The Hilton Hotel Barbados could give you and your family a wonderful couple of weeks, a real luxury family vacation on what some people describe as the best beach on Barbados Island. The Hilton is actually situated on a peninsula, and whilst there are places you can walk to a hire car would be advised
One recurring problem with hotels is that if you want to go upmarket, then it is generally not really suitable for children, but the Hilton Barbados is a notable exception. Here you get the atmosphere and the facilities of a top luxury hotel and the children are very welcome. In fact atmosphere for a large hotel is surprisingly quiet and intimate, so don't be put off if you prefer small hotels.
The suites in the Hilton are huge, and they all have a view to die for. If you can, then get accommodated at the Executive Level as you get free breakfast and drinks and eats in the evening, plus free internet access, and all these normal costs can add up over a fortnight.
The beach at the Hilton Hotel Barbados is stunning, and surprisingly more people will choose the pool, so you may have to reserve deck chairs. As the beach has quite a surf running, if you have small children you may prefer the safety of the pool, which by the way is excellent.
If you want seats and umbrellas on the beach the staff are more than happy to oblige.
For older teenagers they will find many surfers, boogie boarders, and body surfers, so if they are so inclined will be occupied happily for hours, although they will need to go further down the beach off the hotel area.
For the active families golf can be arranged, and there are catamaran excursions, where snorkelling is available. If you are lucky there could be just your family on the boat, which makes you feel as if you own it, especially as they give you lunch as well!!
If there is a disappointment with the Hilton, it is the restaurant food, which seems a bit pricey and not great value, but happily there are a good many choices on Barbados insofar as food is concerned.
You may care to check out some or all of the following, although you should find out about the restaurant food for yourself, and not necessarily take other folk's word for it.
You might try the Brown Sugar, within walking distance serving good island food in a very nice setting, and the service here is very good. Service at table in restaurants, even drinks service in Barbados can be painfully slow.
David's Place at St Lawrence Gap has good service, again local food, and it sits right on the water which is beautiful.
One of the main must do things is to visit Oisten's on a Friday evening. The numbers of people there to buy and eat fish fresh from the sea, has to be seen to be believed. You eat off paper plates, and if you want to know which of the stalls sells the best seafood, then look at the longest queues.
The Hilton Hotel Barbados is good for a luxury family vacation, but it is slightly isolated, making a car essential. There's plenty to do, and an excellent kids club for the younger children with very trustworthy staff.
A Family Vacation Idea is something parents think about a lot, and one of the best family vacation spots on Antigua is Sailing Club Colonna. It is a beachfront hotel situated on the north coast of Antigua in Hodges Bay which offers possibly the best family sailing holiday centre in Antigua if not the Caribbean.
What you will find here is the best dinghy sailing and windsurfing in Antigua, and for those not wanting to sail there is blue to turquoise crystal clear water and a private beach lined with palm trees.
Essentially this resort is for families who want to learn to sail, or improve their levels of ability. This is the epitome of affordable sailing, and windsurfing coaching for all the family.
There is a feeling that the priority here is the sailing and not the resort. There are mixed reviews about everything from the food, the rooms, the spa, and this is a little sad. There is no doubt that the upgrading of the resort and facilities which is imminent will make a difference, because it is very unsettling for staff and guests alike to be in a resort that has improvements planned, and widely known about.
After saying this, the main reason for falilies to come here is for a sailing holiday, and there is no doubt that this aspect works well.There are good discounts available, and if guests are aware that things may not be quite right, but the family vacation idea on principle is still OK, and the sailing is great then everything will be in the end what you wanted.
One problem about resorts and trying to make sense of what guests have to say, is the fact that everyone's expectations are different. What a visitor who normally stays in a five star resort would make of Club Colonna is quite understandably different to that of a family with no experience of such places.
For what it is, Club Colonna is a great family vacation idea, the beach may or may not be man made, but it is a perfectly good place to swim and sunbathe. Noisy kids may dominate the pool, but that isn't what everyone says, because the same kids aren't there all the time.
The quality of the food may well vary, but so do guest's tastes, and what may be delicious to one person may be inedible to another.
With everything in life and Club Colonna is no exception you have to see as you find. What you will find is that the Youth Sailing Club for 11 year olds is good fun. The Powerboat course will keep you interested and occupied.
Overall there is a definite feeling that Club Colonna is restricted by its budget. There is ample evidence that the resort is awaiting a revamp, and whilst this article may put you off booking this as a family vacation spot, there is every indication that it will reopen, refurbished, revitalised, almost reincarnated, and will return to the high standards some of the guests could remember in past times.
The Club Colonna is still a great family vacation idea for a sailing holiday, but perhaps not the best family vacation idea at the moment, but watch this space for a dramatic improvement shortly.
Both Andrew Watkins & Gareth Jones are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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