The House by Elegant Hotels

We stayed at The House for two weeks during June 2026 and I can honestly say it was absolutely superb from start to finish. Before we arrived, I’d read some of the reviews and was a little apprehensive, but I genuinely don’t understand the negative comments, particularly those aimed at the staff. Yes, there is currently some work taking place next door, and I was initially so disappointed when I saw it as we had not been informed by our travel agent. However, it honestly didn’t spoil our holiday. Any drilling or banging only ever lasted a few minutes before stopping, and it was never enough to ruin a relaxing day by the pool. The hotel itself was spotless throughout. Our room was beautiful, with a huge bathroom and plenty of useful storage space. Housekeeping was exceptional, visiting twice a day. The room and bathroom were kept immaculate, we had fresh towels every day, and each evening they provided a lovely turndown service, closing the curtains, switching on the bedside lamps, and leaving fresh bottled water by each bedside. It was these thoughtful touches that made such a difference. The food was excellent throughout our stay. We genuinely couldn’t fault a single meal. Every breakfast, lunch and dinner was beautifully prepared and delicious. The real jewel in this hotel’s crown, though, is the staff. They were simply outstanding. Every single member of the team worked incredibly hard to make sure guests were happy and well looked after. During lunch and dinner, my glass never got to empty before someone appeared to top it up. Everyone was so warm, friendly and genuinely welcoming. Nothing ever seemed too much trouble. The pool service deserves a special mention too. Every day without fail there was attentive sunbed service, and Qwasi ( apologies if incorrect spelling) was an absolute star. He kept everyone hydrated with chilled water, wine, beer, cocktails or whatever took your fancy, always with a smile. If it wasn’t drinks it was cold flannels & fresh fruit. His service was exceptional and he was a huge part of what made our holiday enjoyable. Also mentioning Andrew, wade, Agnes and the very friendly Pat the egg station lady & so many others whose names we can’t remember. Some reviews mention that the hotel is quiet after 10pm. That’s true, but this is a hotel that serves unlimited champagne with breakfast until 10am, followed by drinks around the pool all day, more drinks with the three course lunch that is served, three course dinners , plenty more drinks with dinner, all while you’re enjoying temperatures well over 30°C. By 10pm, most guests are quite happily ready for a comfortable bed! We certainly were. If you want a party hotel then this isn’t the hotel for you. I also think it’s important to remember where you are. This is a four star hotel in Barbados. It’s not trying to be a four star hotel in London or Dubai, as some reviewers seem to expect. It has its own relaxed welcoming Bajan charm, and that’s exactly why we loved it. Hand on heart, every single member of staff during our stay was fantastic. They worked tirelessly every day during some extremely high temperatures to make sure guests were happy and enjoying themselves, and they deserve enormous credit. We had an amazing two weeks at The House and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. We left feeling relaxed, thoroughly looked after, and already talking about coming back. Thank you to everyone for making our holiday so memorable.

