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Having enjoyed Turtle beach last December, we decided to repeat the adventure this year. Last year our stay was interwoven with the cricket but this time the headline was 'R&R' but with a view to seeing more of the island. with the latter in mind we toured the island (Cheyenne was our guide...he told us his dad liked westerns, hence his name!). Just beautiful. The Reggae Reggae bus is a must do. Unforgettable experience which you'll appreciate when you ride one. Catamaran day with lunch and swimming hoping to sight turtles etc is also a must. Recommend the Cat and Fiddle with captain Jose.... In some reviews read, it almost appears as though people are actively looking for fault rather than focusing on the positives this hotel and location have to offer. Our first impression last year was that the hotel projects a vibe almost of old colonialism. The beachfront location is superb offering a large expanse of white sand and clear water, plenty of sunbeds. On this side of the island, the Atlantic waves can sometimes be challenging but the sight of the surf, interspersed with sightings of turtles is just wonderful. The food we found to be excellent , with the main buffet style restaurant offering a wide range of dishes, often with local themes. Both of the a la carte restaurants were first class and there was no suggestion of supplements for certain dishes, an annoying experience sometimes at other 'all inclusive' venues. All the drinks were branded and the fridge in your room was restocked daily. The bar staff worked tirelessly. We had a Deluxe Suite room, with the view to the extensive balcony similar to that in the photo on this site. The room was huge and the bed, I think super king, was so comfortable. The entertainment was very good with local singers each evening and I can only echo the praise extended on other reviews re the girl on the saxophone....she was tremendous. The main restaurant is covered but open at the front, which is lovely and yes the birds do join you for dining, particularly in the morning. Personally, we had no problem with this as it added to our Caribbean experience and when we lunched out at top restaurants such as Champers and Lonestar, birds were also present. It is a feature of the island, not just common to TB. The staff were generally great. We found them always keen to help and share a laugh or two. Special mention to Maradona for his sunny smile and beach drinks routine! With a refurb on the horizon and the employment uncertainty that might bring, you have to admire the positive disposition that the overwhelming majority of the staff display. With the hotel scheduled to close in Feb to facilitate an almost year long refurbishment program from new owners Marriott, there is little doubt that the infrastructure will benefit....some worn fitments in some of the rooms, more accessible plug points, welcome air-conditioning in the pool and table tennis space (where you could be forgiven you were playing in a sauna after 10 mins) , general cosmetic facelift etc. Some of the rooms have already benefited from an ongoing refurb program and they look terrific. But the most redeeming feature of Turtle Beach is its charm and the fact after only a day or so you feel completely at home, enjoying informal and comfortable surroundings that allow you to just slip gently into your holiday experience. We look forward to returning to TB following the refurb program and trust that Marriott will look after the excellent staff and work hard to retain the charm and charisma of this particular location that, in our view, make it quite unique. It will also be good too to see if Randall has improved his table tennis technique.....well overdue!

Holiday | Couple We've just returned from 9 amazing days at The Turtle Beach Hotel & Spa. The location is just spectacular. Right on the beach, with amazing views, from all rooms, I understand. The 3 pools were very welcome in the heat. Very comfortable sun loungers all around the pools. There was never a problem getting a sunbed and fresh towels every day. Rooms: 4/5 | Service: 5/5 | Location: 5/5 Rooms Our room was very large, with a king-size bed, that was, possibly, one of the comfiest beds we've ever slept on. The pillows were wonderful. It was incredibly clean, the maids came in every day to re-make the bed and freshen everywhere up. We couldn't fault their hard work. Nearby activities We enjoyed our walks along the beautiful sandy beaches were you would often see tropical birds, pretty little crabs that dived into little holes before you could get anywhere near them. There were plenty of other activities, tennis, well equipped gym and the spa, although we didn't partake. We booked a trip to Bridgetown and to go on a catamaran to experience snorkelling for turtles and the many tropical fish. There were many other trips that the hotel could book for you. The famous fish fry at Oistins is just a short drive away too. Safety We found the hotel and surrounding areas extremely safe and friendly. A walk into Dover to experience the nightlife there caused us no worries whatsoever. The locals always ready to greet you. Food and drinks Our experience of the all inclusive food and drinks was very good. The two al a carte restaurants are brilliant. You need to book a table, but you could eat there as many times as you like. We particularly liked Asiagos. The main restaurant is open air, which we loved. The entertainment was mainly background solo soul or reggae singers. We found this enough and enjoyable whilst having dinner. The bar staff were excellent at keeping the drinks flowing and keeping us entertained. Bottled water and soft drinks were readily available all day and night. You could either help yourself, or the staff brought trays of drinks round to the sunbeds for you. We also loved that they had an ice cream parlour and a coffee shop with croissants, fruit, cakes and pastries included in the all inclusive package. Staff Beautiful, friendly, hardworking staff. Many took time to stand and chat and make us laugh. Always greeted us and asked us if we were OK or needed anything. Right through from management, bar staff, pool staff, caretakers and housemaids.

