Almond Beach Club - Barbados

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They exceeded our expectations at every opportunity. Visited: December 2002 Posted by hageman My bride and I spent the first week of December at the Almond Beach Club. The food was wonderful, and the staff couldn't have been more accommodating or pleasant. The setting was simply beautiful. We were more than satisfied by the entire experience and we will be returning as soon as we can. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A very relaxing holiday. Visited: December 2002 Posted by marcella02 We stayed at the Almond Beach Club for two weeks. We got upgraded to a one-bedroom suite on arrival. It was clean and spacious. The majority of the staff was friendly with the very odd exception. The food was good considering the amount of people they were serving. Lunch and dinner were a la carte. Enids was good at the resort. The Italian and Fish restaurants at the village were worth a try. The background music did not bother us. We rather enjoyed listening to it and did not find this intrusive. Whatever you do, don't loose your safe key or don't bother getting one. Otherwise, you will be fined $115! The beach just a few minutes walk from the resort was Sandy beach. It was absolutely beautiful. Overall, we enjoyed our stay and met some very friendly people. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Absolutely Perfect! Visited: October 2002 Posted by nosilaffej My wife an I just returned from a week's stay at Almond Beach Club and we were absolutely blown away. This was our first trip to Barbados and we certainly got lucky by choosing this resort. Our room had a spectacular view, and the facilities were wonderful. I am puzzled by the negative comments I have read on previous reviews about the staff and wonder if they could have possibly stayed at the same property we did. We found the staff cheerful, friendly, and accommodating. One of the big selling points for us was the "adults only" status of this resort and I must say it was great to be able to spend a peaceful vacation without kids running around. The facility was beautiful and well kept, and our room was cleaned promptly every day. I have also read some complaints about the food, but we found it to be amazing for an all-inclusive resort and - contrary to what I have read previously - there were no long waits. The fact that you can take advantage of the facilites and restaurants at the Almond Beach Village (about a 15 minute drive) was a huge plus. We dined at the Seafood and Italian restaurants, and also at Enid's which featured Bajan style cuisine and were knocked out by each one. One item of note is that my wife is a vegetarian and they had excellent selections for her at every meal we had. Sunny, at guest services, was very helpful in setting up many activities for us during the week and we found all of the hotel-suggested vendors to be prompt, professional, and friendly (we highly recommend the "Sunset Cruise"- lots of fun and great snorkeling). All in all, we had a spectacular week. I am employed in the hospitality industry and know from experience that you can never satisfy some people- I must say that I found Almond Beach to be top-notch in every aspect. We will definitely be going back to Almond Beach Club as soon as possible! 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A fantastic place to stay with plenty to do. Visited: September 2002 Posted by derek_m_williams My wife and I stayed at the Almond Beach Club for our honeymoon. On arrival, we had a room upgrade which was a wonderful surprise, and we were very happy with the facilities. There was a problem with the staffing, but generally the service was good. We visited the village hotel and we were extremely happy with the services and facilities. They even gave us a room in which to shower and change for dinner. The human resources manager at the Village was a very pleasant lady (Mrs. Scott. She was very helpful and was a glowing icon for the resort as an example all the staff should follow. We had a very good holiday and would not hesitate to go back. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A complete "chillout" in a fantastic location - recommended! Visited: August 2002 Posted by Shana_mazin We arrived at the Almond Beach Club feeling very thirsty, hot and tired (the airport was pretty awful!). There seemed to be a problem with our booking - they couldn't find it! However, they sat us down, gave us rum punches and cold towels and sorted things out. The hotel was practically at full capacity, but they found us a room. And even though we had booked a standard, garden view room, we were upgraded to a suite with an ocean view. It was fantastic. It was extremely spacious and clean, with a huge queen size bed and an amazing view just meters from the beach. It was probably the best hotel room I've ever had, especially when the view was taken into account! The beach was fantastic. Yes, the bit right by the hotel was a bit rocky, but as other people have said - just a 100 yards or less to the left was Sandy Lane Beach which was gorgeous. Also, the hotel had reefs just meters into the sea, which was fantastic for those who like snorkeling. We were out every day (they let you use their snorkel equipment for two hours a day). The snorkeling was fantastic. The reefs were so shallow that you could see things while you