Guest reviews Sugar Bay Barbados

by gailmL8896IC

Wedding and honeymoon at Sugar Bay

We got married in Sugar Bay 31/1/20. From the very first phone call with Keisha, all of our wishes were dealt with promptly and efficiently. We arrived on the Sunday and a special taxi was arranged to take us for our marriage licence on the Monday. This was a 25 minute process and went smoothly - much to me worrying about paperwork prior to going. A taxi took us back to the resort where we enjoyed 5 days of tanning and chilling before our 5pm wedding. We got to choose which part of the beach we wanted to get married at and the hotel cordoned it off early morning to build an arch - even to the point they raked the sand smooth so that nobody walked on it until we did. Keisha made sure that we had our marriage certificate before we left the resort. We chose Peter Hinds for our photographer and he did a first class job, our pictures are amazing! We chose the All you need is love package and this was exactly what we wanted. The hotel is wonderful and the pictures do not do it justice. The food is great and catered to my gluten free diet. Keisha went above and beyond the call of duty with her thoughtfulness. From the bottom of the tree to the top of the tree, from the garden staff to the manager, we were treated with the same politeness and decorum throughout our stay. We could write 10.000 words and it still would not be enough to praise this hotel! We will definitely return for our first anniversary!

by windyG Whitchurch, United Kingdom

Amazing - Wonderful Staff

Well where do I start, this was our third stay at Sugar Bay and definitely won’t be our last. You may ask why go back again and again, it’s simple, the staff and obviously the crystal blue water, lovely beaches and great food. From the minute you arrive you are made to feel so special. This time we went over new year, yes it was mega busy but the service was still outstanding. The New Year’s Gala was fantastic and the food was gorgeous, the King Prawns and Beef Wellington were to die for. We stayed in a oceanfront room which was super clean and spacious. The main restaurant is a buffet with a good selection of dishes which changes daily. There are two a la carte restaurants, Umi which is a Japanese (a must is the dynamite rolls) and the Sizzle which is a steak restaurant. You can eat at both of these once each over a seven day period. We ate lunch at Colin’s most days which is very casual which we like. The beach is gorgeous, you can walk in both directions but to the left is better in our opinion, it goes on forever. There are a number of staff who we would like to give an extra special thanks to who made our holiday so enjoyable, in the restaurant, Kareem, Tanisha, Tamika, Kay, Crystal (she genuinely made me laugh every single day) Jalisa and Shenika who looked after me with her equivalent drink to a hot toddy while a I had a cold for a few days. In the bar, Randolph, Derick, Marlon, Joel, Aykeem, Javeer and finally Helen who we loved talking to at the pool bar.

by lovethebeach0208

Sugar Bay Barbados Wedding and Honeymoon

We chose Sugar Bay for our wedding venue so I started communicating with them in mid-December to work out details. It was going to be a very small wedding but they made us feel like we were a Prince and Princess getting married there. Communication for the wedding was by email since phone calls would be international. Questions were always answered promptly and even things that I thought of late in the planning process were accommodated. I still was a little anxious, arriving for a very special event without having face to face contact with anyone, The minute we arrived at Sugar Bay on the afternoon of February 6, 2020, we were greeted by the desk staff who already knew we were there to be married. The minute I spoke with the wedding coordinator, Keisha, all of my anxiety went away. Every detail was already planned, even the car to take us the following day to get our marriage license. I could go on and on about how well we were treated, we truly felt like celebrities. But honestly I think they make all of their guests feel that way. We were called by name when checking in for meals at Reef and usually got a hug from Arden! The accomodations were perfect. We booked the honeymoon suite, which was beach front on the second level with an amazing view from the balcony. The room had a very comfortable king bed and plenty of storage space. A mini-fridge was available to use. The bathroom had a very spacious shower and double vanity and plenty of towel racks. You do have to request wash cloths, but after we did, they were replenished each day. One of my favorite things is you receive a wristband upon checkin that serves as your room key. No more wondering if you have your key when you leave the room. The food and drinks were fabulous. We ate at all available restaurants and had no complaints. The buffet changed daily, so the variety was excellent and definitely had something for everyone. The bartenders were all very accomodating when we were trying to experience a different flavor of drinks for the day. Help to arrange beach chairs and umbrellas was always just a few steps away and the view from the beach is amazing. You could choose to sit in the glorius sunshine, the shade of a coconut tree or cabana or a combination...wow.. I just want to go back! Taxis or shuttles were very easy to arrange as well as excursions. They take care of so many details so you can enjoy your stay! There is nightly entertainment during dinner time. But things quiet down relatively early, which for us was fine! There are no loud parties going on in the middle of the night! I'm sure I've left out some details...but I promise you won't be disappointed! We loved Barbados, we loved Sugar Bay and the Sugar Bay family. We definitely will go back... hopefully for our first anniversary next year!

