This hotel is awesome! Happy and helpful staff! Food was great and beach is beautiful! One week was not enough. The bed and pillows are so comfortable. Make sure you reserve an ocean front view on the higher floors, you won't regret the extra money!

Classic Resort although upgrades have been made such as infinity pool. Food at buffet was very good... better than in their restaurants. Beach was excellent..very clean. Little bit of a dip going into water but not a big deal. Fantastic view in the bay! Very scenic! Staff was wonderful. Only down side was that we are and drank too much as it is an all inclusive and food and drinks were very good!

We really enjoyed the Resort it was well kept for its age and buffet and both restaraunts were outstanding..really loved the lava rock dinner.Your wait staff were very friendly and tentative to our needs.Rafini,Johnathan,Marie,Delores and all your Beach waiters especially Nicole took care of our every need while tanning and swimming or just relaxing. Thanks so much as we celebrated two birthdays on our vacation it was wonderful.

Just spent a week at the Sonesta Great Bay. Had a fantastic time. While the rooms are older & can use updating the staff make up for it. Nicole, the beach hostess is a warm loving lady, always smiling & taking with the guests. Just loved her. Johnathan in the restraunt was a charming young man, always smiling. Looking forward to a return vacation.

Room decor and furnishings were a bit dated but all very functional. Everything else was absolutely amazing! The servers were attentive and the food was great with just the right amount of variety and change.

At Sonesta Great Bay May 7- May 14. The obvious - its an older building without the fancy decor. Staff are great - friendly and helpful. Food was good, buffet is smaller than expected, however, food was freshly prepared. Spa experience was excellent. Spa staff were professional, well prepared and on time. Location is best part - nice beach but deeper waters. Great if you love waves and to swim. Easy walking distance to Front Street and the shopping/restaurants. Evenings are beautiful and all restaurants are beach side.

The food was excellent, we did have some trouble making reservations for the restaurants as neither of us had cell phones with us and this was where the confirmation was sent. Enjoyed the beach and the pools. Grounds were kept very clean and tidy. Staff excellent.

Our 11 day vacation at Sonesta Great Bay was pure enjoyment from the moment of arrival. We were upgraded from oceanview to a beautiful one bedroom suite overlooking the Bay where we enjoyed our morning coffees on our terrace sometimes with cruise ships in the port. The hotel is a short 5 minute walk along the beach to Phillipsburg with its high end shops, markets, beachside bars and restaurants. The food was excellent with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and delicious seafood. Staff are very accommodating. Grounds and rooms are very clean with plenty of fresh towels and fridge stocked every day. No matter where you were on the resort the view of the beach and turqoise waters and the bay was ever present. The resort is quaint, not anything like the huge resorts in Mexico or Dominican but it has a true island charm with friendly people and is extremely safe. The only complaint would be that the lobby and beach washooms need to be totally renovated as are small, dark and smelly. Also there are not enough loungers around the pools. People get up before 7 am to reserve chairs. The towel game is never fun.

I think overall the Island was beautiful, as for the resort I find the website to be misleading. The hotel is partially renovated, in which we had a non renovated room partial Ocean View with machines running in back all day and night. We were unable to sit out on our balcony because of the noise. The beds were actually very comfy, so I was happy, the bathrooms on the other hand were awful. Dirty stained bathtubs and toilets that barely flushed. The pool was small and there was no entertainment at all!! The service was slack, rude staff that ignored you when asking questions or cranky and standoffish.. The food was cold most of the time, but wasn't bad. The pizza and the Chinese restaurant were by far the best!! Our rooms were not ready at check-in time, so we're had to wait as well.

We had a great experience at this place and recommend it to anyone. Very clean and the food was excellent .Also the service was very good the employees there were always pleasant and happy.the beach was very clean and the ocean view was superb .

The resort needs a facelift, the food was amazing and the staff are top notch. Kevin the bartender went out of his way to serve us. Melissa seating us every morning for breakfast was always cheerful. Beach not that great, better beaches around the island.

