History
Budge and Cynthia O'Hara (centre and left) with Joy Huggins in the 1960sIn the 1950s, Budge and Cynthia O’Hara set sail for Barbados from England, spending their honeymoon on a passenger cargo ship. Their plan was to spend 3 years there as Budge had been commissioned as general manager of Coral Reef Club, a fledgling hotel that was slowly being developed on 12 acres of beachfront property, with cottages and small coral stone buildings as its charming accommodations.
Budge took to the challenge with a real sense of adventure, bringing his charm and expertise to the task. Having managed one of the top luxury hotels in the UK in the 1950s, his experience in the industry was a solid platform on which to creatively develop a unique hotel. Cynthia applied her stylish flair to beautifying the property, decorating the accommodations, ensuring every arriving guest was greeted by fresh flowers in their room and creating a warm and welcoming environment for returning guests. They loved the island and Barbados became their home. Budge also gave much of his time to the hotel industry, becoming President of the Hotel Association, and sat on the board for many years. It was a very happy union, both between Budge and Cynthia and the O’Haras and Barbados, which has since spanned many decades.
Coral Reef circa 1975They had two sons, Patrick and Mark, and a daughter, Karen, who spent happy childhood years growing up in these beautiful surroundings and more time in the water than out! They went on to be educated in the UK and, one by one, returned not only to the island, but to the family business, with their spouses, Patrick married to Sharon, Mark to Maria, and Karen to Wayne Capaldi, who runs the sister hotel, The Sandpiper, built in 1970 by Budge and Cynthia. There are eight grandchildren who are young adults now, each making their own way in different fields.
Budge died in 1995, leaving behind a tremendous legacy. Very much part of the vision for the transformation of Coral Reef Club, it was special for the family to know how heartily he shared their enthusiasm for the future development of the property. The younger generation forged ahead with their ambitious plans, rebuilding much of hotel and bringing it into the 21st century, all the while preserving the personal service and family atmosphere for which the property was renowned. With an exceptionally high rate of repeat guests the family continues to strive to maintain all that makes the property special.
From left to right: Mark & Maria O’Hara, Cynthia O’Hara, Karen & Wayne Capaldi, Patrick & Sharon O’HaraLocation
Coral Reef Club is perfectly placed along the beautiful West Coast of Barbados, just a 15 minute walk from historic Holetown with its array of restaurants and boutiques, and a short drive from some popular beach bars. Lush gardens sweep through the hotel grounds to a white sandy beach, perfect both for sunbathing and for enjoying the welcome shade from of the casuarina trees. To learn more about our accommodation click here.
Policies
Minimum Stay Requirements
There are minimum night requirements for stays within or overlapping the following periods:
February
01 – 28 February 2025 7 nights
June
28 – 30 June 2024 3 nights
November
23 – 30 November 2024 7 nights
22 – 29 November 2025 7 nights
December
20 December 2024 – 08 January 2025 10 nights
However for guests departing the hotel on or before the 27th December there is no minimum stay requirement.
Child Policy
Children are welcome year round except 20 January – 28 February when children under the age of 12 are not accepted. Children under 16 years cannot occupy a room alone (not applicable to interconnecting rooms). Children under 5 years of age are not allowed in the restaurant or lounge after 7.00 p.m.
Closure Dates
The hotel will close for annual refurbishment and staff holidays during the period 16 August 2025 – 01 October 2025.
Dress Code
Our dress code is elegantly casual. At breakfast and lunch, we ask that ladies wear cover-ups in the Restaurant and gentlemen wear short sleeves and no hats. After 7.00 p.m. gentlemen are required to wear long trousers in the Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge. Shorts are permitted on The Reef Terrace only. On Christmas night and New Year’s Eve the dress code is Glamorous. Jackets are optional. To make a dinner reservation, please contact us here.
Room Rate Levy
There is a Government Room Rate Levy of US $17.68 (Bds. $35.00) daily. The levy is paid locally prior to departure and appears as a nightly charge on your account.
Standard Cancellation Policy
We recommend that our guests take out insurance against cancellation fees which are follows:
9 January 2024 – 15 December 2024
9 January 2025 – 14 December 2025
For cancellations within 30 days of arrival a charge of 50% of the total room rate will be charged. In the case of early checkouts 50% of the remaining stay will be applied.
15 December 2024 – 08 January 2025
For cancellations within 30 days of arrival 100% of the total room rate will be charged. In the case of early check outs 100% of the remaining stay will be applied.
No Show Policy
No Shows 100% penalty will apply. Therefore the remaining 50% room rate will be charged to your credit card.
Deposit Policy
For confirmation of bookings:
1 to 3 nights: full payment is required.
4+ nights : 50% of payment is required.
This can be paid by Wire Transfer, Credit Card or International Debit Card.
Guest Reviews
We have just returned to UK from another fantastic stay at Coral Reef Club on the wonderful island of Barbados. Each time we return to the UK we are left with amazing memories of the hotel, set in the most exotic and gardens that flow all the way down to the perfect beach.
The rooms and cottages are just lovely to stay in with comfortable beds, crisp white linens and above all a large bathroom with a bath – which is a must for me. The housekeeping staff, go above and beyond, and do a wonderful job to keep all the rooms so perfect and they are very friendly. You can even get room service with good quality food; breakfast was my favourite.
- Verena and Robert Aplin