Latest Reviews for Hastings

We read a lot of reviews of Sandy Bay Beach Club some positive some negative,We arrived not knowing what to expect but we the most fantastic two weeks at the resort and we absolutely loved Barbados.I would have to say if you can and for a bit of extra space book the one bed apartments, these are light and airey and have superb air conditioning.The beach was paradise in a nutshell, superb clean white sand and a beautiful safe clean turquoise sea with the occasional turtle floating by.We ate very well every day in the buffet part of the restaurant. Try an omelette for brekfast, delicious. We tried the a la carte for one night only, but it was no better than the buffet to be honest, and also men have to wear long trousers which I hate. The buffet was far more informal, and the house wines were delicious.Service can be a bit slow buy one should just relax to the Barbados, laid back and friendly vibe.The staff were friendly and were very helpful, a smile from you would also encourage swifter service.I recommend venturing out into Barbados ,hire a car or hop on a bus, the white one's with a purple stripe are great, cheap and they drop you off anywhere. you can go all around the island for 1.50 bd.The local people are friendly and helpful and they play reggae on the radio, so everyone is grooving along. There is very little crime in Barbados so it felt very safe to walk out even with children. Cars will stop for you to let you cross the road. Bridgetown is worth seeing for some great shopping, The Waterfront Cafe for some good food and jazz. Lobster Alive restaurant for delicious seafood and steaks. Every Friday and Saturday night Oistins is the place to go.Take a Tiami Catamaran trip,it's a great day out and an opportunity to swim with turtles.Also all the beaches in Barbados are public beaches and we got to walk along the stretch of sand at Sandy Lane Hotel, and not as nice as our beach in my opinion. St Lawrence Gap has some great bars and good dining.The Weather was stunning every day I loved the place.I recommend Sandy Bay Beach Club, its location is perfect,I'd go back tomorrow.

The trip to Barbados was booked through BMI and Hotelopia The Flight was excellent with excellent service and comfort.The arrival at Grantly Adams was a little frustrating as 3 flights in at once so took over an hour to get through passport control,our hire car was available with good service from EASY CAR.

The coconut court was a little dissapointing as it could do with a full makeover a little tired the room was large but the bathroom was small and had a fixed shower, no bath.Full fridge microwave and kettle this was a suprise as we were on A/I the food left a lot to be desired the best part was the perfect setting right on the beach with no hawkers or flies.We still had a wonderfull holiday but we wont be going back to the CC.The island is full of buetifull places to see like Bathsheba and the Crane beach also the historic garrison area and the hill stations steeped in our own British history.I also have to say that the bar staff and the waitresses were very good with a smile and laugh all the time.Do try to eat out at the Crane a very speacial treat and the Fish night in OISTINS friday night for local colour,The dining out in the GAP is fairly resonable and safe.

All in all a very good holiday just that we were dissapointed with having to pay for EXTRAS in the CC whitch we would have taken for granted in other A/I establishments.You get what you pay for Stick to 5 STAR like the Almond Beach Village which we stayed in on our last visit to this Island paradise

August 2006.Well, we have just got back from what I consider to be the worst place I have ever stayed in! Virgin should be ashamed of themselves for how they have described this im their brochure.This was once self catering accomadation which has been poorly turned into an all inclusive hotel, and sadly, it just doesn't work.

Whilst the staff are very friendly and polite and the food was excellent on some nights [ even had roast beef and yourkshire pud!]the actual accomadation is of a very poor standard and the hotel itself is compact. On first arrival the reception area is clean and of a high standard. Once you walk through to the hotel grounds you are greeted with what we thought was the kiddies swimming pool as it was so small but no! It was the actual pool for all residents and it was tiny. A second pool with jacuzzi was of a similar small size. Needless to say, the kids used both pools at all times!
1.Entertainment stops at 10.30pm most nights, 10pm on some, and the bar closes 11pm so no late nights here ??
2.The electronic[?] games room consists of one air football (broken) under a gazebo not much for the kids to play with.
3.The kids club is more like a creche, one room and they do not take the kids out to play games etc. We made a point of booking a resort on the childrens activities offered. Again, the brochure was mis-leading about this.
4.There were numerous complaints about the food being served under legally required temperatures. Which was confirmed by another guest who had the food tested with a food probe.[for the record, that guest and his family moved to another hotel!]
5.Our room upgrade was a joke. We paid over £500 extra to have up-graded room facilities eg/ mini bar stocked daily, after complaining about the bar on at least four occasions to reception we approached the Virgin rep who chased it up on our behalf. They managed to get it right the day before we came home!The general state of the bathrooms in our view were grubby and could have done with a refit. We also had band aid plasters holding the front of the aged air conditioning unit in place.
6.We also found out to our disgust that all the activity staff were released some weeks earlier so anyone wishing to take part in any beach activities would have been rather disappointed.
7. Having a child with an autisic spectrum disorder, which Virgin knew about,safety and undisturbed night time routines are crucial. Both bedrooms experienced outside noise. The childrens room had no view, looked onto a brick wall and large, noisey extractor fan which serviced the kitchen. Our room was noisy due to the fact we were right next to the bar. Steep wooden stairs were dangerous for children.

