We stayed at the Meridian Inn for three weeks in August 2011. We set up a cab ride ($20.00) from the airport when we booked our room. We arrived around 0100 because of a delayed flight. The cab driver got us our key, which was a little weird, because the front office closes early evening.
The location is good you have a little store about 100 yards away. Dover Beach is about 50 yards away. The hotel is located at the bottom of the Gap which is a long strip of restaurants, bars and some clubs. If you are going to walk the Gap or most streets the peddlers will try to sell you their products (To include drugs especially if you are younger and smoke cigarettes). Generally if you tell the peddlers you are not interested they don't bother you.
The room was basic. It is what we expected for the price. The housekeeping came around every day so we always had what we needed. The kitchen had all you would need to eat in every day since the food in Barbados is about twice as much as the US(If you are out and see a long line waiting behind a van or car stop and grab some food it is probably the cheapest you will find on the island, thats why the locals are eating there.). There is a micro fridge, toaster, microwave, and two burner cook top. There were plenty of dishes and silverware for two people. The wifi in the room worked 97% of the time only going out a couple of nights and it was included in the price. Plenty of dresser and storage space for clothing and bags. The air-conditioning looked to be new and worked good in room #9 were we staid, although the ceiling fan was taped together and quit on us after two days. We didn't see any critters or signs of them. The community phone was located outside our room so we got to hear a lot of conversations. We went to the laundry mat because we found it cheaper than having the staff do it for us.The only thing i felt could have been updated were the mattresses and the tv could have been bigger. when you are there for three weeks you do watch some tv. There was no alarm clock in the room either.
There is a parking lot for the guest to use. We rented a car for two of the weeks we were there. We paid about $250/wk with gps(a must no streets are marked). We went to a lot of beaches on the west coast. Some of the nicest beaches were Paynes Bay and Heron Bay. They were the quietest and nicest. Dover Beach which is located right outside the hotel was nice until there was a freak seaweed take over. This is not common from what some of the locals told us. Turtle tours are a must. We went through Adventure Land Tours. They were the best price and we were at the same spots as the more expensive cateran tours. I would do the private tour and only go out and swim with the turtles. The shipwreck was not to impressive. We swam with lots of turtles thanks to the great guide we had.
All and all Barbados is a place we will go back to after exploring other islands. We will defiantly stay at the Meridian Inn again. It was a good beach vacation.
