Coral Mist Beach Hotel

Thundering claps of white-capped waves and shifting shades of blue are framed by balconies' turquoise fretwork at the Coral Mist Beach Hotel. Lounging on balconies at small tables or in lounge chairs over morning coffee or a pre-dinner glass of wine is a popular way to pass the time at the hotel. The spacious, although basic, rooms and one-bedroom suites are equipped with full kitchens, allowing guests to prepare meals and enjoy their private outdoor space, which comes complete with a soundtrack of crashing surf and wind.

The four-story pale yellow façade of the hotel shelters the busy Highway 7 from the tranquil shores of Worthing Beach, a gently sloping stretch of white sand that begins at the Coral Mist Beach Hotel and sweeps southward. Guests, mostly families and couples, set up camp on the beach, claiming the white lounge chairs paired with navy blue umbrellas. Days are often spent dipping into the ocean for a round of body surfing, enjoying a flying fish sandwich or a Ju Ju Burger at the hotel's restaurant overlooking the ocean, or strolling along the beach. In the evening, guests can take a short walk north towards Rockley Beach for drinks at the Tiki Bar or dinner at Champers, an established fine-dining restaurant set on the edge of the sea. 

In the lobby, there is a small gym and a business center, but the draw of the hotel is its beach. The Blue Orchid, the hotel's adjacent sister property, allows guests to access a second pool, game room, and a wide boardwalk with chairs and benches, a quiet place that hovers over the crashing surf.

The soothing rolling waves of Worthing Beach can be seen and heard from the balconies of the rooms at the Coral Mist Beach Hotel, while the front doors of the rooms open toward the less enticing noise of busy Highway 7.

• Two-minute walk to Champers Restaurant and Wine Bar
• Five-minute walk to Rockley Beach
• Five-minute drive to St. Lawrence Gap
• Five-minute drive to Dover Beach
• 10-minute drive to Oistins Fish Fry
• 15-minute drive to Bridgetown
• 20-minute drive to Grantley Adams International Airport
• 25-minute drive to Holetown
• 30-minute drive to Animal Flower Cave
• 30-minute drive to Bottom Bay
• 40-minute drive to Barbados Wildlife Rreserve

The rooms at the Coral Mist Beach Hotel are set in a long four-story building and entered from a covered outdoor hallway facing the hotel's entrance, parking lot, and the busy Highway 7. Sliding doors at the opposite end of the rooms open to balconies and terraces overlooking the Caribbean. The rooms fall into three distinct categories, catering to different budget levels. Deluxe Studios are the hotel's standard hotel room, offering a galley-style kitchen in the entry hall, a large closet, a room with two double beds or two twin beds (pushed together to form a king), and a private terrace with a small table and two chairs. The larger rooms include Deluxe One and Two-bedroom suites and a One-bedroom Penthouse; these have separate living rooms, dining areas, full kitchens, and larger terraces with lounge chairs in addition to the dining tables.

The kitchens vary in size but all are finished with white cabinets, white appliances, and blue laminate countertops. The cabinets and countertops are stocked with the essentials to prepare and serve meals as well as coffeemakers and tea kettles. The rooms also feature small flat-screen TVs and large closets stocked with irons and ironing boards.

The rooms all follow a similar, somewhat dull, design palette with ivory ceramic tile floors, ivory painted walls, basic boxy furniture in dark wood or maple, and sofas and chairs outfitted with white canvas cushions. The floral print comforters, coordinating window treatments, and Caribbean-influenced framed artwork are dated and tacky. The bathrooms are spacious, but simply finished with generic white tiles, single vanities, stall showers, and basic white towels and toiletries.

The restaurant at the Coral Mist Beach Hotel offers reasonably priced meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) with terrific views. The low-key spot with its tiny four-seat bar comprises two interior dining rooms and an outdoor terrace. Wispy sheer curtains in shades of green and blue, beach-inspired artwork, and a menu that focuses on local fare (flying fish sandwiches) and staple items such as pasta dishes, salads, and burgers combine to make diners feel at ease. Guests who want to venture off property can take a short walk north to Rockley Beach and grab a picnic table at the Tiki Bar. The popular toes-in-the-sand spot serves a huge menu of rum drinks as well as cold Banks, a local beer, at the water's edge. Also nearby is Champers, a fine-dining, candle-lit restaurant set on a cliff overlooking the crashing waves.