Good Value All Inclusive in Barbados

Hi
Been a few years since visited Barbados & after any updates on decent All Inc hotels. Previously stayed at Turtle Beach Resort (4 years ago) & Almond Casuarina. Enjoyed the Turtle Beach but thought the Casuarina was very poor value, dreadful food & mega slow service!! Two adults & an 8 yr old so child friendly would be a bonus!!!

A thumbs up for Turtle Beach from me as well, but I always preferred Almond Beach Village over Casuarina - I know it had a lot of initial teething troubles (probably around the time you went if it was a few years back) but even so, it was a lot smaller and arranged so that if you were in the family area, you felt hemmed in with apartment blocks when outside. When I went, they were really struggling with getting the rum punch mix right as well from one day to the next, which surprised me a bit...

ABV has more space, restaurants, pools, beach (plus it's calmer on the west coast) - generally a better family holiday experience, and around the same price point as you'd have got previously.

Aside from that, the other resorts in the Elegant Hotels group (Turtle Beach being one) get generally good write ups - I was planning on booking Crystal Cove for this easter but got overruled by the my 2 cherubs, who wanted to go back to ABV yet again. My take on that is that sub £5k for a week there in the school holidays is definitely value for money, but it's obviously subjective...

RC

Have a read of some of the Trip Rrports for the BGI route as these often mention hotels etc

I particularly refer you to those by Mdvipond (though be prepared to laugh at his antics)

I almost mentioned those legendary trip reports from mdvipond as well, but as his favourite hideaway isn't an AI resort (IIRC), I held back.

Not that this should in any way put you off reading them! Were he ever to fall on hard times, I suspect there are those on these boards that would gladly have a whip round and pack him off to BGI again simply to be able to read the latest instalment...

As for me, I'm simply in awe that he's managed to establish UC as his standard class of travel with no family resistance. If you are reading this - I think a wife swap is in order for educational purposes... when I go out in April, it's even being suggested to me that we forego the CH and go to Giraffe instead as the cherubs will prefer that :0 :0 :0

As for me, I'm simply in awe that he's managed to establish UC as his standard class of travel with no family resistance. If you are reading this - I think a wife swap is in order for educational purposes... when I go out in April, it's even being suggested to me that we forego the CH and go to Giraffe instead as the cherubs will prefer that :0 :0 :0

Well YOU could stay in the CVH whilst your wife has some 'quality' mum time with the kiddies. ): ):

As a matter of fact, I was given that option, but... I don't know, perhaps I'm paranoid, but there was something about the inflection... the tone of voice with which the suggestion was made...

Suffice to say, I will probably be sans-Lanson on the day.

I'll have a look. Anybody tried the Island Inn Hotel??

With a child (mine is 9, so similar age), in my oppinion, you can't go wrong at the Turtle Beach - Oct this year sees our 4th visit there!

Visited Crystal Cove and looks ok, but I find is generally priced higher, and is not so - err, rounded?

Also, been looking at other options, so interesteed in what you do and reports afterwards. Have always shied away from ABV as looks like a big, impersonal place, but that's just based on my oppinion of the size and some of the reports on the net.


Really, apart from AI - are there any other particlular features or attributes you're looking for? (TB has an awsome kids club for example)......

If you are reading this - I think a wife swap is in order for educational purposes...

For 'educational purposes', eh...? Never had you down as the type Mr. Chaser...

As has already been mentioned, we've never done AI in Barbados so can't really make any relevant hotel recommendations. As for irrelevant - ie. non AI - recommendations, you can't go far wrong with Treasure Beach (of course), The Sandpiper or Coral Reef. And don't forget, there's a plethora of great restaurants on the island (unlike - say - Antigua where AI becomes something of a necessity). Just my two-penneth...

I've done AI once in Barbados and whislt the island is small and easily travelled, I think AI restricts you in seeing the delights on offer, sampling the food and drink, culture etc. So this year we have booked an independent villa in Holetown to see how different it is doing it "on your own". Will report back....!

