Coral Reef Club is Barbados' most beautiful beach-front hotel. Trust me.

I am a planner when it comes to trips away. I spend literally days and days meticulously researching where I’m going, where I’m staying and where I’m eating. I think it’s down to the former journalist in me. If something’s worth doing, it’s worth researching properly.

To that end, a December trip to Barbados – destination this time decided upon due to the very simple fact that Virgin had reward flights left and I had airmiles to squander – involved every evening for a full two weeks spent laptop open and “where to stay in Barbados” the most-searched term.

It turns out there are lots of recommended hotspots, except every single one seems to have a similar number of stars and similarly glowing reviews. I think it’s down to the amount of rum punch everyone drinks when they’re there; everywhere is perfect when the sun is shining and you’ve got a cocktail in hand.

So, despite all those hours, the first place we rock up to is a huge disappointment. Tired interiors, interminably slow service and a towel on every sun lounger by 7.36am (I checked. Jet-lag. I am not usually up and about by that time when I’m on holiday.)

Thankfully, I had two more spots on the itinerary. We move around when we’re away – if you work in trend forecasting, you never stay in the same spot for very long.

The second hotel was beautiful – refined, elegant and worthy of a full post when I’ve finished unpacking – but it was the third that justified the late-night Googling. Just call me Goldilocks.

Coral Reef Club sits on the West coast of the island – the self-styled ‘platinum coast’ – but so did all the others we stayed at.

What set this place apart was the perfect recipe of friendly, but not in-your-face, service, gorgeous gardens (hummingbirds, monkeys and mongooses all spotted from the comfort of our beachside beds), great food and, frankly, bonkers-sized suites that could quite easily fit an entire family, but available just for twosomes.

Like nearly everywhere else, the interiors are colonial in style, but not fussy, and you’re perfectly positioned to wander into nearly Holetown if you want an alternative to hotel fare for dinner, or along the beach to one of the local huts for an afternoon drink.

It was also, dare I say, more laidback than some of the other places we stayed. By which I mean no one raised an eyebrow when we ordered a second bottle of wine at lunch.

Finally, and forgive me when I sound like a total princess as you read this, the breakfast buffet was fit for the 21st century with green juices lined up next to the grapefruit and orange, almond milk next to the semi-skimmed and as many fruit options as baked goods. A set-up entirely absent at our first spot where a request for vegan breakie options was met with baffled blank faces, and some dry granola to kick off the day.

It might have been a case of third time lucky, but at least I’ve saved a whole lot of late nights next time my miles balance is in credit.

The Wanderlist:

Sea Cat
Right opposite to the Coral Reef Club entrance, this local food joint has the warmest welcome on the island and the strongest rum punches, which is saying something. I was somewhat grateful the walk home wasn’t too far (and no one I knew was watching).

Juju’s
My favourite find of the trip. There’s no menu at this beach shack, and they don’t take cards, but will happily dole out margaritas and fried flying fish until you run out of cash.

Lone Star
The coolest lunch-spot on the west coast. An old converted garage now done up in chic nautical style with chic food choices to match.

The Sandpiper
Five minutes along the beach from Coral Reef Club, head here for great lunches. The lobster tacos are a must.