This is an all adult resort, which is what we were looking for, instead of the newer Sonesta Maho Resort, which attracts the younger crowd with children. We had an oceanview room with a small balcony, that overlooked the small pool and deck. There were 3 umbrella and chaises setups that we used a few times, but we preferred the main patio setup with the larger pools, by the buffet restaurants and the bars. Our recently renovated large room was lovely and comfortable except for the mattress which we found very hard. The bathroom was well appointed with modern fixtures, and had a roomy all glass shower. All the hotel staff is very friendly and welcoming. Whenever a staff member walked by, we were always asked if everything was OK, what we were doing today, and if we were having fun. We had no complaints with the buffet food. There was a large variety of dishes to please everyone, even though it became a bit repetitive after 2 weeks, but we weren't looking for gourmet breakfasts and lunches. We enjoyed the fresh fruit and the local fish. Every time we walked in for breakfast, lunch and the few dinners, we were welcomed with smiles and hugs. However, our favorite restaurant was Pescatore, on the reception floor. We thoroughly enjoyed every dinner we had there. It's a gourmands delight! Compliments to the chef and servers. ONE WORD OF CAUTION !! There are "funny" little steps all over the place, and the tiled floors can become slippery. My wife fell 3 times within 2 days, and another guest slipped and broke her wrist. On our third day we learned to keep our eyes on our feet.

My Husband and I just returned From Sonesta Great Bay and we had a fantastic time! Our room was located on the 7th floor Oceanfront. It was very clean and very nice. We cannot think of anything negative about staying here. The service is top notch. All the Staff at this resort right from the front desk to the bartenders, housekeepers and even the groundskeepers are all so friendly and always have a smile. The food is very very good. We did not have one meal that we were disappointed. The bar service offered at both the beach and the pool was excellent. There was always a server asking if we would like another drink and we did not have to wait long for them to bring them to us. I must mention that this is not a "party" resort. they offer entertainment in the evenings but most people head to their rooms by 11pm. Bar is still open so that didn't mean we had to call it a night! We made great friends there and enjoyed a few fun nights together! It is a very relaxing atmosphere with daytime entertainment as well if you are interested in joining in on the fun. The Hotel is an older resort. We read reviews of it being very run down. Yes it is older, but very clean and comfortable. The location is perfect. We could walk 10 minutes down the beach to Philipsburg. A great place to have a few drinks at some bars..grab a lunch, or shop till you drop. Make sure you also get to the other side of the courthouse where the market is. The friendly locals are there to sell you all their goodies. Bartering is accepted. A $20 cab ride takes you to the Maho area that is full of fun places to have a drink, great restaurants and more shopping. We were not disappointed at all with this trip. It was all so wonderful, worth the money, and we are going back again for sure!

The staff was very friendly and we had excellent service. We enjoyed the live music that we had most nights. We even had bar service on the beach. We had a good selection of food and it was not only well presented but it was also very good.

The resort is nice but could be so much better. Small things were lacking but the rooms were clean and sufficient sized. The one major disappointment was the food; salads in particular. We have travelled a lot and have always found a wide range of salads available at both the buffet and a la cart restaurants. Here the salad was plain iceberg lettuce with only cucumber slices and tomato wedges for adding. There were no additional salads offered. Food in general was hit and miss in all the restaurants.

The staff at this resort are exceptional. With few exceptions the staff were highly competent, friendly and helpful. The exception being the guy providing drink service at the beach. The food was the best I've had at an all inclusive. The hot stone cooking, the wood fired pizza oven and the buffet were all wonderful. The hotel room was lacking in quality with issues such as a bathroom floor drain that smelled, a bathtub setup that was dangerous ( big step down) and pipes that leaked through the ceiling from above.

Rooms - overall clean and linen/towels very clean. Room Beds - Not good. We first had a room on the hill side which we changed after two days due to roosters. No big deal, we upgraded to a beach view room on the other side of the hotel which was quiet but the beds’ mattresses were old and sunken in, an impediment to get a good sleep. Room Washroom - There was a rusted metal bar on the ceiling on top of the bath tub and the ceiling was damaged by water leak, not very reassuring, we wee worry that the entire ceiling may collapse while we are taking a shower. Room Service - Very good. Restaurants: Lobby Restaurant - Very good. BBQ and Buffet Restaurants – breakfast, deserts and the chicken good but other food not so good. - More food variety would be appreciated. - Fish soup missing, we went outside the hotel and we had good fish soups - Fruits and Vegetables not mature enough, no taste at all. Resort: - The bathrooms on the beach, and in the lower level of the lobby were smelly, not enough air exchange probably, the only choices we had was to use the washroom in the lobby or go back to our room. - There was something wrong with the stairs down from the lobby, not sure what, either the height or the width were not to standards. Few time my husband and I almost fail down. - The hotel VIP services were not clear to other guests. The front row beach chairs were all the time taken and there was no label on the umbrellas or on the chairs to let other guest know that the chairs are reserved. Every day someone was kicked out and moved to another umbrella on the back rows. People were not happy about this, they were talking among themselves. - The showers on the beach and on the pool area were not efficient, not enough water pressure and they had no spouts for the feet area. We were trying not to get the sand from the beach into the pool area but we could not wash our feet very well. - We went to a fishing trip through the guest services that was very unpleasant. The weather was not too good and I think the trip should be cancelled or postponed when the weather is not appropriate. Too much wind to be safe. We have been in many of these fishing trips in other islands such as Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, and others but we never had such a scary experience. I know it is a lot of money for the owners of the boats but the hotel somehow should control their decisions to go out when it is dangerous. For the first time in 40 years of vacationing and fishing in the sea we got sick and came back with lots of bruises from being on the boat. Very bad experience, we were lucky a misfortune did not happen. Most of the people working there were nice to us. Regards.

