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The Coral Reef Club is a Caribbean classic. Set among wonderful gardens on the West Coast of Barbados, it is elegant, understated and gracious, among the loveliest of Caribbean and Barbados hotels. And it is a Caribbean original too, as one of the few genuinely top properties in the islands that is family owned and run. Situated somewhere between the glorious uberglitz of Sandy Lane and the studied understatement of Cobbler’s Cove, Coral Reef rings to the strains of old Barbados, in its service, ambience and its architecture. It is one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
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KEY FEATURES
| Well-established Barbados hotel favourite, typical example of top Barbados beach front properties, superb gardens, 88 large rooms in Bajan colonial style blocks and in individual cottages, 5 excellent plantation suites, family run, two swimming pools, full service spa, gym, tennis courts, watersports. Children’s activities in summer school holidays. |
STYLE
| Elegant but low key Caribbean elegance rather than glitz, a Barbados classic |
CLIENT PROFILE
| Well-heeled and wealthy, some long-standing Caribbean visitors, recently a younger, trendier crowd |
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REVIEW
There is a wonderful, tropical tranquillity about the Coral Reef Club. Classical Bajan buildings stand among profuse gardens: here an arch is part hidden by a riotous bloom of bougainvillea and there the straight white line of a balustrade offset by the rich green fan of a traveller’s palm. Days are spent relaxing to the quiet hoot of the ground doves and the soporific background hiss of casuarina pines, and then, as evening draws in, the gardens peep to the sound of the tree frogs.
Coral Reef and its owners the O’Hara family have been part of the West Coast of Barbados for more than fifty years, but with the younger generation, the hotel has begun to change. Where Christmas and February were booked out with gradually ageing faithfuls who had been returning for years, even decades, now Christmas and other times of year have see a younger, trendier crowd. Jeremy Clarkson wouldn’t reveal the name of the hotel he stayed in at Christmas 2003 (he said he liked it too much). It was of course Coral Reef.
The hotel is laid out in twelve acres that run down to the shore. As you approach along the drive, beneath the massive trees, to your right you will find a small block and then rooms set in cottages around the lawn. Then you swing into the reception. (Two more blocks of rooms, festooned in tropical greenery, overlook the waterfront behind it.) As you alight you are usually greeted by one of the O’Hara brothers, Patrick and Mark, who run the hotel.
A theme of Bajan neo-classical runs through the hotel – the buildings all have low-pitched shingle roofs and cream-coloured coral rock or render. There are stepped keystones at the corners, arched windows and pediments and white wooden balustrades. Coral Reef’s most recent phase of development was completed in 2003 and now, since it first opened in the 60s, every building in the hotel has been completely rebuilt.
The new rooms are leaner and much larger than before. (In the Sixties, travellers came for the beach and didn’t spend too much time in their rooms so weren’t bothered how large they were.) The new bathrooms are nearly the size of the original rooms. The Luxury Cottages and the five Plantation Suites are spectacular and they each have their own plunge pools.
For all of this, the real pleasure of Coral Reef resides in its effortlessly elegant atmosphere. The staff, some of whom have worked there for decades, welcome guests like friends. And, encouraged by the informality of the place, the guests come to know one another too. The atmosphere is understated and extremely low key. Tranquillity in the tropics.
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Beach & Swimming
The sand at Coral Reef shelves quite steeply into the generally calm water of the West Coast. At some times of year there are rocks directly ahead on the sea bed, but it is only a few yards to walk to one side to reach an area of uninterrupted sandy bottom. In the hotel grounds themselves, the loungers are situated mainly on the grass, and conveniently they pass into in the shade of the massive casuarina pines during the hottest part of the day. If you don’t fancy moving, there is service to your seat, but if you do there are two pools for a change of scene. It is fun to walk up and down the coast from Coral Reef, with the huge curve of a bay running north of the property. |
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Sports & Recreation
Complimentary watersports are available at Coral Reef, including windsurfing and water-skiing, kayaking and small sailing boats, sunfish and hobie cats. Snorkelling gear is available for a visit to the nearby Folkstone Marine Park. Sailing trips are also available on the hotel’s 30ft catamaran. There is a scuba diving operator on property.