However, the beach is lovely, albeit small, Barbados is a beautiful Island and offers great day trips and dutyfree shopping in Bridgetown. we would go back to Barbados,but not to Sandy Bay beach Club!

Just back from our 1st visit to Barbados! What a fantastic time we all had,the beaches certainly look exactly like they do in the brochure, and the Sandy Bay is stunning!

The hotel its self is situated right on the beach,restaurant looks out to sea. Buffet style meals food available all day and the cocktails are somthing else. Staff very freindly, cannot do enough for you. Even come and serve you drinks on the beach, at this all inclusive resort.

Brilliant location not out on a heel like some of these resorts 10 mins walk to the St Lawrence Gap which has plenty of night life if you require it. Taxis very cheap we got one from the airport to save waiting for transfer about £15 for 6 of us!

Just one thing we had already up graded our rooms and they were fantastic an upstairs and downstairs with a kitchen i think these must of been self-catering a one time. But standard roomes meant to be very small heard people complaining,but it does state this in the virgin brochure!

First time to fly with Virgin and they really do live up to there name!

We cannot wait to go back and would most certainly go back to Sandy Beach.

Having read some previous reports we were wondering what we'd got ourselves into!! No need though this place (to us) was brilliant.

if you only book the standard room then forget it, although the brochure does warn that they're pokey holes with windows looking out onto a passage! We booked the one bedroomed suites which were probably self catering apartments in a previous life. ours was on one level with modern bathroom, lounge and a kitchen with kettle, fridge freezer etc and then the airconditioned bedroom which was big with plenty of storage space. If you had a third person they would be in the lounge and thus only have the ceiling fan to keep them cool. The other two couples in our party had two storey apartments with bathroom/bedroom upstairs and kitchen/lounge below.

The pools are very small and only good for small kids (and cooling off in) but then you can step onto the beach from the bar and restaurant so it's no problem and the sea is lovely. There is a reef about 200 yards off shore so the water is smooth around the beach but then there is a strong current running from south to north which can drag you up the shore a bit. It is safe (as it just takes you up the beach to the next cove) but may worry the weaker swimmers. Don't take beach towels there are plenty of big fluffy jobs which you can change when-ever from the beach/sports hut.

The food is the best we've ever had from an all inclusive package!!! The main restaurant has a large choice then there's the Al A carte (pre bookable 5 times a week....and excellent)and if you still can't find something the newly built snack bar is open from 10 am 'til late and serves burgers, chicken, steaks and toasties etc. There are also places across the road which are open 24/7 serving food and drinks......you won't starve!! The ";Gap"; is only 5 minute walk away and good for a night out. Try Pisces restaurant for a meal, then McBrides. Happy hour from 10 'til midnight and always crowded. You may get hassled by people offering you stuff (plus taxi's) but just say no and they leave you alone. Don't miss Oistins on a Friday night. Big Banks (the local beer) roadshow loads of places to eat and Packed with locals and tourists a really fun night. Did the Tiami catamaran trip...fabulous day well worth the £45 (B$150) sail up the coast swim with the turtles all food and drink included plus they collect and return you to the hotel. We booked it ourselves by phone so we saved a bit! Getting around is easy. Wait at a bus stop or just flag down one of the ";Boogie"; buses. They have number 11 on the front (not to be confused with the normal minibuses which charge from the meter) and cost B$1.50 (45p) for as far as you go. They get packed and then some but there are so many you can get around in no time.

