Almond Beach Village Reviews

We went here for the family part of our honeymoon and felt totally cheated. We felt it was overpriced for the standard and accomodation that we received.

In short most of the food is inedible and very samey, its hard to get healthy choices and they are limited. The staff try hard to please, but are really limited. We eventually ended up eating out at night and the local food is lovely. But as you have paid for all inclusive its a bit annoying. Oh and get used to queuing for your food! Its a bit like school canteen mentality.

The rooms are tiny and the furtniture is very bashed about. We were moved room our first room after complaining for over 4 hours as our shower did not work in our original garden room.

The grounds are not well kept and beware of broken glass. If you want a sun lounger you need to get up at 6am and put your towels down.

we were supposed to be on a honeymoon package despite having our 5 year old with us, but no one told us we were entitled to spa treatments and an a la catre(ha ha) meal until 2 days before we left, it took a lot of arguing to get these sorted out.

In short go somewhere else. Please don't spend your money here we are so disappointed and it ruined our honeymoon.

very nice, clean, calm, laid back, relaxing and friendly. Perfect for a 'chiller' holiday! everywhere was very clean and staff more than willing to help, several large pools providing great play space for children but also adult only pool if you cant deal with the rowdiness

really enjoyed my stay at the hotel. Staffare great, good atmospehere between guests! Food and restuarants are great, room was clean, big and comfortable. Would definately return!

The hotel and all the faciities were amazing, staff were the best we have ever had the pleasure of meeting. The restaurants catered for every need no matter what you dietry requirements are, food cooked to order, fantastic flavours, if you went hungry its your own fault. A picture postcard beach, white sands, crystal blue sea and palm trees, swimming with turtles, banana boats, scuba diving, snorkelling, list is endless. Great kids club that caters for all ages, friendly and safe. The rooms were spacious and very very clean, air conditioning and mini fridge, safe, really nicely furnished. Entertainment was briliant, fantastic singers and limbo dancing, reggae dancing and shows, superb for all ages.

Beautiful surroundngs and a great choice of children or adult pools. Because there is a childrens club, the kids on site seemed very well behaved and were no trouble at all.

The food was good although slightly repetitive, the best restaurant is the Italian, it is adult only which is also a plus for me as too many times in the past I have come across people who appear unable to control their children and let them run riot when on holiday, it's a shame for people who have well behaved children, but it was a definite bonus to have a pleasant quiet evening meal.

You have to be patient as there is quite of bit of queueing involved at some of the restaurants and bars.

We had a superior deluxe room which was anything but! It is a large room with a huge bed (which was very comfortable) but the room smelt really badly of damp, the furnishings are incredibly basic, the decor leaves a lot to be desired (in need of a total refurbishment). The bathroom was a bit manky, the grout was discoloured, some rust in the bath and old, dirty grout around the sink surround. The saving grace was the view from the balcony, it is stunning.

There is a guest laundry on site (12 dollars per wash) working full time, it made it really convenient taking all the clothes home laundered.

Tommys bar has a small tv and a flat screen outside the bar, not enough for the amount of customers who wanted to watch sport.

The evening entertainment was very good, really enjoyed the shows especially a trio of female singers called Rush Hour.

Plenty of watersports available.

All in all the holiday was good value for money, once the hotel has been refurbished I would go again.

