Hotels in Saint James

Saint James is Barbados' Platinum Coast, the calm-water west side where Holetown, where English settlers first landed in 1625, anchors a run of luxury resorts, beach bars and golf courses. Paynes Bay and the Folkestone Marine Park give some of the best swimming and snorkelling on the island, with coral reefs close enough to shore to reach by fin.

This is a beach base, not a town to explore on foot: there's no real urban centre, and evenings mean resort restaurants and a handful of beach bars rather than nightlife. The east coast's wilder Atlantic surf is a genuine contrast, just a short drive across the island. Stay around Holetown for the calmest beaches and the widest choice of restaurants.