Plantation House Royal Westmoreland

Set above the west coast of Barbados in St James, Royal Westmoreland spreads across a golf estate laid out around a course designed by Robert Trent Jones. The resort dates to 2004, when an early expansion added 250 acres of grounds now filled with villas, townhouses and cottages, many with views over the fairways to the Caribbean Sea. Stays range from two-bedroom golf cottages built around a shared pool to larger villas with private pools and covered verandas for outdoor dining. Interiors favour cedar windows, travertine floors and coral stone detailing, with kitchens fitted by Miele in several properties. Guests booking direct get complimentary rounds on the estate's championship course, along with access to tennis courts and a gym. A shuttle runs to the resort's own beach club at Mullins Beach, where a shared pool sits near the sea. It is a compact stretch of coast by island standards. Grounds staff keep the gardens and pool decks in order across the estate, and 24-hour security covers the wider property. Beyond the gates, Holetown and its restaurants lie a short drive away, along with the island's rum distillery and botanical gardens. The sea breeze reaches most villas by late afternoon, and sunsets run west over the golf course toward the water.