Hotel is a bit dated but kept clean ... beach and pool area very welcoming... Restaurants limited on site .. restaurant on lobby level was very nice ..restrictions for outdoor bed usage ridiculous considering no elite were using them ....need music played around the pool areas not just the swim up bar...nite time entertainment almost non-existent....thank god for the casino ! Overall rating out if ten ... 6

I have vacationed at this hotel for the last 10 years and I think that says it all. While it isn't the most modern of hotels, it has the most accommodating, professional and friendliest staff of anywhere in Sint Maarten. The rooms are maintained to impeccable standards of cleanliness, the food is quite palatable and every service is delivered with a smile. Centrally located with a five minute walk to the shopping capital of Philipsburg, this hotel provides entertainment value in spades: whether shopping or beachfront is your pleasure, Sonesta Great Bay resort has it all. Thank you Helen for booking me on the holiday of my dreams.

The resort was fabulous the pools were emaculate. The food was fresh and well prepared , The room was not new but well kept. Hotel reservations desk helped us to see the island a heads up to Rene thanks girl. The nightly entertainment kept us dancing,5 out of seven nights. It is well worth your while to book ocean view very less noisy and great view. Staff was super friendly noticed they assisted elderly guests to enjoy there stay I used to read reviews and question there authentisity but mine are authentic thanks natalie Ps stay away from the flyer we used Sunwing very very bad.

The room was great - bit musty at time - the bathroom was tiny. Food was fantastic, staff were great and the weather divine. Walked to the shops on my own when the cruise ships were in - felt completely comfortable. The pool deck tiles were very slippery and saw several people slip. Likewise, going up and down the main staircase in the hotel could also be trickery - saw very few women in high heels. The entertainment was also very good - both during the day and the evenings.

The location , beach , and overall layout of the hotel are nice but the hotel is showing it age . The air conditioning was not working for the last 4 days of the trip and as of our departure it was still not running. The other major issue that was magnified by the AC issue was the lack of concern by the hotel staff. One employee , Renee in customer service was very nice and helpful. She was the only bright spot in an otherwise dismal staff. Service at the bars was the slowest I have ever seen in any resort.

Hotel was fine, close to town which was really nice. Food needs a lot of improvement. Mostly Fish and some chicken and the same menu most days. A lot of the food was over cooked.The pizza restaurant was excellent and the new sizziling grill was good. Rooms were clean but need some upgrading.

Another amazing week at Great Bay Resort in St. Maarten!! Beautiful views, good food selections with a unique Lava Rock cooking experience! Rent a car to see all angles of this incredibly beautiful island!The carefree experience started with Sandy at Trip Central who will be sure to see that your vacation is all that you want!

We have visited this hotel many times and will return again. The oceanview rooms are worth the price of the upgrade. It is an intimate, friendly hotel. The food is good, service is good and close to all those wonderful jewelry stores in Phillipsburg. The hotel is an easy walk to Phillipsburg and has 3 wonderful pools and a great swim up bar. If you get tired sunning, swimming and shopping then take a high speed boat tour to beautiful Anguilla with Billy Bones Tour. It was an awesome day of snorkeling, swimming and seeing a beautiful location.

The resort was in a great location and most of the staff were very helpful and pleasant.The rooms had a very strong musty smell but somehow you seen to get use to it.We went with a group of 6 and we all seemed to enjoy ourselves after initial shock of room quality.Were disappointed when member of our party had left their money hidden under pile of close and knapsack on the first full day of vacation(landed and went to resort approx. )Next day Oct7 was first full day.Party left room and went swimming from 10am to 4pm.Went back to there room and found close and knapsack moved and also luggage bag was moved. Checked around there room to find 650 dollars us missing.Reported to front desk security came but did nothing but blame party and wouldn't even check who scanned to get in the room and told party to go to local Police department to file a complaint. They went and spent 4 hrs there. nothing happened We had a suspicion of who took the money because the person was friendly and nice toward everyone in party but after incident wouldn't even make eye contact or even look are way.That person tried very hard to ruin our vacation but we wouldn't let them .lWe Feel when you pay that much to stay at an all inclusive resort things left in you room should be safe.P.S (WAS NOT cleaning staff they were all nice and the cleaner on the floor were vacation money was stolen was searched.The Front desk person who also stocks fridges with drinks was not ask if the were in room to stock fridge.They could of just checked key lo.g entry to room.Overall St.Maarten is beautiful and everyone in party would love to go again just not to this resort.

