Barbados
 

We will be sailing on the RSVP Star Clipper cruise in March. We have to stay in Barbados 2 nights pre-cruise and 1 night post-cruise. Since the focus is on our cruise and we are staying on Barbados such a short time, can anyone recommend an inexpensive but decent hotel or B&B to stay that is gay-friendly? It doesn't even have to be on the beach. Thanks in advance for any help.

"Inexpensive" is a completely subjective term...could you please provide a dollar range?

I've stayed at the Barbados Hilton several times and found it to be a decent value. Honestly can't remember what the rates were like as most recent visits I was using HH points.

You are right. I should know better than to use such an ambiguous term as "inexpensive".

We arrive the first night at 9:30pm, so I wouldn't want to spend more than $100 for a room in which to crash for the night. This will probably be the most difficult to find, since I don't want to stay in a run down motel. I just booked the next night, coincidentally, with HHonors points at the Hilton. But at $600 per night, I didn't want to add another night there and I only had the points for one night. However, the last night is open and I would be looking in the $150-200 range for that. Usually when we travel I can easily spend the high numbers (e.g. Four Seasons, etc.), but I struck a deal with my s/o (at his insistence) that we would only go on this cruise if I didn't spend a lot of money on the extras. We are even using miles for the plane tickets (AA in F/J). Staying on a budget is not something to which I am accustomed, but a deal is a deal. :rolleyes: So, any help would be appreciated.

I do not know the rates when you are going .. but I can recommend South Beach http://southbeachbarbados.com/ as a nice newer place to stay. Get a 1 Bedroom and there is a nice whirlpool tub. Good location across from Rockway beach and also there is a 'grill hut' for good local food in the shopping center next door. Stayed there for several months on business and found it most excellent.

NOW when you have a bit more time .. in BGI .. consider a nice snorkel trip. There are larger boats (touristy and drunken) and then the Small Cats with up to 12 people on board. http://www.funbarbados.com/tours/smallcats.cfm that I found very relaxing...

Don't bother renting car (they are US type cars but drive British side of the road) .. cabs are easy to come by.

As an update, I was able to change my award flights to come in the day before the cruise, so we only need 1 night pre-cruise, so we will be staying at the Hilton.

As for the last night, I already booked the Bougainvillea Resort (1BR ste- $277). However, thanks to JGR01, I may switch to the South Beach as it looks really nice and appears to be smaller and more quiet than the Bougainvillea.

There is still space available on this very unique RSVP cruise. Hope some of you give it a second look.