Coral Reef Club Barbados
May 25th, 2006, 09:36 AM
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Coral Reef Club Barbados
Just back from a week at this lovely hotel and I wanted to say it is every bit as wonderful as people on this site said.
The food was amazing, the property (especially the landscaping) was gorgeous, and the staff were very friendly and helpful. We stayed in a junior luxury suite which was super clean, comfy, nicely decorated...marble bathroom, big soaking tub, balcony with padded chaise longues, very soft feather bed, etc.
It was definitely quiet and an older clientele so that might not appeal to everyone but it was just what I was looking for. No children, no loud music, no party people in the bar late at night.
We did the Island Adventures safari tour and it was really a great time and well worth the price. We saw so much of the island and did a lot of off-road stuff that you just couldn't see if you were on your own (or apparently with some of the other jeep tours).
Also did a snorkel trip on the Silver Moon which was wonderful. It was a smaller catamaran (max 12 people) so it was a whole different experience than some of the other cat trips we've done with big crowds. The guys on the boat were super; it was a new, modern, luxury cat; swimming with the turtles was incredible; and the lunch they fixed and endless drinks from the first minute on board to the last were outstanding. Highly recommend.
The only downside was the extreme beach erosion in front of the hotel. But with nice beaches to the immediate left & right of the property it's hard to be too bothered by that. From what I've been reading, that can change rapidly so maybe the sand is returning already.
This was our first time in Barbados but we'll definitley be going back and would stay at the Coral Reef Club again in a heartbeat.
Since we didn't eat at other restaurants I can't be helpful with that, but any other questions I'll be happy to try to answer.
The food was amazing, the property (especially the landscaping) was gorgeous, and the staff were very friendly and helpful. We stayed in a junior luxury suite which was super clean, comfy, nicely decorated...marble bathroom, big soaking tub, balcony with padded chaise longues, very soft feather bed, etc.
It was definitely quiet and an older clientele so that might not appeal to everyone but it was just what I was looking for. No children, no loud music, no party people in the bar late at night.
We did the Island Adventures safari tour and it was really a great time and well worth the price. We saw so much of the island and did a lot of off-road stuff that you just couldn't see if you were on your own (or apparently with some of the other jeep tours).
Also did a snorkel trip on the Silver Moon which was wonderful. It was a smaller catamaran (max 12 people) so it was a whole different experience than some of the other cat trips we've done with big crowds. The guys on the boat were super; it was a new, modern, luxury cat; swimming with the turtles was incredible; and the lunch they fixed and endless drinks from the first minute on board to the last were outstanding. Highly recommend.
The only downside was the extreme beach erosion in front of the hotel. But with nice beaches to the immediate left & right of the property it's hard to be too bothered by that. From what I've been reading, that can change rapidly so maybe the sand is returning already.
This was our first time in Barbados but we'll definitley be going back and would stay at the Coral Reef Club again in a heartbeat.
Since we didn't eat at other restaurants I can't be helpful with that, but any other questions I'll be happy to try to answer.
May 25th, 2006, 11:08 AM
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Was this an all-inclusive resort? If not, how many restaurants were there and what type and price range? Was there any activity outside the grounds within walking distance, like restaurants, shops, ice cream places etc? I am looking for someplace that, if not an AI, at least should have a variety of places, some within walking distance that I can eat at. And a nice beach is important as well. I stayed at the Almond Beach Club a few years ago, but would not go back because of the beach. Any thoughts?
May 25th, 2006, 11:36 AM
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Thanks for sharing your experience. By all accounts, the Coral Reef Club is a class act and wonderful place to stay in Barbados. Your trip indicates that you had at least some sort of meal plan at the hotel, if not a total AI experience. Would you do that again next time? Do you regret missing out on the wonderful restaurants on the island? Glad you had a great time.