snorkeled, which you'd usually have to dive to see in deeper oceans. We also took advantage of the free watersports - including kayaking, aqua cycling and waterskiing. The watersports staff was not particularly enthusiastic, but they did their job and we didn't have any problems doing any of the activities we wanted to. The food, on the whole, was excellent. The Sunset Restaurant was more than adequate with some quite memorable meals. I have to complain about the buffets though - it was just too tempting to overindulge! Their bread and butter pudding was to die for! A couple of nights we were rather decadent and ordered dinner by room service (no extra charge). Enids was great, and the Italian restaurant (in the Village) was top quality. The fruit punch was sublime, and the birds liked it too! (They came onto our balcony to drink it!) We went to Bridgetown for shopping, which was okay. It was worth going once, but it was nothing special. The picnic was a very good way to see the island without having to pay for an expensive tour. (You drive pretty much all around it). The only paid trip we did, was snorkelling with turtles. It was excellent! We didn't watch much of the entertainment, but what we did see was very good. All in all, it was a fantastic holiday. It was a very good value (I did get a good deal though), and it was the ultimate chillout destination. The only thing which kept it from being a five star accommodation was the noise of the jetskis. They were very annoying. Overall I highly recommend it! 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It would be unfair to be critical in any way! Visited: August 2002 Posted by daviesm My wife and I, together with our children (aged 17 and 21) were almost persuaded by historic reviews on this web site to change our holiday hotel prior to departure; such would have been a big mistake. We know the area, having taken five previous vacations in the Caribbean including most recently the 5* Hyatt St. Lucia, and 4* Tamarind Cove, Barbados. On balance we would rate Almond Beach Club and Barbados top! We booked a standard room but, mindful of previous reviews, openly asked for an upgrade on arrival. Without any difficlty, and remember this is peak (UK) season, we were given a double upgrade to two adjoining poolside rooms with a separate lounge. Incredibly, a maintenance guy accompanied our bags to open all locks etc., as the rooms were not generally used as a suite. The food at the Club and the associated village complex was excellent, as were facilites - especially the gym/spa. What made our holiday, however, was the attitude of the staff, something criticized in other reviews, hence we were expecting some degree of hostlity. Nothing could be further from reality; the staff was happy, incredibly well motivated, and always ready to chat, right down to the gardeners! The entertainment was generally excellent, especially the Reggae band which was acknowledged as the best on the island. Members of the staff were often included in the entertainment, not only as singers and comedians, but also as fashion models! The latter served to illustrate the excellent team-spirit and motivation throughout the complex. Our older children spent their time scuba diving, shopping in Bridgetown (20 minutes away on a regular £1 bus ride), playing pool, darts, etc., and using free water sports including banana boats and water skis. None of us were bored or disappointed in any way, but if it's an Ibiza clubbing type set-up you're looking for - don't go! 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A very nice holiday. Visited: July 2002 Posted by cabrey We just returned from the Almond Beach Club and thoroughly enjoyed it. We were made to feel most welcome by the vast majority of staff. Food - on the whole - was very good, especially the Barbeque on Friday nights. The only problem I found was that the beach was fairly small and rocky. However, 100 yards to the left was a magnificent quiet sweeping beach. I would recommend this resort to anyone. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was really between a 3 and 4 rating. Visited: June 2002 Posted by ltritz All in all, it was a great trip. Here are a few things I wanted to pass on to you for future reference: 1. Don't wear camoflouge prints. I had a tank top on, and through Barbados customs, they made me take it off and give it to them, until I left. When leaving and picking up my shirt , I noticed all kinds of stuff confiscated - luggage, duffel bags, etc. 2. The Club was nice - a little too quiet for me. There was no music at the beach/pool area. No one going around to try to get people involved in activities. Our room #213 was nice. Enid's restaurant was spectacular, but you need reservations. Every Wednesday afternoon, they gave a brief cooking lesson/history. Sunset restaurant was okay, with no reservations. Both restaurants required long pants for men. Only Fridays men could dress in shorts for the BBQ (we did not go). The beach was so small. There were no private beaches - so vendors were everywhere. The watersports team was lazy and unenthusiastic. The gym was awesome. It was not crowded that week and every day at 4:30 I basically had my own 'personal trainer'. Two times a wee, the club provided (free) transportation into Bridgeport (lots of jewlery stores and not much else), and a short tour of the island. Cherry Hill and Bathseba were beautiful - unfortunately you only get 10 minutes at each, then they drop you off at a beach for a picnic. In my opinion, I would have loved to stay at Batseba longer and the picnic shorter. 