by Lori12309 Niskayuna, New York

Sweet Sugar Bay

My mother took my sister and me to Barbados to celebrate our birthdays and after quite a bit of research, Sugar Bay won the research wars. None of us had ever been to Barbados and my sister and I decided that an all-inclusive would be the way to go since Mom is pushing 88, we were all “researched out” and we welcomed the convenience that an A-I would provide. Upon arrival at the resort we were greeted cordially, offered rum punch and provided with wristbands. We were very, very pleased with our accommodations in Room 327—an oceanfront family suite. Mom elected to use the sofa bed in the living area and my sister and I had the king-sized bed split into twins. We all slept well; the mattresses, pillows and linens were excellent. A mini-fridge was in the living area and it was stocked with bottled water, which I don’t believe we touched—it is always a relief not to have to rely on it during a vacation and the tap water was excellent. Our rooms had more cubbies for storage than a Pre-K classroom and we also had plenty of drawer and closet space. There was a hiccup with our hot water, which maintenance promptly sorted out after a call from my sister. There were plenty of towels provided, but no wash/facecloths. A note to housekeeping ensured we had some. The dispensers of excellent White shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, hand soap and moisturizer saved us lugging our own products from home. We were also very pleased with the meals—the food was generally delicious and varied and fresh. Although our a la carte experience at Umi wowed us, we were less than thrilled with the service at Sizzle—it felt perfunctory and rushed and the food was not nearly as good as what we enjoyed at the buffet. Breakfasts were particularly good, with lots of fresh fruit, a wonderful Omelette Lady and excellent baked goods. Scandinavian tastes were also catered to with cheeses and cold meats and those wanting a full English could find everything but black pudding or kippers. We tended to eat lunch at Colin’s; there were some Bajan specialties on offer like macaroni pie and breadfruit, and the atmosphere under those parasols was lovely. The themed dinners were excellent. If people moan about the food at Sugar Bay, they should probably stay home. Since my sister and I both have pools, we spent little time at Sugar Bay’s, although Mom set up camp there in the afternoons. There appeared to be enough chaise longues for everyone and the swim-up bar attracted a convivial crowd. The beach couldn’t have been better—and it was immaculate. Again, plenty of sunbeds, a sensible towel policy, umbrellas erected with a smile, occasional beverage service. We thought it was great to have giant urns of infused water available at stations on the beach. I thought burying the sargassum was an absolutely genius, eco-friendly way to dispose of it. La Tienda, the gift shop, has surprisingly reasonable prices for souvenirs and is well-stocked with sundries and toiletries that travelers may have neglected to pack. The exchange rate for currency at the front desk seemed fair. The WiFi drove my sister nuts, but she has a Samsung. I had very few problems connecting with my iPhone. The evening entertainment ranged from “okay” (sorry, Wednesday night DJ) to “absolutely outstanding” (Virgo on Sunday). The live music in the afternoon provided a welcome accompaniment to the crashing waves at high tide. Although we were provided with an activity sheet upon arrival, there are a few things we wish we had known. * At the manager’s cocktail party on Tuesday, there are vendors in the pavilion. Bring cash. * The sheet also mentions the Hastings Farmers’ Market takes place on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. We were told by a young woman at the front desk to walk up the driveway, turn right out of the hotel and walk five minutes. I understand “Island Time” and I realize that the clock stands still on vacation, but it was actually an unpleasant, 25-minute schlep on a narrow busted sidewalk with traffic whizzing by. The market was a disappointment—one of the few vendors there told me Sundays were “dead.” Plan accordingly. If you are in the market for dirt cheap souvenirs, there is a Woolworth’s in Bridgetown that made Mom whoop with joy. * There is a canvas beach bag provided for guest use. Apparently the hotel would like guests to submit it at checkout instead of leaving it in their vacated room. If I could presume to offer Sugar Bay a few kindly-meant suggestions, it would be to provide washcloths as a matter of course with the towels; add more small tables to the beach (I think I counted five and that’s just not sufficient) and offer hand sanitizer prior to seating guests at meals. Warn guests to check the security of their wristbands—I caught mine just as it floated away in the sea, thus avoiding a $25 surcharge for replacement. I think there must be a hidden factory in Barbados that produces employees for Sugar Bay, although there was nothing “mass-produced” about the staff. We fell in love with 98% of them. Deserving a special shout-out in the order I encountered them are: Shavonne, Kareem, Danielle, Arden, Derick, Jalisa F., Aykeem, Tanisha (thank you for the recipe!), Marlon, Mya and Crystal at Umi, Shenika, Kay, Junior (thank you for your accurate daily weather prognostications), Dana, Roshana, Lakera, Romian, Randolph, Aneisha, Beverley and Shawna and Nicole at La Tienda. Escaping the bitter cold of upstate New York in February was a first for me. Spending a week at such a beautiful resort, among a congenial clientele, was a real treat. I would love to return.

