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 What a beautiful location! Visited: January 2007 |
| Posted by stxfan |
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We have stayed at Caramobola on two separate occasions - last year for ten days, and this past January for 15 days.
The grounds are lovely and well maintained, and the staff is friendly. In addition, the food is marvelous. |
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| 7 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
 It was a wonderful location with some exceptions. Visited: December 2006 |
| Posted by mille_nanny |
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Our vacation was from 12/26-1/2/07. I was also getting married here as well. The hotel location was absolutely breathtaking and very secluded. However, that was where our troubles began.
Because of its location, everything was 30 to 45 minutes away. If you don't get a rental, you are at the mercy of the taxi cab drivers (who made a small fortune of my guests and me).
Next were the rooms. They were nice at first, but a little out dated. Also, some of my guests had maintenence issues with their rooms (such as phones not working, door knobs falling off, and rodent problems). One of my guests actually had to be moved in the middle of the night.
Finally, was the issue with the service - or should I say "no" room service? The staff acted as if they didn't want to work, and my server at my wedding actually sat down more than I did.
In addition, the food here was "so-so". I believe that service was so crampy because they seemed to work their staff to the bone. Our servant for our wedding actually worked the New Year's Eve party the night before, and I could have sworn we saw her Saturday, too.
In the hotel's defense, I was told that it used to be a timeshare and that the Marriott was trying to purchase it.
Overall, if you want to get away and lay out at the beach all day; and go to the grocery store and stock up the fridge with cold cuts and fruits and veggies; this is definitely the place you want to be. |
| 14 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful. |
| This was a great place with great people. Visited: September 2005 |
| Posted by jasminnie28 |
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I just returned from my honeymoon, and I did not want to leave! The beachfront room was fantastic. Hearing the waves was so relaxing. The rooms were pretty, had A/C and a fridge.
Also, the staff was extremely friendly and helpful - from the front desk to the person who brought us ice. The food was a little pricy. But all of it was excellent and filling - even if it was just an appetizer from the bar menu.
There was no reason to leave the resort, but it was fun to rent a car and explore the island. I would recommend staying here to anyone. |
| 8 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| We love Carambola! Visited: December 2004 |
| Posted by mgrinyer |
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The morning started at 20 degrees F with light freezing rain (Wisconsin); it ended in the warm humid twilight of a tropical garden overshadowed by palm trees. We love Carambola!
We (Dad, Mom, and two teenage daughters) stayed at Carambola for six nights over the Christmas holiday. It was great!
The "Caribbean Village" layout provided the perfect setting for a relaxed tropical vacation. The gardens were beautiful, and the grounds, beach and pool were well kept. The "room", which was more like a suite, was very large and decorated in a manner suitable for an island retreat.
In addition, the employees were good natured and very helpful. For budgetary reasons we didn't use the restaurants much, but we certainly enjoyed the Pirate Night Buffet.
We had lots of fun playing in the surf. One day we took the 40-minute hike west through the forest to Annaly Bay. That had a facinating rocky beach with lots of tidal pools; also, the ruins of a 1796 sugar mill were nearby.
We rented a car for our stay so we could explore other parts of the island. Carambola was somewhat isolated from the rest of the island (which was a large part of why we liked it so much), so a car can be rather helpful. We used Judi car rentals; we were very pleased. If you go during peak season make your car rental arrangements before you get there.
I think I enjoyed our time at K-Mart and Pueblo (grocery store)more than the tourist shops. It was nice to get a feel for "real life" on the island.
We took a snorkeling tour, our first, to Buck Island. Mom and Dad especially loved it. If you're new to snorkeling/diving - try it out early in your trip; you may want to spend the rest of your visit under water!
If you're looking for glitz, glamour and nightlife, try somewhere else. If you're looking for an enchanting, fun and peaceful tropical retreat, check in. We can't wait to get back! |
| 8 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| It was awesome! Visited: July 2004 |
| Posted by maya_olsha |
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We just got back from an amazing vacation. We took our eight-month-old baby with us.
