Marriott St Kitts Royal Beach Resort & Spa - St. Kitts

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Pleasantly surprised! Visited: November 2009 Posted by liketotravel We just returned from four nights in an all-inclusive package. We thought about the unlimited golf and spa but decided that food was important. We sure are glad we did because: #1-It was very expensive and #2-There aren't that many places to eat nearby. As far as service it is important to remember there is a cultural difference and it is called island time. The beach was great but we heard from locals to be careful because of the rip current. We stayed inside the semi-protected area with no problem but if I had kids I might worry. There are vendors selling but a polite smile and no thanks was all that was needed. We felt very safe walking anywhere; in town, from the golf course, etc. We tipped, always. There is a 10% service charge on pretty much everything and it does not go to your server but is pooled and distributed by the hotel. Info: *There is a Duty Free (Smoke&Booze?)just a little ways down that has much better prices than the one in the hotel or the Cigar bar. *Look at what restaurants are opened which nights for planning. It wasn't the busy time of year and can imagine it may be hard to get reservations when high season. *We shared cab rides a couple of times to cut costs. The cabs are supposed to have regulated fares which you can find online. The Marriott book advises not tipping them but ignore that. *We brought our laptop and wouldn't have knowing that you can check email,etc. for $2US for ten minutes $3 for 15 min. in the business center. There was no wireless in the room we had. *We had a ground floor room just outside the main bldg and really enjoyed it. It was quiet and convenient. I can imagine that one farther away may not have been as great. *The tennis courts are 'turf' which were fun. Also lit so you don't waste beach time. We brought racquets and found out that with the $20/hr comes equipment. The pro was very nice. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It's a very nice resort, but will be much better in a few years. Visited: August 2009 Posted by dbrookw We just got back yesterday. We stayed in the timeshare part of the resort in a two-bedroom overlooking the pool and the beach (unit 8301). The resort was very nice. We liked it a lot. The only thing that would keep me from going back again soon was the food. Since we were in a villa with a full kitchen, we thought about going to the grocery store the first day and loading up on food. However, being at a Marriott resort, we didn't feel pressed to do so. Most Marriotts have a store at the resort where you can get most necessities if needed. St. Kitts did, too. However, it did not have anywhere near the selection of food and snacks we have seen at other Marriott resorts. The best meal I had was the breakfast buffet. It was quite good but cost about $20 each. A Marriott burger was $15, and skirt steak (cheap cut of meat) at the Royal Grill was $32 each. For two people eating at the resort every day we spent close to a thousand dollars. That included occasional drinks at the bar (just smoothies we don't drink alcohol). If you had wine with your meals you could double that. We did venture out one night to the Shiggity Shack. That was a good fun place. They had live music and good food. It was still a little on the expensive side, but not as bad as the hotel. One thing you have to keep in mind is until 2005 St. Kitts was a sugar cane based economy. They do not have a lot of experiance being a service based economy. I will give them "A" for effort. They are still learning. 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is the best place I have ever stayed. Visited: July 2009 Posted by houstonk96 I brought my family here for a week-long vacation, and we loved it! The staff was excellent. When I checked in, the bellhop (Bruce) looked at our room assignment and knew it would be too hard for my mother to stay in the room we were given (she has trouble walking). He promptly got us a room in the main building, which was excellent. At one point during our stay, mom (who has Alzheimer's) got away from us. We contacted security, and they found her very quickly. It was a big relief. Everything about the hotel was top notch. Any need I had was met immediately. This is a great place! 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? The place was pretty, but had some drawbacks. Visited: December 2008 Posted by chipper78 I just returned from a week-long vacation here. We were here for a friend's wedding. We have been to St. Kitts before, and we will be back again. We get the whole concept of "island time" and the different culture. However, this is a Marriott, and one would expect the hotel to a least meet the minimum Marriott standards. The place was not even 20% full when we were here, so our problems have nothing to do with the place being busy. We checked in on a Saturday, went out to dinner, came back to our room, and discovered we did not have hot water. Two hours later (and after being shown three other rooms in the main building that also did not have hot water), we finally received a room on the north side of the building that had hot water. If the hot water was out on the entire south side of the building, why not just give us a good room to begin with? We had another issue with no water in the room later in the trip. It seems to me, that if you are lucky enough to get a good room, you will have a nice time. The hotel is nice, and the people are friendly. However, if you have a problem, no one seems trained properly to handle the issue. If you go to St. Kitts, please don't spend your entire time at the Marriott. The restaurants at the Marriott are average at best, and you are missing out on the experience of exploring the island. Beaches to go to include, Shipwreck and Reggae Beach. Also, Thursday night at the Shiggity Shack is a must, and the best food on the island is at the Beach House restaurant at the south end of the island. You will not find better food or service anywhere in the islands. Other restaurants to visit are Ciao and Rock Lobster. The food at the Shipwreck beach bar is great, too. The beach and the atmosphere are our favorites. 