O2 Beach Club and Spa reviews
732 TripAdvisor reviews
Could do better with service - Overall had a good stay
Dawn D (Sicklerville, United States) on Jan 31, 2025
My husband and I stayed at O2 Beach Club for 5 nights, 6 days in mid January. Rooms: We had a first floor ocean front swim up room. The views were nice but not much privacy keeping the drapes open as there are lounge chairs situated right in front which seemed to be the prized chairs as most were taken by 8am. We did not use the swim up pool at all as we enjoyed the beach every day. Our room was clean, fridge was fully stocked with waters, sodas and liquor and restocked each day. There is also s mini keurig coffee machine as well. Daily room service provided. Bathroom was luxurious with a soaking tub and rainfall shower. We did have an issues with no hot water for our first shower there but we called and issue was fixed right away. Weather: We had mostly sunny days and it was warm. Don't trust the weather apps. It said rain daily on those apps but we had mostly sun. There were super high winds that week all day long like 30mph gusts. This lasted the whole week. A few pop up showers which cleared after 10-15 minutes. Drinks: Cocktail menu was very appealing but most drinks tasted watered down. Your safe if you choose champagne or wine to drink. Food: We reserved Oro 2 weeks in advance at the suggestion of others and dined there two nights. The food there was excellent however the service was quite long and not too attentive. The buffet restaurant was just ok. There is a tapas restaurant with very small portions but we chose right and ordered pretty much 2 of each! This restaurant however closes super early 8:30pm. Entertainment: Usually just 1-2 musicians for light ambient background music. This is not a party place. Very low key chill vibe. No problems finding beach chairs with umbrellas but like others mentioned cushions are worn down and yes some had mold. Pretty much zero beach side service. We had to walk up to the bar each time for drinks. Also no beach/pool side food available to just each lunch outside. Spa: Chose a 1 hour massage and 1 hour facial. Prices were very reasonable and I enjoyed the spa very much. Overall we had a good stay but for the price expected much better service and food could be better for the buffet.
A little disappointed after reading reviews
Andy S (Northampton, United Kingdom) on Jan 31, 2025
O2 Resort Review - 14 Nights (December 2024) Booking with TUI When booking through TUI, be aware that guests are only entitled to dine at Oro restaurant for two nights per week, subject to availability. This is apparently mentioned in the terms and conditions, though I couldn’t find this information upon reviewing the details. Additionally, the hotel is a non-smoking property, which is not adequately highlighted prior to booking. If you encounter any issues, do not expect much help from the TUI representative; they do not liaise with the hotel. Beach The beach is somewhat uncomfortable due to a combination of stones, coral, and shells, making it hard on the feet. The sea is also quite rough, with strong waves, which may not be ideal for families with children or those seeking a gentle swim. Compared to other resorts we’ve visited on the west coast, this beach falls short for casual swimmers. Pool The pools are satisfactory, with the adult pool being colder but refreshing in the 30°C heat. The sun loungers near Bluefin restaurant have new mattresses, while those by the adult pool are larger and more comfortable, though showing signs of wear. Poolside service was absent during the first week but greatly improved during the second week. Oro Restaurant Oro is undoubtedly the standout restaurant, where the best service and attention are offered. The piano bar adds an elegant touch upon arrival, resembling a high-end London restaurant. The bar team mixes excellent cocktails, and the food is exceptional—well-prepared and beautifully presented. While the service can be a little slow between courses, it’s never a major issue. Just have another drink while you wait. However, be aware that access to Oro is limited to two nights per week, and bookings are required in advance (can be booked two weeks prior to your stay). All restaurants serve premium sprits and good quality house wines. Bluefin Restaurant Our experience at Bluefin was initially disappointing. On BBQ night, the three meats offered were overcooked and tough, which was a common complaint among other diners. There were also issues with long wait times. After discussing our concerns with Chad, the food manager, and Mitchell, the head chef, improvements were made, including bringing a chef from Oro to oversee the cooking. From that point, the quality of food and service significantly improved, and we enjoyed lunch there most days. Elements Restaurant Breakfast at Elements was good, particularly the omelette station, which was a highlight. The fruit selection and bread were also excellent. However, lunch and dinner were generally underwhelming. The buffet food often appeared dry or greasy, and the meats were frequently overcooked. One example was the cheese ravioli, which had dried out, causing the pasta to stick together in a clumpy mass. Smoking Policy The hotel has a strict no-smoking policy on the grounds, which includes only a small bench by the beach as the designated smoking area. This location is inconvenient, especially if you’re in a group, as you need to leave your seating to use the area. Additionally, if it rains, smokers must stand on wet sand. 10:45 pm three people smoking on edge of beach only two other guests approximately 20m away and security arrive telling us to move 5m onto beach smoking area, really!!! We raised these concerns with the management and suggested that better facilities—such as a table and chairs—be provided for smokers. Time will tell if any changes are made. Room Our seafront room in the newer adult building was ideal, with a spacious bathroom that featured a large walk-in shower, a sizable bathtub, and plenty of counter space with White Company toiletries. The queen-sized bed was very comfortable, though the pillows were a bit lumpy. On occasion, not all towels were replaced during housekeeping (e.g., no hand or face towels), but they were typically provided when the turndown service came around. We did experience a small leak from the air conditioning, but it was not disruptive. Spa On seventh floor with amazing views We had a Bajan body blast great for the skin and my wife had ageless glow facial very relaxing. Staff Are generally polite and always try to accommodate your requests Entertainment Even though the entertainment runs from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm at Elements, by 10:00 pm the area is usually deserted. There aren’t enough seating options outside the restaurant to enjoy a drink or relax after dinner. Management and Customer Service We raised several concerns during our stay, and the management was proactive in addressing them. They are open to feedback and prefer guests to voice their issues while still at the hotel, rather than leaving negative reviews afterward. We appreciated their willingness to listen and try to resolve problems. With a new general manager in place, there is potential for further improvements. Summary Having read a number of reviews and one in a national newspaper rating O2 as top five hotel in Barbados I’m not sure how they rated so high! I wouldn’t recommend this resort for families or anyone seeking vibrant on-site nightlife. However, the nearby Gap and Oistins provide excellent options if you’re willing to venture out. Would we stay again? If the resort takes our feedback on board and makes the necessary improvements, we would consider returning to O2, but only for a week, and perhaps combining it with a stay on the west coast for a better beach experience.
