Aquatic Gap, Bridgetown, Barbados | (618) 248-8274
Beautiful, calm beach on Carlisle Bay
Large, on-site, open-air restaurant as well as a pool-side grill
Rooms have balconies, flat-screen TVs, and updated bathrooms
Guest laundry (fee)
Multiple meeting rooms
On-site fitness center
Free parking
Free Wi-Fi (up to three devices)
A chain-hotel atmosphere lacks character and charm
Small pool
Service at restaurant can be slow and disorganized
Situated in the Aquatic Gap close to Bridgetown, the
Radisson Aquatica Resort has a beautiful beachfront location – the water is
calm, blue, and clear. An upscale chain, it has clean and modern rooms, business and fitness centers, free Wi-Fi, and an
on-site restaurant. Towering over the area at seven stories, it also has the ambience
of a chain hotel, and can feel large and impersonal. The pool area is somewhat small but has a grill and bar nearby. The Hilton Barbados up the road has a much nicer, larger, bi-level pool complex.
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Scene
Large chain atmosphere
The Radisson is hard to miss -- a large, seven-story,
high-rise yellow building, the hotel towers over other smaller properties
in the immediate area. While the entrance and the lobby are attractive, with a
marble waterfall statue, the property has a chain hotel feel. But the large reception desk staff is helpful and offers a welcome drink upon check-in.Guests are mainly vacationers with a few business travelers mixed in. The lobby is
large with multiple seating areas around the corner from the front desk, and leads right into the pool/beach area. While the beach is spacious and calm, the
pool area is small for the size of the hotel. The few lounge chairs that are
set up between the pool and beach get taken quickly, although there are plenty
of loungers on the beach itself. Those looking for a larger resort with a lot of amenities
but not an impersonal, big-chain feel should consider Ocean Two Resort andResidences, which have gorgeous, modern rooms, and many amenities.
Location
On the Aquatic Gap, close to Bridgetown
The hotel is located on the Aquatic Gap, and is just six minutes from the heart of Bridgetown, the island's
capital and commercial center. It is also located within the Garrison Historic
Area, which, as the largest garrison in the British colonies in the 18th and 19th centuries, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The nearby Garrison Savannah Racetrack
is a popular horse racing attraction.The hotel is directly on the beach at Carlisle Bay,
on a beautiful stretch of sand. It is also around the corner from the famed
Cuz’s Fish Shack. Here are a few sample distances:- Six-minute drive to Bridgetown
Rooms
Modern and functional, with standard amenities
The Radisson has 124 rooms and suites, including Business Class Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, Junior Suites, and One-Bedroom Suites. Rooms have comfortable, modern white bedding, with green bed
runners and accents. The floors are tile with area rugs. Artwork is minimal, and
there are no snazzy furnishings or decorations. Each room has a dark wooden dresser, desk
and chair, a small seating area, and the flat-screen TV is mounted onto a silver mosaic
backboard. All rooms have balconies, and the higher floors provide great views
of the surrounding area. The rooms come with mini-fridges, tea- and coffee-making
facilities, safes, irons, and ironing boards.The bathrooms are modern, with mosaic tile
mirrors, large marble vanities, and tile showers.
Features
Small pool but beautiful, calm beach
The pool is located directly off of the lobby and is small, given the size of
the hotel. Circular with two sections and a waterfall in between, the pool has no
lounge chairs directly around it. Colorful, cushioned lounge chairs are
set up on an elevated sundeck that faces the beach. The beach is steps from the pool and is beautiful. Situated on Carlisle
Bay, the water is calm, clear, and turquoise blue. The stretch of sand is
spacious, especially for the island. Two rows of plastic lounge chairs are set
up along the sand. The beach is cut off on the side by a boardwalk and building
that stretches out into the water.The Aquatic Club Restaurant, the Radisson’s large, open-air main restaurant, is
located on the side of the beach and off the lobby and offers beautiful views of the water. The restaurant serves
breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but guests have complained that the food is
overpriced, and the service slow.Neptune’s Grill, which opened in 2014, is located next to
the pool and serves lunch. However, the menu is limited (and
pricey) and the service is slow. During our visit in fall 2014, it seemed like
the staff were still finding their groove in dealing with the multiple pool- and
beach-side orders.The hotel has a clean, modern fitness center
with treadmills, stationary bikes, and free weights. There is also a businesscenter with two computers and a printer. The hotel has two meeting rooms that can accommodate 180 and
200 people, respectively. The smaller of the two rooms (the Conference Room) has
incredible ocean views.
