TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

Not for kids, beach was too rough and half the pools were adults only. Restaurants had the same food every day. Might go back to Barbados won’t stay here

The beach is dreadful; it is beautiful, but completely unswimmable because of all the jagged rocks. The staff expects you to plan your vacation around their schedule (you have to reserve everything--even meals--days in advance). I've stayed at several all-inclusives in the Carribbean (and elsewhere), but I've never stayed at an all-inclusive with so few food options and such restricted hours of service. The bathroom door wouldn't close all the way--and even fell off the hinges several times.

We stayed at the O2 for 5 nights as the first half of a split stay, travelling as a group of 4 adults with a 2-year-old and a 73-year-old. We arrived after a very stressful journey including lost luggage, so perhaps weren't in the best frame of mind — but even accounting for that, the O2 was a genuine disappointment from start to finish. CHECK-IN Front desk staff repeatedly took phone calls mid-conversation with us and asked us to re-complete forms we had already submitted online. Not a great first impression after a very long travel day. LOST LUGGAGE RESPONSE Our bags had been left off our flight. When we asked if the hotel could help with basics for our toddler — nappies, toothbrushes — we were told to go to the supermarket. For a hotel claiming 5-star ultra all-inclusive status, this was frankly unacceptable. ROOMS We had booked the highest category of rooms available, yet they bore no resemblance to what was advertised. They had the look and feel of a self-catering apartment hastily converted into a hotel room — no natural light in the bedroom and a falling apart kitchen. Not what you expect at this price point. FOOD The biggest let-down. What was billed as a Caribbean BBQ was dry chicken and dry fish with rice — no BBQ in sight, on any evening. The buffets were sparse and repetitive throughout our stay. We tried the "high end" restaurant — edible, but at best average pub food, not the special dining experience it was billed as. For a property marketing itself as ultra all-inclusive, the food quality was consistently below standard. It became a running joke amongst guests. SUN LOUNGERS The hotel has a written policy of no reserving sun loungers. In practice, by 7am every lounger around the family pool was covered in towels with no guests anywhere near them. Staff did nothing to enforce their own policy on any day of our stay. As a family of five with a toddler, this left us sitting at bar tables or on the floor. A small thing perhaps, but emblematic of the general lack of management oversight throughout. ROOM AMENITIES Our booking included spa credit, cocktail-making classes and access to an additional restaurant. None of this was explained at check-in, and when we asked we received vague responses. We don't believe we received everything we paid for. FACILITIES One room had a broken AC unit making it unbearably hot, the other was locked on cold. Maintenance came but resolved neither issue. The poolside toilets were in an unusable state throughout our stay. SERVICE With a handful of exceptions, service was delivered begrudgingly. Attempting to get food for our 2-year-old before 12:30pm was met with resistance — eventually granted as a "one-off favour," as if it were an unreasonable request at a 5-star hotel. On check-out I gave honest feedback when asked, and the response was effectively "oh well" — no apology, no acknowledgement whatsoever. THE SILVER LINING We moved on to the Colony Club for the second half of our stay, which is actually rated lower than the O2 but delivered everything this hotel should have — warm staff who knew us by name, excellent and varied food, and genuine hospitality. The contrast was stark and made the O2 experience even harder to justify at this price point. We paid a significant amount for this holiday. The O2 fell well short of what was sold to us and I would not return or recommend it.

Service is atrocious. Lots of staff not showing much attention to customers. Food basic. Cramped and don't start me on sunbed wars. Would never come back. If sensible don't book.

Great all inclusive resort. Friendliest staff we have ever encountered. Room was spacious and very clean. Highly recommend.