Sandy Bay Beach Club Reviews

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!

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!)

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.

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.