Babados and the Bajans are fabulous we will definately go back and very likely to Sandy Bay. (Don't get me wrong there were people moaning about this and that but that's their problem....we go away to enjoy ourselves and we did just that!)

We were warned by Gold Medal that there was renovation work being carried out, supposed to be completed one week before our arrival - It was still ongoing!

There is only one restaurant and the beach bar was unavailable during our stay.

The room we stayed in had been recently renovated and this was obvious, not very professionally.

We were asked to pay $20.00 US per day for air conditioning!
We were asked for $100.00 US deposit, (if you pay in US you get $195.00 Barbadian back.
Despite all of these, the hotel is in a beautiful location, the beach was clean, the staff were very friendly and helpful.
The pool was adequately sized and clean.
And we had a good holiday.

Stayed at the Pirates Inn from 11-18 June 2005.

A small 2 star s/c hotel which is very friendly. The pool area has sunbeds and chairs for sunbathing but was never very busy as a lot of people go out for the day or pop to Rockley Beach which is about 5 mins walk away. The hotel provides towels which you sign for and return at the end of your stay.

Please be aware that this is a 2 star hotel so don't expect lots of luxury. The rooms are basic and not air conditioned. 4 fans were provided (2 behind the bed and 2 floorstanding) but we didn't find these adequate in the heat. NB. there are 3 a/c rooms available at an extra charge per night and it is well worth trying to secure one of these rooms if you can as it will make a huge difference to your holiday.

There was small kitchenette available as you walked through the door which consisted of a hob, fridge/freezer and a grilling machine for toast etc.

The bathroom was the worst part of the hotel as the sink taps were encrusted with limescale and the shower floor (no bath available) tiles were cracked (I didn't dare look at the plug hole).

All rooms overlook the pool area and have balcony and the position of the hotel is great as there are several restaurants within walking distance (Opa - Greek; Champers - Upmarket champagne bar/restaurant; Accra Hotel - polynesian restaurant with A/c).

There is small supermarket for groceries with a larger one about 15 mins walk away ";Big B";.

Overall, the hotel is a good ";value"; hotel and is peaceful with no rowdy groups staying there (I'm presuming they all stay at the Gap). Staff are friendly and rooms are cleaned everyday with a full linen change weekly. Obviously, not 5 star luxury but you get what you pay for, if you want 5 star, stay at the Sandy Lane.

What a great little hotel. Small and not at all rowdy - a good relaxing way to spend a week. Rooms basic but very clean - cleaned everyday. The location is first class - away from the main road so its quiet and just a 5 minute walk to Accra/Rockley beach, which sandwise is superb but I found the sea a little to rough - great for boogie boarding and surfing and great for people watching. Didnt eat at the hotel apart from breakfast round the pool as we ate out everynight - Can highly recommend OPA (opposite end of road) Its a greek restaurant with fantastic sea views. Didnt have one bad meal anywhere. A lot of people wait for the busses to get them from A to B but we found the taxis so cheap we got taxis everywhere.

Batts Rock beach is a lovely beach with calm waters on the West Coast and we were lucky enough to see a couple of wild green monkeys frolicking in the woodland close by.

I would certainly recommend the Pirates Inn for both couples and families with young children. And the hotel staff cannot do enough to help. A first class break!

Do not go to this hotel.
I could go on, but not much point.
After 3 days got transfered to the ";Amaryllis Beach Hotel"; Absolutely fabulous.

We travelled to Barbados on our honeymoon in June. The Amaryllis hotel was absolutely gorgeous. We arrived very late and were promtly led to our room. The rooms were quite small but had air conditioning and everything that you would need when all inclusive. The scene that we woke up to was like something out of a film. We were right on the beach - beautiful sand, very clean and an ample supply of loungers. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the hotel in general was very clean. There was always sufficient staff on. Service was slow but we were on holiday and in no rush for anything.

The food in the hotel was always very good and there was a pizza place at the top of the resort that made pizzas you would die for.

If we had any complaints it was that the entertainment was not up to the standard of the rest of the hotel.

It was also a pleasure on the beach. Very few hustlers. Beware people selling Aloe Vera!!!!

All in all a lovely place to spend two weeks in paradise. We'll definitely be back.