Serenity Spa At The Crane Hotel

So this is actually a review about the hotel since there wasn’t a different site for the hotel. The crane is located about 15 minutes from the airport, on the opposite side of the island with atlantic ocean. The beach is beautiful, but very rocky and high tides, not very good for swimming. The rooms looked old school with no updating and the air-​conditioning was broken. Not to mention they haven’t updated their sheets in forever and cleaning was mediocre. The restaurants at the hotel were mediocre as well. We went to Zen, which had decent food, but service was slow, our waitress was highly unprofessional, and dessert was terrible. L azure has breath taking views, with horrible service and the food was tasteless. The west indian chicken curry was potentially one of the worst I have had, and waited 45 minutes for 3 – 4 morsels. Also did not come with items it stated. The italian restaurant d’nofrio was okay. We also noticed that we had pre-​purchased a meal plan and the wait staff was very rude, unprofessional and unwelcoming. However on some occasions we noticed the staff was very rude without even knowing we were all inclusive members. I did notice the same staff was VERY friendly to our british counterparts. Not sure if they don’t like all inclusive customers, or Americans or people of indian heritage. Either way, after going to med school on Nevis for 2 years I would rather visit the four seasons there then come back here… overrated island, with overpromising and under delivering. Only gets a 2 for scenic location.

Beautiful place with awesome views, inviting pools everywhere, and the rooms are huge. We have been here many times and brought many family and friends with us. There have been some water supply issues but the general manager and his staff have been trying very hard to make things easy as possible to keep us comfortable and in vacation mode. Breakfast at Le’zure restaurant is very good and made to order with friendly wait staff who welcome you with a bright smile. I will be sure to update this post with more lovely details as time permits but for now I must go enjoy Barbados.

This review is for the spa only. I did not stay at the hotel, which is extremely beautiful and quite impressive overlooking Crane beach and the Atlantic. Serenity Spa is in the center of the Crane Hotel compound. Located next to the swimming pool overlooking the ocean. As with all places in Barbados, I was greeted with a smile and welcome making my check very easy. Though the spa was nearly empty there were plenty of people lounging away poolside, even more down below at the beach. But I’ll get to that shortly.
I’d gone for a swim earlier that morning, so I wanted to shower prior to my massage. Usually the spa has showers, but they were not working today. The hostess called the gym manager and made arrangements for me to shower there. The has just about all you might want in a holiday gym to keep your routine in check; weights, treadmill, T.V.‘s, stair climbers etc. They even offer sunrise/​sunset yoga on the beach. If you’d seen the view from this part of the hotel, you would absolutely make it to one or the other. The setting is spectacular!
The gym locker & shower room incorporates the warmth of old Colonial hardwood architecture, with the sleek coolness of modern granite and stainless steel. Each shower has a small nook where you can put your shower gear; towels, clothing, hair products etc. If you need more space there are several lockers just outside of the shower area in the locker room.
Once in the massage room I was expecting it to be warmer than it was. It wasn’t cold, but compared to the warmth outside and the fact that I would be sans clothing I could have done without the chill in the room. The massage was great! The removal of tension in my shoulders by the rolling hands of the masseuse was just what I needed. Her hands were not the softest. Her hands were not rough, but they were not baby soft as I was expecting. Though not a disappointment, it still remained in the back of my mind. Front and back were rubbed, kneaded and patted over, while acoustic music played in the background. The fragrance of the products was an earthy aroma like eucalyptus, mint or something that opens the senses. This was my first ever massage — it lasted 50 minutes. I’d rate it a B+ overall.
The facial was also relaxing. She did three passes of a scrub, towel soak and moisturize. The room was so dark however, I wondered how she could see much of anything. I expected her to open the curtains, which were actually hiding the view of the sea. Nevertheless the products were amazing — Sothys of Paris, of course. MY skin felt baby soft in the end! For the facial I would rate it a solid B — it also lasted 50 minutes.
Once clothes and relaxed, I took the elevator down to Crane beach. I wish it weren’t as cloudy as it became that day, because the photo’s I have do not do justice to the aqua blue water. The sand is a powder soft pink, the water is lukewarm with small waves coming ashore. There are blue lounge chairs on the sand to enjoy the sounds of the sea and take up the beauty around you.
Overall it was a nice spa experience, nothing spectacular. I did a couples massage along my facial and the total came to $ 651.00BBD. Not too excessive, but there were some elements I wish that were included or offered. Champagne for example or a steam room. I think I was just expecting a little more.