The beach was beautiful however there were not enough umbrellas on the beach people were up early to reserve chairs and umbrellas and sometimes were left there empty for hours. The hotel needs some renovation hallway floors were stained. The room was clean. The food was ok. The buffet was limited not much variety. No drink service on the beach or by the pool like other secrets properties. Overall it is a beautiful location they just need to improve on service and food. Also while we were there t[... read more]he dump behind the mountain was on fire for 3 days this was concerning due to air quality.
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Private -
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Esmeralda Resort: pas de porte moustiquaire
heureusement notre chambre etait a une extremitee alors nous avions 3 fenetres a ouvrir lorsque tu quitte l hiver ce n est pas pour t enfermer tu veut ouvrir mais pour le reste c etait une chambre confortable.Le resto de la place l Astrolabe tres bon mais redondant ci tu y soupe tout les soir .Pour l ambience un service impecable mais un peut trop europeen c est tres reposant c est pas pour moi j ai besoin de bouger,il faut absolument avoir une voiture pour trouver de la varietee (repas et plage[... read more])Pour notre plage nous avions des chaises reservee gratuite qui coutait 40euros avec parasol par jour.La plage est magnifique mais ce vent, trop de vent et les vagues pas moyen de nager la derniere etait de 6 pieds au dessus de ma tete et j etait a peine a 3 pieds dans l eau pour c etait la fin je n ui suis pas retourne.le retour avec air canada pour nous prendre a l hotel c etai horrible 40 minutes de retard un tout petit van pour plus de 50 voyageur valises planches a voile,et kyte on ne povait pas voie en avant tellement ces appareils arrivait au plafon les touristes etaient tres fache la chaleur interieur du vehicule rendait les touristes malades ceci est un gros manque d air canada pour procurer a ses vacanciers un service agreable pour le vol pas de probleme tres bon avion un Boing service impecable un personnels devouer et agreable.
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Vince -
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Sonesta Maho Beach: Disappointed oh my
Very disappointed in the resort. The buffet was a disgrace. same food over and over and over food was always cold. Potatoes were mostly rotten. Bacon wasn’t cooked and instead of us serving ourselves they had to serve us and when they served us, it wasn’t with a smile. It was a grin like why should I serve you many others including my wife got food poisoning . lined up in front of the hamburger barbeque next to the pool. The chef was cooking the hamburgers maybe 45 seconds on each side and it wa[... read more]s raw inside no thanks. The staff nobody smiled they all look miserable talking to a lot of people on our return trip who said the same thing they all look miserable . The beach, there is no beach. The rooms were OK, but I would not go back to that resort, that resort resort should be a three star not a four or five star . The pool was crowded not enough chairs for everyone. But the biggest beef for me was the buffet and the restaurants that were on the resort. Maybe they should clean up their act.
True crowd was crowded
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Secrets St. Martin: Amazing resort!
They are still under renovation from prior hurricanes.
Was this a 5 star throughout? No. But it was certainly more than a 4.5 throughout hence the 5 star review. It appears they are choosing to spend their renovation dollars wisely. The Lobby is a great start with 5 stars, but then in the hallways to your room you may be wondering is this a 3 star? Then you open your door and it is luxurious 5 stars - the only better I have been in was in high-end Vegas.
The food was fabulous, we did [... read more]not have a bad meal or portion of a meal. Sometimes the buffet was better than the restaurants. The beer and liquor is name brand top-shelf stuff.
All beaches on St. Martin are public, but since this is so isolated no issues there. White powdery sand for kms/miles. Turquoise gentle waters due to the partial reef offshore. Depending on the tide, winds, and current you may get some seagrass (seaweed) coming onshore. This only happened 2 days back to back during our stay. Once the tide turns, staff hand rake the beach within an hour.
We couldn't get a straight answer other than the resort is fully booked, but it was definitely NOT at 100% capacity as at a guess only 50% to 75% of the rooms have been renovated so far. All restaurants were 'open', just not all the time. The Buffet (Market Cafe) and Himitsu (Pan-Asian) was open all the time due to specialized cooking equipment, but the rest rotated through a single physical location such that e.g. Portofino (Italian) was Day 1, Ratatouille (Mediterranean) was Day 2, Olio (French) was Day 3, then repeat. CoCo's Cafe was open 7 AM to 11 PM. The swim-up bar was not open, but backing it the main pool bar was open. 10AM for beer and 11AM for liquor. If you really suffer that badly to get out of the huge infinity pool or walk 100 feet from the ocean to get your drink this review is meaningless to you.
