Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Sugar Bay Barbados is a newly renovated, 138 key, All-Inclusive Resort located on the majestic south coast of Barbados. Sited in the UNESCO World Heritage Garrison Historic Area, this property straddles a magnificent stretch of crystal clear turquoise waters. The lagoon itself is a fantastic swimming area with gentle waves lapping at white and pink sandy shores, sheltered by rows of coconut trees swaying in the trade-winds. Sugar Bay is not only two minutes outside of Bridgetown it is also right on the liveliest coast on island offering easy access to many different activities, places to see and dining opportunities. The Boho-Chic style property offers 5 restaurants* (Sizzle Steakhouse & UMI Japanese included), 5 bars (Including a Pub) with Premium Alcohol Drinks Free. Further, excellent kids facilities, lush tropical gardens, spa, Crossfit stylized gym, hair-salon, arcade and so much more is just waiting for you to visit and explore this island in the sun! *Our newest addition Blush Cafe, the "most instagramable cafe in Barbados" opened in January of 2021! Be sure to checkout their offering which is a separate part of the Resort package!
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Modern
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish
Location
Garrison Historic Area, Garrison 15158 Barbados
Sugar Bay Barbados
2,289 reviews
Getting there
Good for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Overall the holiday was very relaxing and the hotel has by far the nicest setting with one of the best beach aspects on the island that we saw with palm trees going right onto the beach. We did visit Pebbles Beach about 10 minutes walk away at 6am one day to watch the racehorses being taken for a swim (worthwhile) and whilst the sea is calmer the beach wasn't as pretty as the the one at Sugar Bay. Generally the sea at Sugar Bay beach which is surrounded by a man made rocks either side to protect it from the waves was nice and calm in the morning and in the afternoon has some waves (not big) when the wind came up. Our guest accommodation overlooking the garden was in a quiet location and our bedroom had all the facilities that were needed. The main Reef Restaurant where all the main meals are taken had a good variety of buffet dishes for both breakfast and dinner (can't comment on lunch as we never took it there) with tables easily available and the staff throughout were every attentive and smiley. We also ate one night in the Sizzle Steakhouse and Umi on site which you need to book for and both meals were excellent and a chance from a buffet. Each night there was live entertainment and the standard of the varied singers was very high. We were disappointed on the Caribbean night and found the entertainment to be disappointing, sub standard and not what we had expected. We had snacks most days at Colins beach hut which were good but mostly consisted of the same dishes, burgers, hotdogs and the special of the day a fish and a chicken dish - would have been good to feature a club sandwich or something else. Despite a notice saying that only bums could reserve sun loungers on the beach not towels we found that by 8am all the best sunloungers had been reserved by people placing towels on them and then going away - which was slightly irratating! Nevertheless there were always plenty of sun loungers available and the watersport staff were always helpful in arranging an umbrella and table for you. The only thing though was that the sunloungers could have done with a wipedown or hose either every evening of first thing in the morning as some were badly stained or sticky with drinks. Normal all inclusive type of holiday with plenty of alcoholic, soft drinks, wine etc to be had although sometimes it helped if you tipped as you got served quicker either that or some people just butted in and raised their voices to be heard at the bar!
