Barbuda Belle

My partner and I had the most wonderful stay at the Barbuda Belle. It is probably one of the most beautiful, serene and unique places that we have ever had the pleasure of visiting. From start to finish, the experience was idyllic and extraordinary. It is well worth the effort taken to get there; indeed, we will never forget our experience at this very special hotel. If you are on the fence about whether to book your trip here, then I would heartily encourage you to go for it. The hotel is situated in a remote part of Barbuda. It really feels like you are close to nature and far away from anywhere else in the world. It is a perfect retreat for those looking to get away from the more flashy or touristic locations in Antigua and Barbuda. The Barbuda Belle is luxurious but understated and tasteful, not to mention very quiet and peaceful. The hotel is stylish and blends in with the landscape. The owners have crafted a small number of beautiful wooden cabins, including a large central cabin for the reception, bar and dining area. Our room was immaculately clean and also had a pleasant air-conditioned bed. The main window looks out over the beach and the Caribbean Sea. It was a spectacular view to wake up to every morning, complete with the pink sands for which Barbuda is famous. Overall, the Barbuda Belle provides a perfect combination of natural architecture and a luxury experience. It feels similar to a high-end, luxury safari lodge or a private beach club. At night time, it was particularly magical - the warm lighting of the central cabin provided an enchanting and romantic setting. And because there was so little light pollution, at night we could also see a sky full of stars. The food was simply fantastic: it was fresh, rich in local ingredients, and delicious. As you would expect, they have a marvellous array of fresh seafood options, but also cater for those who want other types of cuisine. For example, the Caesar salad was simply to die for. On the other hand, I tried conch for the first time, and was glad that I did. The breakfast, lunch and dinner service were all first class. We thoroughly enjoyed our excursions to the local bird sanctuary. There is a dedicated team at the hotel who take guests on boat trips. You can request pretty much anything that takes your fancy (weather permitting), whether it be fishing, snorkelling, or a ride over to Barbuda’s famous caves. In horse racing season, the hotel staff can also take guests over for a fun day out at a nearby racing track. It was a privilege to be shown around those parts of the island that we had time to see during our brief trip. Barbuda was hit very badly by Hurricane Irma in 2017, and the recovery is an ongoing process. Alongside the natural beauty of the island, there are still very clear signs of the damage that the hurricane inflicted on houses, infrastructure and the landscape. We thank our hosts for sharing the tragic story of Hurricane Irma with us, while also making us feel very welcome as visitors. Indeed, what really makes this hotel special is the people who work there. Alexander, the hotel’s barman, was so kind to us and shared stories from his travels around the world - from the nearby Caribbean to faraway Japan. We were particularly touched when he came to say goodbye to us as we were leaving, which was a lovely gesture. Alexander is also an excellent mixologist. One word of advice: treat the Barbuda Belle Punch with respect! Anne-Marie was also a fantastic host, providing us with excellent advice on the menu every day without fail. The hotel’s manager, Claudette, was a consummate host. Upon our arrival, she picked us up from the ferry and took us on the stunning route by car and by boat to the location of the hotel. She was always there to make sure that we were enjoying our stay, and she helped us to organise our excursion to see the bird sanctuary, which is nearby the hotel. Claudette really was so good to us. We can’t thank her enough for her kindness and professionalism. She went above and beyond on our last day, when we sadly had to leave a day earlier than planned and go back to Antigua. Not only did she help us to get onto the ferry at the last minute, but, when we were short of cash, she even lent us $100 to pay for our tickets. We are truly in her debt and we will be back soon to repay her! We cannot wait to return to this breathtakingly beautiful and special place. We would heartily recommend it to anyone visiting Barbuda. It is a true gem, and off the beaten track. You won’t be disappointed.