Coral Sands Hotel - Bahamas

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This was a lovely hotel. Visited: October 2006 Posted by cheryl31 My husband and I stayed at this hotel, and we were very pleasantly surprised by the charming atmosphere. Everything was "Ralph Laurenish" with sultry music playing in the lovely bar area, and heavy mahagony chairs and comfy cushions with soft lighting everywhere. We had an oceanfront room in the building farthest from the restaurant. It had wood floors, a four-poster bed, and plenty of room for couch and chairs. The patio faced the ocean across the green grass area. Vogue magazine was shooting here when we were here. The food was just okay, but there were lots of wonderful restaurants to try. The pool was very pleasant, and the beach was wonderful. We enjoyed the help, and I find it hard to believe the other couple had problems. This was definitely the best choice of hotels if you want oceanside - as we checked out the other more "run down" hotels. Enjoy! 8 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Lovely hotel Visited: October 2006 Posted by cheryl31 My husband and I stayed at this hotel and we were very pleasantly surprised by the charming atmosphere. Everything was "Ralph Laurenish" with sultry music playing in the lovely bar area and heavy mahagony chairs and comfy cushions with soft lighting everywhere. We had a ocean front room in the building farthest from the restaurant. It had wood floors, 4 poster bed and plenty of room for couch and chairs. The patio faced the ocean across the green grass area. Vogue magazine was shooting there when we were there. The food was just okay, but there are lots of wonderful restaurants to try. The pool is very pleasant and the beach is wonderful. We enjoyed the help and I find it hard to believe the other couple had problems. This is definitely the best choice of hotels if you want oceanside as we checked out the other more "run down" hotels. Enjoy. Cheryl 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? correction Visited: March 2005 Posted by pjmc Please be advised that this site does not represent the CORAL SANDS HOTEL on Harbour Island, if you click on the "rates" on the left side of the page: "Coral Sands Hotel Links" these are not the rooms for the Coral Sands on Harbour Island. The official website for Coral sands is: www.coralsands.com 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was five-star all the way! Visited: March 2005 Posted by damianahill My husband and I stayed at Coral Sands Hotel for our anniversary in March. We had a wonderful time! The hotel was elegant, yet casual and very relaxing. The food was incredible, the rooms were spotless, the grounds were well maintained and the staff was very, very friendly. We will return next year for our anniversary and plan on it for many years to come. I recommend Coral Sands without any hesitation. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We encountered terrible management, bad service and greasy food! Visited: March 2005 Posted by dometruth My husband and I just came back from a week-long holiday in Harbour Island which we just loved! The only and serious problem we found was with the hotel. At over $600 per night, we were expecting to be treated with a little more respect and professionalism. Instead, our comments on the guest book were ripped off by the manager on the day of our departure, leaving us with no right whatsoever to complain. Some of the problems we encountered at this hotel were the following: There seemed to be a total lack of care and management towards the guests. In a full week stay at this small - but luxury - hotel, we were not even asked once if everything was okay with our stay. And, once our comments were ripped off from the guest book, I requested to see the manager who just turned around his back on us and left after about a two minute conversation. He also denied being the manager, despite the fact that his name appears clearly in the hotel website as General Manager! Also, there was up to 45-minute systematic wait at the hotel restaurant before being served what we had ordered, whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Having tried the restaurants at the other three equally expensive hotels in the island, we can confirm that the service was perfect, and it only took 15 minutes (on average) to get served. Also, the quality of the food was superior at equal the price. 3 users found this review helpful. 3 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Great Island, would stay somewhere else next time Visited: June 2003 Posted by bgraysb Our recent stay at the Coral Sands was great due to the beach and island in general. I didn't find the staff (except for Big Red), accomodations, food, or nightlife at Coral Sands to be enough to keep me there for meals and or nightly activities. After familiarizing myself with the island, my girlfriend and I rarely spent time at the hotel other than lying on the spectacular beach. The golf cart rental is essential and opens up the island's hospitable nightlife and dining at a whim. We even extended our stay by a few days and chose different accomadations. The Rock House is a wonderful place to stay, though not on the beach. In short, the island is my favorite place in the world mostly due to the feel of friendship between all who are there, but the Coral Sands would not be my hotel of choice. It's less expensive than the Pink Sands and Rock House for a reason. 2 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? What a wonderful hotel! Visited: August 2002 Posted by mcharlene5 My boyfriend and I escaped to Harbour Island for two days after a less-than-satisfactory stay on Paradise Island. It was just what we needed! We stayed in the older building, but I thought it was fine. The room was tidy and well-air conditioned. Our balcony overlooked the gorgeous beach. The grounds were lovely and the staff was friendly. The only problem was the uneven pool table in the common room -- but who cares? The hotel was in Paradise! I can't wait to come back and spend much more time at the Coral Sands. 