22 users found this review helpful. 3 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? I was pleasantly surprised. Visited: August 2008 Posted by dianamarie Based on many of the reviews I have read about this resort, I was very nervous about our vacation. I was pleasantly surprised! We did not experience any problems throughout our stay at the Marriott. We changed our room two times because of air conditioning problems - but that was my request because I like it very cold. Definitely try to request the third floor or above for great views! We actually could have slept with the doors open because the temperature got so cool at night - especially with the constant wind. The hotel was beautiful, and very convenient to get to and from the airport and the capital city. The only reason I gave four stars was because the seafood restaurant was closed for the season (as was the night club on site). The food we did get to eat delicious! La Cucina was fantastic. We had great, friendly service each time we had an encounter with a hotel employee. Yes, they were a little slow - but hey, you are on vacation! We opted for the all-inclusive plan. Again, we were nervous about this because we were told that when you are all inclusive, the service staff doesn't treat you the same. Well, at the Mariott, no one has any idea who is all inclusive and who is not! We just signed each check as if charging to our room! We did venture into the city twice - once for shopping and once to take a day trip to Nevis. 23 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was a lovely resort that was beyond our expections. Visited: March 2008 Posted by mzw While we don't usually like large hotels, this one exceeded our expectations. Upon arrival, we were upgraded to a large suite, which was huge and very well appointed. We expected the usual "island time" approach to things - especially in a place so large. However, we encountered none of that here. The service was fast everywhere, including in the restaurants. When our room safe malfunctioned early in the evening, the desk sent someone up in about five minutes to fix it! We liked the fact that we could pick up a quick breakfast to go just outside of the restaurant, so we could relax on our patio with fresh fruit and cappucino. Despite the huge size of the place, it never felt crowded. We never had to "scope out and save" chairs at the beach or the pool, which was something we usualy have to do on other islands. We chose the Marriott because the golf course was on the property and my husband golfs, but I do not. I took lessons, and could not have been more pleased with the pro who gave me three lessons. He also took us out on the course for a teaching lesson...all for the price of one round of golf on Nevis at the Four Seasons. The staff was lovely, and helpful wherever we were on the property. We did not take the meal plan. There were numerous great restaurants to eat at on the island, just a short walk or taxi ride. Food was expensive everywhere, but if you don't have kids, don't take the meal plan. Get out and explore. We had terrifc meals for less at the "local" restaurants, and spent no more than the hotel prices at some of the upscale places on the island. The only dinner we had at the hotel was very good, though - no complaints. There were just a lot of more interesting places to go to elsewhere. Also, there were lots of activities - if you are into that. Overall, we had no complaints, and we very pleased with our stay. We reserve a five-star rating for places like The Four Seasons on Nevis. 27 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is the best on the island - by far.. (but that's not saying much!) Visited: August 2006 Posted by kenya_keyes I live on St. Kitts. Recently, I had family come in for a visit, and we put them up at the Marriott. The overall cleanliness of the room was satisfactory. However, we had to tell the maid several times to change the sheets because she would just make it up. As far as overall service, it is the best on this island, but still not up to par. No one is in a hurry for anything - ever! Be prepared to wait at least thirty minutes before you see even a salad in La Cucina (the Italian restaurant in the hotel) and Calypso Cafe (light fare, casual). I also recommend requesting the check when you order your last drink. I know what many of you may be thinking: they are just laid back island people. That is not so. If you travel into downtown Basseterre, prepare to be hissed at by disgusting men who appear to be homeless (their own little way of saying they are interested). My twelve year old sister was hissed at while shopping on a pretty busy street, and was scared to go into town after that. 21 users found this review helpful. 