At last... this hotel is getting the correct reviews! We stayed here last year at about the same time, and had a great holiday, so much so, I booked the hotel provisionally direct with the then GM. Unfortunately, my booking went astray - the GM left to have a baby, and Tony took over. At the time of our visit we were told there were many things happening by way of refurbishment, and that we could look forward to a superior 4 to 5 star hotel in 12 months time. I eventually booked with BA for the hotel at a price cheaper than I got direct - so please note!

I will try and be as fair as I can with this review - bearing in mind this is our second visit.

There have been a lot of staff changes - there are now, I guess, about 50 Phillipine staff there, and a great job they are doing too. They are so polite and great workers, some having left 5 star hotels in the Phillipines to come here. The remainder are mainly Tobagan, and I was so pleased that several of those we really rated before are retained - Stephanie, Valerie, and Naseem to name but a few.

Other changes include new umberellas around the pool - a complete disaster because the old stands they are in are top heavy, and one gust of wind and they blow over!! They are also very flimsy and break easily - some 5 or 6 were damaged during our 2 weeks.

Food hasn't changed that much since last year - it is either excellent, or poor - never a happy medium. We had some superb fish dishes, steaks etc., but then there were a so-called rack of lamb (neck of lamb vaguely disguised), and pork fillet - would sole anybodies shoes! However, overall, a 6/10 for the food - I have eaten much much worse in many other hotels.

Cleanliness was superb - room was spotless, and all other rooms, toilets etc, regularly cleaned to a very high standard. The pool was kept in clean condition too.

As for our room, we had one on the second floor of the "bottom block" - a superior ocean view room like the one we had last year. Beautiful view, but in dire need of a refurb, which is going on all around. I will not comment on the general facilities in the room except to say they were tired, but I know that will be rectified in the near furure.

Entertainmnet was the same as last year, so I am unable to be too critical, having seen it before - but we enjoyed - especially Michael Baker, a singer with a difference in that he involves the audience with great humour - more later! *

On site a lot of the time is Ellis, who we befriended last year - he seems to do more for "customer relations" than the apponted young lady, who we hardly ever saw, except when she was writing the notice of forthcoming events in the lounge! Ellis runs his own guide business, which we didn't use this year, but I can highly recommend his island tour which is so, so enjoyable and interesting - ask for Michael to take you, who knows flora and fauna like the back of his hand. Ellis also organised a rental car for us - thats another story! **

As for the beach, we were disappointed this year - it is a public beach, and kept quite clean by the hotel, and sister hotel next door, but is suffering somewhat from a spillage of what appears to be coal dust. The palm leaf umberellas are in great need of refurbishemnt - very tatty, and the recliners, plastic - are very hard, with no matresses. Both my wife and I have bad backs so had to stay at the pool over the duration, where the seats are quite comfortable.

Spa treatments, as last year were superb, and as they are included in the price of your stay, well worth the money.

Now - why the heading "32 Club" ?

When we arrived, there were some 40 or 50 guests most of whom left after a couple of days, with a new influx - which made the total of 32 in an hotel with accomodation for - what - 200? It was a great "gang" with many great characters as well. (Pictures attached). That made our holiday .... * One night, the singer Michael Baker really got us going, so much so, I invited Dave - a fellow Welshman, to have a dance!! I may have had a drink or two!) Dave is a spitting image of Russ Abott, and between us we really got the audience (the 32 Club) into fits of laughter, culminating in me flying across the floor after snapping my Achilles tendon completely, demolishing a glass table and strewing glasses everywhere - great time - not!!

** The car we arranged to hire through Ellis was very comfortable, servicable, and the owner's pride and joy. We went through a place called Culloden, and as we did, there was an almighty bang - thought the engine had blown up - but 2 youths had thrown a boulder on to the car, which created a big dent in the roof. Thank God it didn't come through the screen! So beware - this happens quite often I was told!!

Lastly, a word about the new GM, Tony - he is really trying his best to get things right, with what I can only assume is quite a tight budget. He is slowly winning, but there is still a lot to do, and the "major refurbishment" that was supposed to have been carried out by the beginning of this year, to our minds only includes minor alterations, paint jobs, cleaning roofs and so on, although a great deal of work appears to have been carried out, and is still ongoing, to the grounds - tree/bush felling etc. Compared with other hotels on the island - we've seen a few - I reckon Le Grand Courlan has equalled them in the star rating, which, don't forget, is a Caribbean rating, not London, New York etc.

All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay again, and would recommend anyone to go there - relax, lay back, and forget any silly little things that crop up - I've mentioned a few, but they certainly didn't detract from our enjoyment!