There are two hard court tennis courts which can be lit for night play, and two other courts situated at The Sandpiper although each hotel has its own visiting tennis pro each week. Guests are able to join the free clinics each afternoon between 4pm and 6pm. There is also an air-conditioned gym with equipment including treadmills, cycles and free weights, a snooker room, a hairdressing salon, a beauty and masseuse clinic and a boutique.
The closest golf course is at Royal Westmoreland, just north and inland of Coral Reef, though tee times for outsiders are limited. There are two other golf courses available to visitors at Sandy Lane, whose club house is about fifteen minutes drive south and inland. |
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The Spa
The Spa at the Coral Reef Club is set in a very attractive walled courtyard surrounded by greenery near the rear of the hotel gardens. Designed by Helen Green (who also worked on the interiors of their Plantation Suites), the spa has a classic Caribbean look with a streamlined contemporary edge, in keeping with the rest of the resort. There are four treatment rooms, each of which has its own private garden area, and an open-sided pavilion for couples that also looks onto its own garden. Other facilities include a thermal suite and a hydro-pool, some shaded cabanas and two relaxation rooms for before and after your treatments - one is on an upper floor and so it has a view over the courtyard to the sea. Treatments include a number of different sorts of massage, body wraps and scrubs. Products are by Natura Bissé of Spain, with a second exclusive range of products created in Barbados from locally sourced fruits and other plants. |
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Staff
Brothers Patrick and Mark O’Hara run Coral Reef jointly and one or other is usually on property to greet the guests. (Their sister Karen is involved in the running of the Sandpiper, just a short ride down the coast, which is also owned by the family.) Many other members of staff have been at the hotel for many years and they are definitely one of the reasons that people return year after year. |
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The Rooms
The hotel’s classical Bajan theme continues inside the rooms, which are painted white with features - sconces and rounded windows - in coral rock. Much of the woodwork is in ‘pickled’ pine, a whitewash that gives a pleasant and light effect. And of course each room has an area of outdoor space, the ‘gallery’ in Bajan terms, a veranda or balcony. Rooms are air-conditioned, but they are large and airy enough for it to be switched off and the ceiling fan to be used instead at most times of the year. The bathrooms, also with a theme of white and cream-coloured coral rock, are huge. Dressing gowns and Moulton Brown shampoos are provided. |
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Dining
The dining room is set in a covered terrace that gives straight onto the fantastic, sometimes shockingly blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. The daily changing dinner menu is based in French cuisine, but overlayed on this are influences of the Caribbean in the use of spices and some of the ingredients. The Executive Chef is Graham Licorish, and some of the chefs at Coral Reef have had experience in the restaurants of Europe. Coral Reef can cope quite well with special dietary requirements, so let them know in advance and they can arrange for any special ingredients to be brought in. |
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Children
Coral Reef Club has a small playground for children and they provide a crèche for two to eight year olds on weekday afternoons however children under twelve are not accepted during the period 15 January to 15 March. |
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Practical Facts
Annual Closure Dates: 30 May to 22 July 2009
Dress Code: Elegantly informal. No shorts, faded or torn jeans, T-shirts or sandals in the restaurant in the evening. Smart jeans allowed. Christmas night and New Year’s Eve - Black Tie or Jacket and Tie requested for dinner
Facilities: Two swimming pools. Gymnasium. Boutique, beauty and masseuse clinic. Hairdressing salon. Restaurant and bar. TV Lounge. Computer room with internet access. Children's playground. Shuffleboard. 2 floodlit hard tennis courts
Complimentary: Welcome cocktail and flowers in room on arrival. Windsurfing, snorkelling, kayaking, Sunfish and Hobie Cat sailing and water-skiing. Entertainment nightly in winter; 3-4 evenings a week in summer; Weekly Manager's cocktail party and Bajan Buffet on Mondays and Barbecue, floor show with limbo, fire eating and steel band on Thursdays. Room service. Visiting tennis pro programme. Shuttle service to Bridgetown (Monday-Friday)
