My wife and I had a pleasant and relaxing time in April at Oceans Divi Little Bay in Sint Maarten. Having stayed at more than a dozen 4 and 5 star resorts throughout the Caribbean, I can safely say this resort is a solid 3 star for quality.
The more expensive Oceans all-inclusive is totally integrated with the rest of the resort, timeshare owners and day visitors. Highlights: Friendly, though overworked, staff. Excellent made-to-order pizza at the "Slice" pizza shack and shrimp taco from "Th[... read more]e Shack". Excellent three level infinity pool with plenty of loungers. Likewise at the sargassum-free expansive soft sandy beach. On the other hand the entertainment was mediocre and our room had several issues.
A bonus from Air Canada vacations was that their bus, that shuttled us to and from the airport, also provided us with a 4 hour tour of the entire island (with 1 hour stops to discover Marigot and Philipsburg) for only $25 US each.
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Oceans at Divi Little Bay: Great Resort!
The staff truly made this vacation special. I believe people treat you the way you treat them, and everyone at the Divi was warm and welcoming. A special thank you to the ladies at reception, and to Edrick and Felix for helping us get to our rooms.
We travelled with our mothers, who had some mobility issues, but the golf cart service made getting around easy, especially with the stairs and longer walks.
The food was fantastic! We found the Premium option, which you can pay for when you arr[... read more]ive, was worth it because it gave us access to all the restaurants and cafés on site and in turn offered more dinner options. Mimi and Caron at the breakfast buffet were lovely, and Laurel at the pizza place was a friendly face we were happy to see each day. Booking dinner reservations was easy, and we were never limited when reserving.
The property was clean, and the view from our third-floor Oceans room was amazing. Fort Amsterdam was also worth the short walk. We went every day to see the baby pelicans and iguanas and enjoy the beautiful views. The ocean and beach were beautiful, and getting beach chairs and umbrellas was never a problem.
Every vacation is what you make of it. Things move on island time, so it may feel a little slower than what you are used to at home, but with the right attitude, you will have a wonderful time!
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Oceans at Divi Little Bay: Amazing resort!
Oceans by Divi Bay Resorts in St Marteen exceeded our expectations! Views, setting, pools, beaches were all absolutely beautiful! Resort was clean, fun, rooms in Oceans offered stunning views of Caribbean and resort grounds! All staff friendly, professional and kind!
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Divi Little Bay Beach Resort: Excellent resort
We had a wonderful stay at Divi Little Bay Beach Resort. The location and beach are specular. Rooms were modern, well maintained, and offered better charging options than many business hotels. Pools around the resort are plentiful and refreshing. The resort is close proximity to Philipsburg, Simpson Bay, and not too far from Marigot. The food and bar service were excellent, especially the lobster dinner and prime rib night. The only small quibbles are that restaurant service could be slow, espec[... read more]ially at dinner. Also, we were required to check-out at 10 am and lost access to the All Inclusive Plan at that time, despite having not arrived at the hotel until nearly 4 the prior week and having a later airport pickup than check-out time. Most All-inclusive resorts don't skimp on a couple extra hours of day service in this way. Also, the Nespresso machine in our room never worked and was never repaired, despite several requests. These are small details relative to the overall quality of the resort.
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Sonesta Maho Beach: It was okay
The room needed a proper deep clean, the hardware had lots of limescale buildup. One elevator not working it took over ten minutes to get an elevator with our luggage. On other days we ignored the ‘for emergency’ signs and took the stairs. Staff isn’t friendly and almost rude. The loud plane sounds gets annoying.
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Jolanda -
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Oceans at Divi Little Bay: It was a very nice resort with a variety of restaurants, beach is beautiful!
Nice resort with their own bay, very clean everywhere!
Good assortment of restaurants!
Hotel room was well laid out and lots of space.
Approximately 20 min. walk from Philipsburg, bit hilly but very doable.
Only thing I'd like to mention is that the flight with WestJet was operated by Swoop and that was very basic. No screen availability.
Luckily we didn't have someone sitting beside us but my husband could not sit straight with his legs
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Oyster Bay Beach Resort: Very nice resort
Oyster Bay Beach Resort is very nice. It's a little off the beaten track so a car is very useful. That's also what makes it a quieter place to be. Nice beach but not very long for walks - just go back and forth a few times. Good service on the beach setting you up with loungers and umbrella. Lovely large infinity pool - though it could be warmer, and the hot tub should be hot not a warm tub. Our room was a spacious 2 bedroom, 2 bath suite with kitchen. TV channels and reception could be be[... read more]tter. Food is good but with only 2 restaurants it's good to venture off the property. The French side is very close and has good restaurants.
