Sugar Cane Review – Sept 25, 14 nights, All Inclusive
Group: 8 persons in 4 garden bungalows
Overall:
We had a really lovely stay. The welcome drinks and cold towels were a thoughtful touch after a long journey.
Food
The food was excellent. Guests can enjoy à la carte dining three nights a week, with the other evenings reserved for themed nights such as Caribbean Night, BBQ, Fish Fry, and International Buffet.
Breakfast started out as table service but switched to buffet style after two days. The buffet service was a little shaky at first, but it was clear the team was making an effort to get it right. Once it settled, it actually worked better than the menu breakfasts.
Restaurants are rotated depending on the theme—sometimes in the Chattel Bar (lower down on the complex) and sometimes poolside—keeping things fresh and interesting.
Most drinks are included all day, with only imported brands (like Guinness or champagne) at an extra cost.
Rooms
Rooms were comfortable and clean, with well-functioning air conditioning. Any maintenance issues were dealt with promptly.
Staff
The staff are excellent—friendly, attentive, and always willing to help. Special thanks to Rohan, the bartender, and Tameshka, waitress/bartender, who went above and beyond in friendliness and service.
Extras
Lots of activities are included—just ask at reception. Options include:
Glass-bottom boat tour
Guided gully walk
Salsa dancing (we didn’t try this one)
Cocktail demonstrations
Cooking demonstrations
Free shuttle into Speightstown or to the beach
On themed nights there’s live music, with some performers taking requests and encouraging dancing and singalongs, which made for fun evenings.
Laundry: Available at an extra cost of 8 BBD per token.
Downsides
Arrival: One of our rooms wasn’t ready, resulting in a long wait in the heat after a long flight. Drinks were offered, but it would have been better if staff had suggested waiting in the air-conditioned Green Monkey Lounge by the pool. Not knowing it was there made the wait uncomfortable.
Location: The hotel is farther from the beach than many others. If you’re aware of this, it’s fine, but hiring a car is recommended if you want to explore. In compensation, the hotel offers plenty of included outings.
Food variety: The à la carte menu stays the same throughout, so unless you vary your choices it can feel repetitive. Desserts are also always the same, which became a running joke in our group. At the Chattel Bar, dessert options are more limited since ice cream isn’t available (they said it’s too far from the kitchen). Lunches were generous portions, and most days we didn’t have room for dessert anyway. On the two poolside nights, there was more variety, and after a few days the team also made an effort to add some gluten-free options. One missed step was that food intolerances and allergies weren’t asked about on arrival. For example, when the gluten-free guest in our party found out the chicken was breaded (though not listed on the menu), staff asked them to complete a form—something that should have been done from the start.
Music: On Fish Fry nights at the Chattel Bar, the music was too loud for the small space, making conversation difficult.
Wi-Fi: The Wi-Fi password changed midway through our stay, but no notice was left in the rooms. We only found out by word of mouth from other guests. The connection itself was patchy, especially in the mornings and evenings.
Highlights
Exceptionally friendly and helpful staff, especially Rohan and Tameshka.
A quieter atmosphere (thanks to visiting off-season), meaning lots of space and peace.
Great variety of themed nights and entertainment.
