Build Quality and Design

One of the first things I noticed about the Barbados is the superior build quality. The construction of the liner feels far more robust and durable compared to my previous CleverSpa model. It has a premium look and feel, which immediately stood out to me upon setup. The colour scheme is nice and blends well with garden furniture.

Although the hot tub advertises there is space for up to 4 people, it’s more like space for 2 adults to fit comfortably.  You could definitely squeeze more, but to comfortably relax, 2 adults would be the limit.

Comfort and Features

The padded, smooth floor of the Lay-Z-Spa Barbados is a fantastic. Unlike my previous hot tub, which developed permanent creases on the liner’s floor, the Barbados’ floor remains perfectly smooth and padded. You can instantly feel the soft and smooth floor when getting in the hot tub. Whether you’re sitting or leaning against the sides, the materials offer just the right amount of cushioning.

The AirJet system provides a lovely bubble massage experience. With 120 jets in a ring surrounding the tub, the bubbles are both powerful and consistent, delivering an relaxing hydrotherapy effect. The jets are easy to control at the push of a button on the pump unit, which also serves as the heater and filter.

The Barbados comes with built in WiFi which allows you to schedule repeat heating timers directly through the app. This feature, along with the integrated thermal jacket, was one of the main reasons I chose this model. The scheduling function works reliably, but there is one downside. When the heating schedule ends, the filter automatically turns off, requiring me to manually restart it via the app. Unfortunately, there’s no option to keep the filter running independently after the heating cycle finishes. It would be great if Bestway could introduce a separate filter scheduling option in a future update.

The power cable is 7 metres long, which offers plenty of length to reach a nearby outdoor socket without the need for an extension lead (which should never be used for a hot tub). The plug has an inline RCD/GFCI, which is fantastic because it means you can plug the hot tub directly into a standard outdoor socket. Many other hot tubs have bulky RCD plugs that don’t fit into typical outdoor sockets.

The cover features safety clips with a three point unlocking system which is great for child safety.

Noise and Pump Performance

The pump design is compact but efficient, and I find the noise levels to be reasonable. It’s about as loud as a vacuum cleaner when the jets are on, which is fine during the day, but out of consideration for neighbours, I avoid using them late at night. You can’t really hear the AirJet pump over the sound of the relaxing bubbles when you’re in the hot tub, but from a distance, it sounds like someone is vacuuming. If it’s just the filter and heating on, it’s a low, quiet hum, which is fine to keep on at any hour.

Heating Performance

The heating performance of the Lay-Z-Spa Barbados is excellent. It can reach a maximum temperature of 40°C, which is perfect for colder evenings. The hot tub retains heat well, especially with the insulation I’ve added (more on that below). The built-in EnergySense thermal jacket does a good job, but I enhanced it further with extra insulation to reduce heat loss even more efficiently.

The heating system is straightforward to use via the Lay-Z-Spa app. I can easily set a schedule to heat the tub during the cheaper tariff periods, which brings me to the energy usage…

Insulation Setup for Energy Efficiency

Running a hot tub can be expensive, especially during colder months, but I’ve taken several steps to make sure my Lay-Z-Spa Barbados is as energy-efficient as possible. In fact, I specifically chose the Barbados model due to it’s focus on energy efficiency. Here’s what I’ve done to minimise energy costs:

• Underneath the Hot Tub: I created a base out of 4 pallets. This creates an air gap under the hot tub and allows rain water to drain away. On top of the pallets I laid 11mm OSB sheets and 50mm Kingspan PIR insulation board on top of that, followed by a puzzle mat for added insulation and padding.
• Thermal Cover: While the Barbados comes with a built-in thermal jacket, I purchased an additional thermal cover for extra insulation on top.

Thanks to this setup, the hot tub retains its heat exceptionally well. Even during the colder months, when heating to 40 degrees, it only loses around 3-4 degrees from 5:30 AM (when my cheap energy tariff ends) to around 7:00 PM when we typically use it. This means the hot tub is usually around 36°C. This means the hot tub only has to be heated around 2 degrees during peak times. This level of heat retention has saved me a significant amount on my energy bills, and I would highly recommend this type of insulation for anyone concerned about running costs. There is an initial outlay for the materials however these costs pay for themselves in energy savings in a matter of months.