Santosha Barbados

The Santosha Windy Hill truly exceeded our expectations in every way. The treehouse feel of the suite we stayed in was not just aesthetically pleasing, but it also seamlessly integrates with the natural surroundings. Each morning, we woke up to the soothing sounds of the ocean and the gentle rustle of leaves, which made for a perfect start to our days. The staff were exceptionally friendly and attentive, providing great recommendations for local dining options, enhancing our overall experience. The on-site amenities, including the pool, deck and beautifully landscaped gardens, added to the serene atmosphere. We particularly enjoyed the evenings on our expansive deck, where we could sip cocktails and watch the sunset paint the sky in vibrant hues. The combination of the fresh ocean breeze, the view and the natural ambiance created a magical atmosphere that was hard to leave behind. While it's true that the hotel shows some signs of wear, it adds a certain charm that feels authentic and lived-in. The character of the place, combined with its tranquil setting, made our stay unforgettable. We left feeling rejuvenated and can't wait to return to this little slice of paradise. If you're looking for a tranquil getaway with breathtaking views and a unique lodging experience, Santosha Windy Hill is the perfect choice!

Positives: The view was incredible, and it was nice to stay somewhere rural and untouristic, offering a different side of Barbados. The hiking was great, the pool was usually empty, and the WiFi worked well. Negatives: The place felt a bit run-down, and the common areas were quite dirty. Housekeeping only came once in a week (though we missed one clean due to sickness). There were no umbrellas by the pool, supposedly because this side of the island is “cooler,” but with UV levels regularly at 10+ and 30°C heat, that didn’t make much sense. The kitchen was extremely basic, the receptionist was quite rude, and the bar was never open during our entire stay (a full week). The towels provided were stained and pretty disgusting. The local beach wasn’t great—quite dirty and not the picture-perfect Caribbean postcard you might expect. The location is very remote, which has its pros and cons. It was great to experience a quieter, more authentic part of Barbados without tourists, but getting around was difficult. The area isn’t well-served by taxis—pickUP app drivers didn’t really come out here, and regular taxis were expensive (around €50 for a 25-30 minute ride). If you’re planning to hire a car, that would make things easier (the local rods and driving conditions are quite challenging however). If you’re looking for a peaceful rural retreat, this place might work for you. On the whole, I don’t regret staying here. Personally, I wouldn’t come here for your entire stay in Barbados (we split our time between Santosha and a hotel elsewhere in a busier part of the island). Overall, it was great to see a different side of Barbados that most tourists perhaps overlook.

The view was beautiful, but for the price we paid it really wasn't worth the money. The place felt a bit tired and warn, with so much that could be done to revive it. There is a tiny freezer space for a self catered hotel, and the amenities could be improved on (for example a one man cafetiere, that was broken, provided for two people). The pool isn't very deep, and a Jacuzzi area with no buttons for jets or hot water). There were only 3 cushions for the sun loungers, all with stains. There was a common area that could easily be used for a games room but was completely empty apart from a few sad chairs scattered around.|It didn't feel that clean in the bathroom, and the water pressure and heat in the shower was completely unreliable.|I would recommend going to a cheaper airbnb on the west cost, as we didn't really want to spend much time around here. For the price you paid I was definitely expecting more of a quality experience.

I really enjoyed my stay here, the peace of mind. It was my first time in the East of Barbados and I can’t wait to go back. If you want to take some time for yourself or relationship; Santosha definitely helped block out all the noise. The natural nature views was everything and hearing the sounds of the ocean waves was therapeutic. Thank you Santosha!

We were looking for somewhere on the NE coast for a couple of days in mid-March, and found Santosha Barbados. Booked a room for 2 night - it was really expensive at US$250/night. But the photos looked good, and there isn't a lot of choice on the east coast.|We got one of the dungeon rooms on the bottom. Was a bit of a cave inside. All sorts of problems, such as one dial for the burner was broken, tiny fridge very loud and far too small (the upper rooms have bigger ones), freezer area iced up, smallest lowest-quality TV I've ever seen, pillows far too soft, loud noise from people walking above, shabby everywhere, smelled musty, shower built for midgets, sink plug in bathroom not closing, no plug for the kitchen sink, rust, electrical sockets that looked dangerous. Bed was ok.|The pool was ok, but the decking was dangerous - boards lifting as a tripping hazard, cracks and rotten wood everywhere. The sort-of jacuzzi seating area in the mini pool was a mess - slimy, leaves everywhere.|The whole place is in serious need of a LOT of investment.|And the icing on this cake was we met a couple who stayed in the best room - the middle one on the top floor - and they paid almost HALF what we did, US$150/night.|On a positive note, the bright light was the young, very friendly and accommodating manager, Xavier, who tried his best to sort out the most egregious problems.|My litmus test of how good a place is, is whether I would go back. And my answer for Santosha Barbados is a huge NO, unless we get an upper floor room for US$100/night or less. It's not worth paying any more than that. And I wouldn't stay in a dungeon room again.

We stayed there for 4 nights in December 2024 during the Half Marathon and Marathon weekend. Location was excellent 👌🏼 as we're the views. The on-site manager was very helpful with local information. You Do need a 🚗 car to visit but only 18 mins drive to Speightstown on the west coast.

We stayed for 5 nights to break up our 15 night trip to Barbados. The location is stunning, discreetly set back from the east coast road. |We arrived later than planned but were greeted with a friendly welcome (I think his name was Brad) and shown to our accommodation. |We had a studio apartment which was huge. All rooms have great views. |We were lucky that there were very few guest there with us, so it often felt like we had the place to ourselves. |The kitchenette had just enough equipment, although we did have to ask for a can opener, which was provided swiftly. |The bathrooms were nice, with a walk-in shower/wetroom. ||It felt like there was too much unfilled space really and would have benefited from a small sofa or dining table, which would give more seating options (you have the choice of the bed, or breakfast bar). ||The pool was perfect for a cooling swim and was a lovely temperature. There not many sun beds though, considering the number of rooms available. The gardens were immaculate and the peace and tranquility was bliss. It’s just a small walk over and along the road to find access to the beach. ||My only niggle was that as we had a ground floor suite, staff were constantly walking by, as I think they used the room next door. I found it quite irritating as it broke the tranquility I was enjoying as I sat on the veranda reading and enjoying the views. ||All things considered, this place is a hidden gem, and we will definitely be back.

Did not have any hot water throughout our stay and had to have cold showers (which is fine if we paid for a hostel, but not when we paid this much). We were told it was a mechanical difficulty, and we asked for a partial refund on the last day. We were told that this was approved but since we had already left, we can email them our credit card number. After this email, we were ghosted and could not get through to get our partial refund.