3. The Village. We went over for dinner mostly. The Italian restaurant was superb! We went a couple of nights. We also ate at the Seafood restaurant - which was okay. Both required reservations and long pants for men. There were a few kids, but it wasn't that bad. We were told they had very low occupancy that week. This resort was way bigger than the club. The beach was nice and long, too. We also signed up for a free golf clinic. If I wasn't so lazy, I would have taken more than one day, the instructor was great. 4. It was safe to drink the water. All in all, the locals were very friendly. There was not much poverty as you see in Mexico, Jamaica and other places. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A very relaxing getaway resort. Visited: April 2002 Posted by jerry_french This was our second trip to the Almond Beach club, our first was March 2000. We booked last minute and decided to return as we had a great holiday here in 2000. We had a deluxe beach front second-story room that was not large, but quite confortable. The balcony overlooking the ocean was great and we went soundly to sleep by the sound of the surf each night. The only issue was the small bathroom. In 2000 we had a deluxe poolview which was actually two rooms and was much larger. The food was generally good to very good. The buffet breakfast was excellent, lunch and dinner varied in quality. The food service was sometimes a bit indifferent or slow, but some servers were excellent. We also ate at local Enid's and the Village's Seafood and Italian restaurants. Enid's and Italian stood out. The Club's pools were not large, but also were not crowded and were very relaxing. Club had a small beachfront, but two large and lovely beaches were only a 200-yard walk away, north and south of the club. My wife and I both had massages at the Club's Spa and really enjoyed them. The nightly entertainment ended at 11::00 p.m., so as not to interfere with sleeping. We also played a few rounds at the Villages nine-hole golf course. It was a little course, but it cost about $3.00 (US) each for the special balls required. We also went on some outings like the Sunset cruise (recommended) which included snorkeling around a small shipwreck. It was a pretty good value and was very relaxing. We did not encounter anyone with 'horror stories' about the place on either visit. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Unpleasant staff ruined our trip Visited: April 2002 Posted by cvecera There are two major problems with this resort....the food and the staff ! The food is mediocre at best. It appears to cater to unsophisticated British palates, (corn beef hash and baked beans on toast at breakfast, need I say more? ) Even when local specialities are offered, they are as bland as the rest of the offerings. Breakfast is the best meal because it is a self-serve buffet. Dinner is the worst because it is a la carte, and the service is EXTREMELY slow. The staff seem to be disdainful of their guests. They ignore you when possible, they avoid looking at you when they speak to you, they show no expression, animation or enthusiasm. It is obvious that your comfort is not a factor that influences their behavior. Imagine not being offered coffee or tea after dinner, and waiting twenty minutes for it after you finally find someone who can get it for you. The poor attitudes seem to perk down from the top since the restaurant hostess/manager was cold and rude. The barmaids at the beach bar were just as bad. They would ignore you while you were standing waiting to place an order. Then they would stare at you blankly and shrug their shoulders when they were ready to take your order. No smiles there in nine days. It was a full week before the girl working the beach bar spoke to my husband. We would have had a wonderful time if not for the staff. There are wonderful beaches on either side of the resort with excellent snorkelling! The resort is in an excellent location, and the facilities are ok if you just want to slow down and enjoy the weather and the water. Unfortunately, every time we came back to the resort from the beach, our good mood was destroyed by the staff. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We had a wonderful stay. Visited: March 2002 Posted by mjw This was our third time in Holetown, having stayed in Westmoreland, Royal Pavillion and Mango Bay. We much preferred the friendly atmosphere of Almond Beach and the super-friendly "Nello". We will be back in March 2003. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We're going back for the third time! Visited: March 2002 Posted by fruitlinkuk We will be returning to Almond Beach Club in January 2003 for our third visit. 1. Hotel and Room - three beautiful pools, spotlessly clean, typical Caribbean reception, well kept gardens. Take a beachfront room - the large balcony with its view is stunning!- it's all you need! 2. Beach - quite small, but has never been really crowded when we visited, great snorkelin. Sandy Lane Beach is nearby, and a 7 a.m. stroll is our idea of heaven, take an aloe-vera massage on the beach to ease that sunburn or swollen feet! 3. Restaurants - we found the buffet food to be excellent, and contrary to belief there was no corn-beef hash and baked beans served! The a la carte was a bit repetitive. 