21 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This resort exceeded our expectations! Visited: March 2006 Posted by okkueser My family and I recently stayed at this facility for six days. We could not have been more pleased with the resort, staff and accommodations. The food was very good, and we had enough options to please everyone. If you take the time, the snorkeling was nice as well, but with the Caribbean side of the island just within walking distance, we thought it was outstanding. I would highly recommend this facility and island to all who are interested in spending a relaxing and enjoyable vacation. 34 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This was a beautiful, fun resort. Visited: September 2005 Posted by summervi The St. Kitts Marriott Resort was a beautiful, full service resort. Though we generally like to stay at smaller hotels, this large resort was fabulous. The friendly staff welcomed us as we got out of the taxi, and again at the front desk. Our large, comfortable room had a balcony that overlooked the ocean – perfect for sitting out in the evenings. The spa services were so good and so numerous that I went for treatments twice! The main hotel building boasted gift and clothing shops, a really good Italian restaurant, a liquor store, and a little market where we could buy some snacks to take up to our room. I enjoyed being able to buy quiche and croissants to go, make coffee in my room, and enjoyed breakfast on my balcony, as well as have a nice-sized refrigerator to keep snacks and drinks in. The Marriott did not pre-stock the in-room fridge … something I really appreciated! The people at the pool-side restaurant were very nice, and the food was good. We went to lunch a couple of times at Turtle Beach – a beautiful, relatively close drive from the Marriott: good food there and great scenery along the way. The Royal Beach Casino was great fun, and had all types of gambling activities. The three pools were not “swimming” pools, but they were nice to lounge in and next to – and there was a whirlpool tub. Landscaping was lush, and designed so that even though the place was huge, many areas felt very intimate. The golfers had a great game, and were very pleased to have been met at the 9th hole by staff handing out cold towels! We visited off season – and during renovations – so the lounge and breakfast restaurant were not yet open, which did not detract from the amount of fun that we had. (That also meant low occupancy, which was what we were looking for.) Even before we left, we were already talking about our next visit. 35 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? I thought it was spectacular. Visited: July 2005 Posted by mikecll9 The service was great, and this was a beautiful resort! 14 users found this review helpful. 8 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We had an excellent time! Visited: March 2005 Posted by trudy_a_long The resort was fabulous! The service and cuisine were both great as well. I will be leaving next week for another visit. I can't wait to get there! 14 users found this review helpful. 4 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This was an excellent facility. Visited: March 2005 Posted by psmall1 This resort was beautiful and well kept. The Blu restaurant and the Italian restaurant were both good. The service, at times, would probably fall below most peoples' expectations for a Marriott resort. We were on the on all-inclusive plan, which was good. You could easily spend $200-$400/day on food and drinks. Some of the front desk staff were very knowledgeable and helpful, while others were not. We talked to four different families who didn't initially get the room they booked upon check-in, including ourselves. Fortunately, all parties eventually got what they booked. This was probably due to lack of attention to details by some of the front desk staff. Overall, it was a beautiful resort, and most guests seemed to genuinely enjoy themselves. Certainly, this is the resort to go to in St. Kitts. Also remember--they are on 'island time'. 17 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is a magical destination! Visited: February 2005 Posted by dfink These are perfect accommodations for those expecting modern conveniences, casino play and lots of pampering! The staff could not have been nicer with the refreshing punch and cool cloths in the lobby upon our arrival. We had a comfortable room with an incredible view, a down comforter and pillows, a safe and an extra-large balcony. We enjoyed service with a smile! And the knowledgable staff was ready to assist in plans off site. Brunch at Rawlins Plantation was a special treat. Ask for Neal, a wonderful tour guide and taxi service. We are already planning a lengthier stay, and eagerly awaiting our next trip! 13 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was absolutely perfect! Visited: December 2004 Posted by x3w4q1 An ideal vacation for me is a great hotel with excellent restaurants, great beach and pools. St.-Kitts Marriott was just that. I stayed in a mountain view room, which was very clean and nicely decorated. The whole hotel felt brand new and upscale. The grounds were gorgeous, and the staff was courteous and made me feel welcome. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. The food was very good. I recommend the rack of lamb at La Cuccina, the Filet Mignon at the steakhouse and the Wahoo at Blue. The wine selection at the restaraunts was also impressive, and the service was very prompt. There were three huge swimming pools; since it was the off-season, I usually had one pool entirely to myself! The hot tubs were not hot, but comfortable and bubbly. The beach was very nice, it was on the Atlantic side. The waves were not rough at all, and the water was quite clear and blue. I had a couple of aloe massages from locals - Clarissa was very good, she hit all the right spots. I also went to other beaches, saw the monkeys and the big pig at Turtle beach; I recommend going to the Caribbean side, because that beach was pretty perfect! Overall, St.