Almond Casuarina Beach to Open in May

Almond Resorts will open the 289-room Almond Casuarina Beach Resort on May 1. The all-inclusive property is near St. Lawrence Gap, on the south coast of Barbados.

The soft opening, originally set for December 2005, was delayed due to construction and shipping problems as well as a $30 million expansion and refurbishment of the original Casuarina Beach property, which was built in the 1970s.

The resort features a new block of 100 balconied rooms that overlook the beach. A separate destination spa will open in 2009 across from the resort. Until then, Casuarina Beach will offer three treatment rooms and a salon on the resort property.

Facilities include six categories of rooms, three restaurants, four bars, three pools, tennis courts, golf and a Kids Club for age groups from newborn to 16-year-olds. Almond plans to add meeting rooms.

Packages include a two-island, two-resort plan which features a stay at Almond Casuarina Beach followed by several nights at Almond Morgan Bay Beach Resort or Almond Smugglers Cove on St. Lucia.