Holiday 2016 shortlist (Caribbean)

[Phooey]

I appreciate finding someone on Pistonheads that's been to all 3 of these resorts is extremely unlikely .. but hoping for any help in deciding between these -

1/ Mango Bay. Barbados. http://www.mangobaybarbados.com/en/welcome.php

2/ The Verandah Resort & Spa. Antigua. http://www.verandahresortandspa.com/uk/index.htm

3/ St. James Club Morgan Bay. Saint Lucia. http://www.morganbayresort.com/uk/index.html

2 adults, 2 teenagers, 1 infant (6).

If money was no object i would choose Mango Bay (Been to Barbados (Turtle Beach) before and loved it!) but it is coming in at approx £25%+ on the other 2.

Any advice welcome. Cheers

[DJRC]

I was at St James in June. Its ok for a 4*...the Spa is quite good and the girls are friendly. The no kids pool up by the spa is brilliant, esp in the late afternoon as you can watch the sunset over the edge of the pool and cliff. Tommy Slammer drinks are superb.

There is plenty for teens to do, the sports guys are very active with the pool activities and in the sea.

Restaurants get crowded and booked up early.

The rooms are very good, the staff are very friendly but beach service can be a little slow.

Its good value for what it is.

[Phooey]

DJRC said:

I was at St James in June. Its ok for a 4*...the Spa is quite good and the girls are friendly. The no kids pool up by the spa is brilliant, esp in the late afternoon as you can watch the sunset over the edge of the pool and cliff. Tommy Slammer drinks are superb.

There is plenty for teens to do, the sports guys are very active with the pool activities and in the sea.

Restaurants get crowded and booked up early.

The rooms are very good, the staff are very friendly but beach service can be a little slow.

Its good value for what it is.

Thanks DJRC.

It's currently cheapest out of the 3, but probably gets the slightly lesser reviews on tripadvisor, but also seems good value - for St Lucia. We've just spent similar money going Crete - and although we had a good time, the hotel was disappointing. My top-of-the-list priorities would be - good food, decent quality (not watered down!) drinks, and nice beach / calm sea etc (for snorkelling)

[DJRC]

Value wise - excellent.

100% cannot fault it there. The staff are always friendly and learn who you are if they see you twice and treat you as their actual friends.

The drinks aren't branded premium but ffs you are drinking fruit blended cocktails! Seriously Tommy Slammers which are basically Bucks Fizz on acid in a warm pool on the edge of a cliff overlooking a Carib sunset - nails it! In every way nails it.

No it isn't the BodyHoliday on St Lucia but it's also a Grand cheaper, though arguably
Better value.

It's not Sandy Lane but arguably even better value. Actually it's not arguable it is much better value.

The swimming area at St James is also v good. Swallow and goes far ish out. Oh and shoals of flying fish!

[pidsy]

OP have you looked at the sensatori in negril? We went last October and I can vouch for how good it is. It's not cheap though!

We are off to coconut bay St Lucia soon - cheaper than sensatori and luckily, we are staying in the adults harmony side as the other parts are a bit tired. Looking forward to seeing what it's like.

[Phooey]

pidsy said:

OP have you looked at the sensatori in negril? We went last October and I can vouch for how good it is. It's not cheap though!

We are off to coconut bay St Lucia soon - cheaper than sensatori and luckily, we are staying in the adults harmony side as the other parts are a bit tired. Looking forward to seeing what it's like.

I don't fancy Sharm tbh. I do admit though that the reviews seem excellent, and having been to a 'Sensatori' resort before (Crete - July 2015), I am sure it will be every bit as good as it looks.

I'm hoping to sit down tomorrow and look at Tripadvisor reviews for a few places and hopefully make my mind up. I just love Barbados.. but where we want to be (West Coast) it's working out quite expensive (family of 5)!

[Phooey]

DJRC said:

Value wise - excellent.

100% cannot fault it there. The staff are always friendly and learn who you are if they see you twice and treat you as their actual friends.

The drinks aren't branded premium but ffs you are drinking fruit blended cocktails! Seriously Tommy Slammers which are basically Bucks Fizz on acid in a warm pool on the edge of a cliff overlooking a Carib sunset - nails it! In every way nails it.

No it isn't the BodyHoliday on St Lucia but it's also a Grand cheaper, though arguably
Better value.

It's not Sandy Lane but arguably even better value. Actually it's not arguable it is much better value.

The swimming area at St James is also v good. Swallow and goes far ish out. Oh and shoals of flying fish!

I'm liking sound of it ^^^^

[pidsy]

Phooey said:

pidsy said:

OP have you looked at the sensatori in negril? We went last October and I can vouch for how good it is. It's not cheap though!

We are off to coconut bay St Lucia soon - cheaper than sensatori and luckily, we are staying in the adults harmony side as the other parts are a bit tired. Looking forward to seeing what it's like.

I don't fancy Sharm tbh. I do admit though that the reviews seem excellent, and having been to a 'Sensatori' resort before (Crete - July 2015), I am sure it will be every bit as good as it looks.

I'm hoping to sit down tomorrow and look at Tripadvisor reviews for a few places and hopefully make my mind up. I just love Barbados.. but where we want to be (West Coast) it's working out quite expensive (family of 5)!

It's not in sharm.

It's in Negril. Jamaica.

[Phooey]

pidsy said:

It's not in sharm.

It's in Negril. Jamaica.

oops.

In that case, yes - looks fantastic, and although is not on the *above* short-list - it is one that we keep looking at on the Thomson website. It's similar-ish money (slightly more) to the Barbados one we are looking at. I would deffo go there


We know someone who's just returned from Sensatori Mexico and they thought it was unbelievable! Long flight though..

[pidsy]

[mikees]

Thread hijack.

Any recommendations for a couples only next spring half term ( partner a teacher) in Carib ? Or is sandals the go to choice?

It appears that half term doesn't make the usual eye watering difference. ( who am I kidding!!!!!)

Mike

[DJRC]

How much do you want to spend is basically the most important question.

And at least half the answer is...there is always a better option than Sandals.

[mikees]

Was looking at sort of 4k max for both of us. Is that a bit "cheap"?


Mike

[DJRC]

St James Morgan Bay comes in at that and on premium economy not economy.

[mikees]

DJRC said:

St James Morgan Bay comes in at that and on premium economy not economy.

Looks lovely but not couples only. Want to escape the kids.

Mike

[DJRC]

Sandals then. You will be flying economy though.

[anonymous-user]

mikees said:

DJRC said:

St James Morgan Bay comes in at that and on premium economy not economy.

Looks lovely but not couples only. Want to escape the kids.

Mike

Can't you just go outside the school holidays?

[Black can man]

The Verandah Resort & Spa looked truly stunning when the Catamaran we were on last year stopped there to pick up a few crew mates on the " Around the island " sail in Antigua.

We absolutely loved Antigua.

[GT03ROB]

DJRC said:

Sandals then. You will be flying economy though.

You'll need a holiday just to recover from being back there....

...off to Grenada Saturday OP. Let you know how it goes.

[The Leaper]

Have a look at The Calabsh Hotel, Grenada. Ideal for couples and a good range of rooms, so you can have your own pool, patio area etc. Excellent restaurant (Gary Rhodes). Has it's own diving/snorkelling facility too.

Or there's La Luna in Granada for something rather different!

R.