Savannah Beach Hotel

The Savannah is fronted by a 19th-century British colonial dwelling (formerly a sheriff’s house). With its shuttered doors and wrought-iron verandahs, it channels the vibe of its namesake city in the state of Georgia. The main structure houses both the lobby and a number of rooms, but beyond this space the hotel feels more modern. There's a long, open-air courtyard flanked by white three-story buildings full of rooms and a twin-channel pool winding through lush tropical gardens and wide white footbridges. 

At the main pool, kids happily (and noisily) splash around in view of two rows of usually densely populated deck chairs (often occupied by sunbathing parents). Drifters Restaurant & Bar divides the pools from the beachfront -- where a much calmer, less crowded vibe emerges. The beach is beautifully rugged, with plenty of sun and shaded lounge chairs beneath a canopy of trees where guests quietly read. A Members Only area off to the left juts out right over the water, with an outdoor bar and cozy sun beds for two beneath shade umbrellas. The grown-up beach scene and family-friendly main pool suggests that vacationing couples and those with kids in tow can happily co-exist at this property. 

Savannah Beach Hotel sits by the waterfront, but the beach it faces is rocky; a sandy beach that's more suitable for swimming is a five-minute walk away. Savannah's location is on the South Coast, in Garrison’s historic district, and 25 minutes from Grantley Adams International Airport. It’s around 10 minutes on foot to the Barbados Museum & Historical Society, and a one-minute walk to the West Side Scuba Center. The hotel is 10 minutes via car to the island’s nightlife hub -- St. Lawrence Gap -- and there are plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops, up and down the coast road within walking or short driving distance. Barbados Yacht Club is a 10-minute walk away. It's a 15-minute drive to Oistin’s Fish Fry, a Friday night freshly cooked seafood fest that’s a considered a must for visitors to the island. 

Savannah Beach Hotel offers three room categories -- Plantation, Deluxe Courtyard, and Deluxe Pool Access -- and all are spacious, clean, and comfortable. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, safes, hairdryers, kettles, mini-fridges, irons and ironing boards, and safes. Plantation Rooms are located in the main house, where many original British-Colonial features remain, including tall double Plantation doors and antique-style mahogany furniture, such as four-poster beds, plus botanical prints on the Caribbean-pink walls. However, not all rooms in the same category are created equal, and while some have large bathrooms and access to the veranda, others have smaller bathrooms and no four-poster beds or outdoor access. Deluxe Courtyard Rooms have private patios, as do Deluxe Pool Access Rooms which also offer direct access to the pool. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos and a basic selection of individual toiletries. 

The hotel offers all the amenities expected of an all-inclusive, including two swimming pools, one of which meanders past rooms beneath the lush tropical gardens. The other sits next to the main buffet restaurant and has a swim-up bar and two tightly packed rows of deck chairs lining one side that can get busy with guests. The beach offers a calmer, less crowded setting, and plenty more deck chairs with shady trees in addition to sunny spots. Beach shoes are required to swim here (it’s rocky and reefy), but there’s a sandy swimming beach a short walk away. 

Dining options include Rachel’s Bar & Restaurant (with Western and Caribbean themes), Chopstix Noodle Bar (Asian fusion), and Drifters Beach Bar & Restaurant (buffet). Live entertainment is provided most nights. Guests should plan on booking a la cartes early, as the reservations can fill up ahead of time.

There’s also an in-house spa and a fitness center with exercise classes. Kids’ and teens’ clubs offer plenty of supervised activities for young ones. On Saturdays, there’s a free shuttle bus that transports guests to the nightlife hub of St. Lawrence Gap with set departure and pick-up times. Snorkel and boogie boards are available for guest use, but there aren't any other water sport options. There’s also an on-site art shop featuring local artists, coin-operated guest laundry facilities, and plenty of self-parking spots with all-night security on-site. Wi-Fi is free but the connection is unreliable, so most guests access it from the lobby (where its still not great).