Just come back from 11 night stay at this hotel having booked through TUI. This certainly was not a “resort” and not as TUI photographed or described at all online and we were not alone in thinking or observing this. Booked this as holiday of a lifetime -it was very poor and not 5* more 3* THIS IS AN HONEST AND TRUTHFUL REVIEW Please make careful consideration using this hotel. 1) - Beach is virtually non existent. Mainly rocks. not level very small area slide off beds 2)- What Beach they do have with loungers is directly next to a building site which is not cordoned off. Loungers on a slope due to sand height, sliding off. 3)- Building work noise is completely unacceptable and the hotel should have been shut down whilst work was taking place. 4)- Black dust on bedroom floors, soles of feet dirty after housekeeping, white rugs almost black 5)- Bar area canopy roof leaking when it rains. Bar staff collecting rain in ice buckets. 6) Restaurant and Bar Staff service was more miss than hit. Some days they come round offering drinks. Others they don’t. same on a evening dinner service. My wife asked for Prosecco and 15 mins later none, asked again, Waitress made a joke so you like prosecco 7) The looks you got from certain staff at times when asking for basic things like a drink is completely unacceptable. 8)- Nobody around at all to serve drinks after 10pm after this point despite Marriott claiming it is a 2AM bar. No bar person after 10.30. Night security impossible to find to serve drinks 9) We were locked out of room as we both thought each other had a key, no reception after 11pm to 8am no night porter and we could not find any security guard. We we when to main entrance main gates were open security guard hut locked up and no security could be found, that's totally unacceptable security anyone can walk in and try break into your room, no security this happened two nights during our stay. 10} TUI online photos were showing pre 2024 hurricane and more beach then, the photos online are not what you actually get! 11} No Gym as described online - lies! 12} Didn't see TUI rep once or any info board at all 13} Hotel organised Taxis (as gold member) from airport and returning to airport 'Paul' stink of cannabis 14} Spa massage as closed most of time and apart from 20min massage complementary no other services offered-v very poor 15} Total lack of any atmosphere on evening, 2 nights singers, 1 night pan drums. no background music-TUI stated evening entertainment-Lies again! 16} No effort made on last day by housekeeping on bed no swans/petals poor 17} Between me and my wife 160 mosquitoes bites-hotel only fogging not spraying. Leg infection cost me £150 for treatment. Dr. We had to ask to fog room daily and still bitten day and night in room, restaurant and breakfast. Horrible getting bitten for 11 days and nights! Marriott has a major problem at this hotel. They should’ve closed it when the construction works started until finished. I will never step foot in another Marriott after this. TUI has a lot to answer for with the promise of a relaxing holiday which fell way way short of the mark. We are seeking compensation from TUI as this holiday cost a small fortune and we have had better holidays in UK.

Just come back from a 2 week stay at this hotel having booked through Kuoni. Looking at the most recent reviews, these are an accurate account of what’s happening at this “resort” Please make careful consideration using this hotel. 1) - Beach is virtually non existent. 2)- What Beach they do have with loungers is directly next to a building site which is not cordoned off. 3) - Builder (either from this site or the site next door) decided it was completely acceptable to urinate one day against the hoarding in view of the whole beach. 4)- Building work noise is completely unacceptable and the hotel should have been shut down whilst work was taking place. 5)- supposedly the hotel has been recently renovated, however I’m struggling to see where. Cracked floor tiles. Chipping rusting seating areas out front by the bar. Corridors not cleaned properly. Black marks on the floor. Old beach loungers and Parasols. 6)- Bar area canopy roof leaking when it rains. Bar staff collecting rain in ice buckets. 7) Restaurant and Bar Staff service was more miss than hit. Some days they come round offering drinks. Others they don’t. 8) The looks you got from certain staff at times when asking for basic things like Mayonnaise is completely unacceptable. 9)- Sitting down for Lunch for 15 minutes with nobody coming to us asking if we wanted a drink etc. Then I get up to ask for a lunch menu. To be told i needed to give them a minute. Sit back down wait another 10 minutes for a menu to arrive. In total we waited 1 hour 20 minutes for our food to arrive one day. 10)- on site cat gets injured and goes the vet. Which the resort keeps and looks after. Bar staff approach guests for donations to pay for the Cat vet bill in order to get the cat back to the resort. Was told Marriott would not pay for it. 11)- Leaving on the last day after giving $50BBD to help get the cat back after feeling pressured to do so. I shook one bar tenders hand to say goodbye, his response was (in all seriousness) do you want my bank details so you can send me a tip. 12)- one night we where at the bar waiting for a drink, bar tender comes over and says “you will have to be quick because I am doing other jobs tonight because we are understaffed what do you want” 13)- Another night it is 10:20pm bar busy with a few guests.bar tender abruptly says I’m now finished for the night and leaves. Nobody around at all to serve drinks after this point despite Marriott claiming it is a 2AM bar. 14)- Asked the water sports guy if he could bring 2 padel boards for the following day for us. He said no problem. Next day goes to the water sports area right outside the building site (different guy) asked him if he had the boards. Was told there’s only one board and it’s at a different hotel. Told him I asked the previous day and they would be here. He again told me there’s one board and it’s at the other hotel and I can walk there and get it if I wanted as it’s one 10 minutes away. I again told him the previous days conversation and he just looked at me and said the hotel is 10 minutes away. Went to reception and asked them. 20 minutes later 2 boards arrived. Why did it even come to that in the first place I ask myself. Marriott has a major problem at this hotel. They should’ve closed it when the Tamarind was knocked down. If this place has recently been renovated it’s a shocking one for sure. I will never step foot in another Marriott after this. Our tour rep Kuoni has a lot to answer for with the promise of a relaxing holiday which fell way way short of the mark.

