Loved Every Moment!

The resort was clean and well laid out. It had all the amenities anyone could wish for. Huge pool, great bar service, oceanfront dining. Accessible as my husband has mobility issues, so where he couldn't get to, he was shuttled around at no charge. Staff very friendly, champagne in the lobby every day and at the oceanfront dining facility! Lots of fun poolside activities. Our room was fantastic with a gorgeous panoramic ocean, aircraft view, amazing!

Good food

Buffet was great but service was slow and many not-so-friendly staff. The rooms were outdated but comfortable beds. DrInks and bar staff by the pool were excellent. Beach was really nice. Entertainment at night was not so great except for one MC who brought energy to the show. Sunning flights delayed by 3 hours which was very disappointing since we woke our kids up at 3 a.m and the flight only left after 9a.m.

Love this place

lively area,anything you want at your fingertips.casino-stores-eaterys-adult entertainment-airport.quality drinks good food.a few kinks in service because of expansion of sister resort being built next door

Great Location

This hotel needs to be renovated in some areas. Overall the rooms were clean and the resort was nice. The main pool needs some work (fix or replace the liner). The other pool was under renovations and so was a couple of restaurants, so that limited your options of where you could dine.

Good place

This hotel offers quite good service. During our stay big section of the facility was going through significant renovation, so better days will most likely come there soon. The room was decent and kept clean. Depending on your luck, you may get a room from a nice inner courtyard side (with swimming pool or beach view), or you may get a "dark side" placement (with very noisy massive central air conditioner and non-maintained back of the building grounds). Unfortunately, the second placement was o [... read more]ur "destiny". Hotel personnel were quite friendly and helpful in general, but our several requests for room change were always pushed to the next day. It wasn't the end of the world, since in that wonderful warm climate you spend most of your life outdoors (not in the room), but that part could have been nicer. Another thing that was surprising is that all people were kicked out from under beach umbrellas before 6PM (they were locking chairs and umbrellas away; that never happened to us in any other country). You could still remain on the beach, but only on sand. The food choice in several restaurants was decent, but I expected a bit more selection of fruits - I guess it's limited because nothing grows on St. Maarten (due to very poor soil). Absolutely everything must be transported to this island, except for fish (and those were very good). If you enjoy watching air planes landing or taking off, then this is the best place in the world to do that. The small beach (compared to Mexican or Cuban standards) adjacent to that hotel is just beside the runway. You can sun tan, sip very tasty margarita (all served drinks were really good) and admire 747 "monster" tight-fit landing into this small bay almost on top of you (if you wish to place yourself on the approach patch). For that reason alone, this hotel is worth visiting at least once in your life. But if you are looking just for beach life, then you can do it for cheaper in Mexico.

This resort is every thing l want when on vacation

The grounds are kept beautiful the Sonesto Maho Resort is very clean the rooms are a nice size the beds were comfortable The entertainment was great we were four people we enjoyed the casino Royale it was right across from the resort

Great area hotel needs updating

We had a wonderful vacation. Food is great but only one ala carte and the menu did not change. Check in was crazy wuth3 buses. It could have run smoother if agents started the procedure at the airport. Great people. Upgrade was not made correctly. This is not a 4 star by any means but they do take care if you and it really is enough. Overall we had a great vacation. I am definitely going back. You can take bus outside for 2 or walk to mullet bay beach. Very safe. Casino and stores and bars accro [... read more]ss street. Can rent car and drive around island.