Great. Food. Heineken. Good free. Basic. Wifi. Excellent. Coverage Friendly. Staff. Very. Secure. Can. Also. Use. Great. Bay. Resort. Included. With. Package. Anna. Is. the best. Cust. Service. Rep

Love this resort, location was great, walking distances to town. The rooms were very clean, we were on the 6th floor, the view from our balcony was breathtaking, worth the upgrade. Pools were very clean and the grounds always being cleaned nightly. The beach was fantastic!!!! lots of chairs, you can see the cruise ships coming into port. The service at the reception desk was great......thank you Debbie for arranging the taxi for our trip to Simpson bay, Very friendly island you fell very safe waking around outside the resort. The food was good, we really enjoyed the BBQ, and the pizza restaurant was great, staff very friendly. Thanks to Kevin at Trip Central for another great vacation.

Good resort updating currently going on.The Point restaurant was very good.Getting around the island easy and cheap $2 dollar bus ride. Mullet Bay Beach 10 min walk. We did a full day catamaran around the island great day with snorkeling and lunch on the French side.And yes th planes landing and taking off were neat

Very old looking. It needs a face lift. People should not be put in rooms facing garbage/waste facility outside . No variety of restaurants. Front desk employees displayed poor customer service skills

The Sonesta Great Bay was all that I had expected and a bit more. We had issues at check in on the Thursday we arrived, we did not get our OceanView rooms that we had paid for, the on-duty manager Shantelle promised us OceanView rooms by Saturday and she came thru with her promise. We had asked to speak to the General Manager, that person never made contact with us, I wanted to express my disappointment and my thanks with the effort that Shantelle put out. Overall, the resort is great, it's small enough that you get to know people, make friends - how could you not, the staff were the nicest group of people I've met while vacationing!. I would feel very comfortable going to the Great Bay alone. Some special mentions: Herman, Innocent (the mayor of Great Bay!!), Audrey (Italian restaurant) Carolina (pizza/buffett), Rubi & Brianda (Animation)....... The view is stunning, it's worth paying for the OceanView. Love that you can walk into Phillipsburg, we did 2 tours, one with a driver around the island, and one a power boat/snorkelling with Sea Turtles - both really great. Food at the hotel was really good. We enjoyed all the restaurants. The Animation Team (Rubi/Brianda) were lots of fun, we did water aerobics, pool bingo, had fun. The entertainment was good as well - there was a large group there, I would check with the hotel next time to make sure there is nothing like that again, they did take up a few nights of entertainment space because of special functions for them.... Sunwing flights were great!...... Lastly, special thanks to Lawrence Solomon for being a great travel partner, letting me vent via email regarding the room issue - it's I think my 5th or 6th booking with Lawrence, and won't be my last!!

The resirt was excellent. The good was great, entertainment group fabulous. The people so friendly, nothing too much trouble. I would recommend this resort to anyone. Very safe area, loved it, would return

just loved everything about it .will go back,service excellent.people freindly. management always present and smiling and always hello or just stop to talk.p00ls very very clean .always great choice of food and atmosphere fantasic by water every morning. views the best ever

Ever since the renovation a couple of years back the hotel has increased it's "desire to return" value considerably for us. The adults only feature is exactly what we were looking for as well. We will return to this hotel for sure.

Loved being able to walk into phillipsburg every day and watching the ships come in the morning and leave at night. Quite a sight. Definitely worth the upgrade to an ocean view room. Very safe city, took bus everywhere. As for the resort, the food could use a little variety especially at the waterside restaurant. More staff needed at the pool bar as well. Great vacation though