Title: How near perfect can perfect be? "The House" delivers! Having read a few negative reviews before our trip, I honestly have to ask myself if those guests stayed at the same hotel. Yes, there was a bit of building work going on adjacent to the property, and the Tamarind is currently being refurbished. However, was it a major annoyance? Absolutely not. It is a working island, and maintenance has to happen. We mainly used the beach for swimming and walking anyway—though it was a real shame to see that a lot of the coastline had been taken by the 2024 hurricane season. From the moment we arrived until the second we left, the staff at reception, the restaurant, the bar, and the pool were an absolute joy. They were incredibly helpful, friendly, and genuinely funny. A special mention must go to the wonderful restaurant team: Chantelle, Sophia, Sheena, and Shiana (or the "Three S’s" plus one!). We also loved the two matriarchs, Agnes and Patricia, who made your eggs exactly how you wanted them and served up lovely cookies. The food was consistently good throughout our entire 10-day stay. Out by the pool, Kwesi was fantastic, running around all day to keep everyone topped up with cool drinks. At the bar, Dev and Dennis kept the drinks flowing alongside some great, good-humoured banter. While there are a few names I may have missed, every single staff member was a delight. Would I go back? Indeed I would! Do not be put off by the minor negative reviews you read. This place is wonderful. Met some lovely people also during our stay

We booked this hotel for a relaxing beach holiday, (we booked via BA) based on the hotel’s website & BA’s. Their website clearly shows a nice sandy beach stretching the whole width of the hotel. Upon arrival, it became immediately apparent that substantial construction work was taking place at The House itself, in addition to the ongoing works at Tamarind. We had not been told about this in advance. It was also immediately obvious that the beach bore little resemblance to the photographs and descriptions displayed on either the British Airways or hotel websites. The extensive beach shown in the promotional material simply no longer existed. The beach had been washed away during Hurricane Beryl in July 2024 and that restoration work had not been undertaken because of the refurbishment of the Marriott properties. Despite this, The Hotel didn’t update their websites or removed the pre-hurricane photographs. For almost two years they continued to market the hotel using images and descriptions that no longer reflected reality. Had the true condition of the beach been accurately represented, I would never have booked this holiday. The remaining section of beach was extremely narrow, steeply sloping and largely unusable. The sun loungers were positioned on an incline, making them uncomfortable and rendering the tables impractical to use. This limited beach area was also directly adjacent to the construction site. The construction work itself was by far the most serious issue. It took place throughout the day, every day, including weekends, and frequently continued until around 10.00 pm. The beach was directly in front of the building site with no screening whatsoever. The constant noise from drills, hammers, angle grinders and construction equipment, together with builders repeatedly shouting to one another across different floors, made it impossible to relax. Dust and debris from the site regularly blew across the beach and surrounding public areas. There was nowhere within the hotel public areas where guests could escape the noise or disruption. On a positive note, the food was good, the drinks were recognised brands & the staff were very friendly & pleasant. Marriott should have closed this hotel whilst the building work was going on, updated their website & not put their staff in the position of having to defend this situation. One further minor issue that just shows that Marriot Bonvoy cannot be trusted is regarding the use of facilities at their other properties. Most are free, but if you want to eat at The Colony, you pay but get a 30% discount. What they don’t tell you in advance is that you have to pay $150 each to join the Colony club for the day. I will never book another holiday in a hotel owned by Marriot Bonvoy, they are dishonest & mis represent the reality of what you get.