ARRIVAL: We booked with WestJet vacations. When we walked out of the airport, there was no WestJet sign. I randomly came up to a Virgin Tours booth to ask if the lady there knew where we can find WestJet vacations, and she said right here! She then walked over to the SunTours Caribbean booth and gave us our welcome package and arranged for a taxi to take us to the hotel. We didn’t know that this was operated by SunTours. Something to keep in mind for anyone booking with WestJet. Taxi dropped us off at the hotel. There was no one there to greet us. Meaning, the concierge was not at his desk. So, we grabbed our luggage and headed upstairs to the left. Reception was just up the stairs and the ladies at the front were very lovely. Offered us some rum punch and checked us in. Check in we smooth. NOTE: There is a $9.72 USD room levy the government charges per night per room. The hotel charges a tourism fee of $2 USD per room per night which you can opt out of at any time. Our room wasn’t ready, so we had to wait until they emailed us. We went over to the Sand Trap bar and had a quick bite. The room was ready just about an hour after we arrived. We had someone escort us and give us a tour as we were walking to the room. He explained everything about the hotel and how everything works in the room. ROOMS: Beds are super comfy, and linens are fresh and lovely. However, this hotel is advertised as a 4*+ hotel - The rooms did not meet that expectation. They are extremely outdated and need to be completely renovated. Keep in mind, the rooms provided everything you needed to have an amazing stay. The aesthetics should not stop you from coming to this hotel. FOOD: Before I get into the resort - Oistins Fish Fry on Friday night is a must. Do not miss out on this. It’s a fish market that has food stalls. Pat’s is the most popular one, but they’re all very good. It’s family friendly. They have a big stage with a DJ. It’s a lot of fun. Go earlier (5:45-6pm) and take a walk on the Pier and maybe catch someone feeding the turtles. There is plenty of room to sit. If you go after 8pm, be prepared for longer waits for food. Bring cash. Dance the night away. CHELONIA RESTAURANT (Buffet): • This Restaurant is situated in, what looks like, where either the lobby bar or the entertainment bar should be. There is no actual buffet restaurant to walk into. It’s an open space that is set up like a restaurant with the food presented catering style. There is A LOT of hand touching happening with this type of set up. Everyone is opening the lids; some leave it open. Some people take stuff with their hands instead of using the provided utensils. But that is not the hotel’s fault. That happens at any buffet. The food is always the same for breakfast. We didn’t not go there for lunch, but dinner was always similar as well. There are no theme nights. I don’t know if that matters to anyone. Yes, there are birds flying around. No, they are not scary. But yes, they're a little annoying - It's not a big deal. Don't let that sway you. Unless you are terrified of birds. :) ASIAGOS RESTAURANT (A La Carte): • You can and have to make a reservation for this restaurant. It also must be done the day before. So, you cannot make a reservation the day off. This is an Italian restaurant. The food was good, the service was great. SANDTRAP RESTAURANT (Lunch Buffet & A La Carte + Beach Bar): • This is also a lunch restaurant buffet (set up catering style) and the food here was always delicious. We looked forward to lunch every day. • This restaurant also serves as an A la carte restaurant in the evening. Same concept as Asiagos. Food was also good. The potato wedges that come with the steak were delish! • This is also where you get your drinks during the day while by the pool or if you’re on the beach. The staff were always friendly and made great drinks! HALF MOON COFFEE SHOP & DELI: • Delicious cappuccinos or lattes, hot or iced. And plenty of other drinks! • There were always only 4 types of pastries (Red Velvet, Chocolate & Carrot Cakes + Almond Tarts and Butter Pecan Tarts) All yummy! • 1 type of snack (croissant with cheese and deli meat) • One note here, they always seemed to be out of Almond Milk as it was the most popular choice. • Closes at 6pm. FREEZE ICE-CREAM PARLOUR: • Also closes at 6pm for some reason. • Maple Almond ice cream with almonds and caramel on top was delish! ENTERTAINMENT: • I’m not sure what to say here. There was a singer at the buffet every night. That’s all. If you’re looking to see a show, it won’t happen here. This is a small boutique hotel, and they simply don’t have the space for it. However, this is not our first time at a small boutique hotel and there are many ways to entertain guests after dinner. • There is a volleyball court, and it was used once. There is no entertainment/activities team that walks around asking people to get involved in activities. There is an activities office where you go in to book your excursions or shuttles or restaurant reservations, but they don’t actually engage with guests. I did not sit by the pools, so I can’t speak for the folks around the pool areas, but the beach was never visited by the activities staff. If you’re a person that loves to engage in activities, you’ll need to bring your own. • There is a kid’s room that has table tennis and a pool table. • There are 2 tennis courts. They were mostly used by a Barbados tennis club and for some lessons for the guests. • There is a gym & and spa as well. BEACH: • The Beach is amazing. The lifeguards are always on point if you’re about to walk into the water in a red zone. No one was allowed to swim outside of the safe zone. Great work. • The lounge chairs by the pool are perfect, but the one’s on the beach, not so much. Some had the shade topper attached, but you really had to find one that wasn’t either broken or ripped. They absolutely need to be updated. • The towels were plenty and always available. • The bar staff came around once in a while asking if anyone wanted a drink, which was very nice. However, once management showed up, there was a dedicated person walking around on the beach serving. • There were random items left around the beach for days. i.e. A folding table that was just resting on top of the hedges. It looked like someone forgot to bring it back inside and it remained there for a week straight. The reason I’m making a note of this is because this hotel is directly next door to the Sandals and it just looks sloppy. (This hotel is rated 4/5*, and it looks unkempt). STAFF: • The staff at this hotel is great. The people of Barbados are some of the nicest folks. • However, management presence should be known to guests. We had no idea if there was a manager on staff. They did arrive on Tuesday inviting the guests to a cocktail party. But that was about it. STORE: • There is a store at the hotel where you can get medicine, clothes, snacks, etc. However, it’s only open until 3pm I think? So, if you need anything in the evening, you’re out of luck. EXCURSIONS: • We booked the “Barbados: Island Tour with Animal Flower Cave & Lunch” via GetYourGuide online prior to our trip, but you can book anytime online or you can call them and book on the phone • Excellent tour I didn’t see an ATM at the hotel (maybe there was one?). Not a big deal, but if you run out of cash (especially for tipping), you’ll have to go off resort. Verify taxi costs before going out on your adventures. The resort's front desk will advise you of the cost to where you're heading, and then pass you onto the concierge who arranges the taxi for you. At this resort the concierge calls his friend's car (or someone they think will be great) to take you to your destination and upon returning to the resort, the cost increases. There is a Barbados based website, from their government that outlines the maximum rates that can be charged from location to location; this was exceeded in our experience.