All good

Coming back November Ascot Pub Paul Maxima Jen the best fun laugh dance awsome RAMON at the beach Carol at buffet can not get any better Food always fresh and yummy Beach Fair Rooms Nice People always nice if you are also YOU CAN NOT GO WRONG IF YOU WANT A GOOD TIME

Book only if you get a good deal

We've been to this resort twice...the first time in August 2012 and the second time in August 2014. The quality has deteriorated and it seems as though the management does not know how to manage or is unaware that it's staff does not know what customer service means. Major advantage of this hotel is location. It is a 5 minute drive from the airport and the beach is on next to the landing strip so if you love to watch planes land and take off, this is the resort for you. Traveller Beware as the [... read more] fumes from the jet fuel tend to be strong. The quality and selection of the food is decent. There are not too many choices of restaurants. A buffet, which runs for breakfast, lunch and supper...a grill, which runs for lunch...and which turns into an Italian restaurant for supper...and a pub...which is right outside the resort...& not really advertised by the resort unless you ask I seem to recall there being at least one or two more restaurants in 2012...but it looks like they may have shut them down. I have been to 4 star hotels in Cuba with more restaurant options. The following needs improvement: Hotel: does not look like they maintain the place too much. They appeared to have been going through renovations in 2012 and it looked like they are still going through renovations in 2014...but it looks like they are renovating rooms only. The rooms seem to be ok but the keyless card entry system appears to have problems as it did 2 years ago. You can find yourself struggling just to try to get into your room as the cards tend not to work. The maids will come around and tell you that you are not doing it right...they will jiggle the door handle, insert and remove the card very rapidly, or experiment with different speeds if not successful until the door unlocks... For the most part the problem is a weak battery in the door mechanism, but trying to get maintenance to change the battery is work in itself. We had same problem two years ago. Speaking of maids, the day you check out, they are knocking at the doors asking when you will leave so that they can clean the room. They did this twice to us...we were there for two weeks ...once at the end of the first week and once at the end of our stay ...Checkout is at 11 am folks...don't be intimidated by the maids or let them force you out of your rooms early especially considering that they often don't give you sufficient towels to shower. 4 people in a room means we need 4 towels...often we had three ... Sometimes two...had to call to get more. Speaking of management they tend not to be well prepared...nor do they appear to be to bright. First stay two years ago, we had to get our room changed a few times due to not getting a proper functioning room safe, broken door etc...but this time, although we had a functioning door, we were given a room with one king bed for two adults and two kids to share and were told that this is large enough for four people. Not sure if this is a hotel management issue or a sun wing issue. When we finally got our new room, which was a few days later, considering that the hotel was booked and considering that they had to wait for a free room, they kicked us out of our room so they could offer prepare our rooms for other guest and said we could not check in to our new room until 3 pm... So we had no room for 5 hours during one day of our trip ... They had other rooms available but did not offer to us since it was a higher caliber room. They just cannot get their act together. Other guests had similar issues both in 2012 & 2014. The hotel offers WIFI FOR FREE...in the lobby only...if you want it in your room then you need to pay...so what you find is many guests with their iPhones or tablets sitting or standing in the lobby surfing the net or reading email... Standing because often there is no place to sit...& often being told by security that you can't sit there because the chair is not meant for guests or because the area is not meant for sitting... The major issue with this hotel, if you have kids, is that there is absolutely no night time entertainment for kids...other than a Ping pong table with 3 paddles and pool table that slants in one direction and movies that they show on a projection screen a few times a week, there is nothing to do. There is entertainment outside the hotel but nothing really for kids. 2 years ago they had a show at the casino across the street ... Which was major entertainment for kids...but due to casino expansion ...kids are no longer welcome. The hotel itself does not appear to have an area with an auditorium or stage... Regarding the staff, most have appeared to be decent and friendly, with a few who are absolutely rude. It appeared that the younger females and some of the older ones were polite and friendly. However the younger males appears red to be somewhat rude to guests. I would assume that management needs to train them on customer service. The beach is decent but not as nice as I have seen in other locations. The water quality is good and there are plenty of fish to feed around you...which is fun for the kids. Some guests spotted a barracuda and a stingray....but as long as you don't bother them, they won't bother you. One point to note re the beach is that some of the locals, who don't work for the hotel, plant themselves at the sole entrance from the hotel to the beach so that they can sell you clothes, hats, or braid your hair. This is not a problem to some but could be for others as they do not like being harassed repeatedly to get their hair braided. I am singling out one lady, who goes by the name of Joyce, as the problem as she tends to yell and scream at the other ladies in her quest to steal business from them other and sometimes gets into fights and arguments with the tourists who are trying to relax and enjoy their beach vacation. It is actually quite amusing to see and I regret missing the opportunity to video this as it happened about 6 times during my two week stay. Although amusing, I feel for the guests who were fighting with her, getting massaged by her while she was fighting with others or were otherwise annoyed by her. We had a minor issue with our flight as well...departing from Montreal. at the time we booked, we were told that there were no connections...however when we got on the plane, they announced that we had to stop in Toronto to pick up more passengers, which added about 1 1/2 to 2 hours of travel time. 6 1/2 hrs to get there...and 8 hrs to get back to Montreal. Not a problem if you fly from Toronto. Would have been nice if they could mention that there was a stop in Toronto. Conclusion: if you love watching planes and are willing to put up with the many faults of this hotel, then you don't have a choice but to stay at this resort. However, if watching planes is not a concern, then you would be better off staying at another resort or at a 4 or 5 star in Cuba as we have received better service and accommodation in Cuba...been there at least 10 times. Regardless, I would only return to this hotel if I got a great deal...I had seen prices from Montreal run from about $1,000 to $1,600 during the July and August season with prices changing on a daily basis. My view is that if you can get it for less than $1,000 go for it...it's a good deal, about $1,000 is acceptable...anything higher is not worth it.

