The Crane

Set above Crane Beach on the eastern tip of Barbados, The Crane Resort has operated continuously since 1887, making it the oldest working hotel in the Caribbean. Original stonework and arched galleries sit alongside newer wings built for longer stays, a contrast the resort has never tried to hide. Suites run across four styles: garden view, ocean view, contemporary and penthouse, with layouts up to three bedrooms. Many carry their own pool. Options include a garden plunge pool, a rooftop pool and sundeck, or a 28-foot pool on a private deck, and several suites keep a full kitchen and washer-dryer for extended stays. The three-bedroom penthouse adds a private roof terrace with a barbecue grill and its own plunge pool, sleeping up to eight. Bathrooms lean toward the substantial: soaking tubs, double vanities and multi-head spa showers appear across the upper-tier suites. You can watch the Atlantic from a balcony in nearly every category, garden or sea-facing. The grounds hold several restaurants, a bar, a gym and the on-site spa. Beyond the resort, the same coastline gave the hotel its name and its long-standing reputation for one of the island's most photographed beaches.