Good things about this hotel are the beach suites. We have a toddler and they are very spacious and right on the sand, a few metres from the tranquil carlisle bay water. Beach is lovely. Raked, sandy with attendants bringing fruit and bottled water throughout the day. The setting is superb. Kids club is okay and the movie theatre for kids is a godsend after many hours of outdoor play. Water sports are pretty good. Pool is fine, perhaps not that clean.

Problems are first and foremost the service. The main Indigo restaurant is a comedy, everyday without fail there was an issue. Sometimes just a forgotten order, sometimes just takes forever. Staff are hit and miss. Generally polite but some are incompetent as are the strange systems they use to pass orders between each other. Food is ok, a little too complicated and overdone. Choice is not great. Sadly my wife go a bug from the food for 3 days of the trip. I was served raw food towards the end and returned home with a similar bug so that was a serious shame. Service in another places also a bit shambolic, from reception through to the other restaurant and room service. Suites are great but shower well below a super class hotel.

We managed to have a great time and you can see this hotel aspires but if you are used to the serious top hotels then be warned. It was our 1st trip to the Caribbean so it may be something to do with that. Most of the clientele were 30-40 something parents with kids. If you're older and a couple avoid busy periods as I just dont think the service can cope.

One of the reasons we had a great time still was because our toddler loved it. The hotel serves free dinner for kids in the early evening and quite a nice play atmosphere transpires. There is a general nice ambience which suits kids. Sadly most of the kids seemed to arrive with hacking coughs which ours duely received after inevitable contact.

So overall a mixed bag. A great holiday still but this is hotel is not up there. They may fix it but few who had our experience would return when there are so many alternatives at luxury prices

We had a really great time here. We are Americans with two kids ages 6 and 7. The clientele was mainly British.

Our unit walked out right to the beach

The service was much better and faster than elsewhere in the Carribean.

We spent time sailing on their complimentary Hobie cats and hung out on the beach. They have complimentary umbrellas and the staff will get you drinks and serve you food.

Both breakfast and high tea are included.

My wife and I had the most chilled 10 nights at this wonderful hotel in August and I feel I have to post having read some of the stuff on here.

With regards to comparisons to other hotels in the area, we have also stayed at Cobblers Cove, Eastwinds, Malliouhana and La Sammana and would have no desire to return to any of them.

We have returned to Sandy Lane, Cap Juluca and Carlisle Bay and will continue to do so.

Who are we? We are in our late thirties, both have demanding international jobs and travel all the time. So what are we looking for? Quality time in a comfortable, relaxing place with good food and wine and untroubled by other people.

When we arrived home we discussed that you could write 2 reports on this hotel, you could be negative and complain about the fact the shower is very average, the service somewhat slow, the food perhaps not quite as good as it had been previously, the hotel cars that collect you from the airport a bit dodgy, the aircon in the gym not always on, the lack of lights when walking from the suites to the restaurants not ideal.

Or you could be positive and write about how you felt at the end of the holiday which was refreshed, relaxed and happy because in my view that is the point of Carlisle Bay.

Our days started with some exercise, a trip to the gym, a game of tennis or some yoga so we could at least return home within a stone of our departing weight. Followed at 10.15 to 10.30 with some breakfast at Indigo. No buffet scrum, a proper menu with numerous choices and friendly staff who knew our names within a day, ok the service was a little slow but we were hardly in a rush.

Retire to the spotless beach for a couple of hours with a book - towels etc provided as are cold bottles of water and other treats, cold fresh fruit, sorbets etc. Suddenly it is one o clock, time for a beer and we haven’t even moved, after a day the beach boy worked out we would order a beer at one, so he would check and then deliver.

Into Indigo for lunch, burger, pasta, salad, whatever we heard plenty of people asking for food not on the menu, a bottle of very nice rose friendly service and back to the beach to read the book, - one day, much to our horro, another couple sat within 10 yards of us on the beach which really annoyed us!

Beautifully made Martinis in the bar at about 8.30 followed by dinner at either East, where they do Asian food or Indigo where they offer more relaxed dining. Last time we went we preferred East, this time Indigo, don’t know why just the mood we were in. Oh and this is a place for linens not diamonds so keep chilling, as my wife said, you don’t feel like you are on display as you do in other hotels.

We have to return, on the last day we realised we still hadn’t been to the beach the other side of Indigo! There had been no time to visit it, we were far too busy doing nothing.

stayed at carlisle bay for 6 nights the week it reopened for the season. The resort is tastefully elegant and all the public areas and rooms are in top condition. I find it hard to beleive that we stayed at the same resort as the person's in the last few reviews because we found it to be absolutely wonderful. The food was very good and presented very nicely. Service was a bit slow at times but we were never in a rush anywhere. Overall had a great time and would go back in a heartbeat. Go and enjoy this beautiful resort.