I don't usually write reviews, but I felt compelled to share my experience on this occasion. The hotel is absolutely beautiful—the grounds, the pools, and the main area are stunning. I can only imagine how much more wonderful it will look once the renovations are completed. The rooms are spacious, clean, and equipped with everything we needed for a comfortable stay. Although the food selection is a bit more limited compared to other all-inclusive resorts we've visited, the quality was excellent, and we always found delicious options. We never struggled to find something we enjoyed. The coffee shop and ice cream were delightful additions that we loved. We thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our stay, and I’m so glad I stuck with my choice to book this hotel. After reading some negative reviews, I almost changed my reservation, but I’m so happy I didn’t. The true highlight of our stay was the staff. Their politeness, unique charm, and positive attitude created an amazing atmosphere. You can see how hard they work and how their efforts elevate the hotel to a whole new level. To the staff at Turtle Beach: from the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for hosting us and making our stay so special. Our daughters especially loved the attention and special treatment you gave them. We can’t wait to return!

We knew the hotel was 'tired' before we booked. It was. We were there during the lightning strike, which knocked out 2 of the restaurants(hence being offered take away boxes if you preferred to eat in your room) and also during the tremendous/biblical rain a few days later, which caused flooding to ground floor rooms and public areas. During each of these episodes, we thought the staff coped brilliantly in the circumstances and ensured that guests had drinks and hot food as required. We were there for 3 weeks and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. To comment on other reviews: yes, the birds were a nuisance especially at breakfast. We have found the same on other Caribbean islands we have visited. It was a nuisance having to plug the kettle into the plug at floor level: the extension lead that provided extra sockets was full with TV paraphernalia. I'm sure this will be resolved after the refit. As a veggie, I was very pleased with the food options on offer( 100% better choices than in the UK!) BUT...the carnivores in our group had issues with tough meat and dry fish(both in the buffet and a la carte). To be honest, if something wasn't available, we only had to ask, and if possible, we'd get it. We found the staff lovely, especially Shodia, Mark, Wayde, the 2 Jacqueline's, Karen, Sandra, Elizabeth, Drew , Winston and Maradona. The 'behind the scenes' staff worked hard too, especially kitchen staff. Randall in activities was great and I really enjoyed the Aquarobics. He's a great trainer! Not to mention Veronica the gardener, who worked incredibly hard. I'm sure there are some who I have omitted to praise(sorry).There is nightly live entertainment, all to a good standard, especially the young woman with the superb voice who also plays the Saxophone(I think on a Sunday? Simon Cowell please take note!!).There are daily activities too. We'd love to come back after refurb. Overall, a great holiday and we met some really super staff. Marriott should be proud of their staff.

We continued our cricket tour by flying from Antigua to Barbados arriving at the Turtle bay hotel in the early evening. We did not have a very auspicious start, faced with a long queue at reception. The promised welcome drink did not materialise. The reason for the long queue became apparent when we finally reached the front and were given about 12 pages of terms and conditions which we were required to read and agree to before actually checking in. Basically as far as any of could make out, these made it clear that anything that happened during our stay was our fault and the hotel was responsible for nothing that might go wrong. No wonder everything took so long, When we did eventually reach our room it proved to be of a good size with a decent balcony. The bedside clock, television and wifi did not work. We had to go to reception to get on line. Plenty of reviews have made the point that this hotel is dated and due for a major overhaul, apparently in the new year. This is certainly our impression. To us it seems like a hotel for the masses. There is a small swimming pool. This is mainly used by people to stand in with a cocktail and a phone in order to take selfies. Unfortunately, despite being on the beach, sea swimming was impossible while we were there because of the very choppy conditions. The gym was well equipped and a pleasure to use. There is a small supermarket a few minutes walk from the hotel which enabled us to buy a few essentials. It will be interesting to read reviews of Turtle Beach after the refurbishment has been carried out. There is much scope for improvement but the potential is there. One unusual issue which is not the fault of the hotel is that a walk along the beach is well nigh impossible. Each of the many beach side hotels have extended their properties to the waters edge with a variety of obstructions to make it as difficult as possible to pass from one to another.