Well what can I say we have just returned from the Almond Beach Village (ABV). The foyer is rich looking you begin to think oh luxury until you reach the rooms! We booked a superior deluxe garden view. Well I would hate to see their standard room! It smelt as though someone had smoked 60 cigarettes this was a non smoking room there were cobwebs on the walls and it was very dank and dark, I didn't even look in the bathroom. We complained porously and the hotel relented and upgraded us to a superior deluxe ocean view. The amount they charge for this room if you pay from UK is not worth it. We again complained about the mould above the shower head in the bathroom it was blue and hairy, there were stains and black on the rug in the bedroom (told the reception staff so they wouldn’t blame us and charge) the A/C was leaking water and was dripping down the wall. This hotel is supposed to be 3.5 - 4* depending on the travel agents website. We are a well travelled family and this hotel is neither of these I would say 2 - 2.5* at the most. The food is the same you have to make restaurant reservations if they all say they’re fully booked what are you supposed to eat its all inclusive although you have got an alternative restaurant called Enids but after our chicken came back raw twice gave up! At the Horizon restaurant all of the children meals come with fries I explained to the waitress my son cannot have fries again would be 5th day on the run she said sorry there's no alternative to fries she cannot change it to mash (even though mash was on the adults menu)! If you like beer stay clear of the ABV they only have one kind of cheap flat local beer they don’t even have red stripe etc. The drinks from the machine doesn't taste like sprite, coke, etc oh and if you do chose to stay here pack a refillable drinks bottle as after 8pm the refreshments room where the tea, coffee, soft drinks machines are, is closed and you can only get plastic beaker drinks from the bars. If you have children you cannot dine in the Italian restaurant as this is for adults and children over 16yrs only, not too sure why the Almond Beach Club which is an adults only hotel is 15min away. The restaurant staff moody they are worked very hard. The hair dresser Charmaine is fantastic shes very good at her job! All in all not great value for money we're used to 4* hotels and this is a far cry from a true rating feel a bit deceived. we couldnt move as the wedding party was leaving from ABV :(

We always book flights and hotel seperately. . . . When I read some of the other write-ups I wonder if we've stayed in the same hotel. We have been here three times now (twice with our 2 grown up children) and each time we have had to most amazing holiday. Our last stay we were automatically up graded (as returning guests) It is always very clean, all staff are very friendly and polite. The bar staff in particular work their socks off (in fact alot of them remembered us from previous years) Hiring a car for a few days is a good idea. There are several really good restaurants in Holetown if you fancy a change of scenery, but if you eat in at the hotel you don't need to book for EITHER Enids or Horizon (which is also buffet, so again I'm not sure if some people are at the same hotel!!)La Smarita is a must. It's also good fun to haggle with the guys on the beach over the hire of ski bikes (never pay what they ask and try and get a deal for several rides in one agreement - it works out far cheaper and they won't renage on what you've agreed)If you are adults always use the adult pool at the north end of the resort; they are very strict about minors using it. Love the hotel. Love the resort

A very disapointing holiday. We are a large extended family well traveled but not snobbish but for the price we paid for this holiday it was Criminal -£4K per couple is outrageous!. It is not as the virgin brochure states- it is 2* at best!! The resort is tired and dirty, in fact filthy in places. The rooms are tiny dark, depressing and dirty. The pool areas are filthy- there were 2 live crabs that lived in the toddlers pool for our 3 days there- Chlorine???!!! No chnace!!- lots of kids with ear infections on site. The food is very poor- low quality- think burgers, chips and pizza- every day- a real buy in bulk churn it out hotel- Gives all inclusibves a bad name- if this was my first experience of an all inclusive I would never do one again!!. We were also offered Cocaine at our table on our first night with children around- Nice! Queues for lunch, dinner , drinks and just - nasty really!! Think Butlins in Barbados-The beach is pretty - That is all it has going for it...but has poisonous berries on it- so not ideal with Children. - we moved to Turtle Beach (along with many other couples all trying to get out!! It was my sisters 40th and she was in tears!!)Thank God for turtle beach- so much nicer- poles part!! We wouln't go back if you paid us!!

After reading some of the reviews about the Almond Beach Village, I must admit we did try to change our booking. However, I would say if you have already booked dont worry. It's not the best place I have stayed in but it was fine.

We got upgraded to an Ocean Beach room which was nice. It was cleaned daily and was big enough. The village itself is in need of a bit of a re-furb, but the Carribean isnt like Europe or the USA so dont expect the same standards. The staff were friendly and nothing was too much trouble. However, the few times we went into Guest Services to request something, there were always people in there requesting a room change - which they seemed to oblige! I would e-mail the Resort before you go and ask for an upgrade to Ocean/Beachfront as these do seem to be the better rooms.

The Restaurants were quite nice except for the childrens snack bar area which was scruffy and dirty. Although our children didnt use the kids club much, when they did they enjoyed it and the staff were kind and helpful.

The 4x4 jeep safari is worth a go - we had a good day and saw most of the island and the children enjoyed it too.

The beach was the major disappointment for me. It was quite narrow and the the sea was very rocky. The view to the north was of some sort of industrial works!

All in all we had a lovely holiday but I would not go back there - sorry.

