The Spa Hotel Review: The Club Resort & Spa, Saint James, Barbados
Vauxhall, | St. James | BB24013 | Barbados
Review: Julie Ford
The Club Hotel & Spa is one of the few adult-only hotels on the prestigious west coast of Barbados; an Island known to be the go-to glamorous destination for the rich and famous, and The Club Hotel is neighbor to the celebrity playground that is Sandy Lane.
Set on the beachfront, tucked into a rock formation, The Club instantly has a relaxed ‘home from home’ vibe and even on the first visit you feel like part of a chilled-out members club. This low-level property houses 161 rooms and suites, with the best of the best offering panoramic, sweeping views over the clear Caribbean Sea. There are many loyal guests here and it’s not hard to see why they return year after year, the facilities are excellent, the food is authentic and the service is warm and engaging. This really is one of Barbados’ must-visit hotels, where we guarantee you’ll want to return to time and time again.
THE FACILITIES
3 SWIMMING POOLS | 2 RESTAURANTS | 3 BARS | SPA | SALON | GYM | WATERSPORTS | SWIMMING WITH TURTLES TRIPS | EXCURSIONS | COOKING CLASSES | RUMOLOGY CLASSES
This all-inclusive peaceful haven has plenty to keep you occupied if lounging by the 3 fabulous expansive swimming pools or sipping exotic cocktails under shady beachfront palms isn’t enough. Different activities are on offer every day from beach walks, morning stretch class, cooking school, rumology classes, pool aerobics and historical walks. The gym is bright, airy and fully equipped, and for the more energetic (or the daring!) there is an extensive programme of water sports including water skiing, boat rides, reef fishing, catamaran sailing, sail boating, wind-surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and snorkeling gear is also provided.
One trip definitely worth doing is the swimming with the turtles boat trip, this is an extra 60 BDS per person (around £20) and worth every single penny. The trip takes a maximum of 6 people out on the boat at a time. There were just 4 of us on our tour, where we donned our life jackets and rode off shore for around ten minutes to what was described as the perfect turtle spotting location. Once the boat was moored, our Guide threw overboard some ‘turtle treats’ and the little fellows came flocking – what a truly fantastic sight – we got into the water with them, avec snorkels, and it was a great experience. The other couple that we were on the tour with had been here before and shared their ‘secret’ knowledge of a little known shipwreck nearby so our Guide took us on an extra sightseeing stop where we snorkeled over the wreck. The trip was around an hour and a half and a definite must do whilst staying at the hotel.
THE ACCOMMODATION
We stayed in an Ocean View Suite which was fantastic – our balcony had uninterrupted (apart from a palm tree!) views just mere steps away from the sea. Something we made full use of while here by taking an early morning dip everyday with the sunrise. This really was a room with a view.
The suite itself was lovely and spacious, had a separate living and bedroom area, both with LCD TV and all was decorated in traditional Barbadian style with dark furniture and Caribbean blue hues for the soft furnishings, artwork and linens. The bathroom was bright and sparking clean with marble units, waterfall shower and sunken bath. Extra facilities in the room include Wi-Fi, toiletries, robes, slippers and hair dryer. There was air-conditioning and a ceiling fan, tea/coffee facilities, fridge, safe, and iron/ironing board.
THE SPA
The spa vibe is relaxed and the treatment menu offers a great range of specialty rituals and treatments. On arrival at the spa we were invited to start our relaxation journey with a complementary aromatherapy foot soak while reclined in a massage chair. You can alternatively opt for the tantalizing hand ritual if you prefer. My partner and I both had a Swedish massage with soothing and repairing Aloe Vera oil – a gentle hydrating formula that is great for sun parched skin. Our therapists Shenice and Erica did a brilliant job at restoring our body and minds to a state of serenity!
THE DRINKS & DINING
RESTAURANTS: Sunset Restaurant | Enid’s Restaurant
BARS: Piano Bar | Rum Shop Bar | Beach Bar
Sunset Restaurant is the main restaurant and serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. This is a gorgeous open-air venue on the beachfront. Start your day with a buffet breakfast featuring English, American and Continental options with cooked to order pancake and egg station. Lunch options ranged from fantastic snacks and salads, build your own burger and hearty bread and butter pudding – a real favourite. You can also order snacks in-between meals. Dine here in the evenings for fresh seafood; we enjoyed mussels, baby shrimp and calamari along with the excellent seared kingfish, with pasta and pancetta. The herb and honey roasted chicken supreme with saffron rice and red wine sauce was also delicious. This is also where the evening entertainment is hosted daily after dinner; think reggae bands, steel bands and soulful singers.
Enid’s Restaurant is open for dinner and serves traditional Caribbean fare cooked with serious authenticity. The menu changed daily and we enjoyed delicious dishes full of flavor, spices and typical Caribbean heritage – the selection was fantastic.
Located upstairs at Enid’s, Rumshop Bar is a relaxed venue full of bold and bright Bajan charm and a great atmosphere. The Piano Bar is an air-conditioned lounge where you can recline with a drink in hand and listen to talented pianists’ tinkling the ivories.
THE RATES:
To book: 01245 459 900
Rooms starting from – £1264.00 per person all inclusive
Ocean Front Suite starting from £1584.00 per person all inclusive
BARBADOS AIRPORTS & HOTEL TRANSFERS: EMMANUEL TOURS
We used Emmanuel Tours for our airport transfers and transfers between Barbados hotels (private air conditioned vehicles). This local family operated company made booking easy and service was friendly and punctual. If you are booking transfers or island and cruise tours, this is a company we’d definitely recommend.
info@emmanueltoursbarbados.com
UK AIRPORT PARKING AND LOUNGE: HOLIDAY EXTRAS
Holiday Extras offers trusted Meet and Greet services at all major UK airports. To book Meet and Greet parking at Manchester Airport from £89.99 for eight days, visit www.holidayextras.co.uk or call 0800 1313 777