This was our first trip to St. Maarten and if we had not rented a car, it would have been our last trip. Getting to the hotel is nice and quick. Here's a quick update which we hope you find useful. The Beach: We're all about the beach. On Day 1, the beach seemed fine. On Day 2, we were asked to stay out of the water due to a health advisory. Apparently, the water basin that's located right beside the resort overflowed into the water due to rain. Not sure what the function was for this water basin, but it smelled like a sewer...at best. On the night before coming back home, we were surprised to see that they opened up the water basin right into the ocean! It would have helped if Management explained what had happened on Day 2 but there were no announcements and no proper explanations when we asked. Guests were able to swim on Days 3-7. The water was somewhat murky, with quite a bit of seaweed. On a positive note, there were plenty of chairs, umbrellas and tables. Rooms: We were first placed in a room on the lower level, facing a broken door (albeit ocean iew). We were supposed to have a King bed since my husband is tall, but were given 2 double beds. We were moved into another room late the next day. That room was lovely -- top floor, with balcony -- great view. Restaurants: There are 3 restaurants -- the grill by the ocean. The main woman who serves the guests is very pleasant. They serve pizzas, burgers, hot dogs, etc. The food is good. The buffet is also very nice, with some great seafood. Of the staff that work there, the young woman (can't recall her name) always greets you with a fabulous smile and brings you to the table of your choice. Jonathan treats you fabulously. The 3rd restaurant switches from Italian to Seafood, depending on the night. Surprisingly, the seafood was mediocre. Management: Management are not very engaged with their guests. We don't watch TV when we're on holidays and apparently there was news about a blockade on the French side a day before it occurred. Guests at the sister hotel were well informed, but we were not. We did go to the French side on this particular day, but when we were returning to our hotel, all roads from the French side were blocked. We had to abandon our rental car and walk through the blockade in order to grab a cab. If anything, the taxi services were great. Since they all knew about the blockade, there were ample taxis to bring tourists back to their hotels. The rental agency was able to retrieve the car at 11 pm when they remove the blockade. Sonesta Maho (sister hotel): This is a really nice hotel with a great beach. If there had been a shuttle service to this hotel, our hotel would have been empty. Staff at the Maho are super friendly, the food and beach are great. This hotel is located near the airport so you could experience having a plane fly right above your head. Island: There are several nice beaches around the island. All of them are very clean and clear. Chairs & umbrella rentals can cost $15-$20/day. It takes about 2 hours to drive around the island, depending on traffic. Shopping: If you are into jewelry, this is the place to be. There are 100s of jewelry shops. Clothing shops are just OK...very expensive...for items you could get at home much cheaper.

I traveled with my Mom and two sisters...this resort is staffed with warm, friendly people, like Alexander who greeted us every day and was always asking what he could do to help. The buffet restaurant was open for all meals, and the quality and variety of the food was great. The staff were always accommodating (special shout-out to Janean and Kadisha-thanks!). Our on-site Sunwing rep helped with a snorkeling excursion which I would highly recommend (we went to Creole Rock, Tintamarre Island and Mayo Verde to snorkel, and then back to Pinelle Island to relax. (Tour by Coconut Reef, great, professional staff, fed us lunch and snacks, and refreshments, all included!) We also took a history tour of the island which covered both the Dutch and French sides and was informative and enjoyable. Since it was just the four of my family, we were able to customize it a bit to our needs and our mothers' limited mobility issues. Thank you David for all your help!

Love it because it is a smaller resort, fabulous views of Great Bay, all adult, staff were amazing and very helpful. Great location to Philipsburg you can walk there in under 10 minutes.Would definitely stay there again.

nice hotel--fantastic views. Above average food. Only downside was the constant sea weed at the sea shore ; which was never removed. Thus it stopped alot of people from entering the water. BUT this was my ONLY issue ----so a wonderful time was had !!

the resort offered excellent food, service, entertainment, and the beach was amazing. I met many guests whom have gone back to that resort for 12 times due to the above experience. It was our anniversary and made our milestone a memorable one. I would go back again the Great Bay Sonesta Sint Maartan

Returned to Great Bay 6 years later, disappointed that Hotel was just as tired looking. Couples only resort now, expected better ambience. Unfortunate as the location of this property is outstanding. Right on the beach with an amazing infinity pool, so much potential.

I spend a wonderful vacation with my mom for one week at this resort. Everything was great. I shall return here again. Make sure you get the Oceanview room. Walking distance to do some shopping in the city.

Great location walk to town or to the bus stop for trips to other parts of the island. Food and drinks were fine always something to eat. Staff could not have been nicer or more helpful.Had been to hotel may years ago and it is very improved. Room was. t fine we faced parking lot but were not in room that much. Transfers back and to airport quick and on time. enjoyed or trip.

awesome staff, great accomodations, and easy access via bus to rest of the island and sister property shared. great special parties, especially the CHOCOLATE PARTY, WHICH INCLUDED CHOCOLATE MARTINIS AND FOUNTAIN~

Its my second time at Sonesta Great Bay, staff is courteous and friendly, food and service is great. Beach is excellent, its simply an excellent resort. Location is only a 5 minute walk on the beach to Philipsburg.