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Sonesta Maho Beach: Beautiful resort
The hotel is very nice. The staff were amazing. The location of the hotel is perfect close to everything. We enjoyed the food and look forward to returning. Highly recommend to all my friends
It was a nice touch to be greeted with a rum punch
My only complaint is that there was no hot water in our room
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Observer127 -
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Esmeralda Resort: Agreed; Amazing Resort
All was spectacularly good, Resort, Astrolabe, staff. This was mine 29th visit to Saint Martin and although the first time without my dear departed wife, Jana, the stay was good, very good. Will certainly consider another visit to Esmeralda if .. (90 in Jan, however consider lasting to 100).
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Cindy45 -
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Sonesta Ocean Point Resort: Beautiful views of islands
The Ocean point hotel was nice. It’s an older resort the rooms and especially the bathrooms could use a refresher, of paint. The restaurants were just ok Azul was one of our favourites. There were several pools but some are shared with the Maho hotel which is a family resort, which are also shared with some restaurants. On the Adult only side there was only 1 pool with a swim up bar. The other issue we found was the washrooms were far away from the pools. The views of the ocean and mountains w[... read more]ere amazing. This is not a 5 star resort as listed it’s more like a 3 star. All and all we had a good time and the outside area around the resort is very safe and the shopping was good.
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Sonesta Ocean Point Resort: Amazing Resort and Service
Everything was amazing about this resort. The food was delicious, the grounds and facilities were immaculate and the views were stunning. The best thing about this resort was the people. They were consistently friendly, helpful and informative. Trip Central ( Candice Anger) was very helpful and knowledgeable in booking this resort and our preferred room.
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SueG -
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Sonesta Maho Beach: Excellent
We loved the island, watching the planes, the beaches, resort food and wonderful staff. Resort was very clean. Only negative was smoking and vaping around pool all day, everyday and not in designated areas.
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Sonesta Maho Beach: So much potential
This resort at one point could or would be a gem unfortunately unless you are at the adult side Ocean Point this is where you get the full top class treatment. The Sonesta Family side is not up to par with basic customer service standards of a hotel and this property is listed as a resort.
There is no consistency with the customer service and its always lacking as most of the staff do no care and are not happy working there. When we had issues there was never any empathy or compassion rathe[... read more]r they were more annoyed that we even flagged the issue. Our room had poor AC issues and toilet not flushing and a room with children why allow guests to stay in this broken room as I am sure this issue was previously documented. We should have been moved but this did not seem to be a priority. The guest had to constantly follow up no one would call back or provide a response its left to the guest to continuously call for an answer as they simply do not care. I made the suggestion can I get a fan and one was provided however they never even provided alternative methods or supports and the island is in one of the hottest month August.
The resort is always packed so they do not procure food for the amount of guest as food would run out at the buffet and would not be replenished or maybe it would be done when they felt the timing was right. So if your child is hungry and all the bacon ran out maybe they would refill it or maybe after a half hour some would come out. Food was not labelled properly so good luck for people with dietary restrictions. Again all down to customer service and the staff there are very new and young and simple do not care and the more seasoned workers are very set in there ways and rude.
The plus side is that the food was tasty, the beach was beautiful, the resort was clean and some what modern the few staff that did take them time to smile was so pleasant and genuinely happy to conversate and smile with you. The pool was decent for all age groups. The have kids and teen clubs.
The staff is always quick to tell you when you cant do something or no or no we don't have this however if they saw you with an empty glass or sitting at a table waiting or you needed something answered no one would be looking or offering to help. They assume you know all their processes or even what we can or can not do. We had no idea that there was an infinity pool as it was located on the adult side however all guests had access to this pool and we found that on the plane back home from another guest at the resort who also said they did not enjoy their stay. There was no one that seemed friendly to talk with as most staff was just miserable, unhelpful and unfriendly.
As beautiful as this island was I would never return to Sonesta even on the Adult side I hope a big chain goes in and really shows what a resort experience should be.
Thankfully to a bad experience at Sonesta we ventured off the resort (which location wise is amazing not far from anything) and was able to see more of the island and eat at their restaurants which the food was absolutely delicious off the resort. The island was fun to experience on both the French and Dutch side and we always felt safe.
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Sonesta Ocean Point Resort: Excellent - Would Go Back!
This resort is lovely, clean and nice. Views are spectacular. Definitely not a 5* hotel and not new so be aware that your expectations of 5* luxury will not be met. Bathroom is very small, very low water pressure, not good for 2 people; somewhat dingy. However, you are paying for the amazing views and the incomparable beach. Food was excellent everywhere we went, service was great and we always felt safe.
We had a swim up room facing the beach. The pool filters don't come on until the[... read more] morning so look closely at the water if you plan to enter the swim up first thing - it was gross and dirty from overnight swimmers.
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays there is a bbq by the ocean facing pool - the wings are INCREDIBLE and perhaps the best thing we ate!!!
A WORD OF CAUTION: while we were on the plane coming back, the hotel attempted to charge almost $5,000.00 to my credit card. WHY? This left a very bad taste in my mouth and it was definitely not a coincidence that this happened while we were on the plane.