All in all the staff were very friendly and we found it to be a lovely stay an value for money.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed at Sugar Bay Hotel, Barbados November into December 2024. This was an anniversary holiday. The resort was only 30 minutes by taxi from the airport. The hotel was clean and the staff were very friendly. We were all inclusive. The food choice was a bit limited in comparison to some other places we have stayed at although we always found something we liked. There are two restaurants on site which have to be booked. You can only visit each one once per week unless you want to pay extra. One was Sizzlers (steak place) and the other was an Asian fusion place called Umi. We would recommend Umi, as Sizzlers was very hot with little airflow which made our visit quite uncomfortable. The beach and the pool are quite pleasant although you have to book your lounger with a towel early. We suggest doing that on the way to breakfast (7 a.m.) Drinks quoted as premium were not quite. There was a limited selection of standard spirits, but the cocktails were plentiful. We tipped although many didn't. We would suggest USD for tipping. One USD was equivalent to two Barbados dollars. The checkout is very good as they let you use all facilities until your taxi run to the airport. Our flight was late afternoon, so this was ideal. During our stay the staff made special efforts to mark our anniversary with cake on a plate with a message written in chocolate sauce left in our room on the morning of our anniversary and a similar offering on the evening in the Umi restaurant with a bottle of red wine to take away. We would like to thank all staff for their very generous and touching efforts. We would recommend the Reef Bar to watch the sunsets (17:30 when we were there). Temperatures ranged from 26 in the evening to 31 mid afternoon. Overall a very enjoyable winter break for us UK residents.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Pool and beach loungers fill up early. Get your towels down before breakfast
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Just returned and we did enjoy our stay at the Sugar Bay, but there were some negatives and also some positives. We weren't offered a drink at all on arrival and there weren't enough reception staff to deal with a number of guests all arriving at once at night. Our Signature room had one tiny half wardrobe which was shared with the ironing board and safe. The rooms have been refreshed but the flooring is original and is very tired and there was a large chip on the bathroom door. The view was obscured by a very large tree. The lift to the room was visibly dirty and the floor in the room needed cleaning and the sheets weren't changed after the first week. But the room was a good size, and had White Company toiletries provided. In terms of dining, Umi has really good food and wine, and lovely staff on duty. The Reef, for us, didn't have enough choice, although all the food was very good quality. The wine in the Reef wasn't very good, and there wasn't much choice. The food at Colins beach restaurant was very good and the staff lovely. The range of drinks is excellent and they offer delicious cocktails and mocktails. The bar staff are also very good. The pool area is not big enough for the number of guests. The hotel really needs to do something about people reserving loungers very early in the morning for hours before sitting on them. The guys working on the beach are also very good, bringing you umbrellas and tables on request, plus drinks, ice lollies etc. The entertainment is mostly very good. The staff all work very hard and there is a lovely vibe in the hotel. Nice mix of guests, all ages and from UK, USA and Canada when we were there. We wouldn't return but we did have a good holiday.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our fourth visit to Sugar Bay in 8 years... and I think our last. Its the same awesome well kept beach, location and most of the staff, and the food mostly has improved too, aside from breakfast that can be low on quality healthy options. But just too many irritants that could be so easily be done better, come on guys!
I appreciate that the corridors are narrow around the hotel and options may be limited, but I've never stayed anywhere where the room cleaners stack up bin bags, laundry and mop buckets outside every other room, through the whole day. Especially when this is a resort hotel, where most guests are on site all day every day.
Since our first visit, every morning is a bun fight for a beach umbrella, having to go before breakfast and request a hole to be dug in the beach to install one, or risk not getting one. There is also still a one in one out rationing of beach towels, so needlessly awkward.
Its an all inclusive hotel, but without a mechanism to pay bring guests in. Nobody can join you for dinner from outside or even for a drink on the beach, pretty short sighted and easy to implement. We just got told firmly 'no'.
The rooms and bathrooms haven't received any update in the 8 years that we've been visiting, and many of them are starting to look decidedly tired.
My biggest gripe from this trip though was the bar service and the constantly being pressurised to drink alcohol. Ask for a coke or water in the evening and being ridiculed is really not cool, and forced shots and drinking games? This isn't an 18-30.
Thanks for the amazing staff though! Especially Kay, what a legend.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arrived in the afternoon to a nice welcome at Sugar Bay Barbados. Our room was facing the pool a decent size with a balcony and terrace. The room itself was surface clean and the bed was large with decent mattress. The furnishings were old and repainted white. The bathroom tiling was badly chipped and missing mosaic tiles. The shower was decent though soaked the floor when used. There was staining around door frames and behind door. The rooms are outdated and needing refurbished. The air conditioning needs improved our worked but not to standard it should have worked. I chose this hotel as it said rooms recently refurbished I think they have been repainted. There are 2 pools the larger has a swim up bar. The smaller is more like kids pool size. The loungers are new and comfortable and the staff try keeping the area clean. Sunbeds were plentiful the first week then a flight came from UK and the nonsense to reserve at 6am started thankfully this was our last few days. The beach is small and pretty with plenty of beds and Colin’s bar nearby for snacks and drinks. All drinks etc at this bar very good as are staff. The beach could probably could do with a tractor to clear stones not hotels issue as it’s a public beach. The beach bar is nice enough though also used in evenings so not great when dressed to be in same seats as beachwear earlier. The entertainment at night is only a singer and most people went to bed early with nothing to do. Entertainment and activities in general not that great. The food in Reef restaurant, Umi and Sizzler is excellent as are all the staff.The main highlight of the holiday. Could do with air conditioning in the restaurants and a totally closed area to protect from rain and birds etc. The drinks are excellent in all locations though some beach bar males are a bit grumpy. Andre and Helen were excellent. The night bar that opens at 9pm was good though not many attended and it would have been better opened at 6pm to let you have an air conditioned drink before dinner. Overall had a nice holiday but not what I expected of a 4.5 star hotel so would not return. Can get a much higher standard nearer home for a quarter of the money. The people make Barbados and were fabulous. We did daily trips all around the Island highlights being Bathsheba and Harrison’s Cave. Oistins at night was lively pricey though for basically a beach barbecue. Personally think this is a three star hotel.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was our first time staying at Sugar Bay, but not our first time in Barbados. We thought we would try it because of the ratings. When we arrived we walked around to see where anything was located. We noticed the beach area was filled with seaweed, no maintenance at all. A lot of the outside areas were very dirty and not properly maintained. Also we noticed a lot of the staff members would not speak to us unless we initiated the conversation.