First impression was good, check-in easy. Pools were immaculately clean, bar staff friendly and accommodation simple but tidy.

But.. Guest Services staff were not at all helpful. Menus were very limited and hardly varied in 2 weeks. Food quality was mediocre at best. No buffet restaurant on site, and with the exception of Enid's all restaurants had to be pre-booked. In fact pretty much everything had to be pre-booked, including the shopping bus to Bridgetown, which incidentally was never on time and only allowed a very limited duration in the capital. Entertainment was poor. There was only ever 2 bars open at any one time and these closed at 11pm, then everyone was expected to crowd into a small nightclub on site. Security at the main gate was good, but as beaches are public anyone could walk into the resort unchallenged from beach-side.

Overall, not somewhere we'd return to. The 4-star rating was over-generous (more like 2+), especially when compared to resorts in places like Mexico or Aruba.

We went to the Almond Beach Village for my daughters wedding. There were 10 of us in all.
On arrival at the resort we were greeted with a Rum or Fruit punch, while the hotel staff introduced themselves and allocated our room keys. All the party were upgraded to Pool or Ocean view rooms.

The rooms were all very nice. They were very clean and comfortable. The staff in the resort were excellent, very helpful.
We had a problem with the air conditioning in our room, which was sorted out very promptly, we were also offered a new room if we were not satisfied.

The resort restuarants were exellent providing a wide variety of food for all tastes.

The swimming pools and other facilities are also excellent.

The wedding itself was wonderful, on the beach, with the flowers, music, photos etc. just as the couple wanted.
Although the resort caters for up to 5 weddings a day, every effort was made to make sure that each wedding was very individual.

I can't praise the wedding service highly enough.

The hotel also provide a wide variety of excursions and trips around Barbados, we went on a catermaran trip and the Rum and History tour. These were excellent, great value for money with food and drink provided.

Barbados is a beautiful island, and we all had a wonderful time. I hope that we can go back again in the future.

On first impressions we were pleased. Check in went smoothly. When we got to the rooms it was not what we had booked. We had booked a 1 bed suite. We got 2 standard rooms with interconection doors. Not what we paid for. The air con was not working in one room. so we had to sllep in one room that night. The bathrooms were so small that you had to walk in backwards to close the door not enough room to turn around. It did make us laugh to start off with. Whats with the mirrored bathroom doors?

The next day we went to get moved it took over 12 hours not funny. We were moved to the new block. The rooms were alot better and the bathrooms were slightly larger. No more reversing in. We were woken by the bight sunlight are rooms had no black out curtains so we were all awake before 6am. So we asked when the curtains were going up. in a few days was the reply.

We found the restaurant staff to be very abrubt and like they did want to be there. We did find this off putting. i dont like to complain but its not what you expect. There were lots of things wrong that could have been put right quickly. But the did not bother. We had no light bulbs in one room, curtains, hair dryer, room directory, we aked several time and got feed up in the end. the things got done the day we left after 3 weeks of complaining.

This is not a 4* hotel. We felt very dissapointed and let down by this hotel chain.
They need to spend time on there training and customer care, and sould never forget that people have paid to go on holiday. They dont desever to be treated badly.
The food was of average, but badly let down by the poor waitress service.It's a shame because it could be a very good resort.

The plus side the the kids club was very good and they did look after the children and the enjoyed the actives. I dont think that we will return to this resort. Its a lot of money for the poor service. Lets hope that they put it right.

We have visted Almond Beach Village twice in eight months and cannot wait to return.

Our first trip was November 2004 and our most recent, July 2005. We travelled with both BA and Virgin, but Virgin has the edge with its twilight check-in and check-in, chill-out faclilty, what brilliant inventions!

The resort of Almond Beach Village is wonderful, set up in clusters of small villages, dotted around the ten swimming pools (which do exist) with a village centre in the middle, the main focal point being the sugar mill which dates back to 1885. The resort is divided into a North End which is more ";just for adults"; and a South end which tends to be more ";family friendly";. This is great as it caters for everyone.

For us, the high point has got to be the excellent choice of restaurants. First trip we fell in love with the Reef, its location was first class, right on the beach. Sadly, it was closed for refurbishment during our second trip, but Enids, Horizons and the Italian more than made up for it. The Service, food and staff were exceptional in the Italian.