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Drea8282 -
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Secrets St. Martin: Relaxing week!!!
If you’re looking to unwind from a stressful job and just take a break in the most beautiful picture ass place in the Caribbean, this is your hotel just arrived. Home from a weekday. Staff was wonderful. Food was adequate but definitely quiet and relaxing.
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Oceans at Divi Little Bay: Paradise on earth!
Great location, close to the pools and restaurants. Super courteous staff. Excellent food morning. lunch and dinner. Short walk to the lobby. The market is equal to a super market. Great selection of wine and beer. I could even find distilled water! Cabs at the door will drive you anywhere. The best resort we have been to. We will probably return.
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Sonesta Ocean Point Resort: Wonderful
Just returned from a wonderful week at Ocean Point. The resort is beautiful and well maintained. Our room was spacious, comfortable and had a great ocean view.
The food was very good. Portifino is a gem built into the rock with a waterfall and such a great idea that Azul changes their lunch and dinner menus every day. Such great views from all the restaurants and the Sunset Lounge.
We found the staff very pleasant and engaging, especially the team working at Azul (Sidia, Emmanuel’s, Danica, [... read more]Jennifer, Rihanna, Scheinder and Lina). Our Housekeeper Faneza was lovely and a shout out to whoever filed our ice bucket on many occasion - so thoughtful.
We never had to fight for lounge chairs at any of the pools. Loved the Edge Pool.
If you are a beach enthusiast- the beach is not overly expansive however the resort has done a good job of providing a beach like feel just above the beach access.
If you are a plane enthusiast - this is the place for you! But if you aren’t I found that after the first few hours the noise didn’t interfere. Great sound proofing in the rooms. Earliest planes leave at 7 (smaller planes) and last plane arrives no later than 8-830.
I really enjoyed the quiet, tropical, peaceful atmosphere.
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Sonesta Maho Beach: Good Family Resort - So Close You Can Almost Touch the Planes!
We just got back from a lovely stay at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, and overall, we'd give it a solid thumbs up. It's a great spot whether you're wrangling little ones or enjoying some grown-up time. Plus, you're practically next door to that famous airplane landing spot – pretty cool!
Beach/Pools: Good (Plenty of Space to Splash and Relax)
The beach was just right – not too packed, and we never had trouble finding a chair to plop down on. Bonus points for the almost complete absence of [... read more]algae during our April visit! The pools were nice and sparkling clean, with some seriously fun zones for the kiddos. And that one pool bar? Kept the good times flowing (even if the selection was a tad cozy).
Service: Good (Hydrated and Mostly Happy)
The service was reliable. Our room always had a fresh supply of water, plus a few welcome colas and beers. Housekeeping did a decent job keeping things tidy. Just a little tip: the toilet water could get a bit… fragrant, so we kept the ventilation fan working its magic or ask the housekeeping to put some blue stuff to help.
Food: Good (Something for Everyone - Mostly!)
The food options were surprisingly varied, and even this self-proclaimed foodie found plenty to enjoy. The offerings even changed a bit from day to day at the same spot, which kept things interesting. However, a word of warning: steer clear of Jing, the Asian restaurant. Honestly, they might be better off turning that space into, well, anything else! We did venture out once to Jax Steakhouse and had a great meal there.
Rooms: Good (Comfortable Enough for Post-Sunshine Slumber)
The bed and pillows weren't exactly cloud-like, but they were perfectly acceptable for crashing after a day of sun and fun.
Value: Good (Worth It for This Time of Year)
For our April getaway, we felt like we got good bang for our buck.
Location: Good (Planes, Beaches, and a Little Bit of Everything)
The location was a winner for us. Super close to the beach (obviously!), and a stone's throw from the Sunset Bar where you can grab some incredible airplane landing photos (hold onto your hats!). There were also a few shops nearby, a casino for those feeling lucky, and a very handy convenience store. That little shop was a lifesaver for stocking up on drinks, snacks, and even a bit of local "essentials" to spice up our hotel offerings. And don't worry about those planes keeping you up – they mostly stick to daytime hours.
Overall Rating: Good
All in all, we had a really enjoyable stay at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort. We honestly wished we could have stayed longer!
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Lady Di -
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Sonesta Ocean Point Resort: Amazing Sint Maarten/St Martin Visit
We enjoyed our stay at Sonesta Ocean Point Resort. Having access to adult only building, bars, swimming pools and restaurants was top notch. The property was well maintained, and well staffed. Meals at Azul Blue Fin and the Italian restaurant were well portioned high quality and visually appealing. Staff throughout the resort were helpful and courteous
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Sonesta Maho Beach: amazing resort except !!!!!
Great resort but there is a real problem with birds in the outdoor buffet for the guests and the lunch time restaurant. The birds are all over the table, walking over the table mats cutlery and dishes. Its very unsanitary and we had to eat many times outside the resort.
I would not go back there unless they install fishnet barriers to protect the restaurant tables.