Cocobay

Where to start? We extended from a 6 to 8 night stay because we did not want to leave. We have stayed at many hotels and resorts around the Caribbean over the years, but this is now our favourite. The property is beautiful, with stunning views. The rooms are separate cottages, so there is privacy and the decor is an attractive rustic chic, which we liked. the public spaces are all open, so plenty of fresh air, and a strict adherence to Covid protocols, so very safe. The service at this resort is a credit to them. We found everyone to be really friendly and helpful, and this makes such a difference for a relaxing and enjoyable holiday. Amongst those we connected with were Kemline and Jeanine on front desk, Davern and Carl in the restaurant and Roxanne on the beach. We thought the food was good, with plenty of choice for lunch and dinner. Breakfast more limited. We brought bug spray and we thought it helped to a certain extent, but since we like sitting at the beach until late afternoon, inevitably you will get bitten. We like to visit different locations and have very rarely said that we will return to one place, but we liked this resort and the people so much, we are already planning on returning. Thank you Cocobay! Read less

We stayed for Christmas and it was such a lovely place we didn't want to leave. We stayed in cottage 34 with a plunge pool and had fantastic views of the Carribean. The staff are great Altina, Louis (Main Bar), Kerry, Carl, Tiffany, Fiffany & many more from the main restaurant, Golda and Janine from reception and Vicini from the Sunset Pool bar. The only reason why i gave the resort a 4 star rating is because the food was very limited, a lovely breakfast but not many options and very small portion sizes if you only ate one course. For dinner there was an option of 4 different starters, a soup or pasta dish, followed by 4 different mains and a few deserts. We only sat by the Sunset Pool and there was always beds available to use. We sat on the beach sometimes but there seemed to be a lot of sand flies. No amount of mosquito repellant will stop you from getting bitten, i had the highest available and was still bitten. Also, if you do choose to go and you are a light sleeper you would benefit from taking ear plugs as they have a lot of tree frogs and crickets which are very noisy and would often wake me up during the night. Read less

Where to begin..... The property is absolutely breathtaking. The views are insane. The people who work at the resort couldn’t be friendlier. I’ve traveled to a bunch of all inclusives - not a single one compares to Cocobay. The food is top notch. You wouldn’t imagine food at an all inclusive could be this good. The entire staff is great. The two best are Glendale and Sasha. Make sure you ask for both of them when you get to the resort. They will make every dinner memorable. When we left, we felt like they were family to us. I hope management reads this review and gives them a raise or promotes them - they are that good!! Louis and Altino in the bar couldn’t be better as well. All in all, this place rocks!!!!! WE WILL BE BACK!!!! Read less

I’ll start by saying that we’re incredibly picky/discerning - me especially!! We stayed for 13 days over Christmas and had the best time. Unusually, there was virtually nothing I’d change. Negatives - there are only a few tiny things: Drink - the quality/choice of spirits isn’t great. However, the rum punch/pina coladas were terrific. There are a few recognisable brands, but mostly local. Storage - Limited drawer storage in the room (i’m not known for travelling light!!). Poor lighting in the bathroom for hair/make-up in the evening, but I embraced the natural look! The lighting/vibe in the whole resort is low-key, in the evening anyway, so I went with it! Check-in - We were hot and bothered after a delayed flight and a 30-minute taxi ride with no air con and just wanted to check in quickly and get a shower and a drink. Despite having emailed/joined the members’ club online before arrival, I did not know there was an online check-in process. It took an age to check in, I couldn’t connect to the wi-fi and the reception staff seemed unsympathetic/unhelpful. In the end, they agreed to check us in the old-fashioned way but it was a faff and took ages. Also, we never got our welcome rum-punch, which we never realised until we got to our room. This was the only negative staff interaction we encountered all holiday, but it’s a first impression and it made our arrival a negative experience, which affected how we felt about the whole place until the rest of the staff turned it around later. Check in online before you arrive - strong recommendation! Now the positives - there are so many: The views - from your room, from both pools, from the restaurant - they’re beautiful and you’ll never tire of them. Panoramic views of the ocean and beaches. Fantastic sunsets. The service - the staff are superb. They have been well trained, but training aside, they have wonderful attitudes. They understand that you’re on your holiday and want to make everything perfect for you. They’re never too busy to ask how you are and (unlike other Caribbean resorts we’ve stayed at) they are being genuine, rather than because they’re expecting a tip. Shout outs to Sasha, Marsha S, Glendale, Denise and special mentions to Carl (maître d'extraordinaire) and Kerry, both of whom were amazing. Janine and Golda at reception were lovely and helpful. The wellness deck - Sheneeka gave me two amazing massages. Yes, you can hear boats and jetskis going by, but that’s because your massage bed overlooks the ocean! The food - ignore the comments about small portions. We were never hungry our entire holiday! The food is plentiful and also delicious. No buffets (which was a winner in our book). Several courses for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a menu that changes every day on a 14-day rotation. There are also bar snacks available in the afternoons (pizza/panini etc) if you’re still hungry after a 3-course lunch! The food is beautifully presented, well cooked and there’s plenty of choice. Also, the wine served in the restaurant was good (for an AI) and they top up your glass often! The rooms - yes, the bathrooms are not terribly well lit, but in the morning having a shower with the door to the balcony open is lovely. It’s by no means the most luxurious room we’ve ever stayed in, but it passed my 3 key checks - clean, great shower and ridiculously comfy (and large) bed. A/C was effective, balcony had chairs and a hammock. Bedside lamp had USB charging points. I believe some of the rooms are better/more luxurious than ours (deluxe cottage) but it was fine. For the amount of time you spend in there, it was perfectly comfortable and I slept so soundly, drifting off to the sound of the ocean. Covid - The hotel was very Covid-secure, with temperature checks, hand-washing stations and sanitising gel. All staff wear masks. We felt very safe. Other tips - take cash for trips/jetski hire etc- no ATM onsite and most places/people take cash only, no cards. Reception will exchange for you, but they charge. Took a private boat trip with More Life - Marcus was superb, knowledgable, flexible and fun! In short, if you like great food, great service, a relaxed, laid-back vibe and ocean views, Cocobay is perfect. We had the best time and were genuinely sad to leave. We’ll be back!! Read less

We absolutely loved this resort. From the location, the panoramic views of the ocean with the mountain backdrop, to the boutique cottages with stunning views of the gardens and sea. This really was the most relaxing holiday ever. The resort had two great pools, both which overlook the ocean, plus two private pools (highly recommend the floating breakfast at the romance pool) or the (tapas at the black rock pool) both served with champagne. Amazing beach, we loved the kayaking, even when we got caught in the rain at Jolly beach, the sun was soon back out. Delightful food, including breakfast lunch and dinner (also make sure you try the panini’s at the pool bar, so good), our thanks to the kitchen staff. The whole Cocobay team really do deserve a big thank you. You helped make our stay perfect. From the team at reception to the restaurant staff, the bar staff, the pool bar staff and the team delivering drinks on the beach (thank you). Too many names to mention everyone, but a big thanks to Jannine at reception who was super friendly and so helpful (thank you) and Leanne in the restaurant (ask her to sing her fav Michael Bolton song) amazing voice, you will be blown away. We will be back for sure. Happy New Year everyone. Thank you, Mark & Margarita Read less