May 25th, 2006, 12:13 PM
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It wasn't AI, but we chose the MAP because I had read so much about the food being wonderful at the resort's restaurant (only one) and because we didn't want to rent a car and didn't want to pay for taxis every day and because we're not foodies that would feel gypped if we didn't get to try all of the other recommended restaurants on the island.
I would probably go that route again because I thought it was a good value for what we paid - every meal was excellent. If anything was a negative it was that there was so much great food and having paid for it I felt duty-bound to eat everything offered down to the last crumb (grew up in a "clean plate club" family).
Holetown was in walking distance and there were several restaurants and shops there. It seemed perfectly safe to me as we rode through but we didn't really walk around much, especially at night so I can't say what that would be like.
I was sad when I saw the beach because we've been going to Turks & Caicos the last few years and the beaches there are too perfect and spoil you. In addition to erosion in areas there was a reef right off our beach so it was sort of tough to walk out into the water. Some of the pieces of coral that were washing in & out with the surf were very big and could literally smash your ankle to bits. But once away from our hotel only a matter of yards there were more walkable beaches.
I think a big part of what makes the CRC so nice is that the owners are right there and always making sure the level of quality is kept up. Probably that stinks for the staff who know the boss could be around any corner. A nice touch while we were there was it was my birthday and a little gift & card were delivered to my room in the morning and then candles in my dessert & the band singing happy birthday at dinner. OK, not a huge thing but sweet and my husband didn't request it because he knows I would've killed him!
One other interesting note: apparently, at this time there is only one flight in & one out of Barbados on USAir each WEEK. Our plane was delayed due to a mechanical problem & the woman in the seat in front of me was flipping out because she had not been able to get her flight out the previous Saturday and had to return to her hotel and then come back to the airport every morning to see if she could get on another airline's flight out. She said by Wednesday she told USAir forget it, just put me on next Saturday's flight. I can't imagine the agony of having to repack and return to the airport that many days in a row. Our flight did leave eventually. She was thrilled -- but I was thinking an extra week's enforced stay might not be such a bad thing. However we all missed our connections and had to stay in cruddy motels in Charlotte, NC. What a harsh return to reality after a week at the Coral Reef Club.
I would probably go that route again because I thought it was a good value for what we paid - every meal was excellent. If anything was a negative it was that there was so much great food and having paid for it I felt duty-bound to eat everything offered down to the last crumb (grew up in a "clean plate club" family).
Holetown was in walking distance and there were several restaurants and shops there. It seemed perfectly safe to me as we rode through but we didn't really walk around much, especially at night so I can't say what that would be like.
I was sad when I saw the beach because we've been going to Turks & Caicos the last few years and the beaches there are too perfect and spoil you. In addition to erosion in areas there was a reef right off our beach so it was sort of tough to walk out into the water. Some of the pieces of coral that were washing in & out with the surf were very big and could literally smash your ankle to bits. But once away from our hotel only a matter of yards there were more walkable beaches.
I think a big part of what makes the CRC so nice is that the owners are right there and always making sure the level of quality is kept up. Probably that stinks for the staff who know the boss could be around any corner. A nice touch while we were there was it was my birthday and a little gift & card were delivered to my room in the morning and then candles in my dessert & the band singing happy birthday at dinner. OK, not a huge thing but sweet and my husband didn't request it because he knows I would've killed him!
One other interesting note: apparently, at this time there is only one flight in & one out of Barbados on USAir each WEEK. Our plane was delayed due to a mechanical problem & the woman in the seat in front of me was flipping out because she had not been able to get her flight out the previous Saturday and had to return to her hotel and then come back to the airport every morning to see if she could get on another airline's flight out. She said by Wednesday she told USAir forget it, just put me on next Saturday's flight. I can't imagine the agony of having to repack and return to the airport that many days in a row. Our flight did leave eventually. She was thrilled -- but I was thinking an extra week's enforced stay might not be such a bad thing. However we all missed our connections and had to stay in cruddy motels in Charlotte, NC. What a harsh return to reality after a week at the Coral Reef Club.
