Standard Room, Garden View
from $571
Crystal Cove by Elegant Hotels All Inclusive Resort
4.0 out of 5.0
3.8
out of 5
Average Guest Review
See all 31 reviews
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Recent guest reviews
Hotel was beautiful. Had great activities. The pools were so nice. Swim up bar was cool with the waterfall. Had an amazing time even off fhe resort at Ostins.
Barbados is a beautiful Island. The beach and water is amazing. Even though tourism is the number one industry, we did not think the staff was as happy and friendly as you might expect. My husband wanted to sail - but Mariner at the sports center had attitude - on the other hand Kathy in the dining room was smiling and helpful. There were a few others in the dining/bar area who were very genuine. We were to get a wake up call when we left and help with our bags (that did not occur) Overall I would describe the service as inconsistent. I would like to see better quality of coffee. We had a guest come for a day from a cruise - the staff wanted her to enter from the public entrance to go to the beach and spend the day or pay $120 (for 4 hours). She was not permitted to use the chairs. I would have to say they are not flexible or willing to do things out of the ordinary.
Our first six hours were terrible. To start, the waiting area near the lobby was full of fruit flies. When we were brought to our room, my first thought was the room was much smaller that what we were expecting. The bathroom resembled a 2-star hotel bathroom at best: dirty tiles, stained shower, faucets screwed in incorrectly, etc. The staff then brought us someone else's luggage. We soon realized how thin the walls were, as our neighbors sounded like they were in our room, and we could hear everyone that was walking outside our room (no privacy). At dinner, we were seated at a table that was covered with little flies. I asked to be moved, which they did, but the next table had the same problem. When we got back from dinner, I spoke to the front desk to ask if we could cut our stay short so I could go to another hotel because of the poor experience we were having. I was originally told yes that would be fine, and I just needed to coordinate with the travel agent. However, when The travel site called the hotel to work out the refund, the hotel said they misinformed me and that we could not leave early without paying for the whole stay. I asked to speak to a manager, who took down notes about my complaints and said I would have to wait for a different manager in the morning. The next day, the second manger offered me a room upgrade, which I responded that I prefer to just leave and go somewhere else. She also mentioned again that any refund would have to come from The travel site. So I called The travel site again, who spoke to the same manager, and was told that she couldn't authorize a refund, and that we would need to wait for yet a different manager to make such a decision. We took the room upgrade since we couldn't leave early, and it at least brought us to a bigger room that had more privacy. Unfortunately, the bathrooms were still dirty (body hair in the shower) and the bed was very stiff. They also gave us a free bottle of champagne. By the time I was able to speak with the third manager, we we only had two nights left in our stay so I gave up trying to leave. My wife and I made the most of the situation and had a good time, but we know we would have had a better time somewhere else. The food was average, the front line staff was very nice, poor pest control throughout the resort (especially the bars - the first piña colada I saw them make, a fly flew right into the blender as the bartender was adding the ingredients), the rooms need a very big upgrade to be worth the price, and obviously I was not pleased with the management. Barbados is a beautiful island, but you will have a better time for the same money or less at other resorts.
- Loved this hotel....cant say enough good things about it. Stayed here for a week with my baby and wife. Staff went way out of their way to make sure our holiday was extra special. Would happily return
the beach was really nice. the majority of the water amenities were included which was great! nice all inclusive for the value.
poor food choice limited. TOO MANY CHILDREN AND INFANTS . IN NEED OF RENERVATIONS
The staff and site of this hotel make the entire time you are there a wonderful experience. I will definately be back.
We were a little disappointed in the condition of the rooms. We had a broken closet door glass, the bath tub was peeling and the sliding door lock to the room was barely attached. The staff and amenities are very good. This was our second visit to Crystal Cove and we will probably try another hotel on our next visit.
