Hotel Coconut Court Beach

A stone's throw away from the Garrison historical area in Christchurch, Coconut Court Beach Hotel is a short 10 minute drive to St Lawrence Gap, and about 25 minutes from the Grantley Adams International Airport.

While there isn't a huge, varied amount of leisure facilities on site, Coconut Court offers its guests preferential rates for water sports, activities and excursions undertaken outside the hotel.

Coconut Court is a cheap and cheerful, family-owned affair and the guests seemingly wouldn't have it any other way. Its infrastructure dates from the mid 70's and it shows but no one seems to mind. The lobby, a long, narrow room decorated with vibrant silk paintings, immediately conveys a casual, homey feel. An outdoor staircase takes guests from the reception at street level to the pool deck, restaurant, and eventually, the beach. On the pool deck guests will find a medium-sized pool lined with a handful of plastic sun loungers, a raised kid's paddling pool, a large Jacuzzi and a smattering of outdoor dining settings. Opposite the pool deck is a small games room with darts and table tennis. The hotel's pale green buildings are awash in climbing plants and contain sea-facing rooms. From Reception to the restaurant, an effort has been made to ensure guests have an authentic Caribbean experience, with a down-to-earth and relaxed atmosphere.

There are 112 rooms at Coconut Court, divided into the following categories: superior beachfront, superior ocean view and standard ocean view, all with more or less the same layout and décor. Some rooms were refurbished in 2009 and all rooms are sea-facing, even if that means that only some can claim full sea views. There are four floors of accommodation however no elevators throughout the hotel, therefore some guests may find their access difficult. The rooms are clean and spacious with simple furnishings and décor. But make no mistake, accommodation at Coconut Court is not luxurious, rather, comfortable. While we appreciated the large balconies, we found the bathrooms in each room a tight squeeze!

The Deck Restaurant is at the heart of Coconut Court, open everyday for informal dining between 7:00am and 11:00PM. This open-air restaurant claims beach views and although simple, boasts personality and laidback charm. In the mornings a hearty continental buffet breakfast is laid out, with local pastries and a selection of tropical fruits. At lunch, guests can choose from a simple menu of salads, sandwiches and burgers, with starters going for between BBD$8 - BBD$12 (£2.50 - £3.75) and mains around BBD$20 (£6.25). At dinner, mains go up to roughly BBD$26 - BBD$45 (£8.10 - £14.05). While dining remains good value, we were disappointed that the menu contains largely international options and very few local dishes, even if the daily lunch special is always a local specialty.

Meanwhile, nestled in the sand and overlooked by The Deck is the Sea Grape Beach Bar, open from 10:00am until sunset. Essentially a small, wooden shack painted yellow and blue, it is accompanied by several picnic tables scattered below the palm trees and almond trees. Entertainment is provided four times a week, with karaoke nights, live music and DJs to spin 70's and 80's music. Other weekly happenings include the management's complimentary rum punch party and the Sunday Bajan buffet lunch.

The beach is wide and blessed with natural shade from several palms and almond trees. A pleasant bathing spot with soft, white sand and warm Caribbean waters, the beach at Coconut Court is probably less crowded than many other places on the island's south coast. A breakwater was added in 1991 to make swimming safe all year round. Plastic loungers are available free of charge and the first beach towel is complimentary; afterwards they are charged at US$2 (£1.25) per wash.

RHP