Excellent hotel
610LindaS (Doncaster, United Kingdom) on Jan 29, 2025
Been four times to this hotel as we love the location , it is only a short walk to bars and restaurants at St Lawrence Gap. Also, the food is really good and the staff are really friendly and nothing is too much trouble. Only twenty minutes from the airport
Incredibly disappointing
6333jess (Norwich, United Kingdom) on Jan 24, 2025
The number of good reviews below is a bit mind-boggling because the experience we had at the O2 was so far away from anything that anyone else is describing. We arrived to confusion - we had booked through LastMinute but the hotel did not honour the room type we had paid for initially, telling us that we had had an ‘upgrade’ to a swim up room that we didn’t want, which was a lower room category and cost than what we had paid for. This was eventually resolved after several hours but was a difficult start to the stay. The room was okay but not in a great state of repair - the curtains fell down when we tried to close them (see photo below) and it all felt a bit shabby. Housekeeping was inconsistent - every time we walked out of the room there were empty bottles, plates of food etc from other rooms left on the floor, which in one case sat in the same place for nearly 3 days before anyone moved them. No room service which is fairly unusual for a ‘5 star’ hotel - on two occasions, a member of staff quite simply let themselves into the room without knocking to ask if there was anything we wanted. Lots of sunbeds by the pool and beach, but the pink beds around the pool were all growing black mould (see picture) and lots of the beach beds were broken or falling apart. The food was …. Terrible. Again, I don’t know if we were just very unlucky based on other reviews but almost everything we ate was horrible to the point of being inedible. Club sandwich consisting of one lettuce leaf, one slice of tomato and burnt, charred chicken on soggy bread … lukewarm, claggy buffet food morning and evening … the hotel claims to have 5 restaurants, but realistically there are two main locations - Elements and Bluefin - a rooftop ‘tapas’ bar with a very small selection, a grab and go area in the lobby and then Oro, which was the closest thing to a decent meal that we had but you can’t eat here every night. Everything is buffet morning and evening on two nights a week and the selection and quality of the food was appalling. On the last day we waited 1 hour and 45 minutes for a club sandwich and some quesadillas, which both arrived cold and tasting of smoke. There were a couple of good, friendly members of staff who went out of their way to help us - Omarion and Carolann were great - but many more surly, if not downright rude servers. We asked for service on the beach, for example, and the dedicated beach server held a finger up in my face and shook her head, before collecting two glasses and returning to take an order 20 minutes later. It was all just so, so disappointing and really exacerbated by the cost - nearly £1000 GBP a night will give you an amazing experience in so many of the world’s top hotels and this just felt like a complete joke. It was so sad, ruined the end of our trip to the Caribbean - will definitely never return. We always search hotels on Condé Nast etc before we travel and so before we stayed felt secure in the knowledge that this was one of Condé Nast’s top hotels in Barbados - but they have got it so, so wrong, I am astonished that they are recommending at all let alone placing it in the same league as Sandy Lane, Colony Club, etc. If you are going to spend this kind of money on a holiday then let it be somewhere clean, friendly and with good food … and that is not the O2 beach club.
Incredible resort
Cassandra C (Toronto, Canada) on Jan 23, 2025
O2 is a gorgeous, luxury hotel with outstanding service. The staff are incredible - so accommodating and friendly. The grounds are gorgeous with many different areas to relax - different pools (adult only and child friendly), rooftop lounging areas, hot tubs and a beach that’s steps away from the hotel. The food was top notch. The best food I’ve had at a resort by far. The upscale restaurant, Oro is a must visit. This was an incredible fine dining experience. We travelled here with our infant daughter and the staff ensured we had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. HIGHLY recommend and we will definitely be back!