Crystal Cove by Elegant Hotels

Barbados, Caribbean

Virgin rating

Cave Bar
Swim-Up Cave Bar
Vista Coffee & Wine Bar
Vista Bar
Sunset deck
A video preview image
Cave Bar
Swim-Up Cave Bar
Vista Coffee & Wine Bar
Vista Bar
Sunset deck

The hotel

Crystal Cove is an all-inclusive hotel located right on the beachfront on the platinum west coast of Barbados. This beautiful resort features lush gardens and three impressive freshwater swimming pools, complete with a spectacular waterfall and swim-up cave bar. Flowers cascade over walls and balconies, and everything leads down to a glorious beach with a generous array of water sports, including water-skiing, sailing and more, all complimentary of course! There is a fabulous kids’ club to keep the little ones out of your hair, allowing you to relax and enjoy the full range of facilities and entertainment (of which there are plenty!).

Amenities

  • Kayaking
  • Sailing
  • Snorkelling
  • Tennis
  • Water Skiing
  • Windsurfing
  • Babysitting service
  • Kids Club
  • Families
  • Honeymoon
  • Wedding
  • Bar

Where is it

In St James, on a delightful west coast beach. 15-minutes to Bridgetown. Transfer time from airport: 30 minutes.

Hotel information

88 rooms on 2 floors in various buildings with no lifts. All with a balcony or terrace, air-conditioning, satellite TV, mini fridge, complimentary WiFi access, safe, bathrobe, slippers, and hairdryer. 

Pool/Garden View Rooms with 1 king-size bed or twin beds, sleep maximum 2 adults and 1 infant (up to age 2 years).

Please note: the majority of the Pool Garden View Rooms have a garden view and the pool views are limited. All rooms are non-smoking.

All Inclusive of: all meals including afternoon tea and all-day dining. Local and premium-brand drinks and house wine (fine wine and Champagne at extra charge). All activities and entertainment unless otherwise stated. Water taxi to select west coast sister properties. Dine Around programme with other select Elegant Hotels properties (drink and meal supplements may apply).

Oceanview Rooms - with beautiful sea views and 1 king-size bed or twin beds, sleeping maximum 2 adults.

Junior Suite Pool/Garden View - with a separate sitting area and sofa bed, lovely views of the pool or garden, and 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 3 people.

Junior Suite Oceanview - as Junior Suite Pool/Garden View but with beautiful sea views, sleeping maximum 3 people.

1-Bedroom Suite Pool/Garden View - bedroom with separate living room or loft suite with upstairs bedroom overlooking living room, living room includes sofa bed and second full bathroom, 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 4 adults or 2 adults, 2 children and 1 infant (up to 2 years of age).

1-Bedroom Suite Oceanview - bedroom with separate living room or loft suite with upstairs bedroom overlooking living room, living room includes sofa bed and second full bathroom. 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 4 adults or 2 adults, 2 children and 1 infant (up to 2 years of age).

Reflections (all day dining with buffet breakfast and a la carte dinner, as well as international buffet evening on Wednesdays). Drifters Restaurant and Bar (beachfront Caribbean restaurant, serving casual buffet lunch, afternoon tea, and a la carte dinner, as well as beach BBQ on Saturdays). Cave Bar (swim-up pool bar). Vista Coffee & Wine Bar (serving drinks and light bites). The Beach Bar. Taste of Elegance Dine Around Programme offers exchange dining with select sister hotels' restaurants* (meal and drinks supplements may apply).

Regular evening entertainment and weekly manager's cocktail party. Events hosted at Vista Coffee & Wine bar to include wine pairings and tapas nights.

3-tiered freshwater swimming pool. Spa services available*. Fitness centre. Wellness classes including yoga, pilates, and water aerobics. 2 floodlit tennis courts. Complimentary motorised and non-motorised water sports including snorkelling, stand up paddle boarding, banana boats, tubing, sailing, kayaking, and water-skiing. Beach Olympics. Freddie's Island & Adventure tour*. Apes Hill Golf Club*. Complimentary Flying Fish Kids' Club for ages 3-12 years with latest game consoles, pool table, electric race track and more. Swimming with the turtles snorkel tour*. Mixology demos.

Room service* (meal times only). Complimentary WiFi available in the rooms and throughout the resort. Laundry service*. Complimentary daytime water taxi (subject to availability and weather conditions) to select West Coast Elegant Hotels. Gift shop*. Babysitting available*. Green Globe certified. Beach Ambassador service. Concierge services to assist with island excursions.

A Tourism Fee will be charged per bedroom, per night and will be collected at check out. The rate is subject to change by the Government, and varies by hotel room. Fees currently range from 8.75 Barbadian dollar (approximately £3.90) to 35 Barbadian dollar (approximately £16.00) per bedroom, per night.  

1 night between 5 Jan—31 Jan, and 1 Mar—21 Dec.

5 nights between 1 Feb—28 Feb.

7 nights between 22 Dec—2 Jan.

* Denotes local charge.

Please note: child ages are up to and including 16 years.

Please note: Drifters restaurant and bar is open subject to occupancy numbers.

Dress code: dining is elegantly casual after 6:00pm.

