Crystal Cove by Elegant Hotels

We read the reviews regarding the meal options before our holiday and was given the option to change hotels. However, after an email conversation with Richard the Guest Services Manager we decided to give it a go. We were pleasantly surprised. We booked a room with a beach view. The room was very spacious with the most comfortable bed. Lovely new bathroom with spacious shower and always had hot water. Not a problem for us as we only walked past but room 222 always had a sewage smell outside. The beach was beyond stunning and the sea was lovely to swim in. We met Richard, the manager I had spoken to on email, and had a few chats with him, he always asked how we were finding our holiday when we saw him. The food was actually very good. Breakfast and lunch were mainly buffet...very good. Darren was the egg/omelette man and was so friendly. Dinner at the beginning of the week was Buffet and A La Carte but by the last few days it was one or the other which was a shame. All waiting staff were friendly and always chatty. Dawn and the food/bev manager were great as were Delores and Raquel on the bar. I was disappointed that there was no message in the room wishing my sister Happy 60th Birthday and often the bars ran out of bottled drinks as they also did for the mini bar. The coffee shop usually had 6 bags of crisps a day to put out although I noticed they had a delivery on our last day. If we come again next year I'm sure all the little blips will have been sorted and Crystal Cove will be a sought after holiday destination. Thank you, we had a good holiday.

Returned home yesterday after the most fantastic holiday ever. We were last there 2 yrs ago again as a family but my mum was with us. After mum passed dad asked if we would take him back to help him remember ( so sad) we are all so glad we agreed to accompany him the hotel is absolutely beautiful now after a 13month refurbishment we were lucky enough to be all given front line suits maybe down to the fact we had been numerous times over the last 25yrs. For some unknown reason there were a number of people moaning about the food which I have to say was ridiculous there was food available at anytime of the day and always choice at one restaurant or the other, pool side if you didn't want to move from the very comfy lounge gers. The staff were very accommodating when you got to know them they don't always get our sense of humor. If anything I would incorage anyone with issues to please just speak to Richard Danielle the guest relations manager who was absolutely wonderful. Don't waste your time trying to talk to the actual manager who I have to say doesn't deserve his position. Unfortunately this will be our last trip to Crystal cove as it was very hard with my dad who isn't great on his feet but my sisters son and ours who got a weeks pass from their wives will definitely go back with their families and continue to enjoy. Thanks for the memories crystal cove we will never forget you. X

My family of four recently stayed at Crystal cove. We were initially apprehensive about the mediocre reviews, specifically about the food. We are very glad we kept the reservation as we were pleasantly surprised. The resort is nice, beautiful rooms, beach and pools. The food was decent, I do agree they should improve on the dinner options as there few choices. Breakfast buffet was good, but perhaps alternating some of the sweet offerings wells be great as it was pancakes nearly every day. Water sports were great. The Easter activities were fun for the little ones. Richard the manager was super friendly and eager to hear feedback and chat with us. Found the concierge very helpful as well. One other thing that can improved is the check in process. After a long day of traveling, it was frustrating to have a check in of nearly an hour when no one else was checking in. There were email conversations that the reception had no idea about, requiring management approval. But everything was really great and we can’t wait to go back.

The resort itself is lovely and has been refurshied beautifully - many good things about the place. The beach is lovely and the lads running the water sports friendly and helpful. Service on the beach is great with drinks, ice cream etc being offered plus a bar service. The ocean front villa was amazing when we actually got in after 2 nights in a garden suite while getting Kuoni to prove we had booked ocean front. Not the best start - plus the manager told us no ocean front suites were available but after I complained to Kuoni miraculously one became free - we were luckier than another couple we spoke to who had also booked Ocean front and were told they would remain in the garden suite. The staff were generally lovely - fun and friendly - the cocktail bar was really good with the cave area quite unique. Unfortunately the whole holiday was blighted by the food which was frankly dreadful. Despite having 2 restaurants only one was ever open at a time. The buffet was pretty average with overcooked fish but nice salads. But the a la carte was grim. It was the same four options every time it was an a la carte night and one was always a substitute (the ribs which everyone wanted) - the meal on my husbands birthday was so bad I had one mouthful and left it all - that night we saw many full plates being taken back to the kitchen. We did complain but it did not improve - by the end of our stay people were booking the other hotels in the chain or choosing to eat out. It's a shame as the resort itself is gorgeous but for the price you pay the least you can expect is food that is edible. We spoke to one chap who has been going there for 8 years and he said he had never known it so bad. If you go check they have improved the food!!

We’ve just got back from an amazing week in Barbados and honestly couldn’t have asked for a better holiday. From the moment we arrived, the whole place had such a relaxed, easygoing vibe. The staff and management team really made it though — most were genuinely friendly, attentive, and couldn’t do enough for you all week. We felt really well looked after the entire time. We were lucky enough to get upgraded to a suite, which completely made the trip. It was massive, the beds were really comfy, and being right on the beach with those views every morning was something else. Even though the hotel leans more towards the relaxed side, there’s still plenty to do if you like to stay active. There are water sports available, great walks along the beach, and three different pools to mix things up. The gym is on the smaller side, but it’s got enough equipment to get a decent workout in if you want to. The beach itself is exactly what you picture in the Caribbean — really nice, quite private, and a great place to relax. The snorkelling was a highlight too, with a couple of small reefs and some cool things to see like turtles, rays and reef fish. Food-wise, it wasn’t anything mind-blowing, but we still enjoyed most meals and never had any complaints — there was always something decent to choose from. All in all, it was a brilliant holiday and somewhere we’d definitely return to in the future.