Crystal Cove Hotel

, Bridgetown, Barbados
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Crystal Cove Hotel

, Bridgetown
Appleby, St James - Bridgetown - Barbados Hotel Website | 246-432-2683
618 Traveller

Reviews - Crystal Cove Hotel

Historical Traveller Reviews of Crystal Cove Hotel

Fantastic holiday at Crystal Cove

from JulesLeicestershire
My husband & I have just returned from a fantastic holiday in Barbados where we stayed at the Crystal Cove Hotel. Like many others, I too had read reviews on the hotel and at one point, almost cancelled the holiday! What a fool I would have been had I done so. The hotel was very good. The food was wonderful, service excellent even though at times a bit slow - but what's the rush, you're on holiday! The water sports and the staff were excellent and couldn't do enough for you even though it probably takes a few days to get to know how things work. All in all we had a wonderful holiday. I would go back to Crystal Cove and Barbados is wonderful.

Good but not Great

from A TripAdvisor Member
I have just returned from honeymoon at the Crystal Cove where I spent a very pleasant ten nights. Before I went to the Cystal Cove I had read reports from review sites such as this that the hotel was shabby and in need of a lick of paint and the rooms smelt like a septic tank. Ok people have differet perceptions of a place but in general this is a really nice hotel. I was actually pleasantly surprised when I arrived at the hotel. We were greeted with ice cold flannels to cool us down and a glass of local Rum Punch that had quite a punch! The hotel is very clean and the staff generally very friendly and helpful (especially reception) with the a couple of the restaurant staff. There can sometimes be a faint smell in parts of the hotel grounds of pongy toilets but that is a result of being in a hot country without sewer systems as fabulous as ours in the UK.
My main gripes about this hotel are the following:
1) The birds at breakfast time in the restaurant are a real nusiance. There is nothing to keep them out as the place has no walls. The birds fly in and out all of the time steeling food from left overs and sometimes fly onto the table you are sat on without a care in the world. On one occasion we saw a bird drink from the metal milk jug that had been placed for people at the next table to use in their tea/coffee which put us off immediately. My tip is to help yourself to a glass of milk from the milk flask near the fruit juices and use this for your breakfast beverage so that you know where it has been! We vistited the Colony Club Sister Hotel one day (very nice!!) and they have netting up to prevent birds entering the resaurant, don't know why crystal cove don't follow suit it would make things much easier.
2) The idea of "all inclusive" to me means you can get food and drinks whenever you want. Not true here. Yes drinks are availble all day from the cave bar, as much as you like, but food seems to be only available at the set meal times. This proved annoying one lunchtime when we had an excusion booked in the afternoon with 12:30pm pick up time. We wanted to eat at 12 but couldn't as no where was open and we had to cause a fuss in order to get some sort of food early, not all inclusive in my mind. Also afternoon tea you may as well forget. It is served at 4:30pm and meant to continue until 5:30pm, forget it if you arrive after 4:40pm as everything will have gone. Not because guests are greedy but because they provide for a hotel with a few hundred people staying there about enough food for four adults, poor show Crystal!

3) I saw no evidence of the Premium and Local drinks statement that was made in our brochuer with reference to alcohol in the cave bar. Drinks were free flowing but I didn't recognise a lable in site they had things like cheap Coconut Rum in place of Malibu, only local Bank beer and only local other drinks, however it did all taste quite good but when you think you have paid for something you expect to see it.

I had heard from another guest that the hotel was running at a loss due to Americans not travelling as a direct cause of 9/11 and that they were ahving to cut back until they put prices up next year, noyt sure if this is the case but it was apparent that food was rationed.

Putting these things aside the evening meals were excellent, very good quality, well presented and delicious. Pick Reflecttions rather than Drifters restaurant in the evening, although Drifters is very good for lunch.

Evening entertainment was really good also although I guess this is because there is not much else directly near the hotel.
Overall though you will enjoy your stay at the crystal cove it is very, very nice, just not luxurious.

Escape from the Cove..

from Denalee
Don't do it!! I don't care what anyone says - the bathroom in our room stank from the poor septic system, the food was terrible (yet pretty) and the beer was warm. The locals not only harass you on the beach to buy whatever crap their selling, but they also share the pool with you and beach chairs. And if you don't engage in conversation with them, they yell at you. And the staff don't seem to care. Actually the staff don't seem to care about anything. They seem pretty pissed that they have to work, and work for you. Everyone is there with their entire family, including screaming babies. It is not romantic, not for couples, and certainly turned us off of the island. If you want to have any fun, you have to pay for it - what kind of all inclusive place is this??? I repeat: Don't do it!!

