I really wanted to love Santosha. It’s on the east coast, which most people never get to. The photos make it look intriguing and I wanted to be a little adventurous. But I guess I should have done more research, and my expectations would have matched what we found.
First, the good stuff. Reception and staff were really nice. Bed was very comfortable. Good wifi. Rooms had nice patio/balcony facing the ocean. General area was quiet. There is a big propane Weber grill available - we used it. If you have a car, you can go to various sites in the interior, and also to Speightstown, about 15 minutes away.
Now the downsides. Above all, it is really remote. You’ll need a car; if you don’t have one you are totally stuck. The ocean is much further away than the photos suggest. And anyway it’s totally useless - you can’t swim and there are huge mounds of smelly seaweed everywhere. The pool is tiny, like most pools at Barbados hotels. Photos are distorted - don’t be fooled! Lounge chairs weren’t very comfortable, and neither were the chairs on the patios. In the evenings you’ll get eaten by mosquitos. Even though the rooms looked really nice, they were arranged in a strangely inconvenient way. Dishes were under the counter - no cabinet space above the sink/stove. A small bureau for storage. No comfortable chairs or loveseat in the rooms.
Bottom line - if you need a crash pad after you spend all day exploring, it’s perfect. If you want a Caribbean beach experience, this isn’t it.