There are lots of bars to choose from, Tommys Bar which is modelled on a tyical Bajan Rum Shop is fab, has friendly staff and a nice atmosphere, the adult pool also has a friendly atmosphere, with one lady bar-tender in particular, what a character!

We booked standard rooms both trips. Our room first visit was next to Tommys Bar, we felt a little small and on the dark side but it was very clean and cared for so it didn't put us off. Our room second visit was at the North End, in the gardens overlooking the adult pool. It was much bigger and brighter but again very clean and well cared for. No problems whatsoever.

We spent our evenings in the restaurants then onto Tommys bar for a few cocktails in the village square. We never got round to watching the organised entertain ment in Horizons Lounge but we could often hear some good cabaret acts.

Almond Beach Village is set right on a beautiful beach, we saw new sand being laid, which was soft and pure white. One problem we encountered was the Aloe Vera Beach Vendor, a polite ";No thank you"; did not work. Be prepared to walk away until he moves onto his next customer or he will be covering you in green gunk and demanding 22 US Dollars in no time! There is also a lovely, almost deserted stretch of beach just beyond the water sports hut, in front of Port St Charles. Hopefully, no Aloe Vera Vendor too!

We also took advantage of the free shuttle into Bridgetown. Althought Bridgetown is not typical to our High Street there are some lovely shops and good duty free bargains to be had. The Harbour and Boardwalk are also nice for a stroll. We enjoyed lunch in a little English Pub opposite Cave Shepherd Department Store. It was lovely to mix with the locals, we will definitley look up the Nelsons Arms on any return visits.
We also wandered along the beach at the resort into Speightstown. We were greeted with a lovely little town, with really nice people, plenty of smiles and hello's. We went along on Friday afternoon and the Rum-Shops were jumping, the atmosphere was great! The Barbadian's know how to wind down for the weekend!

We were also lucky enough to be asked to act as witnesses for a couple we made friends with at Almond Beach Village. They chose to get married at the Gazebo on the beach and it was beautiful. The bride was gorgeous, the location perfect and the wedding itself was so laid back and relaxed. The photographs and DVD done by the hotel were truly beautiful, anyone thinking of doing it, go ahead it is perfect. I want to get married all over again!

Overall, we can only praise the wonderful resort and Island. We have had two enjoyable holidays there and we will most definitley return in the future.

Almod Beach Village came highly recommended and it did not disapoint - we loved it, so much so we are returning July 2005.

The Village is wonderfully set out with a magnificent choice of restaurants. We made full use of all of the restaurants and enjoyed every meal. We will say that the lunchtime buffet in Horizon's restauranton Saturday/Sunday was not of the standard we were becoming used to!
However we have no complaints at all of any other meal - there is always lots of food on the go, it felt like being on a cruise ship!

The staff were very nice, particularly in Tommys bar and Enids restaurant. They did their best to make you happy. One small complaint - we found we had to ask for our drinks in a glass rather than a plastic tumbler most evenings at Tommys Bar, however, it wasn't a problem to serve our drinks in a glass when requested.

Having read other reviews about the standard rooms we feel we must agree that they were dark and overcrowded with furniture. However, they were cleaned every day so no complaints on that front. The Village is undergoing a refurbishment and we have looked at the refitted rooms on the Almond Resorts website and they are greatly improved and really nice. We hope we get a refitted room on our return trip!

The complex itself is very nice and well set up. There really is ten pools so the choice is yours - kiddies pool, adult pool, quiet, noisy ....... the beach is lovely, but could do with a helping of sand in places, the little stones hurt!

We wandered into Speightstown and were greeted by a small, clean town with nice shops and lovely, friendly, happy people. We will be going back on our return visit.

We also took advantage of the free shuttle bus to Bridgetown, there is great duty free shopping to be done as well as things to see. We found a british pub over the road to Cave Shepherd department store and had a lovely afternoon drinking cold Banks Beer and a bar meal, it didn't cost a lot. We will be looking the Nelsons Arms up on our return trip for certain!

We also did the Turtle feeding trip with the hotel. It didn't cost mucah and was a basic trip of out to sea, see the turtles for approx 30 mins and return. Still, we would recommend it as the turtles are worth seeing.

We can only say good things about Almond Beach Village and hope you have as good a holiday as we did.