The iguanas are large and 'friendly', well, at least used to us tourists anyway.
Isolation: Great on one hand as it is relaxing and quiet. It may only be 18 km/12 mi from the airport but it takes you an hour to make the journey. You may want anti-nausea medication before undertaking this journey which is not for the faint of heart. The islanders say the same about driving in snow (they can't even imagine it), so it is what you are used to. The 2 hour round-trip for excursions really adds to the length of the day. All excursions take this into account so be prepared to start your day very early.
There are only 2 all-inclusive resorts on the island, one in the Dutch part and this one in the French part. This island produces nothing other than some fish and 2 kinds of lobster. EVERYTHING else is imported. Tourism is their lifeblood.
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Sophie10 -
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Sonesta Maho Beach: Awesome resort
Great family resort.
I would recommend it
to everyone. Can’t say
nothing bad about it.
Staff are all friendly and
can’t do enough for you.
John on the barbecue is
great and makes the best
burgers. A must try.
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McMexican -
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Secrets St. Martin: Complete Disappointment
The check in was odd but efficient. First impression was the complete lacking look of a luxury resort, nothing fancy by any means. Our room was pretty average considering it was a Preferred upgrade. There were severe signs of wear, mold and generally a worn out room. we had a daily infestation of millipedes. The breakfast buffet was the only morning option and it was adequate with your basic standards but again nothing fancy. The buffet room itself should have been updated 20 years ago. Lunch wa[... read more]s either at the pool for burgers/hotdogs or the buffet. Dinner was even more disappointing. No where did the Sunwing website mention that most of the restaurants were closed for renovations. We could have the buffet or hibachi. There was a small section of the buffet converted for a small theme area. Generally the food was good but just lacking on options. Again, far from a luxury resort. They class their coffee shop as a restaurant because you can get a cookie there. The Preferred lounge was far from expected, seating for 8 but open to everyone, preferred or not. Sunwing also "forgot" to mention the lack of nightly entertainment due to more renovations going on at the theatre. Their solution was a DJ at the lobby bar.
Nice beach, the pool is nice but designed poorly for allowing enough chairs. There were never enough.
An employee told us they were closing again at the end of May for 18 months for further renovations. It really needs it. The staff was great but many lacked enthusiasm and we could see why.
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Jandt -
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Secrets St. Martin: Friendly Place
The staff at Secrets is absolutely wonderful. We couldn't have been more happy with the care we received. The drinks are incredible and made as if they were out of a magazine. The entertainment was different overnight but great.
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Experienced Traveller -
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Divi Little Bay Beach Resort: 3* ? Hah! Maybe 1 1/2 *
The Sunwing Rep was not in the airport terminal with the other reps, she was outside on the sidewalk. No contact information was provided and she did not appear at any other time even though she was sorely needed later. See below.
We were placed on the second floor of what must be the original hotel. Since Dorothy has a disability we asked to be moved to the ground floor, which was granted. This room was beautifully situated directly on the beach. It was close to the Office and a short distance[... read more] to the restaurants.
The furniture was nice but the bathroom badly needed a complete renovation. Water pressure was low and there was always a long wait for any warm, not hot, water to appear. The tub was a dated design and posed a hazard since it's side was dangerously high. When the shower was used water poured from the tiles, We were forced to pack facecloths and towels on the tug sill to prevent major flooding of the bathroom floor.
Several restaurants did not provide coffee at lunch time and the machine in our room did not work.
When Westjet cancelled the return flight at the last moment, a Sunwing should have been available to help us find accomodation for that night. No such aid was provided!
The beach is not private and is often overcrouded.
We paid huge money for this holiday and it was NOT WORTH IT!
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Private -
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Sonesta Maho Beach: Three star resort
Hotel is older.. Our toilet backed up 3 days out of 7 ..Our room faced the rear of the hotel, which has propane tanks, maintenance bldgs etc. Not very scenic. There was also an unpleasant smell, intermittently, so we didn't use the balcony. Pizza station is really good, as is the coffee bar in the hotel... Overall, would consider it a 3 star resort
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Dale -
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Esmeralda Resort: Very comfortable resort
Easy to access from main road, essentially its at the very westernmost end of Orient beach so almost impossible to get lost.