3 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Coral Sands is a quiet little island paradise. Visited: August 2002 Posted by stephanie_ruf We loved our stay here. We had read that it would be worth the money to stay in the new Lucaya building. We did, and it was worth it. Our room had great ocean views, full kitchen, lots of space and light airy Caribbean decor. It was just a bit of a hike to the beach three minutes or so. It wouldn't be bad if you didn't have small kids and lots of stuff to carry back and forth like we did. The walk was lushly landscaped and pleasant. We came here with knowledge that the island was quiet and that our rooms would have no TV. We had no trouble keeping busy. By the time we slept in, took morning runs or walks along the beach, had meals, drove around in our golf cart and bought groceries and souvenirs a few times, took a kayak out onto the ocean, snorkeled, swam in the ocean and played on the beach, and swam in the pool, relaxed under an umbrella and read a little and maybe napped a little, then enjoyed a few drinks on our oceanview balcony, the days were pretty full. We also scuba dive and did that several times during the week. If you know what you're getting and plan accordingly and take advantage of all that is offered, there is more than enough to do. If you're expecting someone to lead you by the hand to show you how to have fun then this place might not be for you. For us our stay at Coral Sands was a great opportunity to take a break from the hustle and bustle and "too-much-to-do-and-too-little-time" lifestyle we live daily. I would definitely stay here again and recommend it to others. 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A beautiful beach, and a quiet hotel. Visited: June 2002 Posted by barbarainnewark The people were very friendly at the hotel, and the food was great. The water and beach of pink sand were wonderful. We went snorkeling and shelling with uncle Sam one afternoon. That was fun. Just ask at the front desk, they have his number, and will call him for you. He also drives a taxi. Our only problem was that it rained for a day and a half and - except for the beach and water - there was nothing to do. The island was very quaint and colorful, but there was not a lot of shopping. The hotel was very nice, and the rooms were clean. I think we would have enjoyed ourselves more if there had been a litle more to do. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A nice, small, personal touch hotel with a gorgeous beach. Visited: May 2002 Posted by annrn77 My husband and I just returned from Coral Sands Hotel. We absolutely loved it! It was situated on a beautiful stretch of beach, and yet it was not very crowded. The beach at Coral Sands provided its guests with covered huts to find respite from the sun (when you've had enough!) and comfortable beach lounge chairs. The staff at Coral Sands was very friendly, as was everyone on Harbour Island. You could go anywhere on the island and you would always feel safe. Our room was a second floor oceanview. It was nice, but the bathroom was a little small. It was nothing we couldn't live with, though. (We did see a unit in the newer building, and would recommend that if you could afford the extra money, it was well worth it.) Another tip would be to request a small refrigerator in your room. They placed it free of charge (we did not have a unit with a kitchenette), and therefore were able to store soda, milk, etc. We had heard prior to our stay that the power goes out on Harbour Island often. We went prepared, with a flashlight and candle, but never needed it. Yes, the power did go out one day, but it turned out Coral Sands had a large backup generator, so our air conditioning, etc. still worked! In summary, the accomodations were nice, with a beautiful beach, and extremely friendly people. We will definitely return to Coral Sands! 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Very low-key hotel on a nice beach Visited: February 2002 Posted by ddd All of the reading I had done did not prepare me for the degree of slow pace on the island and at this hotel. The hotel is one of the oldest on the beach and has a 50s feel to it. The main building and the unit closest to the water show new paint - white with blue trim, but little else for updating. Our room (oceanfront) had a great view and balcony and was kept clean by our daily maid. The room was quite basic, with very old and handmade wall hangings. The carpet appeared quite old and worn. The newer building probably had nicer furnishings at a higher price. The hotel was booked to near capacity, and still appeared empty. Dinner at the restaurant only attracted 6 -8 tables and the beach bar was mostly empty except for the arrival of tourists from Nassau on the fast ferry who must have been directed here for lunch and the beach. The place had a great location in the middle of the three-mile beach, and had thatched shelters for shade, along with comfortable beach chairs and towels. Overall, the people were friendly, but service seemed slow and lacked attention. I think our basic issue was related to the price ($270/night plus 10% tax and 10% service) versus the quality of the place. It really lacked atmosphere - there was no music at the beach bar or in the main restaurant. Most nights, it was like walking around a ghost town and we found ourselves longing for a little more night life. I think everyone went to bed early - the one night they did have a local band from 7:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m., everyone left their tables by 8:30! Meals on the entire island were expensive. The hotel food was fine, but not as well prepared as some of the in-town restaurants. We found cheaper and well prepared meals at some of the local places and avoided the high hotel prices -breakfast with eggs, bacon and toast for $12 each, a hamburger for $12 (+ 15% service charge). Lots of people with young kids made for distraction from the peace and quiet of the beach. It seemed that this hotel beach was extensively used by everyone who stayed on the other side of the island. This was the best place to stay if you want an open-hotel-type atmosphere on the beach. The neighboring places were more reclusive and private, as well as more expensive. But be prepared to read several good books and pay high prices to hang out near a good beach. 