Rio Guesthouse

a year ago

In 1999 I left the Port Of Spain Carnival in Trinidad and flew into Barbados with a long list of hotels and guest houses to phone. It was stressful not knowing where I'd end up that night but I struck gold when I phoned this guest house. Located in the renowned St Lawrence Gap, an accommodating owner I had a wonderful time and never forgot (just stumbled across the business card)

7 years ago

I spent a week of scuba diving and stayed at Rio Guesthouse. At first there was a little confusion of which room I should be staying. I ended up staying at there other location which is just right next street. So this review should be about the other location and about Paula and Dennis. The room has a kitchen, a living room with TV (which I didn't use), and good size bathroom. The room has AC and there is a clothes line at the back of the property (The space at the back worked really for my gear!). I was very happy about the accommodation. Paula and Dennis, every time I visit the main house, were friendly and hospitable. I normally don't need a lot of things to be comfortable so I probably interacted with them 3-4 times during my stay. Also, for a fee, Dennis can drive you back to the airport which is very convenient. I would stay again with Paula and Dennis if I come back in Barbados.

3 years ago

Thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Rio Guesthouse as a solo traveller in February 2023. It is accurate to photos and descriptions on their website. I found the hosts (who live/ are there a lot of the time) really kind and helpful. It's clean and convenient. It's probably the closest thing you can find to a hostel - with other travellers staying in the building - and is good for travelling on a budget. It also has kitchen facilities and a balcony/ outside area. I appreciated the hosts offering me a double room on arrival (I'd initially booked a twin as doubles were sold out on the website) and their help with other queries about Barbados. It is conveniently located with easy/walking access to St Lawrence Gap and Dover Beach, and is near other big hotels and restaurants etc. I'll be back!

4 years ago

Really good value for the location and room. The bedroom had a comfortable bed and a full kitchen which was very useful, and a private bathroom. The A/C was very effective at keeping cold! The hosts were lovely, very helpful and friendly. Would definitely recommend for a traveller on a budget

3 years ago

I had a disappointing experience at Rio Guesthouse. During my stay, I had a few bottles of beer that I had placed in the fridge. However, upon checking the fridge later, I found that my beer had been taken without my permission. This was very disappointing as it felt like a violation of my personal belongings. Additionally, I had left a gift for my wife in the room, which we were both excited about. However, when the room was cleaned, the gift was nowhere to be found. It seemed that it had been thrown away or misplaced during the cleaning process. Overall, I was disappointed with my stay at Rio Guesthouse. The theft of my beer and the loss of my wife's gift left a sour taste in my mouth. It's important for hotels and guesthouses to respect their guests' belongings and not to throw away items without checking with the guests first. The room I was given did not have air conditioning, and the temperature inside the room was unbearable. Despite the high temperatures, the management did not provide any alternative solutions or offer any compensation for the discomfort caused by the lack of AC. The lady looks very mean all the time. Go find an Airbnb with AC in the same price level would be better enjoy in Barbados.