Cottages were in good condition, some "openings such a s sliding doors, Florida windows etc, had corroded hardware, door bumpers missing, but all very small stuff. The front desk staff were very helpful, especially Felix.
Great location with decent peace and comfort after a day on the busy Orient beach.
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Private -
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Sonesta Ocean Point Resort: Beautiful Resort
Just got back from a week here. Cannot complain one bit. Food, service, staff and resort is wonderful. I would recommend it to anyone. Was nice you have access to Maho Beach resort as well but we stayed mostly on Ocean Point side as it is adults only. Ms. Sheryl at the pool point bar is a gem! We’ll be back for sure! Until next time
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Sonesta Maho Beach: Wonderful vacation
Great resort, 5 mins for airport, well maintained, clean, food was very good at all restaurants. Just be warned the beach at the resort is man made and not right off the water. You have to walk down to Maho Beach.
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Sonesta Maho Beach: Wonderful time at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort
Excellent location only 4 minutes away from the airport. The lobby entrance is for Sonesta Maho Beach while the Ocean Point is in the back a little way further.
Located close to the airport, if you’re a fan of watching planes land and take off, this is a unique experience. The vibrant Maho Village is also just a short walk away, offering restaurants, shops, and nightlife. However, while the airport is close by, the noise from planes didn’t cause issues for the stay there.
The rooms are s[... read more]pacious, modern, and comfortable, featuring a blend of tropical decor and contemporary style. My room had a stunning ocean view on the 6th floor. Sunshine peeking through the curtains each morning. The beds are firm and a bit on the small size (doubles instead of queens), but that was expected. The bathroom was clean and well-maintained with high-quality toiletries. The shower and toilet though are open and no doors are available. This is the same on every bathroom on the resort. The bathroom was accessible via a sliding door which was stuck at first. Once we called the front desk they had it fixed in less than a few hours. Super fast and responsive to our needs. I appreciated the small touches, like the minibar stocked with beverages, which was filled daily and without fail at the same time. The ice makers are located on the odd number floors though (ie. floor 3,5,7...)
Dining at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort was good. The resort has one option for breakfast (Ocean Terrance) which unfortunately had only the same offerings each day. A little variety would have been nice. Also it's located at Ocean Point which required walking through the pool area each time. If you are in need of accessibility options, you will find this difficult as there are stairs, water and a long trek to the Ocean Point location.
There are few a la carte options: The Grill (at dinner becomes La Cantina), La Fontana and Ocean Terrance.
Jing's Kitchen and The Tavern are available every other day (alternating days), but are located outside the entrance to the resort on Maho Village. This was confusing at first as there are no signs to indicate this.
The resort offers a range of activities to keep guests entertained. There’s a large swimming pool, complete with a swim-up bar, which is perfect for unwinding after a day of exploring. For those who like to stay active, there are water sports available, including snorkeling and kayaking. The beach itself is lovely, with soft sand and clear blue waters. The resort also offers daily entertainment and themed parties, making it a great choice for couples and families alike.
The fitness center was well-equipped, and the spa offers a variety of services, but we didn't take advantage this time.
The service at Sonesta Maho was excellent. The staff were friendly, attentive, and always willing to go above and beyond to make guests feel welcome. The housekeeping staff was excellent! They took care of us and were very helpful for extra pillows and towels when asked. Most were polite and professional.
The only items I would mention for improvement:
1. The app does not work. The QR code provided everywhere does not open the app on Android. Venue times are available on the website directly. NOTE: La Fontana does not open at 6:00 am even though it is listed on the site.
2. The free WiFi on the resort is abysmal. Max speed was 3 mb/s and averages at 117kb/s. Coverage is also spotty depending on your location.
3. On the 5th day we woke up to a large cockroach in the bathroom. Of all the travels in Caribbean, this was the first time seeing a roach in the room. When we brought it up they went to spray the area and assess the species. We heard nothing back after that.
Overall we had a good time here and recommend it for anyone who is looking for an all-inclusive stay at Sint Maarten looking to enjoy the beautiful beaches and unique experiences from the Dutch side of the island.
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Sonesta Maho Beach: Great resort if you can get a deal
Overall this was a great resort for the price we paid.
