Coral Reef Club

The Coral Reef Club was an unexpected surprise. It’s truly one of the best hotels I’ve stayed at. The rooms are very large with large terraces. I reserved the cheapest category room, a Garden View Cottage, and was delighted with the view (tip, second floor rooms have a better view and are more private). From our terrace we had views of the beautiful gardens and even the ocean through the trees. The decor was traditional. It reminded me of great private beach houses in the Mediterranean and South America 50 years ago. Understated luxury. We extended our stay and were upgraded to a Luxury Cottage with great ocean views. The bathroom in this room was expansive, with a huge bathtub. There are no TVs in the rooms. The Wifi is a little slow, but manageable. The entire philosophy of the hotel is designed for relaxation. Nothing is rushed. Every request is taken as normal. My wife is on a gluten-free diet, and she was provided every day with various types of gluten free bread for breakfast and when she ordered a club sandwich it was prepared with gluten free toast. Service in the gorgeous beach is perfect. We had lunch in our lounge chairs more than once. The hotel caters mostly to British guests. The menus at the restaurant are clearly prepared following British customs. The restaurant has a dress code (no flip flops, no t-shirts, no bathing suits, no hats, and no shorts for dinner). This keeps the ambiance luxurious but not stuffy. Staff are friendly and keen to be of service without the need for “Hi I’m Joe and I’m going to be your server” fake cordiality. If you like luxury hotels with the glitzy modern ambience of a Ritz Carlton this hotel is not for you. I will certainly return.

So happy we chose the Coral Reef Club for our holiday in Barbados. We liked literally everything about the resort. It was not a cheap choice, but definitely worth it for us. Our luxury junior suites were spacious, clean and beautifully designed, with a large bed, various seating areas and a desk/dressing table in the bedroom, and a bathtub, twin basins and large shower cubicle in the bathroom. We appreciated the daily-refreshed complimentary tea and coffee, milk, and water jug with ice. The balcony was large too, with sunbeds and a desk area (my husband did a tiny bit of work on his laptop on the balcony - which felt very decadent). Our suite (called Sunflower) had a spectacular sea view. The communal areas, grounds and the beach were beautiful. The staff on reception were professional, helpful and friendly, and there was a good ratio of staff to guests in the restaurant/bar. Before we arrived I had wondered how we would get on with only a single restaurant and bar in the resort - I needn't have worried. We booked on a bed and breakfast basis and thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast buffet (special thanks to the staff on the egg/french toast station): we loved the copious fresh fruit, and there were lots of options for pastries/toast, hot food, yoghurts, cereals, salmon, etc. I particularly enjoyed my morning cafetiere of decaff coffee. We did eat in the restaurant for a few lunches and dinners and always found the staff friendly and attentive (without being obtrusive), and the food was delicious. It was a short walk into Holetown where there were numerous other restaurants. The planting in the grounds was colourful and lush: I was thrilled to spot a hummingbird on the day we arrived. We always found available sunbeds on the beach or lay a row or two back in the garden (by choice). Perhaps this was a benefit of visiting outside high season - we found May a very good time to have visited. Definitely happy to have chosen a resort on the West coast of the island as we were able to swim and snorkel in the sea and participate in watersports every day (I believe there were issues with seaweed on the south coast during our time on the island). BIG shout out to Ash and AJ in the water sports hut. We took a catamaran ride to snorkel with turtles and would definitely recommend the company/boat we went with, Calabaza, for the quality of the food and the friendliness of the staff: also they liit numbers on the boat, which gave a more intimate feel to the excursion. Extremely tempted to go back!

A wonderful place. Great staff, fantastic food, ideal location. Luxury indeed

Second visit but sadly, we would not return. The vibe has changed since our last visit two years ago and now it’s seems it’s the dreaded rush to the beach at 7am to bagsy beds with a book ot flip flop! There is zero enforcement of the “no reserving sunbeds” rule and great swathes of beds lay empty until lunchtime. Such a shame as it used to have such a chilled atmosphere but the beach is a major part of a holiday like this so it’s a no from me.

Truly the most exceptional place I’ve stayed. Gorgeous gardens. Amazingly well-appointed rooms. And the kindest staff you’re likely to meet. If you’re an American looking to get an away from the hustle and bustle, and maybe some of your countrymen, this is the place. Quiet. Unhurried. Attentive. No flashy nonsense. Ultra civilized. It feels like a luxury getaway in the English countryside, if the English countryside were tropical with a beautiful beach. Cannot recommend it enough. A gem.