Everybody was awesome, and so nice. We rented a car, and traveled all around, and it was great.
They provided a crib for the baby, and our room (on the beach) was very big, and comfortable. We were very, very pleased.
I think this was the most beautiful spot on the island. The water was not calm on that beach, but driving 20 minutes away, we found beautiful beaches, with calm water.
A good restaurant to eat in was H2O. They had great food and atmosphere. Also, the Pirate buffet Friday night is a must! |
| 3 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| This is a beautiful Caribbean resort. Visited: February 2004 |
| Posted by romenes |
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The Carambola Beach Resort is set on a beautiful, secluded location. The staff is very friendly. We have been traveling to the Caribbean for many years and have found this resort to have the right combination of luxury, privacy and amenities.
I would recommend the Carambola Beach Resort to anyone looking for quiet and relaxing Caribbean experience. |
| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| We love the Carambola. Visited: February 2004 |
| Posted by wendoyd |
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We had a wonderful time on St. Croix. This resort was secluded and the grounds were beautiful. It was not crowded, so we had excellent attention from their friendly staff.
We had a second floor garden view room, which had a beautiful mahogany vaulted ceiling. We could also see the ocean from our room.
The menu was not huge in the restaurant, but the food was very good. Please make reservations for their Friday Night Pirate's Buffet.
We rented a car so we could explore the island. Also, we ate at the Carambola Golf Resort which was nearby - they only served breakfast and lunch, both of which were wonderful.
I highly recommend the Carambola - it was a great value in a beautiful setting. |
| 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| Glorious island time. Visited: April 2003 |
| Posted by susan_coward |
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My husband and I had the fortunate opportunity to spend ten glorious days at the Carambola. The accommodations were perfect. Although we had not requested an oceanfront room, we were delighted to find our room to be just that.
The rooms were so spacious, with a living area and a large screened in porch. Every room was very private and comfortable.
We had the opportunity to meet Sue, who was in the process of helping the new owners upgrade the resort. She was most helpful and gave us a tour of a newly decorated room. Once these are done, all the rooms will be just beautiful. Under her direction, we could see changes every day that made the resort even more appealing.
All the people who worked at the resort were helpful and pleasant. Don't miss Pirate's night buffet, this was something all the locals attended because the food and music were so good.
The beach was great for swimming and it was a wonderful place for families with small children. Not only would we recommend Carambola, we have already reserved two weeks for next April. |
| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
 Beautiful location, but not much else. Visited: April 2003 |
| Posted by meixedo |
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The hotel is nestled beneath beautiful hills. The sunsets are gorgeous! The staff was very friendly and the grounds are well manicured.
Beachfront rooms are large with great views and mini-fridges. Some rooms could use a renovation to fix cracks and signs of age. Restaurants at the resort are very sub-par. Food selection was minimal, food quality was poor and, twice, items on the menu were not available. This is particularly disturbing because the nearest town/restaurant is, at least, a 20-minute drive along steep, winding mountain roads that are very dark at night.
The beach was average for the island, but a sea urchin colony just off-shore has prompted the hotel to put up signs recommending that people only swim in a small area in the western edge of the beach. This was very limiting. Ultimately, if you don't care about dining and just want to lie around the pool and watch the sunsets, this is the resort for you. If you want anything else, I'd think twice before staying at Carambola. |
| 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
 What a great getaway! Visited: March 2003 |
| Posted by reeceliz |
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My wife and I really had a great time on St. Croix and the Carambola. The screened-in patio was a plus, along with the good work of the staff. We rented a car, as the Carambola was in a remote location (good thing). Try the Blue Moon for dinner and jazz. Also, you must go to Off the Wall for food and sunsets. |
| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
 A potentially beautiful beach ruined by a poor resort. Visited: February 2003 |
| Posted by posta_milano |
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The garden-style grounds are well manicured. The beach is horribly un-maintained. The sand is not combed in the evening and chairs are not collected and organized. The chairs were lying everywhere, and even upside down. Most of them were dirty and broken.