The rooms are nice, although there was a sewer smell to the rooms. But this is limited to Garden view rooms, which are facing the sewer. No matter how much we tried to remove the smell, it always came back.
Per discussions with other guests, they did not have the smell, but they were facing the swimming pool, and did complain about the noise, which came from the pool.
we did not use the pool, as the smell of chlorine deterred us fr[... read more]om using it. The pool is quite small, and it appears that there are tons of people in there, mainly hanging out at the swimming pool bar drinking alcohol. There are two slides for kids to use, but one appeared to be flat and very slow. Both slides are extremely short, but the kids seem to enjoy it.
Other than that, the staff is very friendly, the food was OK, the beach was small, and the ocean clear. Waves could get quite high at times. So best to be careful, as there are no lifeguards on duty at the beach, or at the pool. The great part about this hotel is that it is located right next to the airport., So if you are a plane lover, you would enjoy the resort.
Also the hotel does not appear to have a medic on site at all times.
I’ve been to this resort twice before, once in 2014 and a second time in 2016. The quality and selection of the food has gone down, but it appears that the resort has been rebuilt since the hurricane Destroyed 2016.
Overall, this is a great hotel to go to if you can get a good deal on it. I would not pay top dollar though. we have met some guests who stayed at the Ocean point or luxury rooms. Although they paid twice as much as we did, they said the price was worth it.
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Rene and Paul -
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Sonesta Maho Beach: A Good Time
I think we picked the wrong room. We chose a Superior King room and these rooms are located on the street side of hotel where you hear club music all night until 4:00am. This was Thursday through Tuesday. Also, fifth floor has a smell of sewage. So if you stay then ask for a Oceanview or Island view or Pool view otherwise it will be a bit uncomfortable. The food was good and Italian restaurant was best. Beach is great but a bit rough. Pool is okay too but we never used it. Location was great. Ai[... read more]rplanes were fun.
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Tetyana -
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Esmeralda Resort: Amazing resort!
It was our first time in St.Martin, we had the blast! Everything was excellent! We had amazing room, wonderful swimming pool, the most delicious with excellent service restaurant and the last and not least - very helpful and extremely pleasant resort staff!
We definitely will be back!
The beach is really really beautiful, extremely beautiful mountains around!
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Private -
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Sonesta Maho Beach: Sonesta Maho Beach
The walls in the room was durty
The floor was clean
The bathroom was nice and clean
You should clean the wall Very nice view on the 10 floor. To close to the airport. Too nosy airplane comming every 1are 2hours
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Private -
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Divi Little Bay Beach Resort: We will return!
Very quaint and relaxing resort. We will return. One troubling situation is the small space two parrots are living in. The space is so small they fought and it needs to be at least two or three times the size.
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Secrets St. Martin: Terrible Resort !!
The resort is scheduled to be closed at the end of April for renovations so they let thing go.
We had no knowledge of this nor did the other guests -- The Pool was green and not working they advertise this to be the biggest Infinity pool in the Caribbean what a JOKE !!- Really sad it was slimy and green full with algae !! They where running out of inventory ( Alcohol and Food )
Only half the staff where working if that, But I must say the staff that where working did their best to keep the g[... read more]uests happy it was very difficult for them! Restaurants where limited and on a Saturday nite only the buffet was available!!
Many guests had a Big cockroach infestation in their rooms!!
We have been to all the couples Resorts and a handful of the Sandals resorts thinking we would have a similar experience boy where we wrong! - Secrets St Martin does not even come close to them!!
My advise save your money do not go!!
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JJKD -
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Divi Little Bay Beach Resort: Amazing Vacation
This was the best vacation resort we have visited. The room was spacious, and clean. Our room was at the opposite end of the resort as the bar and restaurants, which was perfect as we like it quieter. Even though it was close to the Infinity pool, it was tranquil, with little noise. This pool was perfect for us, as it was not very busy. There were other pools, but they seemed busier, which might be perfect for some people. The restaurants offered a variety of choices. Our plan only included brea[... read more]kfast, which was exactly what we wanted. The choices were plentiful and well prepared. The beach area was amazing. Snorkelling was great right there, and the beach was clean, and not too crowded. We cannot say enough good words about the staff. Everyone we met was friendly, very competent, and went out of their way to provide excellent client services. It was our favourite vacation location so far and we plan to return.