where to stay? Tha Savannah, Coral Sands, Souther Palms or The Crane. Looking for value, location, beaches, amenities, roughly in that order. Thanks for any help, JC

We're going to Barbados for the first time this winter, and will be staying at The House. I've read very mixed reviews about this place on TA - either very positive or very negative. Curious what our experience will be!

Carola22--The House is a sexed up section of a fairly big, fairly ordinary hotel, Tamarind Cove. If you like the idea of the extra services, it may be fine. If you want more upscale classy hotels on better grounds look at Coral Reef Club and Royal Pavilion. Coral Reef lacks nothing, and has buildings recently built or remodeled, and the 50 year ownership of the O'Hara family.

Southern Palms is in a great location (walk to Gap restaurants), great beach (Dover), good food and drinks at the beach bar. Can't go wrong. We stayed a few years ago and really loved it.

Peace, Greenie

We were at the Crane in March and loved it. We stayed in one of the historic rooms, which was lacking some of the stuff that the new rooms have. We had a huge room on the first floor with a large deck directly overlooking the ocean. No kitchen, but a small fridge that we didn't use. Of course we were only there for two nights before leaving on a cruise.

We plan to return in November 2007 and spend two weeks.

I highly recommend The Crane, but I would go with one of the new timeshare rooms if you are going to spend more than a couple of days.

Coral Reef Club is perfect but has no beach.