had a great time, food was delicious and plentiful. hotel staff friendly and fun. the beach and the water were exceptionally clean. had a fun time and would go back
Crystal Cove is on the west coast which tends to be more high-end hotels. It was full of families and couples. It is quiet and relaxing. For someone looking to party, I recommend staying in the south near St. Lawrence Gap. Upon arrival, we were greeted, brought to plush sofas to wait, and handed rum punches. My kind of hotel! The rooms are stylishly decorated, and the beds quite comfortable. Water pressure wasn't super strong but still worked just fine. The lunch and dinner food, while totally varied (quesadillas, meatballs, tiramisu, as well as local dishes), was all very tasty! We never waited long for our meals. The buffet breakfast was delicious and there are made-to-order eggs. The pool and swim-up bar are beautiful. The drinks were tasty (lots of colorful cocktails), and the bartenders will make drinks stronger if you request them. There are many water sports (water tubing, sailing, water skiing, snorkeling, etc) and helpful staff. There is security always present on the premises, but I was never concerned for my safety. Not sure about other parts of the islands or other hotels, but there was barely anyone trying to sell you things on the beach. The closet you get to that were Barbadians riding jet skis close to the shore trying to get you to pay for them. They have staff walking around the beach with fruit salads, water, soda, and beers to keep you refreshed while sunbathing. They also have entertainment at night, from singers, to traditional Bajan dancing. Overall, Crystal Cove was an excellent choice for our Barbados vacation, and I thoroughly recommend it!
My husband and I have never stayed at an “All Inclusive” as we’re total Cruisers. My husband turned 50 this year and didn’t want a party, he just wanted to go away for a few days and relax on the beach. So my research began…I started looking for places to go and I remembered that of all the Island’s that we’ve cruised to we really loved Barbados. I read numerous reviews and found Crystal Cove. I loved the look of the hotel and that it was located right on the beach. The room was very modern, colorful and clean. Our view of the Ocean was breathtaking and the staff was very friendly and accommodating. Anything you wanted or needed…they were there to make your trip the most enjoyable ever. I’m not sure when we’ll make it back to Barbados, but when we do…we will defiantly come back to Crystal Cove.
Every spring I take a girls trip to a tropical island and this trip was one of the best, thanks to the Crystal Cove. This was the first time I did not have to wait in a line to check in. They ushered us directly to our room when we got there. The room was modern and comfy and just what we needed. The beach was beautiful! Each lounge chair had it's own individual cover to block out the sun when needed. They served us drinks, fresh fruit, and popsicles all day on the beach. The water sports were great and very easy to schedule. There really is only one restaurant on the property but the food was amazing! And if you don't want what they have on the menu, they will happily accommodate your dietary needs. It was also very easy to get to other restaurants outside of the resort too if you want a change of scene. You can also visit the other affiliated resorts for food. Besides the water pressure in the shower, the only other kind of complaint is the live music they have a couple of nights a week. It's a small property so you will hear the music in your hotel room but it does stop at 10:30. Overall this was one of the best and most friendly trips I have taken. A must visit!
This is one of the nicest properties on the west coast. Elegant Hotels owns other accomodations in Barbados but this is one of their best. The staff is great and being limited to 88 rooms makes it more quaint and managable. We were able to get aquainted with many of the other guests, making for a wonderful time. The all inclusive food is decent, but some of the selection is limited. If you are staying for longer than a week, you will see repetition of their menu. Overall, if you were to replace the food at local eateries, you'd be paying much more. You will love the watersports available! Many are included in the price and Yellowfin Watersports team will arrange other custom tours as well.
My girlfriend and I stayed at this hotel Oct 9-14. The rooms were nicely appointed with a very comfortable king size bed. Housekeeping was on top of the sand we would helplessly still bring into the room everyday from the beach, as it was cleaned up when we returned from lunch each day. Food was good to great for the most part at both restaurants. The fresh grilled fish at both restaurants were excellent. Service at the restaurants was better at Drifters then Reflections. The front desk was clueless on activities at the resort and even activities they booked for you at the Activities desk. We were told by the person who booked our tour that the van that pulled up in front of our hotel lobby was our tour, when in fact it was not. We found this out 20 minutes later when it took us to a place not on our itinerary. Check-in and check-out were completely efficiently and with a smile though. Water sports equipment was hard to come by. The water sports operators would not allow use of sailboats hobbycats and water sking unless the water was completely calm. All and all a nice place that doesn't feel overcrowded.
Our first all inclusive trip and we enjoyed the fact that food was great and we didn't have to think about it. We just relaxed, reconnected with each other and watched the waves. The only real missing something was the result of an emergency outage of electric one day but they did their best to keep us happy so that we hardly missed it. Not a lot for kids to do and we only saw one during out trip.
