Can anyone offer any recent feedback on Glitter Bay or suggest any other hotel on Barbados (or Antigua) that accepts children, has a beautiful beach, has suites, and has a fairly luxurious feel for less than $1,000 a night? (not interested in budget accomodations or all inclusives where the fare is buffets). We haven't travelled since having our baby 18 months ago and want to splurge, but the price tag at Sandy Lane in Barbados and Jumby Bay in Antigua seems a little steep none the less.

Do not consider Glitter Bay -- it's in dire need of updating. In fact, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts sold the Fairmont Glitter Bay in Barbados to a group of investors for approximately $31 million. Glitter Bay to be managed by Fairmont as the Fairmont Glitter Bay. The new owners intend to renovate and further develop the property.

Definitely check out Coral Reef Club - they have fabulous accommodations of all sorts and are less pricey than Sandy Lane, but rival it in service, accommodations, etc. You can find them at www.coralreefbarbados.com

We stayed there this past year & had a Luxury Cottage Suite that was fabulous.

Lois

Thanks for your suggestion, but Coral Reef Club in March is still around $1200 a night for a luxury cottage suite (w/ separate sitting area, which is what we are looking for). Does anyone have any other suggestions that are a little less pricey?

Agree with Lois--
Coral Reef Club is wonderful. They have Jr. Suites for less $$ and they are spacious enough to place another bed/cot for a child. The higher-priced Jr. Suites are closer to ocean; the others have garden views.

Have you looked into renting a villa. Check with Paul at Island Hideaways - he may have the perfect one. He can be reached toll free at: (800) 832-2302. We've used him and lots of our friends. He's low-key, but knows the island well. I'm sure he'd find something for you at less than $1,000 a night. Tell him I suggested you call (Lois Swanson)

I'll definitely give Paul a call, thanks. Do the junior suites at Coral Reef Club have a separate living area separated by a door or wall? Because our daughter goes to bed so early, we would like a separate room in a suite (or perhaps villa) so that we can still talk/hang out after she goes to bed.

If you are upstairs in a jr.suite, you will have privacy ob the balcony, and ther are doors between room and balcony for separation. Keep in mind that the room rates at Coral Reef are inclusive of taxes.

Another recommendation for the Coral Reef Club- we had a wonderful stay there.