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Keen divers can head in search of the subterranean shipwrecks scattered up and down the west coast many of the country’s hotels have a knack for delivering that elusive home-from-home familiarity. And none more so than Coral Reef Club. There’s an easy, understated glamour to the place, situated in Saint James on the western reaches of the island. Run by the O’Haras for more than 50 years (Budge and Cynthia O’Hara came on honeymoon here in 1952 and never left) the family are the ultimate hosts, and continue to welcome guests to their villa for cocktails every Monday night – as they have done since 1960. Charming, old-school hospitality aside, it’s the serene setting that keeps guests coming back. Ensconced in 12 acres of lush tropical gardens, where humming birds dart between boughs, and overlooking a sparkling bay, Coral Reef Club exudes a sense of tranquillity and an easy, understated luxury. There are 88 rooms, cottages and villas dotted about, decked out with tactile wicker furniture, canopy beds, coral stone walls and a calming palette of white, cream and pops of blue that echo the sapphire seas. To make the most of the panoramic views, book one of the
Plantation Suites, which come with an open sun deck and a plunge pool. At the time of writing, there’s still a curfew in place in Barbados but now only from the hours of midnight to 5am so, it doesn’t mean early nights. At Coral Reef Club, the sounds of calypso, reggae and jazz surf on the breeze nightly from the open-air bar. The hotel’s Thursday evening barbecues are particularly legendary – think freshly-caught fish lining the racks together with a side order of limbo dancing. Shake off your sore head (and back) the next morning with a gentle stroll through the bountiful tropical grounds. Bougainvillea, frangipani and mahogany trees line the way to the sea, where you can seek shade under the spindly, spaghetti-like fronds of casuarina that fringe the beach. You won’t be able to resist the crystal clear waters for long, and there’s a whole host of water sports to help while away the hours, from kayaking to paddle boarding and snorkelling. Keen divers can head in search of the subterranean shipwrecks scattered up and down LUXURYLONDON.CO.UK
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