Sandals Hotel

Highway 7, Oistins, St. Lawrence, Barbados

First, a disclaimer: Food and Travel doesn’t usually cover all-inclusive properties. But there are all-inclusive resorts and then there are Sandals resorts. Sure, once you’re through the door you don’t have to put your hand in your pocket for one thing – but if you were paying, the products on offer here are exactly the ones you’d be happy to spend your hard-earned on. From spirits used in cocktails (local Mount Gay Black Barrel rum, say) to the quality of the produce in the restaurants, everything is straight out of the top drawer.

Reopening in January last year after a complete renovation of all rooms, the hotel is set around three sizeable pools, with the main leading on to brochure-worthy Dover Beach. Each pool has its own atmosphere. With a swim-up bar, music and water volleyball all day, the main pool is the liveliest option, with a steady stream of well-made cocktails and ice-cold local Banks beer free-flowing all day. A smaller cabana-lined pool makes for a more relaxed daytime spot, while the hotel also plays host to the longest river pool in Barbados – just plonk yourself on an inflatable and drift away. With 11 restaurants, you’ll never have to eat in the same place twice in a week, with Portofino’s, the on-site Italian as good as anything you’d find in Europe (the chef here spent time working with Theo Randall in London). Butch’s Chophouse serves wagyu beef, Indian restaurant Bombay Club serves a butter chicken to rival any in the world and Kimonos sushi bar bases its menu on whatever’s fresh that day. The new swim-up suites are the pick of the rooms, with shrouded baths on the balcony and direct access to the pool. MS. From £1,749 per week, sandals.co.uk