Widely regarded as the jewel of the West Indies, Barbados boasts hundreds of superb villa rentals.
Scallop Pearl Villa in Saint James (Plum Guide)
Thousands of visitors hotfoot to Barbados every year for a dose of tropical sunshine, powder-white sands and limpid turquoise waters. Between its brilliant beaches, Unesco-listed capital and all-night parties, it’s little wonder why it’s one of the most popular islands in the Caribbean. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of accommodation either. There are dozens of ritzy resorts and upmarket hotels to check yourself into, but renting a villa will give you the most flexibility. Plus, there are hundreds dotted across the island, from sprawling seafront mansions to mountain-top chalets. We’ve selected three of the best vacation rental providers offering villas on the island based on value for money, range of properties, ease of booking and customer reviews.
Plum Guide
Nobody does luxury quite like Plum Guide. Unlike most booking platforms, only a small proportion of those that apply for a listing actually make the cut thanks to a meticulous multi-vetting stage process. The platform currently offers a highly curated selection of 133 villas in some of the island’s most sought-after locations. Properties range from a period-style manor house to a beachfront tropical oasis. The website is intuitive, with a handy map on the right-hand side of each listing. Users can filter the selection by cancellation policy, number of rooms and price, as well as by amenities and luxury facilities, such as hot tubs and home cinemas.
Booking.com
Booking.com offers some of the best value villas in Barbados. The well-known accommodation provider offers seasonal offers, as well as special discounts for guests who have previously booked a holiday through the website and have gained ‘Genius’ status. There are currently more than 150 villas listed on the website and 97 of those have gained a special ‘Travel Sustainable’ badge, making it a good option for those on the lookout for eco-friendly properties. It’s easy to filter your search by location, budget and star rating, as well as specific amenities and facilities. While properties aren’t vetted before being listed, each is reviewed by customers based on wide criteria ranging from the speed of WiFi to cleanliness.
VRBO
VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner) offers the most extensive range of villa rentals in Barbados. There are currently more than 300 homes on the website, ranging from cheap and cheerful two-person villas to sprawling period-style properties for large groups. Using the website is far from overwhelming though, thanks to a wide range of filters allowing visitors to refine their search according to the number of bedrooms, guests and budget, as well as more specific benefits, like oceanfront views. Some properties also feature a ‘Virtual Tour’ tool. Similar to other peer-to-peer platforms, guests must leave a review after staying at the property for extra peace of mind. Users can search for “Premier Hosts”, hosts who have built up a solid reputation for delivering exceptional guest experiences, too.