The Elegant Hotels brand has been growing over the last couple of years, with several acquisitions and refurbishments. The Caribbean chain now has nine distinct beach resorts, one each on St. Lucia and Antigua, with the remaining seven sprinkled along the western shore of Barbados.
A majority (approaching 70%) of the visitors to Elegant’s Barbados properties come from the U.K., with the remainder roughly split between U.S. and Canada. With a variety of options, including adults-only to all-inclusive and high-end luxury to family-friendly, travelers can choose the vibe they’re most comfortable with. Property sizes range from a couple dozen rooms to more than 100.
What I like about this setup is that, if you’re booking a week or two at a very small resort, you have the opportunity to branch out and eat or lounge beachside (or poolside) at other resorts, mixing things up a little.
Here are thoughts on five of the resorts we toured.
Treasure Beach
The newest gem in the chain, Treasure Beach opened in December, after being purchased by Elegant and completely renovated. This property, described as an inspirational destination, has a huge focus on art. And while you’ll find lovely art on the walls of your suite, in the common areas, and even some very creative chandeliers, the vibe goes deeper here.
Feeling artistic yourself? Staff will set up an easel and watercolors near your room or on the beach. Local artisans are featured daily for a meet and greet. Sign up for the free Art Crawl, a fantastic island tour that stops at museums, galleries, and two pottery makers. You can even get artsy with your food with complimentary “Art of Food Styling” and “Perfecting Pastry” classes with resort chefs.
