Latest Reviews for Coconut Bay

We arrived on New Years Eve and left on 14 Jan, during which time we got married. We had a fantastic time the food was good in the main buffet restaurant but in the Italian and Asian our bookings got mixed up and the staff were most unhelpful so don't bank on getting the meal you think you have booked. When they did get it right the service was so slow we didn't bother again, but you don't need to the food is better in the main buffet restaurant.
The snack bar was good and was open virtually all through the night.
Skeet the bar tender in the main bar was hilarious but beware the drinks he serves are strong! The rooms are spacious and exceptionally clean.

We went on a few trips, a helicopter ride around the Island it is expensive but well worth doing - we wanted to go again! We did a land and sea trip around the Island which was excellent.We also went on the Martinique trip, that would have been disappointing except for the fact that we thought he anger from the local fishermen which included threatening us all with knives was a put on but being with people who camcordered the whole episode and then got escorted to the st lucian TV station on our return we found it was true!
Our Wedding was great we ordered the steel band and they were wonderful, nothing in the UK could compare on Jan 6th we had sunshine and posing for wedding photos on the beach we would have been blown away in the UK. Thanks to all who came to our wedding, we actually travelled out alone but soon met new friends.
The fact we travelled First class with BA helped a long flight if you can we recommend this.

We went to CBR at Easter 2006 for two weeks, AI. CBR is the only resort in the south of the island. It's right next to the airport, Hewanorra, which makes it great for small kids tired from a long flight (the other resorts are an hour away!). You DON'T hear aircraft noise except about three planes taking off at about 5.30 daily almost overhead. We did not find it a nuisance AT ALL. The grounds are huge, and scenic, and gated. There are tennis courts, a gym (good) and three pools.

POOLS: one pool is small adult, and more remote and landscaped, by the spa, beyond the wedding chapel (v. prettily sited). The others are 'twinned' either side the central block area of the hotel (the photos are pretty accurate on their website). One is a deep adult pool, with a volley ball net, and a jacuzzi. The other is shallow, sloping entrance, with a v. low wooden wall you can step over right to the beach. This kid's pool is huge, with a little fountain and platform, and a swim up bar (v nice). Beyond the kid's pool is the lazy river, a big feature of CBR, and great fun to float round. Adults can't fit into the rings though! Beyond the lazy river are the two water slides. These are supervised, and close at dusk.

SEA: The hotel is on the rougher south coast. The sea is NOT the crystal clear caribbean. The main problem is sea grass, washed in by the tide, which forms a narrow band along the water's edge. For some, this is a major problem, for me it was a slight mar. The hotel clears it, usually daily. There are four breakwaters in the sea, to create a gentler paddling area, quite a bit of which is completely sea grass free. But yes, it's an issue! However, the beach itself is lovely. It's quite narrow, but long, and has deep soft white sand (unlike some of the resorts in Castries - see reviews here!) and there is plenty of room to sit here under the coconut palms. The hotel was quite full (not sure if at capacity) when we were there, but there were usually loungers, especially further from the immediate pool area. There are a lot of loungers on the decked promonade by the adult pool. There is always a lovely cooling breeze which made the hi temp very pleasant. Ther are some hammocks and 'platforms' further by the adult pool and spa

ROOMS: All rooms are sea facing, but if you want to see over the palms, have a higher floor one (costs more!). We were on the first floor (second for USA!). The room was spacious, with a seating area, and a small balcony, which was only good for hanging up towels. You couldn't sit there in the evenings as you got eaten by mozzies! The hotel is behind the pool, so the breeze falls off. There was no fridge, but an ice bucket and an ice machine by the stairs. We only ever got one cockroach - dead! - inside our door, but used mozzie killer plugged in every night. Downstairs people said they got tiny frogs under the imperfectly fitted doors! Bathroom was shower only, but fine for us. Decor very pleasant and caribbeany! We liked the room, no problems. Came with an ironing board I never used! TV fine, with US cable channels. AC fine plus ceiling fan, worked well. Plus are UK (I think!)I think there was a hairdryer in the b/room, but can't remember. Two queen sized beds fine for a couple and tall 12 year old. Cleaning standard was fine, but sometimes didn't reach us till pm. If you have small children, have a room on the LEFT wing of the hotel (left when facing the sea) as this is by the lazyriver/kidspool/slide end.) If you are an adult, choose the right wing, by the adults pool, wedding chappel and spa.

HOTEL: You arrive at the central block, which is basically a huge through lounge, witht he bar, open to the outdoors by the pool. Lots of settess etc, but could get busy near the pool end. Mishmash of styles but I liked them. There's a shop upstairs for souveniers (pricey of course at hotel) plus suncream etc.