We decided to explore the Caribbean by going to the Barbados. Orbits recommended this hotel and Travelocity ranked it good, as well. So, we took a shot. We were very pleased, with the service and hotel. The best description: what you see on the typical Caribbean advertisement pictures - is what you will get - white sandy beaches, great services, palms and the Caribbean calm, relaxing sea. Prices on the food around is not cheap, but you don't worry about it with "all inclusive" hotel. We going there with kids next time, definitely!
Pros: The staff was great, the grounds and room are beautiful, the food and drinks were good. The beach is beautiful! We had 2 full bathrooms in our 1 bedroom suite! This is a small resort so you really get to know and hang out with the other guests. Cons: If you want to get out there is not anything you can walk to, you have to take a taxi or ride the bus. Only one restaurant was open at a time (maybe b/c we were there in off season, or maybe always that way b/c it is a small hotel?). The bed was not very comfortable. Overall we loved the hotel and had a great time in Barbados. Just wish we had more time to do it all.
I highly recommend the island and especially this hotel for its' top class service, friendly and helpful staff. The hotel grounds are beautiful and serene. The food was incredible and the beach is wonderful. I would love to return for seconds.
It was perfect. Quiet & secluded with all the perfect amenities. I was able to Snorkel, swim for hours, jet ski, sit by all 3 of the pools and enjoy a cocktail or two on my deck. This was by far my favorite island in the Caribbean. The only thing the hotel lacked was possibly a late-night scene. It was very dead after 8pm, at least when we stayed. If you want nightlife - you may want to check out a spot in Bridgetown or Oistens, etc
The hotel website would lead one to believe that there are 2 restaurants. While there are 2, only one was open. I believe the second restaurant was open for lunch once. I have no idea why! Food was terrible! Same food everyday, pretty much. Employees made you feel like you were a burden. Especially front desk, bartenders, and water sports people.
Hotel highlights
- Free buffet breakfast
- Free WiFi in rooms and public areas
- Free parking
- Onsite dining
Located in St. James within a mile (2 km) of Paynes Bay Beach, Crystal Cove by Elegant Hotels All Inclusive Resort is within 2 miles (3 km) of Barbados Polo Club. This 88-room, 4-star resort welcomes guests with 3 outdoor pools, 2 restaurants, and a 24-hour fitness center. It's on the beach and also close to Batts Rock Beach and Sandy Lane Beach.
Dining
Free buffet breakfast is included with your stay and awaits you each morning from 7:30 AM to 10 AM. This resort is home to 2 onsite restaurants, perfect for a quick bite to eat. Savor a meal from the comfort of your room with room service.
Rooms
All 88 recently renovated rooms feature furnished balconies or patios, refrigerators, and minibars. Guests can expect free WiFi and flat-screen TVs with cable channels. Bathrooms have hair dryers and free toiletries. Coffee makers, ceiling fans, and safes are also available.
Property features
Guests staying at Crystal Cove by Elegant Hotels All Inclusive Resort enjoy access to 3 outdoor pools, a 24-hour fitness center, and outdoor tennis courts. Free parking is included with your stay. The 24-hour front desk has staff standing by to help with dry cleaning/laundry, concierge services, and luggage storage. Other amenities at this all-inclusive resort include free WiFi in public areas, a business center, and a free kid's club.
Guest reviews for Crystal Cove by Elegant Hotels All Inclusive Resort
Everyone
Hotel was beautiful. Had great activities. The pools were so nice. Swim up bar was cool with the waterfall. Had an amazing time even off fhe resort at Ostins.
30th anniversary celebration
Couples
Barbados is a beautiful Island. The beach and water is amazing. Even though tourism is the number one industry, we did not think the staff was as happy and friendly as you might expect. My husband wanted to sail - but Mariner at the sports center had attitude - on the other hand Kathy in the dining room was smiling and helpful. There were a few others in the dining/bar area who were very genuine. We were to get a wake up call when we left and help with our bags (that did not occur) Overall I would describe the service as inconsistent. I would like to see better quality of coffee. We had a guest come for a day from a cruise - the staff wanted her to enter from the public entrance to go to the beach and spend the day or pay $120 (for 4 hours). She was not permitted to use the chairs. I would have to say they are not flexible or willing to do things out of the ordinary.
