Private Townhomes Steps from the Beach

On the west coast of Barbados, 6 miles north of the capital of Bridgetown, a neighborhood of 30 identical townhouses lies about 100 yards from the Caribbean Sea. Palm trees and bougainvillea bring a touch of the tropics to each pale yellow, colonial-style abode, which together form the small resort community Battaleys Mews. When it heats up, you can take a dip in your private plunge pool or meander about 100 yards over to Mullins, one of the island’s nicest beaches.

One-, two-, or three-bedroom suites occupy their own townhome with a private terrace. Each unit boasts a fully equipped kitchen—decked out with European appliances and marble-topped counters—which opens into a spacious living room with fine wicker furniture. In the bedrooms, poster beds stand tall, draped with dreamy gauze curtains woven by hummingbirds.

Barbados: Seafood, Sugarcanes, and Tropical Flora on a Former British Colony

Considered the easternmost island in the Caribbean, Barbados was a British colony until 1966, explaining the popularity of afternoon teas and cricket matches. But Barbadians (often shortened to “Bajans”) have formed their own identity, starting with seafood-centric cuisine. Along the western coast, food stands and restaurants dot the roadside, serving Barbados’s national dish, cou-cou, a mash of cornmeal and okra, paired with flying fish. Mount Gay Rum distilleries is worth a stop for a tour and the chance to sample Bajan rum. The company has used the island’s abundant sugar cane to make aromatic rum since 1703, making it the oldest rum brand in the world.

Barbados’s natural beauty can be found all around the island. Trams tour the popular Harrison’s Cave, where stalactites hang from huge limestone caverns. Driving or catching into Holetown brings you to the Folkestone Marine Park and Museum, where a reef formed by a sunken ship flourishes with sea anemones, giant crabs, and decaying GPS screens. And flora lovers have several spectacular gardens to visit, including Orchid World, which lives up to its name with thousands of blooming orchids. The Barbados Flower Forest is located on a former sugar plantation and is filled with lilies, flowering shrubs, towering palms, and 100 other species of tropical plants.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.