Coral Reef Club - Barbados

Home » Caribbean » Barbados

Know Before You Go!

Have you visited Coral Reef Club? We'd love to know what you think...
Please write a review with as much detail as possible. Tell us about the amenities, facilities and staff.

Click Here to post your review for Coral Reef Club.

This was the best. Visited: September 2006 Posted by macca I've been to Barbados four times - Almond Beach, Colony Club & Royal Westmoreland. This was the best - hands down. From polite and excellent service to excellent cuisine, it was great. They could squeeze more rooms into the grounds, but that would kill the ambience. 5 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Coral Reef was superb on every level. Visited: September 2005 Posted by septic_tanks I spent 11 nights here with my wife and two-year-old daughter. Everything about the place was first-rate. While not explicitly designed for children - under fives are requested not to be in the restaurant after 7.30pm - we found everyone to be more than welcoming to our daughter. In fact, everyone loved and doted on her. We had a ground-floor basic room. The patio area at the front was about as large as most rooms in other hotels I have stayed in - for example the Colony Club! The room itself was a great value for our money, it was more than spacious enough for the three of us, and was of high quality. The ambience was peaceful. The owners could probably double the occupancy if they so wished, but choose to leave the ample gardens as they are, rather than spoil the place by cramming more rooms in; and while I'm not a garden person myself, I was stunned by the gardens there - mazy paths winding through the foliage which you could lose yourself in, in tranquility. The food was first-rate - albeit not cheap - and our every whim was accommodated for. The personal touch was added to by the owners frequently wandering through the property. Also, on Monday, they had a cocktail reception at their residence in the grounds. This is my favorite place of the three places I've stayed at on Barbados. 11 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Superb no every level Visited: September 2005 Posted by septic_tanks I spent 11 nights here with my wife & 2 year-old daughter & everything about the place was first-rate. While not explicitly designed for children - under 5s are requested not to be in the restaurant after 7.30pm - we found everyone to be more than welcoming to our daughter. In fact - everyone loved & doted on her. We had a ground-floor basic room. The patio area at the front was about as large as most rooms in other hotels I have stayed in - for example the Colony Club! The room itself was great value for money, it was more than spacious enough for the 3 of us & of high quality. The ambience is peaceful. The owners could probably double the occupancy if they so wished, but choose to leave the ample gardens as they are, rather than spoil the place by cramming more rooms in; and while I'm not a garden person myself, I was stunned by the gardens there - mazy paths winding through the foliage which you could lose yourself in, in tranquility. The food was first-rate - albeit not cheap - and your every whim accomodated for. The personal touch is added to by the owners frequently wandering through the property & on a Monday having a cocktail reception at their residence in the grounds. My favourite place of the 3 places I've stayed at, on Barbados. 2 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Coral Reef Club is the ultimate in service and class. Visited: April 2005 Posted by mstearns76 My wife and I just returned from the Coral Reef Club. Our friends recommended the place. We spent our sixth anniversary here. We needed a place to relax and get a way from family, work, and day-to-day life. We got it! The resort was beautiful, and was everything I expected for what I was paying. The service was impeccable. We had a luxury junior suite, and it was very nice. There was no TV, so the time we spent in the room was to sleep, change, or hang out before dinner. The other amenities were great. They had a computer room with four computers, a TV room with DirecTV (if you wanted). The front desk staff was great with arranging things if we wanted to go and do something. We were on the Modified America Meal Plan, which was breakfast and dinner. Dinner was great every night, and breakfast was, too. I would recommend the meal plan as taxis were expensive on the island. We ended up saving money. The pictures on the website were just like the resort, the food was great, and the cleanliness of the room and staff was way above expectations. The O’Hare family had their act together with ultimate customer service, and providing a great get-a-way. I would also recommend watching the sunset every day, as us eastcoast folks don't get to see it that often. I would highly recommend this resort. 6 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We would definitely recommend the Coral Reef Club. Visited: January 2003 Posted by rafeeaster We have just returned from 10 nights at the Coral Reef Club. We spent the first night in Tamarind Cove, which was totally lacking in atmosphere and was tatty. But the Coral Reef Club was the total opposite. This was a smart, high quality hotel very worthy of its five-star rating, but it retained a friendly feel. The staff was all extremely polite and professional and the quality of the surroundings were superb. We stayed in a luxury garden room, but were given a free upgrade to a suite with a plunge pool towards the end, which was fantastic. Breakfast was served in our room or on our balcony/terrace for no extra charge and most guests did this daily. It was a nice slow start to the day. There was a choice of either sandwiches or a buffet at lunchtime, both of which provided plenty of tasty options. The evenings could be spent in subtle sophistication in the restaurant where guests could enjoy a five-course gourmet meal and a few drinks in the beautifully apppointed cocktail bar. Many guests had stayed here before, one had been coming for 25 years! The O'Haras were always around and were welcoming and keen to make sure everyone was being looked after, but not in an intrusive way. There were no children, and the majority of guests seemed to be in the 45-65 age bracket. Overall we were extremely pleased with our holiday and had no complaints, except the cost - which was huge! But then, you do get what you pay for. We would definitely recommend this hotel. