Sugar Bay Barbados - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

2443 reviews

• 

  Literally a dream. Heaven on earth.

  A gem! A boutique feel. The staff are the most amazing part, they are really kind and happy. The beach is beautiful with a small area of coral to snorkel. The food is delicious and loads of choice. It's gorgeous. The decor was very sweet too. We saw monkeys too in the trees, beautiful birds and the kids saw a stone ray too.

  Nov 05, 2025
• 

  Lovely relaxing week - recommend

  Late decision to take an extra holiday, picked SB based on you tube video and reviews here. Overall we loved it. It's a small, relaxed resort with low key (but perfectly pleasant) entertainment. Pool area is small, and loungers were taken early - for us not a problem as the beach is lovely. Didn't go in pool all week. Others seemed to love it - each to their own. Food is good, buffet (which I normally only tolerate at breakfast) was really good, small but all good stuff. Colin's beach bar was good for drinks and 'pub style' lunches. We did Sizzle once and Umi twice (really good). We found drinks overall very good (especially rum based drinks) and service prompt. Beach bar good, and nice to sit with an on-shore breeze cooling you down. Room was good, decent size and very well presented, but not super luxury - we had the standard (superior?) room. A friendly, relaxed resort with great staff and lovely beach, will look to return.

  Nov 04, 2025
• 

  Great Holiday Hotel for Multi-Generation Families

  Three generations of our family all had a great time at Sugar Bay. The hotel and staff provide a brilliant experience for all ages and especially the helpfulness/courtesy of all the staff was exceptional.

  Nov 03, 2025
• 

  Chill out and smile!

  What amazing service - everyone is so friendly and authentic, it makes the stay truly special - nothing is too much trouble. It’s a very chilled out resort, buffet restaurant changes every night and as a coealic felt so well looked after and attention to detail on the risks. Would love to come back!

  Nov 02, 2025
• 

  A mixed bag

  We stayed at Sugar Bay Barbados for a week as a family and had a really enjoyable stay overall – though a few frustrations stopped it from being a five-star experience. The Good Stuff The beach is absolutely lovely, set in a calm cove perfect for sheltered swimming and snorkelling. Definitely pack a snorkel mask – you’ll see plenty of colourful fish and, if you’re lucky, the local resident turtle (sadly we didn’t spot him this time). There’s a great swim-up pool bar for relaxed holiday drinks, and Collins Diner serves tasty local dishes – simple and authentic, though the menu does repeat itself. The staff are genuinely friendly, and the free water sports such as kayaking and body-surfing are a real plus. The cocktail range is good, the local beer perfectly drinkable, and both Umi (Asian) and Sizzle (Steakhouse) restaurants offered very good food. The buffet followed a consistent pattern – limited starters, decent mains and desserts (mostly cakes, mousse or ice cream). The quality was good overall, but don’t expect an abundance of vegetables or salads, as much of the produce has to be imported. There was never a queue for buffet seating, which was a real bonus, and the small arcade area (air-conditioned – handy for children escaping the sun) was a nice touch, even if a few machines weren’t working. Family-Friendly Notes There isn’t a huge amount on offer for children who are of a more “fussy” nature – those who like lots of structure or variety may find it limited. That said, you can ask for a children’s menu at the buffet, and they’ll happily cook and deliver something from that special menu if needed. On the plus side, our daughter used the kids’ club several times and absolutely loved it. The team there really worked hard, kept the children entertained, and made her feel welcome and happy every time she went. The Not-So-Good Our arrival was chaotic. No one met us, no welcome drink, and it took around 40 minutes from arriving to reaching our room – not ideal when you’re hot, tired and travelling with kids. There’s very limited hotel information. On check-in, we were given a QR code to scan, but the details provided were minimal and didn’t include a map, so you’re left to figure things out yourself. Our family suite wasn’t fully prepared – the sofa bed hadn’t been made up, and there weren’t enough pillows. It took two separate requests before we finally got hair conditioner refilled – only on the second-to-last day. Pool towel availability was hit and miss; sometimes you had to wait an hour or two for fresh ones. Poolside cleanliness and tidiness could definitely be better – towels, cups and even bottles left overnight, and we noticed the same items (including a pair of jogging bottoms) sitting in the same spot all week. The main pool could be cleaner – the water was a little cloudy – and the second pool is really just a plunge pool with minimal seating. Service at Umi was particularly slow – 20 minutes before the food order was taken, another 10 for drinks, and another 10 before they arrived. At times, I had to go and stand near the check-in desk to get attention. At Sizzle, the food was excellent, but it was so hot inside we left within an hour. The Mongoose Pub, the adults-only bar, was never open during our stay. In the main buffet, supplies often ran low – cutlery, bowls, glasses and even ice-cream spoons missing. We often sat at half-set tables that staff forgot about, and drinks service was consistently slow. You’ll also want to bring your own mosquito spray – you will need it. I’d also recommend in-room mosquito-repellent plug-ins, as the hotel doesn’t provide them and they make a big difference to comfort, especially in the evenings. Management and Service When asked at checkout how our stay was, we replied “mixed”, but there was little real interest in our feedback – just an “Oh, okay.” We also met the manager/owner briefly at a cocktail reception one evening. He didn’t ask whether we were enjoying our stay or if there was anything that could be improved – which, to be honest, summed up the overall feeling of this hotel: pleasant, but not particularly attentive or proactive Overall Sugar Bay has a lot going for it – a beautiful beach, friendly staff, good food, and a great kids’ club – but it’s let down by inconsistent service and weak attention to detail. If you want a relaxed, all-inclusive Caribbean break with a calm beach and an easygoing atmosphere, it’s still a good choice – just come prepared for slower service, bring your own mosquito spray, and don’t expect polished management.

  Nov 01, 2025