Sonesta Maho beach

Beautiful hotel-room,great food, great fun at the pool,not impressed with the beach or the entertainment. great pool and bar .Went to the wedding on the Saturday.not much entertainment for folks that do not do the casino, great shopping.

Amazing Resort!!!!

It was a pleasure to stay at this resort and would definitely go back! The staff are friendly, the rooms are clean, the food is good, what else can you ask for? The island is beautiful to explore as well.

Very good vacation!

I will be short and to the points. Pros 1. Close to the air port: a. short trip to and from the hotel; b. Can take some real good photos of landing air plane (if that is what you like) 2. Check in is fast 3. Room is clean and well kept. Ours is on the 8th floor looking over Mullet bay. Complaints about the smell from the water treatment plant on the ground is NOT justified. It is noisy though, if you are standing on the balcony. 4. Foods are good at The Point, The Palms Grill as well as the The [... read more] Ocean Terrace (buffet). Wines and drinks are good. 5. Free wifi is decent at the lobby. 6. Staff members are good, in general. I mention Thaimi here as an example of a good, warm, and attentive hotess. 7. Sint Maarten is small enough for easy getting around by bus and/or taxi to see other places. For our short vacation we did visit Philipsburg (twice), Dawn beach, Marigot (short stop over), Mullet Bay beach (10 minutes walk from the hotel) and Cupecoy beach, and of course Maho beach. We found Mullet bay beach is our best. The scenery at Cupecoy beach is spectacular; yet the waves are rough. The public beach at Cupecoy is short. (The long stretch was kept private by the time share apartment and resorts there). 8. Being able to stop at Sonesta Great Bay for foods and drinks and a swim (while visiting 9. Philipsburg) is another plus. The Italian buffet and the sea food restaurant are good here. 10. The locals are good people. We happened to be right in the 45th annual Carnival in Philipsburg. Cons: 1. In room wifi should be more reasonable. 2. Cleaning staff sometimes forgot to supply new towels. It happened once during our stay. 3. Some waitress are grumpy; it could very well be not her/their day. 4. Sint Maarten should develop bus lines going to St. Martin (the French side) for tourist who prefer not to drive or going by taxi. Room Tip: Sixth floor and up. They have 10 floors at the tower.

REALLY AMAZING PLACE TO VACATION.

A great place to vacation. Been there twice in six months. What does that tell you. Beaches are nice. People are nice. An island that only take three hours to tour. We rented a car and found so many beaches. Prices are great. Oh and btw I got engaged there. The price of diamonds/jewelry are fabulous