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Superb elegance with understated style. Like going home. Visited: January 2002 Posted by gdefranco1 This hotel has a quiet luxury. It does not shout like the other hotels on this "best beach" and "perfect sunset" spot. The Coral Beach Club is like spending time in your own home-with all the finest amenites. The beautifully appointed plantation suites boast and Old World/West Indies feel. A perfect design mix - new but not overdone or superficial like some of the imposters down the road! The extensive buffet lunch has a few unusual touches not found in other resorts. I even tried a perfect tostado/guacamole and then the giant prawns. They don't forget a figure conscious woman with their four-star cuisine. Often the buffet offerings are a bit heavy with puddings, but the Coral Reef Club had a very extensive variety of cuisine - rare in Barbados. You can tell people return over the years because this family-owned hotel makes you feel like you are part of their family. You are not a number. The atmosphere is personal and relaxed. I also stayed in their sister hotel, the Sandpiper, and equally adored my stay. The staff knows where you are, but are never obtrusive. The are very gracious and helpful. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Perhaps the top Caribbean resort Visited: December 2001 Posted by bkernan We have travelled extensively in the Caribbean and Coral Reef has been our favorite for the past 20 years. No place can match the level of staff friendliness and concern, the comfort of accommodations and the world class cuisine. The O'Hara family goes out of their way to constantly improve the resort, if that is possible. It's already at an A++ level. We always enjoy the mix of American, Canadian, British and European guests who return frequently. We've made many long-term friendships here. One of the unadvertised pleasures is to charter the hotel's catamaran, the Anna Careena, with Captain Mikey. It's a sheer joy to silently sail up and down the exquisite west coast of the island. To top it off, the Bajans are a politically secure and gracious people. They have the highest literacy rate in the Western Hemisphere. Visit a session of Parliament while you're here and don't miss the restored synagogue in Bridgetown, the Caribbean's oldest. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A classy resort in a serene setting. Visited: December 2000 Posted by ATraveler We just returned from a week-long stay at the Coral Reef Club in Barbados. We were most impressed with four things. The staff were excellent, excellent, excellent and made our visit truly unique. The setting was serene and intimate, despite the hustle and bustle of the neighboring resorts. The food was surprisingly good—classically prepared and very tasty! And lastly, the caliber of the patrons; you will not find any drunken lunatics running around this resort! I read a few reviews on this resort prior to our visit rating it as "child-unfriendly." We traveled with our two-year-old son and found, on the contrary, that staff and patrons paid special attention to our child and other children at the resort. I did not rate this resort 5 stars, (although it probably deserves it) simply because I was a little disappointed with the inflated costs for drinks and food for small children, which, in my opinion, should have been half the cost or less. All in all, a very nice resort to visit. 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? The best holiday we have ever had. Visited: September 2000 Posted by macleod We returned from a two-week stay at the Coral Reef. It was a truly stunning location with a beautiful beach and view.The staff were what made this hotel special along with the food which was out of this world. I am known back in the UK as a Victor Meldrew when it comes to service and food, so this is praise indeed! 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Currently the best hotel on the island! Visited: August 2000 Posted by dj We just returned this morning from two weeks at the Coral Reef. Previously, we read the reviews posted here, and were surprised at the range of opinions. One of the main reasons, was that location was very important at this hotel. Check out the map, make sure you know what you are getting when you get here. That said, it was a fantastic location. The beach had some of the best snorkeling we have ever done. The swimming area was wonderful as well. The service was absolutely outstanding, and having been to the island before, the food at the hotel was some of the best we had eaten here. The staff were friendly, the accommodations [newly renovated] were marvelous. We would definitely return here again. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A beautiful and restful place to stay. Visited: August 2000 Posted by davep19%20 My wife and I just spent an idyllic off-season week here. The plantation suites were stunning and the property was beautifully situated near Holetown and the Folkestone Marine Reserve. We enjoyed long walks along the placid western beaches and snorkeling directly in front of the hotel. The staff were very friendly and efficient in arranging outside activities such as deep-sea fishing and an island tour. The dining room was also excellent, alternating between "a la carte", buffet (including Bajan specialties such as cou-cou and flying fish) and barbeque nights. One night, the chef specially prepared yellowfin tuna that we caught that same day. We look forward to a return visit. