I’m very, very lucky — my job as a travel writer gives me the chance to take a deep dive into incredible places around the world. From rustic to posh ski resorts and sprawling to simple seaside spots: I’ve fallen in love with so many.
But even those of us lucky enough to feed our wanderlust are, to be honest, secretly in search of an escape that feels like home. And by home I don’t mean my actual home. Rather, I mean a place that, even in a climate and setting far from where you live, feels like you’ve been there forever.
I found my beach escape home away from home: it’s a small, intimate, simple yet all-inclusive getaway set on the gleaming west coast white sands of Saint James, Barbados.
The House By Elegant Hotels, now part of the Marriott Autograph Collection, is a fully-staffed, beautifully appointed paradise.
Its name suits it perfectly: When you arrive, you meander into a central outdoor space where you are greeted by a host who knows you’re coming. A fresh local cocktail (or champagne!) is placed in your hand and you recline on a soft couch, the Caribbean water sparkling before you.
Your luggage is whisked off to your room as you relax and settle in. The House offers every guest a complimentary “jet lag” massage, a full-on in-spa (and sometimes outdoors and seaside) massage by a pro.
We didn’t have ours right away because the buffet lunch was out and the grilled lobster tails served as part of our all-inclusive stay got our attention first. We sat seaside and surf and turfed to our heart’s content.
The House has just 34 rooms, all looking out on the sea or lush gardens. With so few rooms, it only takes a bit for the staff to get to know you and for the other guests to become familiar as well. It’s cozy but far from claustrophobic.
The House is all-inclusive and adult only, something my husband and I like to experience (we take plenty of trips with our grands; we deserve our own escape).
Included are all your meals (including an amazing daily champagne breakfast spread), access to just about any water sport you could want (sea kayaks and small sailboats sit at the ready), snorkel gear is available and you can even waterski, tube or banana boat off a staff-driven power boat.
What I truly love as compared to other all-inclusives is there’s no need to book activities ahead. You want to go sailing? Just walk over to the boats and let the team know. Because at your “home,” you need not reserve your own beach toys.
The Beach is a bit narrow but beautiful, and while the waves may be close, that narrow beach stretches out for miles and miles; you can even walk past Rhianna’s place. And the water? The west side of Barbados features calm seas that are warm and inviting, and we took dips often. There’s a seaside pool as well.
Dining at The House focuses on their main outdoor dining area where they serve impressive meals three times a day and snacks in-between, the bar area and the abutting Italian restaurant that’s very good, and open to the beach.
Because The House is part of the Elegant Collection on Barbados, you have full access to the other Elegant Collection resorts. Staff can help you pick a beach or restaurant at one of the sister resorts and then – how cool is this? – you can hop a water taxi to get there and back, again, free with your stay.
We did visit some other beaches and restaurants and loved them, but The House was – and will be again – our home while there.
The House team can help you find great things to do off-site as well. The Friday Night Barbados Fish Fry is a must, and if you’re going to splurge on a non-inclusive dinner, do check out The Lone Star . We took the public bus there, an experience you must do at least once.
I’m excited for my return visit this spring: The House went through major renovations since I visited in 2024. I’m told they updated the rooms and outdoor space with touches of teak and a true beachside vibe. I’m excited to see my Barbados home improvements, but I’m more excited to return to a place that just feels right.