The apartments are old, musty smelling, insects (ants) and very, very dark. How can one build beach resort housing in the Caribbean with almost no natural lighting? People go there for the sun!
I thought that the restaurant was absolutely pathetic. Due to the minimal amount of clientele, I guess they have no incentive to stock the kitchen. It seemed as though 50% of the menu was not available. They did not even have a wedge of lemon. I thought lemons came from the tropics! The restaurant service was the worst service you can imagine.
End result: I left the resort after 2 days and rented a condo closer to the main town. I think the owners of the Carambola Beach Resort have stopped maintaining and investing in the property. If you are expecting a premium club experience, stay away from this place. The only person who would be happy here is the one accustomed to third-rate accommodations. |
| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| A beautiful and relaxing getaway. Visited: February 2003 |
| Posted by egeland4 |
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I am so sad to be home. A cold winter in Georgia drove us straight to the Caribbean, and boy, was that a wonderful decision.
Carambola was a beautiful resort tucked into a circle of lush rainforest covered mountains. The drive in was the most beautiful I had ever seen. We went for warmth and quiet, and we enjoyed both. There were not a lot of people there, so we were able to enjoy any spot on the beach, by the pool, or in the bar/restaurant. The staff was also very friendly and helpful.
For transportation you must rent a Jeep. We took our two boys (a 7-year-old and an 11-year-old) and they loved cruising the island. My husband snorkeled and scuba dived off the beach with an instructor provided by the resort.
The food was expensive but tasty and we were celebrating paradise, so we weren't to stressed about it.
The rooms were picked up and beds made every day on our arrival. In general, the housekeeping staff did a good job and even tucked my sons stuffed whale under the covers for a nap.
I would suggest the cleaning staff spending more time cleaning floors, but with us continuely going to the beach and bringing back sand I'm sure that would be a hard thing to do. They just needed to be washed more often. Also, wasps nest outside the windows should be cleaned up and kept out. We had to keep one window closed because there was no screen to keep out wasps. These things, of course, meant nothing when all around us was absolute peace and beauty.
There were not a lot of kids. There were more older couples, but being we had to take our kids out of school, it made sense that others would come during summer months or spring break. My kids loved the snorkeling, boogie boarding in the surf and just playing in the sand. Kids need to chill out, too. It helped that they play very well together.
Oh, don't forget to visit Kelly at Off the Wall Beach Bar and Restaurant. It was an outdoor, seaside cafe that had great food and diners sat right over the crashing waves next to the Cane Bay Reef (famous to Scuba folks). We enjoyed the most awesome breakfast there, (Caribbean Eggs Benedict).
Well, enjoy your stay. I'd go back in a second and work in the bar if I could. Anything to spend my life in paradise. |
| 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| Beautiful, remote spot, but..... Visited: February 2002 |
| Posted by corazel |
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Carambola is very remote, beautiful, secluded and exotic. The beach is small but rocky at the water edge and you can only enter the water in a twenty yard opening at the far end of the beach. Being that it was so empty when we were there, this wasn't an issue.
It is an expensive taxi ride to just about anywhere. The taxi issue becomes important if you want to eat anything other than grilled chicken or hamburgers. We learned quickly to only order the most simple foods (got sick on chicken piccata the first night) and to eat out totally for dinners.
There is a very strange service mode going on there now (we were calling it the twilight zone). Service in the dining room is almost non-existent. Two waitresses, no bus staff. Tables are dirty, silver moved from table to table if additional place settings are needed. Half the things on the menu are not available, and we were batting 1,000 on something being wrong with every order if we were fortunate enough to get the attention of one of the waitresses. Get your check when your food is served or you will wait another 30 minutes. At one point, I served my own drink at the pool bar and fixed the skipping CD player. Couldn't have a banana dacquiri because there were no bananas. Oh, couldn't have a Bud, Coors, Red Stripe or Corona, because there weren't any. In fairness, they did get a new beer shipment the last day we were there.
