DF73

Trying to plan a trip to Barbados in late May. Sandy Lane too pricey. Coral Reef sounded great, but understand it will be closed for renovations. We are considering Fairmont Royal Pavilion, Cobbler's Cove, Colony Club and the Sandpiper. Of importance is a pleasant property with a calm, sandy, nice-sized beach with no rocks upon walking in. Our preference is a hotel with an oceanfront room choice. Enjoy looking out at the ocean.

Looking for a friendly, non-snobby environment. Spa would be nice, but not absolutely necessary.

BeachDF

xkenx

Coral Reef Club is the class act on the island. Can you go before they close? If not, Sandpiper is owned by same family as Coral Reef. Very nice, but not a long beach, few ocean view rooms. Royal Pavilion is most American-like, but good. Nearly all rooms beachfront on a long enough, but very narrow beach. Colony Club shares a beach with Coral Reef next door. Nice hotel, nice string of pools. Cobbler's Cove, IMO, is seriously overrated. Very few OV rooms, rocky beach (the sand beach is actually off the property). Another place to look at is the small, intimate Treasure Beach Hotel. Fine restaurant, and sits on the very long Payne's Bay stretch of beach, where you can walk all the way to Sandy Lane. See www.treasurebeachhotel.com No matter where you are, depending upon water conditions you could have (or not) coral rocks in the water. Might be a good idea to bring aqua socks just in case.

ejcrowe

Cobbler's Cove is the only one of the hotels you're considering that I have stayed in, having got a great rate at a travel auction. Like the previous poster, I'm not sure that I would stay there at the full rack rate. having said that, the property was intimate and beautifully kept, with the garden view rooms having a truly lovely garden view and a glimpse of the sea through the foliage. The beach in front of the restaurant is indeed rocky, but a few yards beyond that it is soft, white sand and it stretches that way for about 1/3 of a mile in front of some very nice villas. When I was there, some luxury condos were being built, and I can only assume they're finished by now.

The food their was excellent, as was the service. Most guests preferred to sunbathe up on the grass rather than the beach, which was a puzzle to my husband and me, so we had the beach chairs to ourselves for our entire visit. They do offer beach service by giving you a flag to put in front of your chair if you want anything.

The ocean view rooms are few indeed, and if you were to stay at the ground level, you would have other guests on their lounge chairs immediately in front of your room. The second floor is better, both for privacy and for the cathedral ceiling.

IF you can get a good rate at Cobblers Cove, I think it could be a wonderful place to stay. But if you're paying anywhere near full price, well, you might want to skip it.

Leslie_S

If you're really interested in Coral Reef Club, they are open through the end of May -- we are going the third week.
I've been assured it's a yearly spiff-up more than a major renovation so going so close to their shut-down should not be a problem.

DianeC

What dates are you going to coral Reef? We are going on the 10th & really looking forward to it.

Leslie_S

Going May 13th - can't wait!
DianeC - If you revisit this post - is your understanding that the restaurant at Coral Reef will be somewhat dressy? I'm more worried for my husband than myself. Men can't wear sandals, correct?

DianeC

Hello... I understand from previous posts that it is dressy in the evenings, but whenever we have been in the Caribbean it has always been long trousers for men with shirts with collars , not necessarily formal shirts, but always with collars! I like dressing up in a dress in the evening, as I don't get to wear them very often! I know at Galley Bay in antigua that men couldn't wear sandals, but don't know about coral Reef. Might be worth dropping them an email. Let me know onthis post if you do. thanks & see you there

Diane

Leslie_S

Diane - I emailed Coral Reef and they said that men can wear sandals in the restaurant. That'll make my husband happy. They also said no denim, which I hadn't asked about but now we know. I can't imagine wearing jeans in the islands...even with a cool breeze in the evening jeans seem like a heavy, hot choice to me.
Can't wait for May!

DianeC

leslie
not long to go now, will tell my OH about the sandals, I think he has already put his shoes where we are gathering holiday clothes! Weather is warming up a bit here now!