not the "elegant" resort that it advertises itself to be
Couples
Our first six hours were terrible. To start, the waiting area near the lobby was full of fruit flies. When we were brought to our room, my first thought was the room was much smaller that what we were expecting. The bathroom resembled a 2-star hotel bathroom at best: dirty tiles, stained shower, faucets screwed in incorrectly, etc. The staff then brought us someone else's luggage. We soon realized how thin the walls were, as our neighbors sounded like they were in our room, and we could hear everyone that was walking outside our room (no privacy). At dinner, we were seated at a table that was covered with little flies. I asked to be moved, which they did, but the next table had the same problem. When we got back from dinner, I spoke to the front desk to ask if we could cut our stay short so I could go to another hotel because of the poor experience we were having. I was originally told yes that would be fine, and I just needed to coordinate with the travel agent. However, when The travel site called the hotel to work out the refund, the hotel said they misinformed me and that we could not leave early without paying for the whole stay. I asked to speak to a manager, who took down notes about my complaints and said I would have to wait for a different manager in the morning. The next day, the second manger offered me a room upgrade, which I responded that I prefer to just leave and go somewhere else. She also mentioned again that any refund would have to come from The travel site. So I called The travel site again, who spoke to the same manager, and was told that she couldn't authorize a refund, and that we would need to wait for yet a different manager to make such a decision. We took the room upgrade since we couldn't leave early, and it at least brought us to a bigger room that had more privacy. Unfortunately, the bathrooms were still dirty (body hair in the shower) and the bed was very stiff. They also gave us a free bottle of champagne. By the time I was able to speak with the third manager, we we only had two nights left in our stay so I gave up trying to leave. My wife and I made the most of the situation and had a good time, but we know we would have had a better time somewhere else. The food was average, the front line staff was very nice, poor pest control throughout the resort (especially the bars - the first piña colada I saw them make, a fly flew right into the blender as the bartender was adding the ingredients), the rooms need a very big upgrade to be worth the price, and obviously I was not pleased with the management. Barbados is a beautiful island, but you will have a better time for the same money or less at other resorts.
5 star! absolutely loved it....staff the friendliest on the island
Families
- Loved this hotel....cant say enough good things about it. Stayed here for a week with my baby and wife. Staff went way out of their way to make sure our holiday was extra special. Would happily return
nice getaway
Families
the beach was really nice. the majority of the water amenities were included which was great! nice all inclusive for the value.
terrible all inclusive
GetawayWithFriends
poor food choice limited. TOO MANY CHILDREN AND INFANTS . IN NEED OF RENERVATIONS
wonderful
Families
The staff and site of this hotel make the entire time you are there a wonderful experience. I will definately be back.
our barbados visit
Families
We were a little disappointed in the condition of the rooms. We had a broken closet door glass, the bath tub was peeling and the sliding door lock to the room was barely attached. The staff and amenities are very good. This was our second visit to Crystal Cove and we will probably try another hotel on our next visit.
fun
Couples
had a great time, food was delicious and plentiful. hotel staff friendly and fun. the beach and the water were exceptionally clean. had a fun time and would go back
great value, beautiful location
Couples
Crystal Cove is on the west coast which tends to be more high-end hotels. It was full of families and couples. It is quiet and relaxing. For someone looking to party, I recommend staying in the south near St. Lawrence Gap. Upon arrival, we were greeted, brought to plush sofas to wait, and handed rum punches. My kind of hotel! The rooms are stylishly decorated, and the beds quite comfortable. Water pressure wasn't super strong but still worked just fine. The lunch and dinner food, while totally varied (quesadillas, meatballs, tiramisu, as well as local dishes), was all very tasty! We never waited long for our meals. The buffet breakfast was delicious and there are made-to-order eggs. The pool and swim-up bar are beautiful. The drinks were tasty (lots of colorful cocktails), and the bartenders will make drinks stronger if you request them. There are many water sports (water tubing, sailing, water skiing, snorkeling, etc) and helpful staff. There is security always present on the premises, but I was never concerned for my safety. Not sure about other parts of the islands or other hotels, but there was barely anyone trying to sell you things on the beach. The closet you get to that were Barbadians riding jet skis close to the shore trying to get you to pay for them. They have staff walking around the beach with fruit salads, water, soda, and beers to keep you refreshed while sunbathing. They also have entertainment at night, from singers, to traditional Bajan dancing. Overall, Crystal Cove was an excellent choice for our Barbados vacation, and I thoroughly recommend it!
