TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

Lovely location, lovely staff (especially Tia at the concierge desk who was so lovely & helpful) hotel overall was tired (although rooms nice) restaurants limited.

Feb.14, 2026 We arrived at airport and no Fairmont representative to greet us and take us through the Fast Track at customs nor a car waiting to take us to the hotel which was included in our hotel package. We found an airport representative, and they had a list showing our arrival that day and it said “No FastTrack” beside our name. The airport rep called the hotel and was told FastTrack and transportation to the hotel was not included in our package. We were told to take a taxi with no mention of reimbursement. We arrive at the hotel and check in after a tiring day. No mention or apology for these mishaps. We were offered a welcome drink which we accepted, this never arrived and we were escorted to our room. The next day I approached the front desk and asked what happened and I was told that they were never given our flight details. Our travel agent stated to us that these were given quite some time ago. The person at the front desk says maybe they were sent to the “Reservations” email. They seem to be very poorly organized. Why wouldn’t Reservations forward the information directly to the hotel if this was the case? After some prodding by our travel agent, they reimbursed our taxi expense and sent some sort of standard apology template done on a computer. A sincere handwritten apology would have been appreciated. Next, we had made a reservation at the hotel restaurant Taboras for 6:30 that night. We arrived on time at the reception station but were basically ignored for about 15 minutes. They weren’t that busy. We were seated at a table, and we ordered a drink first; it took almost 20-30 minutes before it arrived. Once it arrived we ordered our dinner. This took about an hour to arrive. Again, they were not that busy but were totally disorganized. We kept asking where our food is and received various conflicting replies. We received our food at about 8pm. The quality of our food was fair at best (the chicken & vegetable spring rolls were greasy and appeared to have no vegetables in them). The next day (Sunday) we went to the hotel’s Beach Club Bar and Grill for lunch. We arrived at 12:10 and were assigned a table very quickly. We ordered a drink which took 15-20 minutes to arrive and then ordered our food which arrived at 1:20pm. Salad had very little dressing on it. Staff were hard to speak with as they were too busy and when I asked why service was so slow, the response was, “it was because of the brunch being served it the main hotel restaurant. He also said to try again at another time and hopefully we will have a better experience”. After this we ate dinner outside the resort every night except one and we had great experiences with the outside restaurants in Barbados. Another issue was the difficulty in getting ice. The nearby ice machine was broken the entire time we were there (10 days) and when we set up for ice for each evening, it never arrived. We also arranged for coffee each day at 9:30am, which also didn’t arrive. Fortunately ,we had the butler service, and they followed up and immediately brought coffee to our room. On a positive note, our butlers Dawn and Renico were very responsive and did everything possible to improve our stay, we really appreciated their service . On our last day we noticed that the spare roll of toilet paper and spare Kleenex box (ours was almost empty) were removed. Did they think we were going to take them? This is very poor form on the part of the hotel! We had to call to have them returned. This hotel does not deserve to be a Fairmont hotel. Service is spotty, the rooms are old and in need of renovating, we took pictures as examples. The best thing about this hotel is being right on the beach with great views. Considering the high cost of our suite we felt robbed in that we did not receive nearly the value for the money we paid.

The location was nice. But the hotel really needs to step it up to be a high-value, pricey resort. And it is very expensive. The staff was friendly and tried to be responsive, but the service was not good. The wait for coffee at breakfast was ridiculous. Same with trying to sit down at a table at the bar for cocktails. The hot tub was lukewarm, despite repeated requests to turn up the heat. No spa. Someone knocked on my door at 9:45 for turndown service. Hard to say if management just doesn't want to spend the money to develop an A game.

Wow what a fantastic location. The view from every room is sea facing and the beach to view or walk is simply wonderful. Idyllic! BUT….. the hotel is tired and needs a serious refresh to make it 5 star! From a people perspective most staff are very attentive to guests needs although it was clearly evident that ‘extra’ attention was made to the ‘club’ members! By club I mean the clique that existed during the week of our stay. Not every guest wishes to be in the clique but it felt uncomfortable on occasions. This was particularly evident at the pool and bar area where the familiarity of guests in the clique and staff was astonishing. We also noted a couple in the clique pouring their own alcohol at the pool area (unknowingly to staff!) albeit they had wonderful attention from the motel staff including managers.

An honest review from returning guests – loyalty earned, investment now required This review comes from a couple who have stayed at Fairmont Royal Pavilion for the past three years. First and foremost: the staff. They are, quite simply, exemplary. From the gardeners through to management, (special mention, the new guy in food and beverage) the team here is exceptional. I hesitate to name individuals because doing so risks missing others who deserve equal recognition, but special mention must go to St Claire, Nicolas, Kyle, Jalisa, Antoine, Dario, Ashlee and Sabrina. Their warmth, professionalism and genuine care elevate the entire experience and are the true reason we return. The hotel itself enjoys a sensational coastal position. The stretch of beach is extensive, pristine and effectively inaccessible to non-guests due to the way the sea meets private property at both ends. This creates a sense of exclusivity that is increasingly rare — and deeply valued. And now, the dilemma. The Royal Pavilion is made special by its location and, above all, by its people — but the physical fabric of the hotel is in need of attention. The rooms face unrivalled, breathtaking views and are generously proportioned. However, they would benefit enormously from a comprehensive refresh. A deep clean, upholstery steaming and routine maintenance in each room would make a noticeable and immediate difference. As one example, our room fridge has never had a functioning cold drawer across all three of our stays. At breakfast, some chairs are plump and comfortable, while others are sunken or showing torn fabric — small details, but details that matter at this level. We were not alone in these observations. Many guests we spoke with expressed similar views. Accor should consider itself exceptionally fortunate to have such a loyal, long-standing team — many of whom remember us from previous visits. With so many familiar faces year after year, the hotel feels more like a private club than a bland, faceless chain. But this is a five-star property, marketed as luxury — and Accor should be taking note. Would we stay again? Without hesitation. Would we write the same review again if nothing changes? Regrettably, yes — just as quickly. Accor: this hotel deserves investment. Not only for the guest experience, but for the remarkable staff who carry the brand every single day.