The rooms are beautiful, but overall cleanliness is becoming an issue due to the skeleton staff working. Sand rings stayed on counters or tables for days, and beach towels were only replaced when we complained. Beds were changed daily with no problem and regular towels were fine.
This place is so beautiful and I would consider it near perfect if they can somehow do a complete turn around on the staff and dining. |
| 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| Wonderful honeymoon setting! Visited: August 2001 |
| Posted by Juliana104 |
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With all of the choices we had for places to honeymoon, I'm so glad that we picked St. Croix and Sunterra Carambola resort. Of all the places we drove by on St. Croix, Carambola seemed the most lush and tropical. I was amazed when we drove in our first day to see how aesthetically pleasing the resort was--the architecture was stunning with a mix of cultural influences, and the flowering trees and plants were so beautiful!
We requested a second floor room and I'm so glad we did because we had vaulted ceilings and a screened-in porch, which was hidden from the view of passersby. The room was all mahogany wood and very spacious; actually, it was a bedroom, bathroom, sitting room, and porch.
We loved snorkeling at the beach and hanging out in the pool. The food was very good, although the choices was a bit limited, with only one restaurant open during the summer. But the cooks were interns from the California Culinary Institute so the food was creative and tasty!
All in all, we relaxed a lot and enjoyed the excellent service. The Carambola was secluded but we liked that, and we rented a car or used the resort shuttle when we wanted to see the island. I second what one other reviewer said about the Friday night Pirate's Buffet: It’s well worth the splurge!
To be fair, I will say items in the gift shop seemed very overpriced, and the fact that there were sea urchins on part of the beach wasn't ideal; we had to enter from the west end only, but it really wasn't a problem and didn't take away from a memorable vacation! I'd recommend the resort to anyone who wants to relax in style!
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| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| Still my favorite place. Visited: February 2001 |
| Posted by romenes |
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We had stayed at Carambola Beach in the past and during our return visit this year we were happy to see that Sunterra's rumored financial trouble had minimal impact on the resort. The grounds and rooms are still well kept. There appeared to be adequate, but don’t forget that they’re on "Island Time." The setting is beautiful—perfect for quiet relaxation. Plan on renting a car because the resort is on a remote part of the island. Thrifty car rental will bring your car to the airport.
Food service at Carambola is not the greatest. It is okay for a burger or breakfast. The Sunday Brunch is really good, but I would suggest some of the Island’s other establishments for most of your main meals. The Waves, Indies, and Tu Tu Benies are really good. We had a great trip and plan on returning year after year.
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| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| Pleasant and quiet Visited: December 2000 |
| Posted by markreep |
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My wife and I spent a week at Carambola Beach Resort and had a great time. All we wanted was to relax on the beach and there is plenty of that at this resort. The snorkeling was nice, but I do not suggest going in December when they have the Christmas winds. The surf can be rough during this time of year. The staff was friendly (thanks Jr.!) Shuttles were provided at the resort to Christiansted and Frederiksted throughout the day. Not a place to go if you want a party scene. To really enjoy the island you should rent a car. There’s lots to see. |
| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| Disappointment Visited: November 2000 |
| Posted by JSforzo |
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My boyfriend and I stayed here the week before Thanksgiving, and I cried the first night we arrived. I guess my expectation was skewed from the misrepresentation from web sites and the RCI travel agency.
The rooms were "hut-like", the service was horrible and the wait staff were unfriendly. The pictures look beautiful from a plane above but that's it. Even the beach was a disappointment.
The food in the Maghongy room was very good, but the menu never changed and the wait staff were so bad! And we spent $830.00 in food alone in one week. To spend all that money on ok food and bad service was disheartening!
