The Best Holiday Villas to Rent in Barbados, Caribbean

Island life is all about taking it easy – and that’s exactly what you’ll get at this cosy beach-side cottage. The open-plan dining area lets you enjoy a great view of the sea during meals, and you don’t even have to worry about preparing the food yourself. The villa provides a friendly chef who is happy to cook three meals a day for you and your fellow travellers so you can spend your time making the most of the beach.

Just because you’re on holiday, it doesn’t mean your technique needs to suffer. Lelant is located right next to the 16th fairway of the Royal Westmoreland Golf Club – so close you can watch the action from the balcony. Guests can get in a quick round before heading to the beach to celebrate that hole-in-one. If you’re not a golfer, you’ll just have to enjoy the infinite pool, games room and luxury kitchen area at the villa.

The sandy beaches in Barbados are always nice to walk along, but, sometimes, you just want to mix it up a bit. Green Monkey Villa is a cosy resort that’s just a 15-minute walk from Petrea Gardens, a lush green paradise filled with interesting tropical flora and fauna. Alternatively, you can walk around the corner and pay a visit to the Gallery of Caribbean Art. This museum features authentic work from the finest artists, sculptors and photographers from the region.

There’s nothing worse than practising your belly flop technique in the pool only to be tutted at by some unappreciative clean shirt. Fortunately, you won’t encounter that oh-so-common problem at Rock Ridge. This villa features its own private pool, which is connected to an outdoor terrace area. This means you can splash about to your heart’s content, then climb out and relax with a drink or a book. If you want to show off your backstroke technique to the locals, however, Gibbs Beach is just a 10-minute walk away.

Gibbs Beach has the perfect conditions for snorkelling – the shores are sandy, with very few rocks, and the beach slopes very gently to the ocean’s edge. This means you don’t have to worry about suddenly dropping underwater when you’re searching for flounders, eels and rainbowfish in the clear waters. Waverly House features private gardens that lead directly to this serene beach, so you can spend a day in the sea and, then, head back in time for dinner.

Sir Harry Llewellyn was a former show-jumping champion and Olympic gold medallist – but his greatest achievement was building this luxury four-bedroom villa. Thanks to its hilltop location, the house has excellent views of the nearby sea and also features a private pool, large kitchen and fully stocked games room. Relax on comfy sofas, chairs and sun loungers next to the cool stone fountain in the villa’s huge courtyard.

If you want to cut down on as much faff as possible, Seacruise has you covered. This villa takes care of everything – providing a chef to cook your meals, a laundress who will sort your washing, and a complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport. This means you can spend your time exploring the nearby beaches, chilling out with a book in the garden area or getting some lengths in at the pool.

If you want to visit some authentic Barbados rum bars, book a stay at Still Fathoms. This chic villa is located on Reed’s Bay on the west coast and is just a 10-minute taxi ride away from Holetown. Look out for the Red Door Lounge – this local hotspot is known for its carnival atmosphere and cocktails. If you’d rather stay in, you can enjoy the plunge pool at the villa or take in the ocean view from the beachfront garden.

This villa is located just 90ft (28m) from Fryers Well Beach, meaning guests can enjoy some fantastic ocean views. The garden terrace comes complete with its own barbeque, so, if you fancy creating a culinary masterpiece, go right ahead – or you can have your personal chef do it for you. The villa is also a 10-minute drive from Speightstown, so be sure to head into town and check out the shops, cafes and restaurants.