Butterfly Beach Hotel

We are staying here for a week prior to joining a Marella Cruise (TUI) - just myself and my 10yr old son. I came with realistic expectations - I knew it was basic and it was a 3* not a 5*. I emailed beforehand to check my room had twin beds and got a prompt and helpful reply from the reservations, which was a nice start. Our room is basic but comfortable - two comfortable beds, cold and effective air con, a spacious room, fridge, large bathroom, balcony. Yes it’s dated, but it’s homely. And the view from my balcony across the sea is extraordinary! It suited our needs perfectly well. My room didn’t have a kitchenette and if I came again I’d get a room with cooking facilities, as I did struggle with food in Barbados as everything island wide is beige, fried, carbs, processed or filled with sugar. But that’s another story! I read some reviews saying the breakfast was amazing and others saying it was terrible - so I didn’t know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. There’s a row of hot trays containing American pancakes, sausage, bacon (American style) and then eggs which change every day (fried, scrambled, omlette) To the right of this is the continental section with toast, cake/croissant, fresh fruit and some cereals (cornflakes and bran flakes which I really enjoyed!) Orange juice is also available but it’s not fresh orange but “juice drink” - it tastes fine though. Some natural yogurt would have been nice and doesn’t cost a lot from what I saw in the supermarket. And maybe more jam selection. We did find servers were never in any hurry, you’d be sat 20 minutes before anyone offered you a coffee or a knife and fork and sometimes I just got up and got it myself to save time - however this may just be a Barbados thing because it was the same everywhere we went. Maybe us Brits are just always in a hurry? We only ate in the hotel one evening, for the bbq as by day 5 I was desperate for unprocessed meat and salad. It was good value at $70BBD (half for kids) and you got chicken, steak or fish and then various salad and sides. Some people have commented on the lack of entertainment at night and it closing early but it suited us perfectly, I don’t really drink and we are usually fast asleep by 9.30/10. There’s a free car park with plenty of spaces for a hire car, we used Hills Car Rental who were excellent ($310BBD for 3 days) All things considered the hotel deserves a 4/5, a couple of minor things that could be easily improved but otherwise a clean, comfortable, enjoyable base for a low cost trip to Barbados and I would stay here again if the price was right Read less

Butterfly Beach Hotel Lots to say about this spot! The location is in point—absolutely perfect! I’m an avid solo traveller however on this trip I came with my 22 year old son. The beach is stunning—never have I ever in my 22 years of beach hopping have I enjoyed the ocean as much as I did this trip! There were waves but they were soothing, calm and inviting. Buttt it’s locked off at 6pm! No star gazing happening here! :( Even though there is a designated security post right there at the gate—security was barely there or even visible—so I guess having a security posted there after 6 wasn’t plausible for this hotel. Super disappointing as that’s one of my favourite things to do on vacation—star gaze and walk the beach. Especially with stars as bright at they are here. Also the entrance to the beach is super tricky! You have to go slow—there’s a steep ramp and nails poking through it. Every day I was proud of myself I didn’t fall down or cut myself! Beach loungers— they have them, but they’re not on the beach. They’re stacked up high at the top of the ramp. No beach guy to carry them down to the beach—no loungers placed on the beach at all. And no one to brush off the sand which I found to be super odd especially for a senior clientele. So you’re expected to carry it down and back up when you’re done. I wasn’t about it! Who wants to work on vacation?? Unfortunately my son had to put in the work times 2! And believe me lugging a lounger up and down that ramp is work! This entire process making the ramp situation a heightened opportunity to injure yourself. The beach is what makes this hotel—some changes/accommodating needs to happen here. The food was delicious! I truly believe some people just come to Barbados just to eat—and I can see why. Breakfast buffet at the reef was everything you’d want in a buffet breakfast and very tasty. The rooms are very dated— the tv is small and it looks like it’s from the 90’s. There’s only 3 channels that’s were halfway appealing; CBC Gem (thank God), TNT and the Discovery Channel. Oh and MTV when it was active and that was off and on. To be fair—our tv blew out on day 2–after letting the front desk know, maintenance was in our room not 10 minutes later to replace it. I was impressed! The beds are also old and I have to say not very comfortable. The pillows were just sad—it’s like they were filled with socks; bumpy and awkward. I arrived with a tense neck and left with a sore neck and back. No bathtub and that’s fine but the shower head was basically tight up against the wall and the hot and cold water knobs were sticking out of the wall poking out oddly a lot farther than normal—making it difficult to get under the shower head. Especially for my son who is 6’1. The kitchen part of the room bothered me—it was old and rustic not what you would expect from a “boutique” hotel. I honestly don’t travel for the rooms but as a solo traveller during a 7 day holiday I do like to spend a day or two in my room doing nothing but relaxing in bed and maybe watching a movie or two. This isn’t the place for chilling in or enjoying your room. The front desk staff is very accommodating, attentive and pleasant they do what they can to make your trip enjoyable. They are very concerned with the hotel’s reputation. The Reef—bar staff amazing! Super friendly and crafty with the drinks! The female servers…all but one were salty! Not smiling, not welcoming, not happy and it was obvious they didn’t want to be there. This made it difficult when deciding on the tip as I’m sure it all gets divied up at some point. You also need to book a reservation for breakfast and dinner! This we did not know and there were several others that also didn’t know. BBQ buffet night we walked up around 7 and were lucky to get a seat off to the side along the hall leading towards the exit. As we sat we watched several people get turned away because they didn’t have a reservation—how is one supposed to know this?? It’s not communicated or posted anywhere. Also after that happened we then tried to book an ocean view table for breakfast or dinner for any day during our stay and they were all booked up—my guess is with regulars. The clientele—this is a fuddy duddy hotel—more like a motel with a spectacular view and beach. I’m 53 and this crowd was 10-15 years too old for me—I gather this is a repeat spot for most—regulars. As getting a room on the ground floor for accommodations that were booked 6 months in advance was a no go. Sometime between 10-11 the entire place is locked up! Access to the bar, the pool and the beach area it’s like we’re on lockdown locked in a retirement home—very strange. The crowd at this hotel is very reserved, not friendly at all—there were several occasions when I saw someone was at the front desk being snitty with the staff and at one point a woman on the first floor was yelling her bloody head off! Not my cup of tea! I’m easy going happy and friendly—walking by someone and saying “good morning” and having someone snarl back at you or completely ignoring you makes for a shotty atmosphere. The Saturday and Sunday this hotel was filled with locals and that’s no problem at all however there were kids running all over this quaint spot and yelling off the top of their lungs in the jacuzzi. There is absolutely nothing at this hotel to entertain a child, no slide, no play ground or specified play area—I guess that’s why they were running all over the place screaming. This hotel isn’t a place for kids especially with a repeat clientele aged 70 and up. I’m writing this very detailed review because well as I said I am an avid traveller and had I known its was a 70+ repeat fuddy duddy spot—as well as the beach being locked off at 6pm—I would have chose somewhere else. Overall—I did enjoy myself. My son—not so much! It’s all about the beach for me and that part of my holiday as well as the food was excellent but would I come back—no. Read less

Lovely hotel. The staff were really friendly and we were given a fantastic room with a sea view (room 301) The room was cleaned daily to a spotless standard with clean towels every day. The food in the reception was excellent too. And we loved the happy hour for rum punches. And a lovely touch was a bottle of rum punch in the room. I gashed my foot on a rock and Donna on reception got me plasters as it was bleeding quite badly so a big shout out to her. Perfect location to get out and about on the island as the buses were plentiful. Can’t wait to return. Read less