Other Services: Exchange dining with other luxury West Coast hotels for guests on half-board (subject to availability). Facilities for wheelchairs available on request. Hotel's 30ft catamaran available for charters. Film processing
Accommodation: 88 air-conditioned rooms, cottages and suites all of which have a private patio or balcony, CD player/clock radios, wall safes, overhead fans, fridges, toasters and hair dryers. Bathrooms have combination shower and tubs. King or twin beds (indicate which you require when booking). The garden rooms and garden cottages to the rear of the main house are set in magnificent tropical greenery, and of which there are four single garden rooms. The superior junior suites in the gardens and luxury junior suites are closer to the sea with a sitting area. The newest rooms are luxury cottages (and the luxury suites above them) in the cottages around the lawn. These have a dressing area, living room with sofa bed, a wraparound veranda and a private plunge pool. The luxury rooms are in the front half of the property leading towards the sea. The best sea view of all is from the five plantation suites, which sit on the top floor of the blocks. They are fully air-conditioned with a large covered terrace and open sundeck area with a plunge pool which is 12’x9’. The living room has a fax machine, television, DVD player with a selection of DVDs, CD player and a selection of CDs plus a complimentary starter bar. Three of the suites have king size beds and two can convert from king to twin beds, if required; all have a dressing room and large, ornate bathroom. For interconnecting rooms or two bedroom accommodation, combinations available are two Garden Rooms/Cottages, one Superior Junior Suite and one Garden Room, two Luxury Junior Suites or two Luxury Cottages/Suites.
Tamarind Villa (3 doubles and 2 bathrooms) is in the gardens next to a shared swimming pool (with Ixora Villa) has a kitchen, living room, large terrace and dining area leading to a private lawned area.
Ixora Villa (4 doubles, 4 bathrooms) shares a pool with Tamarind and has a kitchen, living room with television, DVD, CD player and features a luxurious Master Suite, private patio and large air-conditioned bathroom with separate bath and shower. It also has three double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms and a fourth double bedroom with en suite shower room. Outdoor areas as for Tamarind.
Children: Under 12s are welcome except during the period 15 January to 15 March. No children under five allowed in restaurant or lounge after 7pm. Complimentary cribs and high chairs are provided. Babysitting service available.
Weddings/Honeymoons: Honeymooners staying 7 nights or longer receive flowers and fruit in their room upon arrival. A Wedding Package is available for US$2,200 for stays of 5 nights or more - weddings are limited to one per month.
Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express |
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Rates
| | 15 Dec- 06 Jan 2008-09 | 07 Jan- 17 Apr 2009 | 18 Apr- 06 Oct 2009 | 07 Oct- 14 Dec 2009 | | Meal Plan | BP | MAP | BP | MAP | BP | MAP | BP | MAP | | Garden Room (Single) | 555 | 610 | 465 | 520 | 245 | 300 | 260 | 315 | | Garden Room/ Cottage (Double) | 865 | 975 | 760 | 870 | 420 | 530 | 440 | 550 | | Superior Jr Suite (Double) | 1025 | 1135 | 915 | 1025 | 475 | 585 | 500 | 610 | | Luxury Jr Suite (Double) | 1185 | 1295 | 1050 | 1160 | 550 | 660 | 590 | 700 | | Luxury Cottage/ Suite (Double) 3rd person Child U12 yrs Child U2 yrs | 1500 285 150 free | 1610 340 185 free | 1400 285 150 free | 1510 340 185 free | 710 105 60 free | 820 160 95 free | 745 115 60 free | 855 170 95 free | | Luxury Plantation Suite (Double) | 2600 | 2710 | 2485 | 2595 | 1265 | 1375 | 1300 | 1410 | All rates are quoted in US$ per room, per night inclusive of service and tax. BP = Breakfast included. MAP=Breakfast & Dinner included. All rates are subject to change without notice. Minimum stay requirements: 14 nights from 20 Dec 2008-06 Jan 2009 (no arrivals during 25 Dec-02 Jan), 7 nights from 24 Nov-01 Dec 2008 and in 2009 from 01-28 Feb, 08=15 Apr and 23-30 Nov. Cancellation Policy: a charge of 3 nights if cancelled within 28 days of arrival during winter except during 15 Dec-08 Jan when the charge is 7 nights, and 3 nights if cancelled within 14 days of arrival in summer. These charges also apply to no-shows. |
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Special Offers
TWO FREE NIGHTS
Book a stay for 8 nights or more and receive 2 of these nights free including breakfast. Offer valid for stays completed between 10-30 May 2009 and 22 Jul–15 Oct 2009 and are applicable to new bookings only. Offer not available for Luxury Cottages or Luxury Plantation Suites.