We loved Sonesta Great Bay! It was a beautiful hotel. The room was clean, spacious, beautiful oceanview. The food was great. I am vegetarian ( I do eat fish), I had lots of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Food was fresh. Not a lot of fruit options at times, especially watermelon. Watermelon was fresh first day, not very fresh second day. No ice cream options for all the ice cream lovers. The beach was clean, chairs were always available. 5-10 min walk to the downtown shopping strip. Shopping is great for jewelry. Lots of bars on the strip. Water is gorgeous, just like the picture. Entertainment in the resort was weak. Didn't see much of them. At night, there was 1 little show in 7 days, however always music playing and open dance floor outside. Staff were friendly at times. Morning and lunch staff were much friendlier then the evening staff. The chefs were great, always smiling, helpful. The hosts were very friendly. The front desk was amazing. So helpful. We would recommend this resort to people that want to relax, enjoy peaceful time together. The view speaks for itself. Breathtaking.

This is a smaller resort but the views are beautiful and the people are so friendly. We had an ocean view room which was really nice, mini fridge stocked daily with pop, beer and water, coffee machine with coffee stocked daily. Room was clean and the view was awesome. Food at resort was okay, quite repetitious in main buffet. Seafood/Steak restaurant was really good and the ONLY air conditioned restaurant. Burgers, pizza was good and the Italian restaurant was good. The drinks at all the bars were good too. No complaints but it was off season and I think if you went during busy season you would probably have some complaints. Towels, chairs etc. but we had a great time and probably would return. Hats off to Anthony in the main buffet!!!

The hotel offers spectacular ocean views, clean facilities, helpful staff, a good variety of dining choices and close proximity to downtown Phillipsburg for amazing shopping. Great value for our travel dollar.

The Hotel had the amenities that i needed. Hotel definitely needs an update but overall it is well kept and our our room was always serviced clean. Ocean view is a must as you wake up to a picturesque view. Food was good and most of the staff are friendly and always had a smile. My husband and I very much enjoyed our stay at this resort.

Resort was great, close to the ocean and up to it's billing. Dining choices were limited, but the food was good, but would have liked a little more seafood. Staff in general were helpful with requests, although some seemed limited in their knowledge of the resort.

The hotel was really good, and the employees are very friendly, the food was good, and the entertainment as well. Overall, I spent an amazing time.... The locals on the island are very friendly which makes it more enjoyable. Lots of expat on the island as well, the cost of living is quite high, but it is worth the experience...

The resort was average, we found our room had some cleanliness issues mainly mold in the bathroom. We had island view, but really it was a view of a retaining wall.. others that had island view could see a parking lot across the street. It is right in the city so it was on a busy road. Food was okay, but we have been to other resorts that served better food so we may be tougher critics than others. If you are younger and looking for a more lively vacation keep looking, this resort had bars that shut down at 11 most nights, only one would stay open past that time. The people that were with us made the trip, not the resort.

The Sonesta Great Bay resort was a beautiful venue. I couldn't believe how gorgeous the view was. The proximity to Philipsburg village is very convenient and plays host to a string of beach bars and both local and high-end shopping. We attended with a group of approximately 56 people for a wedding celebration and we were happy with the beach and pool area and the variety of activities the resort facilitated throughout the day. The buffet selection was exceptional for an all-inclusive resort while the a la carte seafood restaurant was less than stellar. Staff were generally friendly and accommodating except for the woman in the casino.

The only thing this resort really had going for it was that the food wasn't bad. The bar tenders do not know how to mix drinks at all, not sure if it was the few I dealt with but most of the time the drinks were undrinkable. The staff didn't clean the rooms everyday, there were a couple of days the cleaning staff didn't do our room. We had reserved a room with a king sized bed, they only had 2 doubles for the whole week so my girlfriend and I were stuck with it. Lastly, this may not be really in the resorts power, but it's the worst beach on the entire island. Literally every other beach on the island is better, it's coarsley broken shells mostly with sharp shards that can cut you, and the ocean isn't the best to swim in at that spot. The view isn't all that great either, mostly barges and cruise ships when they come in. Overall, I would definitely go to the island again, but I would not stay here.

