Hello!
My group of 4 adults returned from our second two week stay at the GPBR on Monday February 18, 2008. Once again, we were very pleased with the staff and services. There have been no changes since our February 2007 visit. We were pleased to "hear" that Sandals is backing away from taking over the resort. I imagine more details will soon follow. It was great to see so many familiar faces. Service was excellent from check- in to food services. The food is still very good with a great selection on the buffets and a la carte menus. There is something for everyone and guess what? They have solved the outdoor dining bird situation to the best of their ability considering the dining room is outdoors LOLOL! The beach is still superb and even though it was windier than usual, the weather was beautiful. Never a problem getting beach chairs or shade at any time of the day. It is still a very unpretentious, relaxed atmosphere. We love that about this property. We flew to Barbuda again on CaribAir and were blown away for the third time! The beach that stretches from Coco Point past the K Club is absolutely out of this world. We were 4 of 9 people on the beach.....that is my kind of beach! We walked past Coco Point where the "point" ends. All I can say about the water and beach at this spot is that the closest comparison I can make is to cpmpare it to Moorea / Bora Bora in the South Pacific. Truly breathtaking...you have to see it to believe it! We lunched on the freshest and most delicious Antiguan Lobster at a beach side restaurant called Uncle Roddy's. We had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Radman George. If you have the chance to visit Barbuda, go for it!
Back on Antigua we rented a car for the duration of the holiday. We visited Nelson's Dockyard again, but this time for the excellent chicken wings prepared by a local lady who sets her hut up by the shops. It's just one of those things we have to do! We also enjoyed the ambiance of English Harbour on several occasions and highly recommend venturing to see this area of the island. We found the most delicious thin crust pizza and cappuccino!!!! Duty free shopping was much better than we expected with prices for jewellery comparable to Dutch St. Martin. My Mum came away with a phenomenal sparkler on her finger! We thoroughly enjoy the freedom and safety the island offers.
We stayed in a Garden View room that offered fantastic beach views. It is of my opinion that the Garden View room is the best room for overall "value" on the resort. The standard rooms are the smallest and are set back adjacent to the front desk with no real view in particular. The Garden View rooms are set around the Gazebo, the majority with beach views.
We really enjoyed the steel drum band that performs on Saturday nights and from 1:00pm - 3:00pm at Mary's Outhouse on Sundays. Ribs and chicken still to die for!
We are really hoping that things stay the same at the Pineapple. The rooms can use an update and the adult pool needs some work...but that's it. Let's not encourage major upgrades unless you are willing to pay the price differential that will be charged to pay for extensive renovations. We love the island and are currently searching long term stays on the island for winter 2009.
Bubbygirl