1 Bedroom Ocean View Apartment The Crane, Barbados

Barbados is warm and breezy, and The Crane was a lovely place to unwind for a week and get away from the cold. Our suite had a private pool, full kitchen, washer dryer and two full bathrooms, with a king sized four poster bed, chaise lounge and sofa. The room was spacious, with classic furniture and generous appointments. The pool stayed crystal clear and was always just right for cooling off. It was cleaned every day, and the resort workers were friendly and professional. There's a little village on site with a lounge, gym, restaurants, shops and general store. Live music in the main square each evening gave it a really nice, relaxed feel. The somewhat private beach has a glass elevator and chaise lounges. We wanted surfing waves, so we took taxis to nearby beaches (freights bay). We ate dinner at the resort every night. The Carriage House was convenient, and Zen restaurant was our favorite by far. We loved it.

We went on vacation with another couple and stayed in a two-bedroom interval ownership unit with a garden pool. The interior unit felt dark and damp, and even the dehumidifier in the second bedroom didn't clear the musty, almost mildew smell. The two twin beds in that room were incredibly small and low. It was also very hard to adjust the thermostats. The ceiling units are controlled by remotes, and we couldn't figure them out easily. The grounds seemed short on maintenance, and sea grass covered the beach. The winds were so strong that the beach wasn't practical to use. I was surprised by the lower-quality housing outside the gate, too. I was disappointed with my stay at the Crane. I'm not sure I'll return to Barbados, but if I do, I'd likely stay at the Hilton resort on the East Coast.

The restaurants had delicious food, and the resort was beautiful with staff who were always wonderful and accommodating. We spent a week at the Crane before boarding a cruise ship. The resort staff arranged an airport pickup for the night we arrived, and our driver Oneil was waiting for us. We had such a good time with him that first night that we used him as a tour guide for the rest of the week. He showed us the sights and recommended restaurants and rum tastings. We highly recommend asking for him during your stay at the Crane. He's truly the best!

Our trip was canceled because the airport shut down, but they told us we couldn't get a refund or credit for the room we reserved, which cost over 3k. We were told it was NOT their problem. We tried to get another flight, but they also said our reservation would be canceled if we didn't check in the next day. This is the most unprofessional company I've ever dealt with. THEY ARE A RIPOFF, BEWARE.