Room was nice and comfortable, maid service can take til late afternoon some days. Service in restaurant buffet slower than in other Caribbean destinations but if you are not in a hurry it won't matter. Coffee would normally arrive after our dessert was done, nice to have coffee with dessert. Most of the hotel staff was pleasant but came across a couple that were not very pleasant but overall the experience was a good one. Good location in Philipsburg, only a 10-15 minute walk to town.

We had such a good time last year we decided to go back again this year. Excellent spot especially with the ocean view this time. Food always good and staff always very friendly we would go back again. Music could be a little different to get the people dancing. Beach a little difficult to get out of - but the water is beautiful.

Not the best beach around but relaxing. Food was satisfying. Seems meant for an older crowd as it seemed to have shut down around 11 pm. The island was beautiful with plenty to do excursion wise......

Excellent food quantity, quality & selection. Buffet had different theme every night. No reservations required in a la carte. Great upgraded oceanview room with large shower, granite countertop, cozy king sized bed with comfy pillows & duvet. Nice little balcony with excellent ocean view & wooden chairs & table. Fridge well stocked with pop, water, & beer; bottles of gin, rum & vodka along with coffee pot also there to be used as desired. Very friendly, thoughtful & considerate staff, always asking if they can do anything for you .Remembering a few of the employees names who gave great service: Edrick, Jonathon, Innocent, Geral, Shahib, Cleopatra, Veronica, Penko & many others whose names unfortunately I can't remember! A cold towel & champagne on arrival & Spa gift when checking in. A bottle of champagne & chocolate dipped strawberries delivered to room first night on occasion of our wedding anniversary. Maids were very attentive, bringing fresh towels whenever needed, turning down bed & cleaning room every day, right down to washing the floor. Everything was kept very clean, rooms, restaurants, beach, beach tables were washed every day as well, etc. etc. Hand sanitizer was offered in buffet restaurant & tables & chairs were wiped down after people left. Pools & hot tub were kept clean every day as well & hot tub was actually HOT. Great location within walking distance of Phillipsburg & duty free shopping. Lots of beach lounge chairs & umbrellas. You did have to get up early to reserve them though if you wanted a specific spot. Evening entertainment was OK if you weren't too tired to stay up. Daytime entertainment at the pool was enjoyed by many! The ONLY complaint I have is that there isn't anywhere to hang your bathing suit to dry & no hook in bathroom to hang your bathrobe or clothes on while you shower.

it is one of the best hotels I've stayed at a little rustic then I'm used to but the Island is wonderful and the staff at the Hotel are beyond wonderful they are is great to the tourist everyone is like family I travel alone so that is important to me Just GREAT

Was here approx. 15 years ago. Disappointed with it then but it has improved greatly and loved it. Wonderfull to watch cruise ships come and go. Location to the beach and Philipsburg was a definite plus!

Overall we really enjoyed our stay at the Sonesta Great Bay. The facilities are very nice, staff is friendly and work very hard to make sure your stay is wonderful. The beach is lovely, and the infinity pool is just heavenly. A few negatives: no organized morning exersize type classes, although they were listed on the board, they never actually took place, no water sports (windsurfing, Hoby Cat small catamarans, water skiing etc.) and long line ups to eat at the buffet. But, a big plus is that you can use both the Great Bay and Maho facilities for dining, drinking and swimming.

Although this hotel had great food, we were less than satisfied by the lack of concern or care by most of the staff. It seemed as if it was a huge burden on them if you had a special request. We booked well in advance, requesting a room with ocean view and higher than ground level and with a king bed. We got the ground floor and was told that their facility had no king beds. (their listing shows king rooms). We got a rolling of the eyes and bad attitude from both of the front desk clerks. After a little attitude of my own, they finally gave us a second level on the timeshare side of the complex with a large double bed only. They had no tennis courts either, as advertised. The entertainment was light and not overdone. For us, that was ok .We danced most evenings to whatever they played. During our stay, someone had placed some dishes in a hallway. They were not cleared away for several days. The room was clean and maintained well by the chambermaid. Overall... Average.

Rated 4 star for location,more like a 3 star for rooms and food,staff was fantastic,maybe pricing itself out of our range.This is our 2nd year at Sonesta Great Bay but maybe too pricey in 2015 .Please try to keep the price reasonable.

i did not like waiting at the buffet for dinner lunch or breakfast.. ive been going there for 15 yrs and it was never like that or at least not as bad . i do understand that with the new renovations going on at the other building that we have to wait now because the dinning area is closed ...still i dont like the wait ..not at a buffet.

