Turtle Beach Barbados Review – Marriott All-Inclusive on the South Coast

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Turtle Beach Barbados Review – Marriott All-Inclusive on the South Coast

Turtle Beach is a Marriott all-inclusive resort located on the south coast of Barbados. During our recent stay we experienced the resort before, during, and after Hurricane Beryl, explored the property, and also visited two sister Marriott properties nearby.

Here is our honest review of the resort, the beach, the food, and whether it’s worth staying here.

Arrival in Barbados

We arrived late at night at Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI), the main airport serving Barbados.

Barbados is a country where cricket is practically a religion, so it was fitting that our visit coincided with the ICC Cricket T20 World Cup Final.

Unfortunately, the arrival experience at the hotel was not ideal.

Despite our late-night arrival being known in advance, the hotel wasn’t fully staffed for check-in. It took about 45 minutes to receive our room keys, which is not a great start after a long flight.

Oceanfront Room

We stayed in an Ocean Front Room, which comfortably accommodates a family of four.

Inside the room you’ll find:

A closet stocked with robes and an umbrella
Standard furnishings typical of older Caribbean resorts
A bathroom with refillable toiletries

While the room was functional, the entire property feels like it’s in need of renovation. The decor and facilities feel dated compared to many modern Caribbean resorts.

However, one thing that absolutely makes up for it is the view.

Incredible Ocean Views

The oceanfront views are spectacular. Waking up and walking out toward the beach each morning was one of the highlights of the stay.

There’s something special about stepping outside and immediately seeing the turquoise water and wide stretch of sand.

Dining at Turtle Beach

Chelonia – The Main Buffet

The primary restaurant at the resort is Chelonia, which serves buffet-style meals.

Breakfast features a made-to-order omelette station, which is quite popular — expect a queue during busy periods.

Dinner options change nightly, which keeps things interesting. The food overall was good but not exceptional, which is fairly typical for many all-inclusive buffets.

Most evenings also include live music, adding to the relaxed Caribbean atmosphere.

The Beach

One of Turtle Beach’s biggest strengths is — unsurprisingly — the beach itself.

The sand is wide and beautiful, with sweeping views of the ocean.

However, our stay coincided with Hurricane Beryl, which created an unusual situation. We experienced the beach before, during, and after the storm.

Before the Hurricane

The beach was absolutely stunning, with clear water and soft sand.

The best section of beach is actually in front of the neighboring Sandals property, where the shoreline is particularly wide and scenic.

After Hurricane Beryl

The hurricane caused some minor damage across the resort, but the biggest impact was on the beach.

Sections of the shoreline had eroded significantly, particularly near the Sandals area.

Despite this, the beach remained beautiful overall and the resort staff worked quickly to restore the property.

Wildlife Around the Resort

One fun surprise throughout the property was the abundance of crabs.

They seem to be everywhere around the resort grounds.

Interestingly:

Turtle Beach has red crabs
Crystal Cove has white crabs

A small but memorable detail of the Barbados ecosystem.

Asiagos – Italian Restaurant

Turtle Beach also offers a sit-down dining option called Asiagos, which serves Italian cuisine.

The restaurant offers a full menu including:

Pasta dishes
Italian classics
A dessert menu

One memorable moment came when ordering a Tartufo Affogato, which was… not exactly served in the traditional way.

Still, it was a pleasant change from buffet dining.

Visiting Sister Properties

One of the perks of staying at Turtle Beach is that guests can also dine at two other Marriott all-inclusive properties nearby:

Waves Resort
Crystal Cove

Dining at these properties is included, but reservations are required through the activities desk.

This adds a lot of variety to the food options during your stay.

Waves Resort

We visited Waves, which is located on the west coast of Barbados.

The resort features a restaurant called Shiso, which serves Asian fusion cuisine.

Some of the dishes we tried included:

Futomaki
Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken Katsu Chow Mein

The food here felt a bit more refined than at Turtle Beach.

Waves also has a waterfront restaurant called Seascape, though the resort itself does not have much of a beach.

Crystal Cove

We also visited Crystal Cove for lunch.

This resort has a beautiful pool area with a cave bar, which is one of the most distinctive features.

Lunch was served at Reflections, the poolside restaurant with gorgeous ocean views.

The property overall felt very polished and scenic.

Activities at Turtle Beach

Turtle Beach offers a number of activities including:

Tennis on well-maintained courts
Beach and water activities
Live entertainment most evenings

The resort has a lively but relaxed atmosphere suitable for both couples and families.

Final Thoughts

Turtle Beach isn’t the newest or most modern resort in Barbados, and it definitely needs renovation.

However, it still has several strong advantages:

Pros

One of the best beaches among the Marriott all-inclusive properties
Beautiful oceanfront views
Access to multiple resorts for dining
Friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere

Cons

Property feels dated
Check-in experience could be better
Buffet food is good but not standout

Overall, Turtle Beach may actually be the best of the three Marriott all-inclusive properties in Barbados, primarily because of its fantastic beach.

If your priority is ocean views and beach access, this resort still delivers.

Barbados on Visit Karma

Turtle Beach Barbados Review – Marriott All-Inclusive on the South Coast

Turtle Beach Barbados Review – Marriott All-Inclusive on the South Coast

Arrival in Barbados

Oceanfront Room

Incredible Ocean Views

Dining at Turtle Beach

Chelonia – The Main Buffet

The Beach

Before the Hurricane

After Hurricane Beryl

Wildlife Around the Resort

Asiagos – Italian Restaurant

Visiting Sister Properties

Waves Resort

Crystal Cove

Activities at Turtle Beach

Final Thoughts