Please note: the Dine Around programme is only available at select properties and may be subject to an additional cost dependant on the board basis booked. A complimentary water taxi to select west coast Elegant properties is available during daytime only and subject to availability and weather conditions.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (1555)
  • Very good (649)
  • Average (213)
  • Poor (101)
  • Terrible (87)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Wonderful to be back

Apr 19, 2024 jocH7375ZN

This is a favourite hotel for us, having first visited 24 years ago and have returned many times over the years. The staff welcome is like seeing old friends, Dolores,Kathy, Michael, Hazel, Kerri-Ann and so many others it is an absolute pleasure to be in your company. We love the food, plenty of choice available, loved the lunchtime vegetable… Read more
This is a favourite hotel for us, having first visited 24 years ago and have returned many times over the years. The staff welcome is like seeing old friends, Dolores,Kathy, Michael, Hazel, Kerri-Ann and so many others it is an absolute pleasure to be in your company. We love the food, plenty of choice available, loved the lunchtime vegetable roti, salt fish for breakfast and fried plantain. The rooms are tired but comfortable. Thank you to the watersports guys for looking after us. We love the charm of this hotel and the staff and hope Marriott do not turn Crystal Cove into a boring corporate brand. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Another Fab Holiday at Crystal Cove

Apr 16, 2024 PandaCub1967

We decided to return to Crystal Cove 5 years after our first trip. The reason we decided to return is purely down to the small village style hotel but most importantly the staff. Credit to all of the staff who make the stay so much more than it already is. We were so happy to see some familiar faces when we returned and couldn’t wait to greet them… Read more
We decided to return to Crystal Cove 5 years after our first trip. The reason we decided to return is purely down to the small village style hotel but most importantly the staff. Credit to all of the staff who make the stay so much more than it already is. We were so happy to see some familiar faces when we returned and couldn’t wait to greet them again. Jensel you are the best -amazing! Then we have Lisa, Sharean (cocktail queen) Allison, Hazel, Raheem, Toni (always smiling), Michael, Kevin, Darren (great omelette maker) and Richard-all cannot do enough for you. But other than th staff….. the hotel is small, quaint - is in need of a refurb but this is planned next year. Currently offer a dine around service with sister hotels, daily water taxi to these hotels. Food is excellent with 2 restaurants on site. Choice is always very good. Over the 2 weeks we probably had about 6 nights of entertainment but we did our own thing some nights and went out of the hotel. Water sports at the hotel ae limited to water-skiing, banana and rings and a hobie cat. We booked onto some of the hotels own trips which were very good. Beach is right in front of the hotel. We did find some better beaches with great snorkelling in nearby Holetown. Turtles, stingrays and hundreds of beautiful fish. The yellow buses are a fabulous experience and pass the hotel about every 3 mins. Holetown has a designer shopping centre and a beautiful chattel village with some lovely souvenir shopping and food. We saw a show one night in Bridgetown at Harbour Lights which was brilliant- good food and Caribbean entertainment and dancing. Oistins Friday fish fry is another great night out. Overall we had another fantastic holiday at Crystal Cove. Staff are a credit to them. Hope to see you all again after the refurb. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Fabulous holiday

Apr 12, 2024 Y12BLcarolw

A fabulous hotel in a great location - we chose a sea view room which was wonderful. Mini bar filled every day with soft drinks. Towels changed daily & room kept very clean. Hotel facilities are great which include a cave bar, coffee shop & water sports. It was great the coffee shop opened at 6am due to my jet lag. Great restaurants with a… Read more
A fabulous hotel in a great location - we chose a sea view room which was wonderful. Mini bar filled every day with soft drinks. Towels changed daily & room kept very clean. Hotel facilities are great which include a cave bar, coffee shop & water sports. It was great the coffee shop opened at 6am due to my jet lag. Great restaurants with a lovely variety which we all enjoyed - Sophia & Sasha (to name just two) were wonderful. A big thank you to Richard & Lisa for making our family holiday celebrating my husband’s retirement & my birthday so special. Hotel due to be refurbished in 2025 & we will definitely be back. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Nice Hotel, but expensive for what was on offer

Apr 11, 2024 book_keeper60 Stourbridge, United Kingdom

Nice small hotel, on the expensive side. The first few days were absolutely wonderful with british, Italian and guests from other islands, but then the piece was shattered with the arrival of guests from USA and Canada. Constant moaning and shouting, this was NOT a high end hotel with only one restaurant and occasional buffet at lunch time on the… Read more
Nice small hotel, on the expensive side. The first few days were absolutely wonderful with british, Italian and guests from other islands, but then the piece was shattered with the arrival of guests from USA and Canada. Constant moaning and shouting, this was NOT a high end hotel with only one restaurant and occasional buffet at lunch time on the beach and lack of burgers and fries which was not what they expected. A lot of moaning that evenings were mainly A La Carte and you had to book in the morning. This all suited us fine, we found the food to be of a very good standard. There were a lot of issues with drinks running out during our stay and management were not overly quick to rectify this which led to some heated arguments. Our room was at the back by the road which at times was noisy but acceptable, the nightly frogs were more irritating, the room had supposedly been updated but was very basic and the bathroom was of a very low standard. The room was on the ground floor and overlooked the colourful gardens, sitting on the balcony we watched humming birds and butterflies visiting the fragrant flowers. We did have a storm whilst we were there and realised that there is very limited inside areas (except your room) to be in during the heavy downpours. The site is mainly on 3 levels with a waterfall and bathing pool on each level before the beach area, together with a cave bar. Lots of steps so not good for guests with mobility issues. Do book a day trip round the island, well worth it. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Top class resort where everyone smiles

Apr 10, 2024 DaleG131 Bristol, United Kingdom

This is truly a great 5 star resort, everything about the place is top notch. The food was varied so never got boring, private beach was clean and powder white sand you can see why celebrities have places on this stretch of coast. The rooms were always kept immaculate by the staff and if you can get an ocean view it's definitely a wise choice… Read more
This is truly a great 5 star resort, everything about the place is top notch. The food was varied so never got boring, private beach was clean and powder white sand you can see why celebrities have places on this stretch of coast. The rooms were always kept immaculate by the staff and if you can get an ocean view it's definitely a wise choice especially if you enjoy a sundowner to yourselves. Read less