1 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is really paradise. Visited: August 2001 Posted by mmekirk This incredibly charming and low-key island filled with golf carts and friendly people was a real treat. Bring books and an attitude of completely hanging out, no entertainment here, though there were several good restaurants to choose from outside the hotel. Coral Sands Hotel was a great bargain for the price. The food was quite good. The hotel staff was really friendly and accommodating. Our oceanview room was large and beautifully decorated. Flowers lined every walkway and palm thatched shelters made our beach reading cool and romantic. The water was so clear and turquoise. It was unreal. The beach was the best one we've seen in the Atlantic or Caribbean. It was just gorgeous. Even with the three main hotels full, the place seemed like our own private island. We are definitely going to return. Harbour Island is a treasure! 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Very nice, low-key getaway Visited: July 2001 Posted by andrealw I stayed at Coral Sands with my girlfriend. We are both in our mid twenties and unmarried. We wanted a place that had a "slow pace" and was beautiful. The hotel is very nice and the staff is nice. We had a gardenview room, which was okay. It had air conditioning and a small veranda. The island is small and I would recommend getting a golf cart for your stay. Carts are around 35 dollars a day. The island has about 7 restaurants, and about 5 bars. The nightlife is fun and very laid back. I did not see anything like parasailing, jet ski's or anything like that. It is very much a place to get away from it all. I would say it is a lot like being out in the country. While I was there I experienced about 5 power outages, but that really doesn’t disrupt anything. I would recommend this hotel to anyone looking to hang out on the beach and be reclusive. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Beautiful beach, but not much else. Visited: June 2001 Posted by burricd My wife, 3-year-old daughter and I stayed a week at Coral Sands Hotel. This was the first time we had ever been to the Bahamas. The hotel was fine and the beach was absolutely fabulous but apart from that—it was a disappointment. The much hyped restaurant was a real letdown and very expensive (as were all restaurants on the island). The room we stayed in was pleasant and large but service and staff generally was not up to par with what one would expect for an expensive hotel. The beach was absolutely stunning and very pleasant to swim in, but if you're bringing your snorkeling gear, you won't find much off the beach. You really need to charter a boat or join a snorkeling excursion. (We tried Valentines.) All around it’s great for the beach, but don't expect much else—especially if you're flying with a family all the way from England for it! 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Lovely, and great for our family. Visited: March 2001 Posted by tjsheehy We just returned from a wonderful stay at the Coral Sands. We traveled with our 6-month-old daughter and were pleased to find many families with small children, as well as a wonderful staff who was very accommodating. We stayed in the Ocean Deluxe Apartment, which is composed of a large bedroom, a very large seating area/kitchen area and a good-sized outdoor porch. The building we stayed in was brand-new and was very well done. The kitchen was better stocked then my own—every cooking implement one could need, coffee maker, toaster, microwave, stove, fridge. We did our grocery shopping at the local markets. The rooms were very clean and very nicely decorated. The view of the ocean was lovely; we watched the sun rise every morning. The beach was one of the most beautiful I've ever seen—soft sand, gorgeous blue water and great palm umbrellas to sit under when the sun gets to be too much. We only dined at the beach bar for lunch and found it to be the standard bar food fare, good, but not spectacular. We never made it to the main restaurant. It was a very laid-back atmosphere, which was quiet most nights. There were only a couple negative points (and they are minor). Firstly, there was wedding reception as well as a band, on consecutive nights which were very loud. Not a problem for most, but we were a bit put off with trying to get a baby to sleep. Secondly, the kitchen doesn't have any paper goods—no napkins, paper towels, or sponges to wash the dishes. Seems like they should be provided. Thirdly, we only had a waitress at the beach one day, and it would have been nice to have that option on a regular basis even though it’s only a short walk to the beach bar. We highly recommend this hotel for those with families, or those folks looking for a quiet, relaxed get away. We'll go back. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? The most intimate hotel in the world Visited: January 2000 Posted by lisa_payten I adore Coral Sands Hotel. Upon arrival, you are greeted with a cocktail while your luggage is whisked away to your beautiful room. The service is so personal you feel like you are the only person staying here. The finest hour for me was the early morning swim followed by gorgeous coffee from the machine at the outside bar (literally on the beach) to warm you up before showering and changing for breakfast. The beaches have to be seen to be believed. The food was absolutely gorgeous. You must stay at this hotel! 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful?

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