We have been to plenty of Caribbean Islands & this is the first disappointing visit to Barbados we encountered. I don’t understand how the reviews are so great, unless y’all don’t travel a lot and don’t know better.
We wanted to book excursions, however, every time we would visit the concierge, they would tell us to come back. Finally, front desk manager had to come over and help out.
Food was just OK. Don’t rush to eat at Reef buffet, food was cold until burners got hot enough to warm it up.
Another reason, why you should stay away! Someone tried to break in my suitcase that I keep a lock on while we were at dinner. We purposely take videos of how we leave our personal items that we don’t want no one to attempt to open. We even put a pair of shoes in a certain position on the lock suitcase. Returned from dinner and suitcase lock was tampered with and items out of place. Felt so violated, we decided to cut the trip short.
The best time we had was staying off this resort!
Marketing Team, no need to reply back with your sympathy….get it together there!
Read more
Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our first trip to Barbados! We were here only a few days before heading to Palm Island so spent most of the time on property. To save a few dollars, we booked a Signature room, which is the reason for just four stars. The room was clean, had a nice small fridge and made great use of its compact space. However, it lacked natural light, overlooked a parking lot (contrary to the advertised pool or garden view) and the linens were very stiff. Of note: the sink is in a separate part of the room rather than in or attached to the bathroom.
But the property itself and the service is flawless! Landscaping is beautifully serene and around every corner is something to discover. The beach is raked daily and any seaweed buried, unlike surrounding properties. Tree frogs, green monkeys, and swimming with racehorses 15 minutes away add to the experience.
There's plenty of variety at each meal, whether at the Reef buffet, Colin's bar and grill (lunch) or at afternoon tea. ...and all of it was tasty and well prepared. If there for 3 or more nights, don't miss the filet at Sizzle Steakhouse! At all venues, at least 3 people consistently checked on us, and everywhere we went, we were greeted courteously and with friendly smiles.
Overall, really glad we came!
Read more
Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Where to start? My wife and I stayed here for 10 nights and had one of the best holidays of our lives.
We chose to get married at Sugarbay on the 22/11/24. It was surreal, beautiful, and every aspect of the wedding was planned out and executed to perfection by the co-ordinator Janelle.
We had a ceremony on the beach followed by a reception at Collins Bar. We were over the moon with how smooth the day went as all staff went above and beyond to ensure the day was perfect.
To any couple looking to get married in Barbdos- SugarBay is the one!
As part of our wedding we had 15 members of family and friends also join us and stay at Sugarbay.
Staff at the hotel were more than accommodating to our large party and made exceptions in order to secure us tables at restaurants etc.
Food: All restaurants, including the buffet had some of the most exceptional dishes I have seen at an all-inclusive resort. The buffet choice is limited however every single dish presented is cooked to perfection with lots of flavour. A few of our guests had dietary requirements and the chef went out of his way to meet them and accommodate them throughout their stay.
Drinks: I must say I am a very picky when it comes to drinks and so I don't usually expect too much from an all-inlusive resort. The sheer choice of drinks and cocktails at this resort (which varies between Reef Bar and Collins Bar) was very impressive. It only gets better when you try them! Every cocktail was freshly made and consistent with every bartender. There wasn't a single drink which I did not enjoy.