Better for families but still great fun

from JBHBoston
Been here twice now....Great place, fun, alive, easy going, very relaxed, lots of kids, lots of iced lollies, great rooms. If you are looking for "*** kissing" type service or romantic twosomes, this is not the place to go. The staff is very human and down to earth and will talk to you all day which contributes nicely to the relaxed atmosphere. They will not kiss up with small talk though. The drinks come quick. Eat early to avoid the rush. Great swimming, miles of beach to walk on to the south, love the water taxi, swim to the bar, tea at 3:30, eat on the beach, fantastic fish entrees. I wouldn't change much. They need to learn what dinner music means, too loud, too hip, good for fun after dinner but not during. Very casual, not the colonial charm of many Barbados resorts, but not nearly as uptight either. If you want colonial charm with more serious, old school blue blood manners and atmosphere go to Colony Club or Coral Reef Club, both are wonderful, just different. I will go back again with the kids. Kids love the place, lots to explore, safe to wander off by themselves, kids clubis cool. Limo picked us up at airport unexpectedly, upgraded room for us to an ocean view suite unexpectedly, rum punches during check-in. Very nice. Exchange food/drinks with Tamarind (great food), and Colony Club(great atmosphere) just ride the water taxi.......... Seen or stayed at most of the resorts in Barbados this one is nice. They all have there own style......

Family fun

from SWC_7
Just returned from a relaxing holiday at the crystal cove. Although the hotel is small the facilites are good, particularly the kids club.
Everything was clean and tidy and the food was excellent in both restaurants. A tip get in early to get the best service!!There was live entertainment every evening although this could be heard from our room and was a little obtrusive.The best rooms are overlooking the beach and are worth paying the supplement. One bedroom suites have the main bedroom upstairs, the stairs are quite steep and have sharp tiled edges, be careful with small children.The beach is small and rocky although we did not find this a problem, there were more colourful fish to see!!Overall a very good hotel more suited to families than couples.

like paradise

from bermanfrances
The people were incredibly nice caring people. Everyone went above and beyond our expectations. The all inclusive was great. Extremely satisfied.

Fantastic honeymoon March 2004

from A TripAdvisor Member
This hotel is close to perfection, I have never felt so relaxed on holiday as I did at Crystal Cove. The restaurant is very good, not a junk food buffet like you get in some all-inclusives in Mexico or Europe. Some nights were buffet (still good food) but most were a'la Carte with very good service. You can also have breakfast, lunch or dinner in your room at no extra charge. The hotel grounds are beautiful with three cascading pools being the main feature. There were some families with young children ther but this was not a problem (we were worried that screaming children may spoil our peaceful honeymoon), the hotel was always peaceful. The rooms are lovely, we were upgraded to a suite which was very spacious and had beautiful views of the beach and the sea. I have read some reviews on this website stating that the staff are unfriendly, I think that the Caribbean way is very laid back and relaxed and this may give the impression that the staff are ignorant but my wife and i found that all you have to do is talk to the staff and before you know it you'll have been at the bar for a couple of hours and your knowledge of Barbados life will be better because of it. I highly reccomend this hotel, the beautiful grounds, the sumptuous food and the friendly staff all make for a perfect Barbados experience.

FANTASTIC

from wigangirl
Just got back from Crystal Cove, we had a superb holiday, all of the staff go out of their way to be as helpful as they can whatever you ask they will oblige. One guest said he had never seen so many smiling faces within 1hour of arriving, that is how it was all the time. The food is excellent at every meal, the bar is well stocked, the grounds and beach are good, the beach is kept clean and the staff constantly bring fresh fruit and cool drinks around. The evening entertainment was very good as was Anthony the bar man who was hilarious. Overall this was one of the best holidays we have had and can't wait to go back, we definitely had value for money.

A fantastic week!!

from A TripAdvisor Member
From the moment that we arrived the staff were the most friendly and helpful I have ever come across, nothing was too much bother - even sawing the lock off a case after keys were mislaid!!! The beach was stunning and the accompanying watersports excellent. Gardens and surrounding areas were lovely, food was good. Great value for money.
Dont miss out on the chocolate milkshakes - they are superb!!!I would definately return, we had a terrific week!

The staff were great.

from A TripAdvisor Member
Staff: The staff was great. Very friendly and attentive to all our needs. We felt at ease the moment we arrived and never had a moment of stress. Food:The food was just OK, not great. Beach: The water is lovely, the beach was a bit rocky. Overall, I enjoyed my 5 night stay.

Top Local Tips for Bridgetown

Touring Get out and see the Island Take a catamaran trip . Don't wait to get there before booking day trips. We waited to long and each tour was booked. We ended up renting a car and made up our own tours.

'Rollok' the taxi driver We hired Rollok who is a taxi driver affiliated to Crystal Cove. He is a true Carribbean gent and we had him for a few hours to take us to an old plantation house. He waited for us and brought us back. Great value for money and lots of Bajan tips and stories en-route.

Sports Bars. Wendys bar shows sky sports football and is about a 10 minute walk from Crystal cove resort. Marshall's bar (for cricket fans) is a 5 minute taxi ride away and you can get great value food there.

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Other names for Crystal Cove Hotel

  • crystal cove saint james
  • crystal cove hotel
  • crystal cove barbados
  • crystal cove
  • Address: Appleby, St James - Bridgetown - Barbados
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