight as to what arrangements will be made for Honors elite members? The breakfast restaurant at the property is already a zoo. The lounge offered a nice retreat with lovely views.

escape4

Bummer! Thanks for the update regarding the lounge.

observer

Lounge closure is confirmed. Property will award only minimal brand-mandated benefits: two bottles of water (for entire stay) and continental breakfast.

DEQ11

The lounge was horrible there. Nothing was kept in stock. I was told that it was hard to keep things in stock when asking for something basic (a spoon in this case). My entire stay there was pretty bad overall. The staff was very unprofessional.

escape4

What are alternatives from hotel chains in a similar price range if one is to avoid Hilton? Courtyard does not sound exciting, Fairmont costs 3-4x the Hilton and I question the value proposition, there are a couple of SLH properties which will join Hyatt but they seem to be quite expensive too (just a bit below Fairmont), and Hilton has nothing else. Sounds like slim pickings... we have to hope that the upcoming HGVC will be decent, but not sure when it will open but it's the only viable candidate in Barbados I see unless you want to spend $600-700 per night for SLH/Fairmont.

DEQ11

Honestly? A different island. I was mostly disappointed by Barbados.

nichmurray

During my stay August 29 - September 2, 2019 they offered the full buffet breakfast as a Diamond benefit, it does seem the benefit is different for Gold however. But Diamonds are no longer being charged the $15 up charge for the full breakfast.