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? What's all the hoop-la about? Visited: May 2000 Posted by kcortez I have to say, the grounds were beautiful and the room was exquisite, but that's where it stops. My wife and I stayed at the Coral Reef to celebrate our anniversary. We chose this hotel from all the wonderful reviews I read, and also because of it's #1 rated services...we were in for a huge disappointment. The beach was very small and crowded and the swimming area was full of coral so you can cut and bruise yourself nicely. The manager said the better swimming area was just a walking distance to the side (1 mile away). The food, although looked gourmet but somehow tasted microwaved. And forget about trying to get something out of the ordinary like not having onions on your pizza or your pasta cooked Al Dente because it'll either come back the same way, not once but twice or the well re-nowned chef doesn't know what Al Dente means and it'll come back El Cemente. If you need towels, toilet paper or an iron, make sure you call 30 to 45 minutes ahead of time, if you get my drift. The staff were friendly, however, the service just wasn't there. Maybe it's because they were closing down the next week, but then again that's no excuse. After much thought and giving the resort the benefit of the doubt, we finally decided to complain to Mark O'Hara, the owner of the resort. He spoke to us and tried to make amends by offering us complimentary drinks for the night. We declined the offer and told him that that was not our intention. Our complaint was to make him aware of the terrible service and how it ruined our long awaited treasured vacation. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? The hotel and beach was magnificent. Visited: December 1969 Posted by MICHAEL The hotel and rooms were suberb, you could not wish for anything more on a holiday. The staff, restaurant, and facilities were brilliant. It is, I think, the best hotel on the island. It was a place which would be enjoyed by anyone. It had facilities to cater for all ages. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? An absolute exquisite hotel, with A+ Accommodations Visited: December 1969 Posted by tiev_98 This is a very beautiful hotel, with a beautiful view of the ocean and a wonderful pool with a fountain off to the side of it. Food is a little pricey, but good at the same time. Service can be slow at times but when your order comes it is well worth the wait, trust me. This place is a good place to return to. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? The Islands finest! Visited: December 1969 Posted by ATraveler We spent a wonderful week at the Coral Reef Club which must surely be the best hotel on the island. The hotel is situated in quite delightful grounds and we had a very well appointed room overlooking the pool with stunning views of the sea. The hotel food was excellent and the staff extremely friendly. Having visited a number of the other hotels during our stay, we would have to say that the Coral Reef was easily the best. It is a lovely hotel in a beautiful setting. The Coral Reef is probably one of the finest hotels in the Caribbean and in our opinion, would justify ranking amongst the top twenty or so hotels in the world! 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A wonderful place to relax Visited: December 1969 Posted by Monica_Orbe My husband and I had a wonderful time during our stay at the Coral Reef Club. It was quiet and certainly relaxing. The food was amazing. I can still savor my many gourmet meals at the dining room and the romantic breakfasts served at our balcony. The beach can get a little crowded in the morning, and the crowd can be a bit on the mature side, but this is a resort I would most certainly visit again. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Simply put, the BEST hotel in Barbados. Visited: December 1969 Posted by chercover I've visited Barbados 26 times, and I assure you that the Coral Reef Club is a fantastic place to stay. The O'Hara family and their excellent staff make all feel welcome. My sister and brother-in-law took their four-year-old daughter last year, and she had a wonderful time. The grounds are gorgeous, and unlike many other hotels, the Coral Reef Club is distinctly Bajan. You will never mistake it for a large chain-resort on Miami Beach. The menu is varied to suit different tastes; a mixture of European sophistication and some of the best local dishes. Things here move at Island speed – if you are willing to slow down and leave the frantic pace of big city life at home, you will be rewarded with a two-week pass to paradise. On the other hand, if your idea of paradise is a large, homogenous chain-resort, try Club Med. 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful?

Other Popular Properties

	Rydal Waters Beach Apartments - Barbados Newly constructed, tradional Barbadian-style chattel apartments located on Worthing Beach. They are equipped with full kitchens, two bedrooms with air-conditioning and queen size beds, two baths, living room, and...		The Crane - Barbados Set on the world-famous Crane Beach, overlooking a perfect azure blue sea, is the Caribbean's first resort hotel. Built in 1887 and fully restored and expanded in the 20th century,...
	Nautilus Beach Apartments - Barbados Nautilus Beach Apartments are set in scenic Carlisle Bay, one mile from the capital Bridgetown and 20 minutes from the airport. These self-contained apartments consisst of 10 1-bedroom units,...		Colony Club Hotel - Barbados Colony Club Hotel is a 4.0 star tranquil beach hotel set within 7 acres of tropical gardens with waterfalls and four freshwater swimming lagoons. Featuring the ambience...