Up & Away

Give your getaway a beautiful boost at The Crane Resort, Barbados. —Noa Nichol

Stay

“When we were brainstorming a tagline or slogan for the property, one that struck a chord was Really Get Away,” says The Crane Resort, Barbados owner (and proud Canadian) Paul Doyle. Indeed, over many decades, Doyle has developed a one-stop-shop tropical destination of sorts, with generous accommodations (from family-friendly suites with kitchens to luxe villas with private pools), convenient amenities (a central “village,” modelled after Barbados’ Speightstown, with restaurants, retail, a café and a well-stocked general store) and engaging activities (guided walks, rum tastings, fitness classes)—all starting with the island’s oldest hotel, The Crane, established in 1887 and named for the cranes that brought goods up from ships in the adjacent port. The original stone inn still operates today, providing endless inspiration and talking points for the ongoing story of the Doyle’s passion project.

Stories

If you’re lucky enough to encounter Doyle during your stay, tap him for a tale or two—a lovely guy, he’s a wealth of information about the property and the island. Ask about the ghost in the old hotel, the rumour around a previous owner being involved in Britain’s Great Train Robbery, where to find fresh cooking herbs growing around the property and what to order at Zen, the resort’s delectable Japanese and Thai restaurant. He can also fill you in on future plans for The Crane, which include many additional fractional ownership units (a second home in paradise? Yes, please), luxury villas perfect for group getaways, exciting new dining opportunities and, since the U.S. imposed tariffs on his home and native land, ideas around supporting more Canadian goods and visitors at his resort.

Spa

The Crane’s Serenity Spa offers blissful signature treatments to pamper you head-to-sandy-toe. There’s a soothing Traveller’s Paradise aromatherapy offering, a calming Calypso Cool rhythmic massage, a Bajan Body Scrub to smooth, soften and brighten sun-kissed skin and a Crane Glow package with exfoliation, massage and a triple berry brightening facial. Add a hydrating lip treatment, mini facial or warm stone enhancement to level-up whatever service you book. Be sure to swing by the bar after your session for a virgin (or not) Piña Colada—yum.

Savour

Not only does the resort offer a plethora of on-property dining options, every single one of them (that we tried, anyway) are delicious. Zagat-rated Barbados’ No. 1 for food, Zen offers authentic Japanese and Thai delicacies in a magnificent setting, featuring an all-glass frontage offering spectacular vistas of Crane Beach; order the skewers to start and the caramelized bananas for dessert. Giving actually-in-Italy restaurants a run for their money, D’Onofrio’s serves up pizzas, pastas and a casual atmosphere, perfect for families with kids. Poolside, the Carriage House was once the official stable of the historic hotel; today, light grilled items and tropical cocktails in or out of the shade replace the horses—and the hay. And though your taste buds really have no reason to leave the property, nearby Cutters serves bountiful meat, seafood and veggie sandwiches (colloquially called “cutters”) and what some consider to be the best rum punch on the island (it’s the ice-to-water ratio, reveals owner Roger Goddard).

See

The Crane is rife with things to do: there are meandering walking paths, multiple pools and daily activity schedules bursting with staff-led fun. But beyond the resort, Barbados calls. Take an historic distillery tour at Mount Gay Rum; check out the Barbados Museum & Historical Society in Bridgetown; or book a fishing charter to catch marlin and sailfish. Our top off-property to-do? Harrison’s Cave, where a tram takes you on an underground tour of a crystallized, limestone gallery characterized by stalactites hanging from the roof and stalagmites emerging from the ground, with streams of crystal-clear running water that drop from breathtaking waterfalls to form deep emerald pools. The stalactites and stalagmites were formed over thousands of years and in some places the stalactites have reached down to the stalagmites and a spectacular pillar has been formed. Look for the popular engagement spot, where a “kneeling” stalagmite appears to be proposing to its mate.