We booked our honeymoon a year ago, and with the negative comments made by some of the previous guests, we were a bit nervous of the holiday. We didn't need to worry as we had a fantastic time!

The staff at the hotel are the jewel in its crown! We found almost all of the staff to be very friendly and exceptionally helpful. Of particular note were Stephanie and Akeisha in the bar areas and Valerie, Ryan, Isa, Bobby and Kenwyne in the restaurants. An example of this was when my wife was talking to Ryan about missing out on having a "Roti" (a local curry and bread dish, worth trying!!) and the next lunchtime Ryan dropped in when he was on a day off with a Roti for her, you can't buy friendship and service like that!

The hotel has a team of Philipino staff as well who work in all areas of the hotel, including giving the hotel a facelift at the moment.

The room we occupied had a sea view with a balcony and was quite large in size. The problem some previous guests have had with break-in's from the balcony has been addressed by the hotel and ours had a brass clasp to lock the balcony doors completely from the inside. The bed was very comfy and the room was always kept clean and turned down in the evening. The bathrooms could do with being modernised however but they were kept spotlessly clean. We did have an issue with our toilet on the first couple of days of our holiday but within a couple of minutes of calling reception someone came down and sorted it for us.

We found the Spa treatments to be very good and an exceptionally relaxing. Again, it was kept spotlessly clean and was ran very well by the manager Lorraine. When we needed to change some of our appointment timings they were very accommodating and helpful.

All the food at the hotel was A la Carte and was very nice. There were 3 choices for starters including soup and salad, four main course choices and a vegetarian option. The menus seem to rotate on a weekly basis but there was plenty of choice. There is a lot of fish in the starters but, as I found, if you don't like fish and want something else have a chat to the waiting staff and they will do their best to sort something else for you. The presentation of the dishes was superb and all the food was served piping hot.

The amenities in the hotel are good (pool, spa, gym & bars) but the tennis courts are in a bit of a sorry state and one of them was being used to store building materials. Also the Buccaneers Beach bar will be shut for a while after being badly damaged in a storm.

In all this is an excellent hotel with a very pro-active manager who will look into and act on any comments made to him, we saw a few examples of this while we stayed there. They are always looking to improve and with a little time and plenty of feedback to them they will have an outstanding resort.

We would defiantly return to Le Grand Courlan in the future, and look forward to doing so. Thanks again to all the staff for making our honeymoon so special.

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!

Trip advisor very misleading!
We think treat people like you would like to be treated yourself, all the staff from breakfast to the cleaners were very efficient and polite and very helpful. Resort when refurb is finished will be very comfortable. Spa was just great, we were very spoilt, thanks to Lorraine and all her staff for being so professional and accommodating. Speak to Tony the General Manager and listen to his ideas which are already being put into place. Rooms very spacious, lots of hot water, very comfortable bed!
Thanks to Kenwin, Ryan, Anesia, Akeisha for making our holiday with our friends so special, last but not least the man himself, Errol (Mr Thomas) who we would like to thank for his friendship and honesty and for showing us so much of this lovely Island, his family and his friends................we will return
PLease do not dismiss this Island or the Hotel as the people are the best we have come across in all our Caribbean travels!

Read trip advisor prior to going,was slightly nervous. Dont be ,Great holiday great place ,fantastic staff,who are friendly and cannot do enough for you,Treat people as you wish to be treated thats all I can say.
The people who are whining please go elsewhere as you did not make the effort,
It is not the Ritz but it does not claim to be,Yes it needs some work but talk to Tony Suttile and he will tell you what is planned.
Anyway to Errol,Kenwin,Ryan,Akeisha,Anesia and the rest of the staff thanks for everything,and thanks to the GANG,ie all that where there between 14th feb and 28th feb .Great Birthday ,Thanks
N+P Binfield