FREE NIGHTS - 14 nights for the price of 12 for stays during 01-30 Sep 2009 including breakfast. Not applicable to Luxury Cottages/Suites or to Luxury Plantation Suites
FREE NIGHTS - 7 nights for the price of 6 including breakfast. Applicable for stays completed between 01-30 Sep 2009. Not applicable to Luxury Cottage/Suites or Luxury Plantation Suites
CHILDREN STAY FREE - 2 ROOMS FOR PRICE OF 1
Stay 8 nights or longer between 22 Jul–10 Sep 2009 and up to three children under the age of 18 years can stay free of charge in a second room, inter-connecting with their parents. This offer includes free breakfast for the children. Applicable to new bookings only. Not applicable to Luxury Cottages or Luxury Plantation Suites.
CHILDREN FREE - Children U12 yrs sharing a room with their parents will be free of charge on a Room Only basis for stays completed between 22 Jul-06 Oct 2009.
FAMILY SPECIAL - All children 2-12 yrs staying between 22 Jul-15 Sep 2009 receive the following each week: 3 x half hr each of sailing and swimming lessons, 2 x half hr tennis lessons, one shuffleboard competition, 2hrs daily supervised child care for children between 2-8 yrs, Mon-Fri
Note: Special offers can be withdrawn at any time and you need to claim special offers at the time of booking. The free children’s offer and the free nights offers are not combinable. |
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How to Book
If you wish to make further enquiries or a reservation, please use the WEB LINK or DIRECT EMAIL ENQUIRIES facility at the top of this page to make contact with Coral Reef Club in Barbados, or if you wish to telephone them, please click on TELEPHONE CONTACT to reveal the number. |
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Tour Operators
If you wish to book through a tour operator or travel organiser, please follow the link below.
See List of UK Tour Operators
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Locality
Coral Reef is just north of Holetown, beyond St James Parish Church, at the heart of the West Coast strip. It is within a five to fifteen minute drive by car or cab of most of the finest independent restaurants on the West Coast. These range from the Cliff, Calabaza and Daphne’s to the south, the Tides in Holetown and the Lone Star, La Mer and the Fish Pot to the north, besides the pizza parlours and beach bars. Nightlife is also just a few minutes away. You will find very lively bars in the restaurants in 1st and 2nd Street in Holetown which collect a good crowd of regular winter visitors.
Holetown itself, the spot where the English first landed in 1625 and came back to in 1627 to settle, is a small local community with a police station, a post office and, this being the West Coast of Barbados, a patisserie. There are two shopping centres where you can find a supermarket, a bank, photo centre, duty free shops, video rental, and various shops and boutiques. Opposite here is a gas station (as petrol stations are known locally). |
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Meet & Greet
If you are travelling independently, taxis are usually available at the airport and will cost around US$40 each way. The ride from the airport is around 40 minutes, depending on the traffic. Alternatively, if you would prefer to be taken care of from the minute you arrive at the airport, with a range of services that can include limousine transfers, a Concierge Service is offered by St James Travel & Tours.
If you are booking through a travel organiser, it is likely that their representative will be at the airport to meet you. This service and your return airport transfers should be included in the cost of your holiday. Please check at the time of booking. |
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Getting Around
Hiring a car to explore the island or go to a different beach for the day is easily arranged. Book via your tour operator or direct with Stoutes Car Rentals. Ask for them to deliver your vehicle to the property, where they can also issue your local driving licence. Be aware that at the height of the winter season there is often a shortage of cars, so you are advised to book yours in advance. If you want a car for a week or more the rates can also be better. Vehicles can be returned at the airport or be collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day. Taxis are readily available through reception. It is also easy and quite fun to take buses along the West Coast main road. |
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