If all the positive reviews were real then there has been something little short of a natural disaster. I should have known something was wrong when I tried to use the email address on their website and received no response. Finally I called by phone only to be told the old email address had changed and they couldn't access the old one. No one seemed to think it might be a good idea to change the info on the website.
The hotel is a large three storey house on the present main rd between St George and Gouyave (the normal one is closed). Its on a narrow plot with an all concrete front garden/parking area and a small rear garden. One one side is a local house on the other a large family of Grenadans living n, what would be in the UK, a single garage on stilts with no electricity and an outside toilet. However judging from their laughter they were having much more fun than the residents of Bluebay Lodge. At the rear there is a building plot adorned with the large rusting hulk of an articulated lorry tractor unit. The rear garden has a small pool but no sun loungers let alone towels. The pool is suspiciously still (pump not working?) and some other residents who tried to use it said is was too cholrinated to use.
The house seems to contain 8 letting rooms but there are only two tables in the restaurant/bar area, about 2 sofas in the sitting area and only two chairs between the two balconies. The room (the one shown on Tripadvisor) was a bit small but other wise OK and the air conditioning worked even if the hot water didn't when we were there (only 2 nights). Unfortunately someone had fixed a large permanent mothball on the ourtside of the wardrobe stinking the whole room out. The bathroom window was stuck open letting in the usual knight creatures. From the main window we had a close up view of the house's water tanks. However even we were surprised that when we arrived back after the first day that the bed had not been made and the room was uncleaned.(we understand they only have one key per room so unless you leave it they can't get in the room).
The food was quite reasonable in terms of quality. One problem is the limited choice and its unchanging nature. Fish of the day was always tuna. The real problem is the length of time it takes. Breakfast (coffee, fruit plate & toast) took 45 minutes to fully arrive and the tea ordered never came. Other unhappy residents said it had taken two and a half hours for dinner. We only had two courses but it still took an hour for the starter to arrive.
The rum punches may be alright but there is a lack of essential stock. There is no wine and even basic ingredients are missing so my mojito was made with pineapple juice (a world first and I hope last)
The staff are friendly but untrainind, inexperienced and unmanaged. They are also almost unaware of the guests. When my wife moved a second longe chair on to the balcony so that we could sit there together the staff just sat on them. I was told by the Canadian couple who were staying that another night the staff invited their young friends round for a party.
Having paid a 30% deposit for an intended one month stay they (the Canadian couple)felt imprisoned until their deposit was used up. Fortunately we only needed to stay two nights before we coulkd escape to the Gem apartments on Mourne Rouge (a bit tired but well managed)..
Gouyave is relatively unspoilt and close to the attractive North coast area. However there are no good beaches so most people would need a significant journey each day
All in all I cannot see any reason why anyone would want to stay there until there is some management in place and all the obvious shortcomings are addressed. ..
- Bluebay Hotel St John