4. Staff and Service - We could not fault the friendly, polite, laid-back people who worked at this resort. 5. Entertainment - Lots of Bob Marley and some excellent singers and bands. Only one dodgy female singer who made us retire to the local club Baku. Go there on a Saturday night! Also, book a table at The Cliff -it was expensive, but worth every penny. All in all, a magical hotel (not for the teenagers) with a wonderful atmosphere. We will return here again and again. January cannot come quick enough! 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Good facilities but too noisy Visited: February 2002 Posted by fjarrett This resort has a lot going for it; good location, attractive grounds, clean comfortable rooms, good spa, and friendly courteous staff. The food is very good, especially Enid's, one of 2 restaurants on site. There are 2 problems, one minor the other major. The minor problem is the beach. It is small and crowded, so you have to be there early to reserve a water-front location. The water is crystal clear, with an abundance of tropical fish life. However, it is hazardous to venture outside the small designated swimming area because of the constant prescence of jet skis. These noisy vehicles are operated by "cowboys" who drive them around at high speed, looking for customers who may wish to rent them for 30 minute rides. The operators have little regard for other water users. Unfortunately, the resorts along the coast have little control over these vehicles, because all beaches in Barbados are public. The major problem with ABC is NOISE. From 7:30 to 11:00 pm every evening there is live music from the resident rock/reggae band. The music is amplified to pain threshold level. The resort is small and the rooms surround the central entertainment and pool area, so there is no escape. It is no exaggeration to state that because of the noise from the band, normal conversation is impossible in guest rooms in the evening. Even on the beach during the day there is thumping recorded rock music from the beach bar. Think you can espape by taking the free shuttle to the Almond Beach Village? Forget it - the Italian and Reef restaurants both play intrusive recorded music, and there is even loud radio music on the shuttle bus. If it had not been for the noise, we would have rated this resort highly. As it was, two of us went for 2 weeks expecting rest and recuperation, but instead we left feeling tense and annoyed. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was excellent! Visited: January 2002 Posted by fiona_bagley We are just about to visit for the sixth time and cannot wait for the break. We find the hotel staff to be brilliant fun (perhaps because we visit regularly, they have gotten to know us well). They are most helpful and some have become friends over the years. The hotel, since our first visit in 1997, could benefit from some decoration. However, we do know that they continually paint and decorate as we have seen them in the early hours of the morning! We have never had any problems with the food. Even after a hurricane in 1997, we were never hungry and still had a choice of options despite many staff being unable to get to work. Perhaps people have a preconceived idea of what to expect. It is hot and sticky and at the end of the day we just want a rest, sunshine and the tranquility of a beautiful island with people who cannot do enough for you. We have seen changes over the years. But then, we run a business ourselves, and with different management goes different thought processes. Overall, we keep coming back, so fair play to the hotel! There are some delightful places to eat close by and the Village is good for the Italian. We had an excellent holiday just before Christmas and have been in during the New Year - the decorations were amazing. So long until our next visit! 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Unfriendly, Unhelpful, Unsatisfactory Visited: January 2002 Posted by trace99 We recently stayed at the Almond Beach Club. Upon arrival to a very small crowded reception area we had to wait a good 30 minutes before our keys were thrust at us, vaguely giving us any information except for the $115 you would be charged if you lost your safe key. The room was small, basic and clean. The bathroom was tiny with a smaller than normal sized bath and not a great shower. Our biggest disappointment was the restaurant. The only edible meal was breakfast and that was because it was buffet. As for the staff they were unhelpful and you would actually be quicker getting your own meal, drinks, etc. If it was up to them, you could be waiting all day. At lunch and dinner the menu was a la carte. We didn't always eat alone. During the day the local birdlife join you at your table in case you get lonely as the restaurant is open-air so if you're not careful they can eat off your plate. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Disappointing Visited: January 2002 Posted by i_steve My wife and went to the Almond Beach Club, after having been on a cruise, other resorts and places in Florida, expecting more, the price was very high. The room was a one bedroom suite which was unkept, dust on the bed posts and ceilings, the bathtub was not usable at all, stained and no hot water the entire time we were there. They must have changed staff since some of these other reveiws were posted because we felt they were uncaring and indifferent. The average time for dinner was 3 hours. They would take forever if you asked for more coffee. One night was ok when the head manager was there, after complaints. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Ralxing, but could use a bit of a refurb. Visited: December 2001 Posted by jane1 We just came back from a very relaxing two weeks at Almond Beach Club. Whilst the hotel was very nice it could do with a little updating. The food in the main restaurant was very good for breakfast and lunch, but not so great in the evening. However, you can book at Enids, which is lovely, as well as the Italian and Seafood restaurant at the sister hotel, Almond Beach Village. Rooms are comfortable although not plush and the pools clean and enough to keep you cool. There is no pressure to do anything in the daytime and the evening entertainment was good. In general, a very nice place to visit. I have to say that for the price, it was a very good value holiday. Do visit Carambola’s restaurant if you are going; it’s not to be missed! 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Relaxing, Relaxing , Relaxing! Visited: October 2001 Posted by bebe518 I just returned from a one-week stay at the club. We are a couple in our 20's and have to say we were truly delighted. Check-in was a breeze, and we were upgraded to a one-bedroom suite. Also no wristband was worn like at other all-inclusive resorts. The grounds were beautiful, and lush with tropical flowers. The pools were small, but did the job for a quick dip, or floating on a lounge chair. The bars were very friendly and served anything you desired with a smile. The buffet was surprisingly very good, with a nice variety. The restaurant Enids served local Bajan food, which was very good. Presentation counts to us. Also, they offer shuttle buses on a schedule to their sister hotel, Almond Beach Village. While there, enjoy all they have to offer, such as the Italian restaurant, which was superb. It was so nice to have such a succulent meal, so nicely served, and not have to pick up the bill because we all ready paid for it. I really enjoyed dining from a menu and being served like in a gourmet restaurant. It was very classy. Ladies dress elegantly at night and gents wear slacks. Do make rsvp at guest services a day in advance. The staff was very friendly and helpful, especially the front desk. They were all very accommodating. Also try to bring water shoes, they are helpful when first getting in the ocean with its rocky grounds. The beach is not extremely large, but quite relaxed and clear. The beach just to the left of the resort is picturesque. Usually at other islands, we love to rent a car a see the whole island. At Almond Beach Club we loved it so much we basically stayed there or at The Village just soaking up the rays and dining and dancing at night. The Club is a lot smaller than The Village, but equally beautiful. If you don't have small children stay at The Club, because you have access to both facilities. I have never returned back to the same resort twice, because we like variety, but I have to say we will surely return to Almond Beach Club in the near future. You will not be disappointed. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Relaxing holiday with room for improvement. Visited: September 2001 Posted by corndolly We just returned from a 10-day holiday at the Almond Beach Hotel in Barbados. Overall, we were pleased with the holiday, but felt there is definite room for improvement. Upon arrival we were informed that the hotel was overbooked and we would have to stay at the village for three nights. We were not alone. In fact, there were about 20 other guests in the same situation. This was not the ideal start to a dream holiday and the problem was only compounded by the apathetic attitude of some of the so-called management at the hotel. The resort itself is generally well presented, but could do with a lick of paint. The food is variable and we would recommend eating at the Italian or seafood restaurant (the Reef) at the village. We also found the service to be variable, but generally good for the Caribbean. Do expect to be hassled by the locals on the club beach who will try and sell you an expensive ride on a jet-bike (it's well worth bartering) or that loud shirt you've always wanted! Would I go back? Yeah, maybe… 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? The perfect all-inclusive getaway resort. Visited: June 2001 Posted by jeremywhitmore We just returned from Almond Beach Club. This was our fifth visit to this hotel. Each time we visit we are greeted like family. The staff is all very friendly and efficient, and tries very hard to make your stay as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. We don't think you will enjoy the Club as much if you are the "party-animal type,” as most of the entertainment is based around or close to the restaurant or main bar area, and is relatively sophisticated. The food standard is high in comparison with other all-inclusive resorts that we have stayed at in the Caribbean. The beach to the left of the hotel at Sandy Lane is excellent, and snorkeling and watersports are well catered for. We will be returning! 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful?

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