lvs

My husband and I are thinking about going to Barbados next winter. We have never stayed there before. We have over the past few years, stayed at Cap Juluca, Caneel Bay and Peter Island. We're looking for:

1. A pretty beach with enough shade (unlike CJ- not enough shade for my husband))
2. Nice rooms (unlike Caneel)
3. Few kids (unlike Peter Island and Caneel)

I have read posts on Cobbler's Cove and thought that might fit the bill. to know if the beach is quiet and not overrun with kids or day visitors who aren't guests? Do the garden rooms have easy access to the beach? (the price really jumps up for oceanfront. Is the beach pretty? And finally, any thoughts on other properties on Barbados (excluding Sandy Lane which is too big and too expensive).

Thanks for your help.
Linda

ejcrowe

I have stayed at Cobbler's but not at any of the other resorts you're looking to compare it to. It does have a lovely beach that is quite secluded. At the time I was there, summer 2002, it was the only hotel on the beach; instead, very luxurious looking private villas were strung along it. The only natural shade along the beach itself is line of trees that provides privacy along the property lines of the villas. Which means, since the hotel is on the west coast, that the trees would provide shade only in the morning and not afternoon for people on the beach. The hotel does set up a group of umbrellas and chairs on the beach, and even with my fair skin the umbrellas provided me with sufficient shade. I generally take less than one hour of direct sun per day in the Caribbean, but I do love to spend my days reading on the beach.

What I was surprised to discover was that most of the hotel guests chose to not linger on the beach. They instead lounged on the grassy grounds of the property and around the pool. My partner and I, and one single guest, were the only hotel guests who wanted to sit on the beach. Go figure. There was also only one child at the hotel while we were there, and he looked positively miserable. He was not the sort of child who is good at making his own entertainment, evidently. But overall the resort was very quiet.

As for the rooms, they felt open and spacious and were nicely appointed, but they weren't particularly luxurious. I've heard the rooms at Caneel are rustic, but I really don't know how they would compare to Cobbler's. The rooms themselves are laid out in a V-shape facing the beach, with only a few rooms that are truly ocean front. The sunsets would be spectacular to watch from them, but if you chose this room category, I strongly suggest that you book the upper floor room with private balcony rather than lower room with private patio, as the patios abut the lounging area where most of the other guests were taking the sun. If I had been in one of those rooms, I would have felt that the other guests were in my front yard. Our room was one level back from the ocean front rooms, so we had glimpses of the water through the foliage. We spent a lot of time on our private balcony and felt we had the place to ourselves. The food at Cobbler's is quite good and the restaurant is right on the water's edge, so quite romantic. Hope you have a fabulous time, wherever you decide to go.

jasper

i stayed at the glitter bay...it was great. right on the beach, staff bring you drinks on the beach...plenty of water sports, etc... i also must plug "carambola" for dinner!

lvs

Thanks, EJ, for all the information. my husband isn't a big fan of umbrellas for shade, although the western exposure sounds really nice. Are there any straw huts or palapas in addition to the umbrellas? Also, do you remember what room number you were in since you liked your room?

Jasper, does the Glitter Bay beach have much shade?

jasper

i seem to remember there was some trees for shade, and umbrellas. lots of beach glass on the beach, it's awesome. it's breezy enough there so it's comfortable. however...in barbardos they tell you to not stay in the sun for longer than 2 hours at a time because it is so close to the equator. but i'm a total sun worshipper..