by Dave H Pittsburgh, Pa

Good overall stay

This was our first visit to Barbados after several other Caribbean winter vacations. We usually stay in big fancy resorts so this was a big but refreshing change. Overall, the food was good, the resort clean and quiet, and the pool was nice. It was a holiday week for kids in Britain so there were a lot more families with children than we expected at this time of year. The resort was at full capacity so service was slow at times but the staff worked hard all the time and for the most part were friendly. I would like to thank these individuals especially for their great service and attitude. Mya, Kay, Samantha,and Lana - wait staff. Dylan- bell boy. Joel and Andre - bartenders. Andrea - omelette maker. Nikita - massage. And Jocelyn- housekeeper. The girls at the front desk were helpful. Extra shoutout to the guys who keep the pool area clean and put out coverups for the pool loungers. As with any hotel there are always negatives. Being at capacity, service was often times very slow and the bartenders had trouble keeping up with all the drink orders. Some were cranky and had a scowl all day long. The weather was mixed with 2 days of sunshine, 2 days of mostly rain, with all cloudy days the rest. The pool chairs got taken early and I wish there was a separate pool just for families and one for adults only. Because of the rain, there were only a couple of sheltered places to sit and relax. The only other place to sit under shelter was the Reef Restaurant but they didn’t want you there when trying to set up for the next dinner which is understandable. The small gym was well stocked and not too busy. The food was okay and varied day by day at the buffet. Definitely our two best meals were at Umi and the Sizzler. The pub was never busy and was a good place to spend the evening. Entertainment was good every night. The beach was beautiful although we spent all our time at the pool. The location of the resort was good and about a 20 minute drive from the airport. We arranged a private island tour through the concierge which was fantastic. Final thought- Barbados is a beautiful,friendly, and safe island. A trip here would be well worth your time. Value received for money spent was right on. Super Bay would get our vote as a great place to stay again.