My stay at Turtle Beach Resort was the best ever. Clean rooms, spectacular setting, pink/white beaches and above all, an incredibly friendly staff. The hotels' water sports location with Dario and Ronaldo managing it, was my personal happy place.

VERY UNHAPPY THAT DESPITE BOOKING 4 X OCEAN FRONT JUNIOR SUITES WE WERE INFORMED ON ARRIVAL THAT 2 ROOMS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. DESPITE BEING UNHAPPY WE ACCEPTED ON THE ASSURANCE THAT WE WOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR THE INCONVENIECE. THIS HAS NOT HAPPEND DESPITE NUMEROUS EMAILS TO THE VIRGIN REP ON SITE ON SPEAKING TO THE MANAGER BEFORE LEAVING TO GO HOME ?? THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AS THE HOTEL AND VIRGIN HOLIDAYS HAVE NOT FULFILLED THEIR CONTRACT !!! WE REQUIRE RE-IMBURSEMENT AND COMPENSATION FOR THIS. IN ADDITION A DYSON HAIRDRYER WAS LEFT BEHIND IN ON OF THE ROOMS AND SUPPOSINGLY HAS NOT BEEN FOUND ?? THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THEY HAVE TRUST ISSUES WITH THEIR STAFF?

We were absolutely enamored with our experience at this place. Leading up to our trip, we meticulously read through reviews, harboring some doubts, but our innate open-mindedness prevailed. It's inevitable that there will always be a few individuals who go out of their way to nitpick and complain. However, upon our arrival, we were greeted with a heartwarming welcome in the form of a delightful rum punch from an exceptionally friendly reception team. The serendipity of being escorted to our ground-floor room, situated conveniently by the pool, was nothing short of perfect for us, especially with our little ones in tow. The room itself was a sanctuary of spaciousness and cleanliness, boasting an array of amenities that worked seamlessly. Admittedly, the dated shower and toilet were in dire need of a replacement, but the buzz about the upcoming refurbishment by the Marriott group fills us with hope and excitement for the future of this resort. As for the sun loungers, we learned to approach the situation with a lighthearted perspective to avoid succumbing to frustration. The early morning rush to reserve loungers, sometimes even the night before, prompted us to suggest a fair allocation system based on the number of guests in each room to deter any potential hogging. The culinary experience was nothing short of exceptional, with the buffet area offering a delectable selection of dishes. While we did encounter some delays in receiving plates on a few occasions, we found humor in the situation, understanding that selfish diners, particularly children, are a universal occurrence at all-inclusive resorts. The live egg cooking station in the mornings was a highlight, with one particular morning standing out as we witnessed a nervous yet commendable performance by a lady on her first shift. The ambiance at the SandTrap Bar/Restaurant was simply enchanting, drawing us in for late-night rendezvous with fellow guests and the amiable bar staff. Our visit to Asiagos was a culmination of our culinary journey, albeit a last-minute decision due to the delightful chaos that comes with traveling with children. The beach served as our sanctuary, a place where we spent countless hours basking in the sun. The ice cream parlor was a sweet escape, while the adjacent café provided a tranquil respite for a quiet coffee in the cool AC. Every member of the staff, from the welcoming faces at the front doors to the dedicated individuals throughout the resort, left an indelible mark on our hearts. The prospect of returning to this haven fills us with a profound sense of gratitude and longing for the cherished memories we created during our stay.

My 5th stay at Turtle Beach, it’s been several years since my last stay. I received a complementary room upgrade as I was celebrating a special birthday, thank you Turtle Beach ! Don’t be put off by poor reviews, nothing is perfect after all. I directly conveyed changes I feel were not good to the hotel post stay. Resort is due a major refurbishment which is exciting, I hope this includes sun loungers. The beach is beautiful, pool areas lovely. I love the Chelonia restaurant, buffet style in the evenings but a la carte is always available. Vast majority of staff are very helpful and pleasant. I will never stay anywhere else, I love this resort 🥰.