Although we were booked for our 13th trip to Sonesta Great Bay we could not stay there as the hotel was damaged by a hurricane a week before we were to travel. We were then booked into the New Riu Palace. on the French side of the island. The hotel in total was very nice and although still under renovations and opened 2 weeks early to accommodate the displaced Great Bay guests all was really good. The rooms were nice, beds comfortable, nice bathrooms beautiful beach and pool. All the staff were great and the food was delicious, plentiful and well prepared even thought we only had buffet for the week as the other resturantes were not yet opened. Our compliments to all the staff... great job. The only issue we have with this resort is it is isolated and transportation into Phillipsburg on the Dutch side for shopping or to Marigot on the French side by taxi can be expensive. ( best taxi driver is Albert Rogers, just have the front desk call him a great guy ) We did suggest to Riu that a free daily shuttle to either town would really sell this hotel. Would recommend this hotel to anyone. Special thanks to Lawrence Solomon of Trip Central for all his help and working Sunwing to get us to this hotel. .

We were a group of 6 ladies that travelled the week of Sept 25-Oct 2 and had a great time!! All of the staff were super friendly and the food and drinks were amazing. We stayed on the 8th floor and had no complaints about our 3 rooms what so ever :) THe grounds were clean and the beach the place to be everyday- the planes landing made it very interesting. The pool needs some work and I think a new liner is required but it wa still clean and refreshing.

This hotel was very clean. The food was amazing and the wait staff were great. Beach was nice, but the water was a bit rough. Gorgeous weather too!! All the staff were very friendly. The wood oven was the best!!! pizza was outstanding!!! should have had it going 24/7!!!

Hotel was situated in a good location, where you can walk to downtown Phillipsburg. Not an overly large hotel, the rooms are a good size. If you like pools, (I don't care for pools) it is small. The view from the grounds and around the pool of the beach and ocean is great.

The service was amazing, The food was amazing and can beer...coors lite, miller light ....never got sick of the food...you have to try the steak dinner upstairs. Short walk on the beach to town for some great shopping. Went sea-dooing and scuba diving was amazing. Rented a car across the street 45 bucks for 24 hours great. All the staff was amazing even the security gards...only thing they could improve on is the night entertainment very boring...except for one band on sat night...great place to visit....I would go back again for sure.

This resort is simply amazing. The pool area of this resort has a very tasteful and modern design, overlooking the ocean and the cruise ship dock in downtown St. Philipsberg. The staff was simply amazing as well, they really make you feel like family. The food is delicious, I was never disappointed and the selection is very generous.

excellent food, every day something different,not the recycled food you get at some other resorts where your supper is what they served at lunch, the variety of breakfast choice was varied every day and bacon, sausage, ect was available every morning not just once a week as it is in the Dominican Republic staff very attentive to your every need.got a knock at the door for room service and it was the lady who checked the beer and booze in your room with another bottle of Bacardi lemon, it like the other 4 bottles of booze in the room was complimentary the beer and soft drinks in the fridge were checked and refreshed every day, excellent view of the whole bay from the third floor,the view was all the way to the cruise ship docks,this was a deluxe sea view room, if you book a garden view it is on the opposite side of the building with a view of the main road and hills,not my preference but still very nice, entertainment good short walk to phillipsburg

Beautiful beach, lovely views, excellent food and service. Friendly staff. Great location. Walk to Phillipsburg. A la carte restaurants were excellent. Lots to do if you want or just relax and be waited on.

I travelled with my 20 and 23 year old daughters. We had a terrific time in St. Maarten. The hotel was in an excellent location on the island and we strolled along the beach to the nice downtown everyday. The food was delicious and the hotel was clean. Only annoying problem was our hotel room smelt musty and like mildew. The lampshade had mold dots on it. We were going to change rooms but it also smelt musty. We faced the island side. Another couple at the resort didnt have this issue in their room but they were on the ocean side. I would go back to this hotel (ocean side) many times in the future as I got great value for our money. Great Bay was scenic with cruise ships and nice landscaping. We really enjoyed the view of the bay, the walks to town, the food at the hotel and the warm ocean in this Sonesta Hotel.

Everyone at this resort was so friendly and went out of their way to make you feel at home. Rooms were clean, very comfortable beds and the food was great, especially in the a la carte restaurants. Lots of variety. A special thank you to Vicky on the front desk for her compassion and assistance when I needed it. Also, our server, Vernike, in the Bay View restaurant was extremely efficient and friendly. The ocean view is worth the extra $.

Small but friendly resort, decent food, but not a lot of variety. Beach was nice but deep too quickly. Pool and bar by the beach best part of holiday, along with the bartenders, especially Claudine. Shopping is incredible for jewelry.. bring lots of credit.