The rooms were dingy and just plain "used" looking.
Our goal was to relax by the beach and do nothing. We accomplished that goal.
I will never go back, nor recommend this resort to anybody. |
| 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| The Resort is in great shape, Staff is great Visited: November 2000 |
| Posted by luap124 |
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My first visit was in May of 99. I returned this past November 2000. The grounds were still beautiful and well taken care of. The beach had changed a little from Lenny last year.
I did not experience any problems with staff. They were very helpful, friendly, and responsive.
All of the buildings have been painted on the exterior, new roofs, new sleeper sofas, new bedspreads. What hurts the rooms is the tile floors were not sealed, therefore, they tended to stain a little more.
The food was great, not a lot of variety if you plan to eat every meal at the resort, but who wants to do that and miss out on all of the wonderful restaurants on the island? There were several, too many to visit them all in 9 days.
Yes, the resort is up for sale, which has resulted in some things not being done, like the pool and hot tubs needing to be refurbished (they were still nice) and the beach chairs needing to be repaired or replaced.
We plan to continue returning year after year. |
| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| A beautiful, relaxing experience - a must see! Visited: March 2000 |
| Posted by gisellechloe |
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When my boyfriend & I purchased this trip over the internet for a very reasonable (cheap!price, everyone told us to beware, including the taxi driver to the resort. We asked him for details and he said it was an out of the way place, usually for older people and he wasn't sure they had phone access.
It seemed a very long taxi drive to the resort, but we were incredibly delighted and surprised when we crested the hill and saw the resort. Gorgeous shimmering blue water, red capped villas and lucious greenery.
The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, loaded our luggage onto the golf cart and gave us a tour around the resort before taking us to our room. Our room was an open spacious area, quaintly furnished with a steep loft-like ceiling. From the enclosed patio we could hear the waves coming onto the shore below our window. The bathroom was large enough to easily permit coed showering. And yes, there was both telephone and cable access - although in our entire stay we only used the phone to coordinate outings or activities with new friends - either vacationers like ourselves or the extremely friendly "natives" who took us under their wing to show us their island.
The resort is away from the downtown but within walking distance to Cane Bay dive shop, horseback riding, a grocery store, restaurant and two beach side bars - guaranteed to be lively especially if there's a full moon! In addition, there are frequent shuttles into town, many sight seeing or touring opportunities (must see the Mt. Pieliar Club) and alot of on-resort activities.
Everyone from the guests, resort personnel, or the people who are lucky enough to live on the island full time, were so very friendly. Every time we decided to walk somewhere strangers were constantly picking us up and offering to show us different points of interest! We have made some lasting friendships from our time spent at Carambola.
We were so impressed with the area, people and resort that we bought our first time share. We are eagerly awaiting our return this March - there is so much more that we want to do and see. There was one down side being that the food selection at the resort was limited and a little pricey but overall it was a wonderful vacation and a place I have recommended to friends and family. |
| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| Wonderful resort. Visited: November 1999 |
| Posted by wendoyd |
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This was our first trip to the Caribbean and we made an excellent choice in the Carambola Resort. The view driving into the resort is breathtaking! The staff was friendly and helpful.
Even though we had a "Garden View" we were able to see the ocean in the distance. We loved the screened-in porch although we were bothered by very small ants in our room. We weren't able to let any food or drinks out or they would be covered with ants. Other than that, the room was nice; we never had to use the air conditioning, as we enjoyed the ocean breezes.
The food was very good. You must go to the Friday Night Pirate's Buffet. (Please make a reservation, as this buffet is attended by a lot of local residents. What a spread of food! We also enjoyed the Monday Night Barbeque Buffet.
The swimming area along the beach is limited, but that was okay with us. We recommend renting a car so you can explore the island. The Scenic Drive was an experience; you really should have a 4-WD vehicle (we did not!) Overall, it was a wonderful, relaxing vacation in a very beautiful setting.
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| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
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