Staff: The staff are what makes the stay so enjoyable at this resort. We have made a list of staff members who were absolutely exceptional however this does not take away the fact that every staff member at this resort would go above and beyond for you as a guest. We hope managent can reward/praise Andre, David, Kijani, Antonio, Akiel, Andrea, Janelle for their extra efforts during our stay.
Rooms: cleaned everyday, towels replaced, it was obvious that 2 different staff members done the rooms as the level of room clean varied vastly from day to day. We were placed in a room with twin beds which were on the small side. The A/C worked perfectly. We had a pool view room on ground floor which was lovely however we did not use the balcony.
Pool and beach: loungers got reserved very quickly even at 6-7am however never struggled to find a space on the beach. Clean pool and beach, lovely little snorkle Reef close to shore.
As a whole this was an amazing holiday and our positive experience seemed to be echoed by all guests at the hotel, you wouldn't hear a single person complaining about any aspect of their stay.
I would like to say a big thank you to those in charge and the day-to-day staff who make this place as amazing as it is. It was stressful choosing a wedding venue, however as soon as we got to Sugarbay every one of our expectations was exceeded.
Thanks again Sugarbay hope to see you soon!
Read more
Date of stay: November 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Hotel has an excellent Caribbean vibe the minute you are first greeted. The Staff immediately make you feel very welcome and very special. Our room was faultless as was the food in every restaurant, and the evening entertainment was by far the best we have experienced in any hotel on the Island that we have stayed in before. The drinks inc. beers wines soft drinks etc. are also faultless.......we shall certainly be returning, Many Many Thanks for making our stay so exceptional.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A lovely resort that has slowly grown tired and dilapidated with in major need of a refresh
Certain staff members are very good, notable mentions to Akiel and Nicoli who are a joy. Others seem a little miserable and unable to comprehend relatively simple and straight forward request. Namely relating to drink orders
The food options become very ‘samey’ after a few days. Yes there a few options however the lack of grilled chicken that isn’t slathered in pre packed bbq sauce that seems it’s come from a mass packet is disappointing
The fish options are better; however it’s disappointing however that for being located on an island the lack of not having an option where you can solely obtain King Prawns/Shrimp. They’re always thrown in amongst noodle options as a stir fry for example
Far far too many pork and beef options. In other words if you like leaner cuts of fish/chicken you’ll be disappointed visiting here
The fruit seem like an after thought.
Little things also like not having sweeteners in rooms make such a difference.
The beds are comfortable however the televisions are not ‘smart’ and lack streaming options. Many of the channels also lack signal
The gym doesn’t seem like it’s been updated in 10 + years. The machines are incredibly old and need a major major upgrade. For a resort that is meant to be ‘premium’ it’s not good enough
The beach front is a plus point and the views are lovely
The whole place needs a refresh. Paint work needs to done everywhere and upgrades such as moving a bar area isn’t good enough
The evening ‘entertainment’ is interesting, it exists but I can’t really say the singers are very good
Read more
Date of stay: December 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:If you like chicken/lamb/leaner meats avoid! Evening entertainment goes late and can be heard...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
London, United Kingdom1,081 contribution254 helpful votes
Yes, there are elevators in the main block where the breakfast / buffet restaurant and reception are situated as we stayed in that block this time. Note there isn't an elevator in the other blocks that I have been in near the main gate (have stayed here 3 times). Never had a ground floor ocean front room so could not say if you can see the sea properly from these rooms. We did walk past a few on our way down the pathway to Colins Beach bar where we had lunch but I think their view was obscured a little bit as I am sure there were some palm trees/shrubs to my left when we walked along. You would be better on the first floor. If in doubt though ring the hotel so that you can book a room with a view. Hope you have a good holiday.
Good Day, thank you for reaching out to us. The water service in Barbados is reliable and the water supply is safe and refreshing to drink. Bottle water can be collected from the front desk.
Good Day, thank you for reaching out. Yes, there are some rocks when you first enter the water, but not so many that water shoes are necessary. However, if you prefer, you can wear water shoes for added comfort.
Good Day Patricia, thank you for your interest in Sugar Bay Barbados. You can reach out to our Reservations Team via email so that they can send you our property map.
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