Hi
I have booked 10 days at the Mango Bay in Holetown , BA holidays were £500 cheaper so rang Virgin holidays and they priced matched, hopefully will be ok.

If you are reading this - I think a wife swap is in order for educational purposes...

For 'educational purposes', eh...? Never had you down as the type Mr. Chaser...

Well neither did I, but there you go, one little Freudian slip and my motives are clearly exposed. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm having a party later and need to go and dig the goldfish bowl out of the sideboard. Ahem... ):

We stayed at Sea Breeze. Was really nice.

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Just had a look at Sea Breeze on Tripadvisor & other than a family having their daughters ipod nicked it gets good reviews!! The prices i've been quoted are within £50 when comparing Turtle Beech to Sea Breeze.

As for "must haves", a good Kids Club would be nice (we don't like palming junior off on these but funnily enough he'd rather go than spend every day with Mum & Dad!!!). But good food & service are a must.

I do agree that you don't see a lot of Barbados when staying AI, but we do have the odd excursion & this is our first "sunny" holiday after 4 years of camping in the UK!!! So AI will be paradise!!!!

One last thing that puts us off Almond Resorts is there are lots of airline staff there!!! Don't want to go on holiday with people you see at LHR every day!!!!!

We stayed at The Sea Breeze for 8 nights in June last year as a VH late deal. At the time it was significantly cheaper than The Almond resorts so represented good value for money and the location suited our needs.

However, we've also stayed at Turtle Beach, Almond Beach Village, Colony Club and Crystal Cove. I don't think the quality of the Sea Breeze comes close to any of those. We had a good time but spent quite a bit of time away from the hotel as we had a family wedding, but can honestly say we wouldn't stay there again.

Personally, if I was going with a youngster and AI, I'd pick The Turtle Beach or Almond Beach Village every time.

Jilly

Just a note on airline staff at Almond... I've seen them at Casuarina, but never in the 7 or 8 times that I've been to the Village - presumably down to the relative proximity to the airport...

Horses for courses anyway - as you say, maybe you're not going to get the best out of the island, including its cuisine, going AI - but I've found it to be a good all round option when traveling with children (6 and 8 years old in my case) - give it a few years and I'll probably go for something different...

I have a friend who swears by Turtle Beach and Almond Beach Village.

We very nearly booked the Almond this year but was a little put off by the reviews and decided to head back to Antigua instead.

Well, I can highly recommend the Turtle Beach - service/food has always been excellent, and the kids club is great. Like others, I don't necessarily like "palming off" children to these, but my daughter asks every day when she can go - what better recommendation could you ask for!

It's big enough not to feel hemmed in, but small enough that the service remains personable - just in my opinion.

The one thing I'd say is that the sea can be a little rough being the south coast, not the west. They do have beach supvisors though, and they flag the sea each day to show how wild it is...mind you, I've swum out there when it's been red flagged, if you're a stong swimmer, it's fine.

Another nice thing is that they have boogie boards, catamerans etc all there, and free of charge.

Must admit to upsetting a few BA staff at Casuarina asking the wife how come VS had those big jumbos & all BA could manage was that little 767 (knowing full well it was a B772), i'm not proud of it but just couldn't help it!!! Even got a mini lecture on how to tell the difference by one BA staffer, didn't have the heart to burst their balloon (i'm an Engineer with type ratings on B777 & B744)!!

Looking like the good old Turtle Beach this year then, now to try & get a bargain price!!!! Junior already telling his friends he's going to Barbados as it's a bit warmer than camping!!!!

For TB, I've always got excellent prices from Travel Republic, also worth trying Charter travel.

This year, bizarrely, I go tthe best price from Virgin Holidays for accomm only!

If you want any more info, just let me know.

I've always found Barbados Ambassadors (which is ultimately part of the Co-op) to be very good in terms of their knowledge, prices and general lack of any hard sell - Polly Gould seems to be their expert, worth talking to if you need general advice/help.

I've never yet managed to get VH to come out in any way competitive!

Hence my surprise! VH came up with circa £280 per night at TB which I felt was a good deal...