Quick Info
At a glance
You read about “soft pink sand”, but cannot truly understand what they are writing about until you feel it; warm, squishing between your toes with the surf washing up the beach to greet you. A million years of discarded seashells, ground to a soft palette of beach, and ready to sponge up your worries and wash them away await you at The Crane Resort and Residences. The air is fragrant with the smell of the sea married with the sweetness of tropical flowers on the warm, gentle breeze. Crane Beach is one of those places that people put on their Bucket Lists of things to do once in their lives, but once you have visited, you will want to return often.
Best suited for
The Crane is a breathtakingly beautiful luxury resort, equipped with illuminated swimming pools that overlook the endless horizon of the Atlantic Ocean. The resort was built in 1887, but has been maintained, modernized, and restored through the years, keeping its classical beauty alive while equipping it with every modern convenience. Neo-classical columns frame the view of the ocean and high crowned ceilings keep rooms cool while evoking the era of Hemingway and Veronica Lake. The setting is quintessentially romantic and appealing to romantics of every age.
What we think
Classically beautiful buildings set against an idealized Bajan backdrop, evocative of the movies and novels of the 1930s create a setting that we think will be appealing to every traveler with a taste for the elegant – for the timeless. Every aspect of this resort conjures images of romance and elegance. For us, it brings to mind great voyages of an era-gone-by, and creates an ideal backdrop for your own rich adventure.
The Location
The Crane is located in what may be the ideal Bajan village: Ocean City. This is not the typical tourist town, but, rather, it is a quiet neighborhood populated by permanent residents. Guests will find charming streets and grocery markets along with restaurants favored by the local population rather than those aimed at the tourist trade. There are plenty of visitors here with a number of beach rentals alongside the crown jewel of the region, The Crane Resort. The nightlife, restaurants, and bars of the South Coast are a short fifteen minutes away – close enough to be readily convenient, yet removed enough that guests may have the quiet and experience the coveted isolation that they seek when visiting a tropical island.
The Rooms
The elegant luxury of The Crane carries over seamlessly to the rooms that are furnished with hand-carved, four-poster king-sized beds and are painted in soft tones of off-white. The comfortable and elegant furnishings make these rooms places where guests will want to stay – they are true homes away from home.
Open the French Doors to your private patio and take a private breakfast and a plunge in your own plunge pool. While relaxing there you can still gaze out at the serene blue horizon of the Atlantic, and contemplate your day – even if your day will only entail lounging in your own room.
The Beach
Pink sand is a rarity on beaches, even in the Caribbean, and Crane Beach is an ideal example of it. It is perfectly soft, warm and almost surreal in its beauty.
This beach is isolated, and not huge. There are ledges to climb and a cavern to explore here. The waters are balmy and warm, and they are not the calmest waters that visitors will find. They are generally quite swimmable, but they are better for experienced swimmers. The undertow can be treacherous, and swimmers need to be aware of the “red flag” days when the waters are particularly dangerous.
Guests at the resort have ready access to the beach, but visitors who are not staying here will find it challenging to get to it, as the only non-resort path is narrow and steep. For guests at The Crane, however, this guarantees a degree of comfortable privacy. Additionally, guests have access to a gorgeous glass elevator that gently lowers them to beach level, avoiding any need for a hike. When you stake your claim to a lounge chair and arrange for chair-side cocktail service on a warm afternoon, you will know that you have your own private paradise.
The Pool
The elegant luxury of The Crane carries over seamlessly to the rooms that are furnished with hand-carved, four-poster king-sized beds and are painted in soft tones of off-white. The comfortable and elegant furnishings make these rooms places where guests will want to stay – they are true homes away from home. Open the French Doors to your private patio and take a private breakfast and a plunge in your own plunge pool. While relaxing there you can still gaze out at the serene blue horizon of the Atlantic, and contemplate your day – even if your day will only entail lounging in your own room.
Dining
You have made your reservations at L’Azure and you got your table with a stunning 90° view of nothing but ocean. The appetizer was one of the best things you ever ate, and the salad was art, but your attention can hardly be on your food with that stunning view. Then the Oven Roasted Lobster Tail came, served with herbed mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables, lemon garlic butter, and a creamy and spicy sauce. You have found something that completely vies for your attention. Is it really your fault that there is no conversation at this meal? Frankly, who could be expected to talk?
L’Azure is the flagship restaurant at The Crane, offering a classical European/Caribbean fusion with amazing preparations of fantastically fresh ingredients. On-site guests will also find Zen, a restaurant that Zagat called “Barbados No. 1 for food”, featuring some of the freshest sushi possible and a full Thai menu. In the beautiful old building, built back when the hotel was new as its carriage house, now is the poolside Carriage House Restaurant, providing big, fruity drinks and casual poolside fare, perfect for casual midday snacks. This is the most casual restaurant to be found on the grounds, featuring great drinks and lighter fare in a casual atmosphere next to the pool. The newest entry in The Crane’s family of top tier restaurants is the Italian classic, D’Onofrio’s. In addition to being the newest restaurant on-site, it is also the newest Italian restaurant on Barbados, featuring a variety of fine Italian cuisine.
These four are all excellent dining establishments and destinations in their own rights, but they are just the beginning of the foodie adventure to be had on Barbados. Local casual cuisine may be shared with the locals at the Oistens Fish Fry, a street food festival that happens every Friday night. Great food ranging from casual bar grub at McBride’s Pub & Cookhouse to a top-end steakhouse done Brazilian style at Paulo’s Churrasco Do Brazil are available to the serious food adventurer.
Spa
An afternoon of relaxing pampering can be yours in the new and gorgeous Serenity Spa. This new facility is fully equipped to offer guests every spa treatment from massages and warm stone therapies to every beauty treatment imaginable, making you beautiful for the “big date”.