-Kitts and the Marriott was a perfect beach and sun vacation - relaxing, even revitalizing! 19 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It's a great place, but has potential to be better. Visited: December 2004 Posted by paigetelep St. Kitts Marriott was a beautiful property and had great rooms in a paradise location. There was not a lot to do outside this resort, so it was good there was so much to do there. We do recommend scootering around island with a stop at SpratNet (incredible lobster dinners there). La Cucina was the best restaurant on the property. Breakfast buffet at Calypso (as well as waitstaff there) left much to be desired. Also, most casino dealers didn't seem to be having a good time (not even smiling); we were really disappointed even when we were winning. The swim-up bar had great bartenders, but the music by the pool was too loud. We heard the same CD about ten times. With more work, this place could rival top spots elsewhere in the islands. 11 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? My stay here was excellent. Visited: October 2004 Posted by jennymulholland_1 What an amazing experience! The staff was wonderful. Overall, the place was beautiful and I would recommend it to anyone. 6 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We had a wonderful experience. Visited: October 2004 Posted by brendapr I spent ten days on St. Kitts this October and loved every minute of it. The Marriott was beautiful. The hotel's open construction allowed for the ocean breeze to be felt throughout the hotel. The rooms were well appointed with marble floors, down comforters and pillows, large bathrooms, a refrigerator, and balconies (in most rooms). This was a full service hotel with everything you would need. The hotel also had a travel agency, Hertz rental car, and an internet café for their guests on the main floor. The staff was excellent. They were extremely friendly and always willing to offer assistance and suggestions on activities at the resort as well as the island. The hotel offered a variety of activities regardless of age and/or activity level. The hotel also had three pools and a beautiful beach. The hotel's staff also served guests at the main pool. The staff didn’t (or at least not while I was there) serve guests on the beach. The beach area did have cabanas and lounge chairs for the guests to use. In addition, they had five restaurants. I ate at three of the five. The restaurants were good, but not spectacular. Regardless where we ate on St. Kitts, it was expensive! The hotel did have a convenience store of sorts where water, juice, soda, beer, snacks, etc. could be purchased. They also provided a desk with the majority of St. Kitt’s restaurant menus for guests to review. The staff was happy to make recommendations and secure transportation to and from the destination of guests' choice. I would recommend the Marriott to anyone planning on traveling to St. Kitts. 8 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We received excellent service, it was an impressive facility. Visited: October 2004 Posted by gniconovich We just returned from an eight-night stay at the Marriott. The whole experience was excellent. The service was top-notch - almost too good. They asked if everything was okay too often (four times by four people in five minutes!). I don't know what anyone could complain about. The casino was huge, the restaurants were varied, and the beach was beautiful. This island was a cut above the usual Jamaica or Punta Cana. The island was spotless, and the people were very nice. Yes, the food was not cheap, but the helpings were huge. You could share one chicken wrap with fries and you both would be full. If you go, and you should, please give the workers and islanders the respect they deserve, and you will be treated in kind. That way, the island will not be ruined like so many others due to arrogance and uncaring nature. 15 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is the best Caribbean resort by far. Visited: October 2004 Posted by bernie_oconnor We just returned from a four-night stay at the Marriott. It was awesome. My husband and I only stay at Marriott resorts, and this - by far - was the best. The staff in the hotel (as well as in the casino) were 100%. We upgraded our room to the main building (room 358) overlooking the whole property - resort and ocean. We don't usually visit the same destination twice, but we will definitely have to come back to St. Kitts. I would recommend this property to anyone who enjoys luxury and great service. 12 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A Wonderful Vacation Visited: March 2004 Posted by mcalkins The Marriott in St.Kitts was a wonderful hotel. The three pools the hotel had were great. The beach was beautiful and very long for walks wich was a nice touch. The food from the many choices of reastraunts were wonderful. The only downside was that there was a dipping noise in our room that the hotel failed to fix. Other than that the hotel offered everything from hair braiding to shopping. We had a wonderful vacation at the Marriott in St.Kitts. 7 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful?