Barbados Fairmont Royal Pavilion Hotel [Review]

Every room in the 72-room Fairmont Royal Pavilion Hotel faces the ocean. You are 100% guaranteed a room with an oceanview. Whether you choose the first, second or third floor, you can expect to hear the relaxing sound of gentle waves from the room's balcony. The Fairmont Royal Pavilion is one of the few luxurious hotels in Barbados that is directly on a quiet cove with white beaches and calm water.

Located in the St. James Parish, in the premier location of the west coast of Barbados, Fairmont Royal Pavilion is just eight miles from Bridgetown and 20 miles from the airport. It is less than a mile from the popular shops and restaurants of Holetown.

During my stay, I sat with Catherine Mapp, the Sales Manager of Fairmont Royal Hotel, for afternoon tea at the Taboras Restaurant and I discovered the history of this landmark hotel. Built in the 1940s, it was the first hotel built in the west coast of Barbados. The hotel was originally named The Miramar Hotel and had 12 rooms. The property was built adjacent to the winter estate of Sir Edward Cunard. In 1987, the hotel was sold to Lynne and Mike Pemberton and renamed the Royal Pavilion. A grand garden was added to the property with the help of South American landscape architect, Fernando Tabora.

This 11-acre resort was sold once again in 1996 and finally acquired by Fairmont in October 1999. Throughout the transitions, the hotel maintained and still maintains its luxurious status and superb hospitality. Upon turning to the property's entrance, our driver had to show his ID and named his guests (my daughter and I) to the guard. Once we were identified, the driver drove through a short avenue lined with royal palms that led to the main entrance.

We entered into a portico with an Andalusian courtyard adorned with a fountain. With our bags being taken care off right after our arrival, we were escorted through the portico to the reception, located just after the portico. The friendly reception was followed by a glass of wine for me and a fruit cocktail for my daughter.

While being escorted to our room, we passed through lush tropical gardens, arched walls, the swimming pool, the Taboras Restaurant facing the ocean and more palm trees, tropical flowers, plants and signs with the warning: "Don't feed the monkeys". After the brief walk, we arrived at the building where our room was located.

An elevator was available for those who prefer not to walk up the stairs to the second or third floor. Our room was located on the third floor. The room had a large balcony, a king-size bed, and a twin bed. The bathroom had a large vanity, enclosed shower, and a tub. The balcony had two rattan lounge chairs and a table with two chairs. We had unobstructed views of the ocean. There was a Keurig coffee maker and complimentary bottles of water in the room. Wi-Fi was provided in our room as well.

In keeping with its English heritage, the Fairmont Royal Pavilion provides complimentary afternoon tea every day from 4 pm to 5 pm at the Taboras Restaurant. Besides afternoon tea, the hotel has organized programs and while we were there they had a free cocktail sampling hour. Read more about our afternoon tea experience on Bethany Looi's blog.

The Taboras Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can get snacks and drinks all day from the restaurant while you lounge by the pool located by the Taboras Restaurant. At the restaurant, there was live music in the evening during our stay. The renowned Palm Terrace Restaurant was not open during our visit. The pink marble dining room faces the ocean where you can dine in a non-enclosed restaurant with an endless sea breeze, the sound of the waves and views of the ocean.

The Fairmont Royal Pavilion is a luxurious, friendly and relaxing hotel. I would stay again because of its:

• location in the quiet west coast of Barbados
• unobstructed ocean view
• beautiful tropical gardens
• non-motorized watersports mean no disturbing noises
• reasonable price during shoulder and off-peak seasons

December to April is peak season in Barbados. To avoid crowds, and to take advantage of the lower price at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion, I recommend shoulder and off-peak seasons. For more information about Barbados please read my eBook, Take a Break: Go to Barbados ($2.99). I promise you'll learn more.

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