HONEYMOON HELP...

My fiancée and I had our honeymoon booked through US Airways Vacations
to stay at the Sandals Antigua from June 13 - June 20. Unfortunately,
due to several severe airline schedule changes... our arrival and
departure flights changed so much that we would have lost 2 days at
the resort. US Airways did not have any options for us and they were
less than accommodating… they were horrible to deal with!! Although we
enjoy Sandals resorts and the island of Antigua... we were very
disappointed to have to cancel our honeymoon there. We did look at all
other Sandals resorts... but because of the short time table... less
than 1 month... most resorts or airlines were booked. My travel agent
found information on the Almond Beach Village resort and Barbados in
her travel guide... neither my agent or I have every heard of it or
have any details on the resort. We have never been to Barbados, so
thought it may be worth looking at. The flights to the island looked
good and we did some research on the resort. Everything looks pretty
nice... but I'm very concerned because we have read some bad reviews
on a few Internet boards. Since this will be our first time there...
could you please tell us about the resort, food, beach, maybe include
a resort property map, and some information about the weather and
Barbados. Our flight arrives at the airport 2:30pm on June 13... does
the resort offer a shuttle service to the hotel and back to the
airport? Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. So
far... our honeymoon experience has been horrible!! We look forward to
your response and any assistance!!!

This fellow's interested in Barbados, and that's your turf...

"Michael" <cristm@timken.com> wrote in message
news:14667e3d.0405181242.682d3659@c om...
> My fiancée and I had our honeymoon booked through US Airways Vacations
> to stay at the Sandals Antigua from June 13 - June 20. Unfortunately,
> due to several severe airline schedule changes... our arrival and
> departure flights changed so much that we would have lost 2 days at
> the resort. US Airways did not have any options for us and they were
> less than accommodating. they were horrible to deal with!! Although we
> enjoy Sandals resorts and the island of Antigua... we were very
> disappointed to have to cancel our honeymoon there. We did look at all
> other Sandals resorts... but because of the short time table... less
> than 1 month... most resorts or airlines were booked. My travel agent
> found information on the Almond Beach Village resort and Barbados in
> her travel guide... neither my agent or I have every heard of it or
> have any details on the resort. We have never been to Barbados, so
> thought it may be worth looking at. The flights to the island looked
> good and we did some research on the resort. Everything looks pretty
> nice... but I'm very concerned because we have read some bad reviews
> on a few Internet boards. Since this will be our first time there...
> could you please tell us about the resort, food, beach, maybe include
> a resort property map, and some information about the weather and
> Barbados. Our flight arrives at the airport 2:30pm on June 13... does
> the resort offer a shuttle service to the hotel and back to the
> airport? Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. So
> far... our honeymoon experience has been horrible!! We look forward to
> your response and any assistance!!!

My travel agent
> found information on the Almond Beach Village resort and Barbados in
> her travel guide... neither my agent or I have every heard of it or
> have any details on the resort. We have never been to Barbados, so
> thought it may be worth looking at. The flights to the island looked
> good and we did some research on the resort. Everything looks pretty
> nice... but I'm very concerned because we have read some bad reviews
> on a few Internet boards. Since this will be our first time there...
> could you please tell us about the resort, food, beach, maybe include
> a resort property map, and some information about the weather and
> Barbados. Our flight arrives at the airport 2:30pm on June 13... does
> the resort offer a shuttle service to the hotel and back to the
> airport? Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. So
> far... our honeymoon experience has been horrible!! We look forward to
> your response and any assistance!!!


Barbados is a nice island. You have the busy south coast full of
restaurants, bars, shopping and stuff like that. West coast is more quiet,
but still has some things to offer too. The busiest place on west is around
sunset crest area. It is a very very nice place.
Almond Beach Village is among the largest resort in Barbados. Located near
Speightstown, far up north on the west coast. I have been inside Almond some
few times, but it is a long long time ago. So my impressions about the hotel
itself is no longer relevant. But if I should go, I would consider the
location of the hotel as too far away from everything. I like to have
things nearby. I like to have many restaruants, bars and so on close to
where I live. And Almond Beach Village is _for me_ not the ritht place to
go. But you may have different criterias than me.
If I should come with a suggestion, I would consider Accra Beach,
Bouganvillea or Casuarina.
Accra Beach is a very nice, almost new hotel. Located very very good, right
on Accra Beach. Probably the most popular beach on the island. The hotel is
very nice, and have a beautiful pool area too. And you are very very close
to everything.
Be aware that there is sea view, and land view. Those that has not sea view
may be disturbed by traffic noise. But if you go for sea view, you will not
have problems with that.
Casuarina and Bouganvilla is also very nice and good hotels. Casuarina is
located in St.Lawrence Gap, a popular place to go at night. Even if it is in
the gap, it is not disturbed by noise from outdoor music, like many other
hotels around that area.
Bouganvillea is located near the gap. You can walk two minutes on the beach
and go trough Casuarina, and you are ritght in the gap. But dont walk the
beach at night. Then you have better take a taxi.
Bouganvillea is also a pretty new hotel. I guess it opened 3-4 years ago.
Beautiful!

I am not that good on All inclusive hotels. But Turtle Beach, next to
Casuarina, is a very very nice place. But very expensive!
And I think Amaryllis Beach Resort also offer all inclusive packages.


Leif Arild

"Michael" <cristm@timken.com> wrote in message
news:14667e3d.0405181242.682d3659@c om...
> My fiancée and I had our honeymoon booked through US Airways Vacations
> to stay at the Sandals Antigua from June 13 - June 20. ...
.. My travel agent
> found information on the Almond Beach Village resort and Barbados in
> her travel guide... neither my agent or I have every heard of it or
> have any details on the resort.

No personal experience of the resort tho someone I know stayed there in Jan
and thought it was good.
I think some of the other respondents to your query have not noticed that
you had booked for a Sandals resort - some of the alternatives they are
suggesting will, I think, not be much like Sandals - which are on the whole
large resorts with a lot of facilities on-site. I suspect that Almond Beach
Village is probably the closest to a Sandals that Barbados has?
Having been to Antigua and Barbados I'd say that Barbados is the 'prettier'
island, but if you go all-incl in some ways it may not matter what island
you are on!

--
Rita Daggett

Michael

I stayed at the Almond Beach Village resort a few years ago, and it
was wonderful! We stopped in one of the beachfront rooms - it was
literally right on the sand - what a view to wake up to every morning.
The room was very luxurious, and the food was good.

My husband and I honeymooned at Sandals Halycon in St Lucia - I was
disappointed with the accommodation. Again, we upgraded to the best
beachfront room but it was a fair distance from the sea (you could
only just see it in the distance!). The room was far nicer at Almond
Beach and the entertainment better, but we preferred the food at
Sandals, mainly because we had the choice of umpteen resturants in
three different Sandals resorts.

Hope this help!

Cathy