FOOD: This is probably one of the weaker points of the place. We were AI - first time. The drinks were great. Yes, island beer and house wine, unless you pay. This was not a problem for us. The cocktails were brilliant - you could be drunk from 11 am if you wanted!!!!! (No, I resisted!). Also, there is nonstop coke etc, plus Slushes for kids, which mine adored (couldn't believe you could just help yourself non-stop!). The bar is in the main lobby

As for eating,there are four places. The main one is Coconut walk, which opens off the central lobby. It's pleasant, but no more than that. 'Posh office cafeteria' I guess is the standard. It's well prepared, but not 'gourmet' food. It isn't really the highlight of the place. However, several times a week there is waiter service, when the standard of the food was very definitely a cut above, though could still be a bit variable. Service could be quite slow, but this is the caribbean... Bring a book. Irritating of course if you have young restless children! (though it's right next to the games room, so they could be in there I guess while waiting for food?)

Upstairs, however, there are two 'gourmet' restaurants. The Asian one I felt was not as good, but the Italian one was very good. The menu is limited, so you inevitably repeat, but it is beautifully done. Tables need candles - too dim! Staff v. helpful - cooked plain pasta for my son (and even served him that in the Asian restaurant as well!) (they share the same kitchen behidn the scenes). You need to reserve, and they can be booked out! Small children have to eat early. You are supposed to wear shirts/long trousers (no tie), but some were definitely in t-shirts! Finally, there is a grill by the beach bar (the swim up one), which we didn't use, but were told by others did v. good steak sandwiches, burgers, salads etc. I found it a tad 'chippy' for the Caribbean - especially the smell, but I guess it's very useful with hungry kids around.

Twice weekly there were very elaborate outdoor BBQs round the pool, which were beautifully laid out and presented - a lot of work went into them! Note, you won't get good tea as the milk is 'canned'!! Not sure if you can buy pasteurised milk in town (which is a taxi ride or long walk). Usual weak lipton's teabags - bring your own for strong tea! Coffee quite weak too. Oh, just remember, CBR has NO ICECREAM. Don't know why - just doesn't! Lots of people commented. Puds tend to be cakes, or things like bread and butter pudding. Custard but no cream. Jelly and fruit as well. Coconut walk always had a kids station, with things like pasta, chips, fish fingers etc, which was good, but could get cold.

ENTERTAINMENT. We hate this, so bear that in mind! There was late night entertainment on the stage after the BBQs, but we headed for our room. V. noisy for several hours. A disco was in the central block, but we never went. In the second week they seemed to have a live band playing every evening in the bar/lobby area - would have been OK at a quarter of the volume. FAR TOO LOUD for comfort. BUT my BIG BIG BIG gripe is that they pumped VERY LOUD MUSIC all around the pool area, from 10 am to dusk. Quite appalling. I had huge difficulty finding any lounger spot that was sheltered from the damn noise! This for me, really threatened to spoil my holiday, and I got v. cross about it - so completely pointless. If you want music, people bring their own Ipods these days!

ACTIVITIES: There is a kids club for smaller children (up to 10 say?) which parents told us was very good indeed. Separate accom beyond the lazy river. V. good staff, v. popular. They have their own little water park (bit like Legoland where they squirt water, for those who know that!). Nothing for older kids, but there are activities like beach cricket, volleyball, and some pool treasure hunts organised, which were quite good. Hotel could do more here though! One big opportunity they are missing is to run a watersports club from the next beach alone, Anse de Sable, which is a brilliant beach in its own right, and popular with kite and windsurfers (why we were there actually!). CBR could easily tie in with the company running the watersports there, and offer it to kids.

The hotel provides small pool tables in the central lobby, very popular (free), and a kids games rooms with pinball, Xbox, that sort of stuff. Very popular, and cool temps for noonday.

There is also a manned station for taking out snorkelling kit, tennis rackets etc, which works well (snorkelling a bit rough, but there is a house reef right there!)

The whole grounds are gated, and you feel safe letting the kids roam around 'loose'. Police would stroll along the beach from time to time, and islander horsemen and fisher men walk along, but there was absolutely no hassle from any beach vendors. All felt very safe and unbothered. There were quite a few hotel staff always visible.

Note - the hotel will organise trips and outings, but we thought them v. expensive. We hired a car and did our own sightseeing. Some use taxis and get an expert islander tour guide to boot!

SUMMARY - this is a good family friendly resort which I'd rate three star plus. It's spacious and uncramped (nothing else near), but you need a car to get anywhere. No where else to eat (except at Anse de Sable small beach place) in walking distance. Food is not the best point of the hotel, and it could do with a really good restaurant there, not just the two small ones upstairs. However, that would probaly put the price up! If you don't mind the rougher sea, and not being remote, this is fine. It's about 45 mins drive to Soufriere an the Pitons, about an hour to Castries over the rainforest, and 90 mins to Rodney bay. The south of the island is undeveloped and unspoilt. The hotel is big, and quite modern, so not small and pretty - but the grounds I thought were lovely and spacious. Overall, I get the feeling they try hard here - espeically after what seems to have been a bit of a bumpy start to the place (it used to be Club med, but they abandoned it). I didn't use the spa, so can't comment. Customer mix is probably a spread from 'tatoo to estate car', with probably more middle class people (but not 'poshies'!) than anything else, but yes, some chavs. Depends what you want and what you are comfortable with! We've definitely been to posher places! Again, depends who you are and what you want. Some Canadians and Americans, who were all very nice.