Marriott Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Beach Resort

St. Thomas, USVI

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*It was extremely disappointing.* Visited: April 2008
Posted by ccb
	I checked in late on Wednesday night, and was originally shown to a room that looked like it hadn't been renovated in 20+ years, and smelled like a wet dog. I called the front desk, and they offered to send housekeeping. I asked for another room, and was given a key to a room in the new addition, which seemd pretty nice. Unfortunately, the room I was given was already occupied. After apologizing to the screaming, scared occupant, I went back to the front desk and was given a key to a third room, that was supposedly renovated. The renovation appeared to have been a new area rug on the old tile floors and some new linens. Unfortunately, the room did not have a king sized bed, and was not nearly as nice as the rooms in the new section of the building. Strangely, the prices for the new rooms were the same as the prices for the older, mustier, not as nicely appointed rooms. I suggest you stay away - far away - unless you have a contact who can get you in a room in the nicer part of the hotel.
13 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful.
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*It was a week in Paradise.* Visited: February 2008
Posted by asandywah
	I could not wait to write this review, given all of the negative things I had read about this place before our trip. Let's get started! The property is so stunning! When we first arrived, the perfectly manicured landscape was breathtaking. The lobby was clean with a funky style.The views of the ocean and beach were beyond words. Our room was clean, and it looked exactly like the photo on their web site. There was a slight musty smell, but I assumed it would because it is a tropical place that does get some bad storms from time to time. I have nasty allergies and a sense of smell that would put a dog to shame! Believe me, I was secretly concerned. It was very mild, but worth mentioning. The hotel was quiet. It was fully booked, but the resort was so large that we didn't feel crowded. It was newly remodeled, and it was clean everywhere. Iguanas were present, but they minded their own business. We stayed in a harbor view room. It was beautiful. The beach had powder soft sand. Oh my gosh! The water was a beautiful shade of turquoise blue. There were no shells or rocks - or fish for that matter. It was clean and soft. It did get deep quickly. If you don't have a ridiculous fear of sharks, you'll be fine (ha ha). The water was rough, though. If I had to complain at all about this trip, that would be my main complaint. I thought Caribbean water was mostly calm. It was comparable to Florida type of waves. Oh well, maybe you won't mind it! There were two very friendly women who would come around and bring us drinks on the beach. They were fun. The weather was perfect for us. There were some clouds on and off, cutting out some of the sun from time to time. It was about 85 and mostly sunny. There were constant breezes, too! There were lots of pretty sailboats to watch. The pool was clean and casual with a very nice feel to it. There was a Jacuzzi on the Frenchmans Reef side. It was was too hot and musty smelling, though. The Morningstar Jacuzzi was perfect. The people who worked here were nice, but not gushing. We were fine with that, but I do understand what people were saying about them in other reviews. The food was good. We liked the breakfast buffet at Windows, and Captain's Cafe had great mussels and decent ribs. I was not too fond of their steaks at the Marriott, though. The seafood was real good. Overall, the food was good. Oh, sunset crab and artichoke dip on pita chips...you must try. Oh, I am so detailed! To wrap it up here, the trip was really super great. Unless you are extremely hard to please, you should totally love this place.
25 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful.
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*This was a big resort, but we never felt crowded.* Visited: July 2006
Posted by kinera
	My wife and I stayed in St. Thomas at the Morning Star portion of the Marriott Frenchman�s Reef/Morning Star complex. This was a large resort, but in spite of being fully booked, it never felt crowded. The restaurant waits were not very long, and the beach or pool chaises were always available. We enjoyed our stay, and liked the island of St. Thomas very much. The staff was friendly and accommodating. We even had an ice maker right in our room. There were areas within the resort where we had breathtaking views of the harbor and the island. The resort operated a shuttle service between the two resorts. We chose the Morning Star resort portion because we happen to prefer low rise buildings, and Morning Star was right on the beach. This way we could go to a variety of restaurants on site. Food was pricy on St. Thomas, and this is something you just have to plan for as part of your vacation package. We are Marriott Rewards members, so we were earning points as we were staying at this resort complex. There were several on-site restaurants ranging from the high end Havana Blue at Morning Star, to the beach and pool side bistros. There were also two on-site markets selling breakfast items, deli and packaged lunch items, snacks, beverages, rolls, cheeses and probably other things I forgot. The one at Morning Star was smaller and had posted hours; at Frenchman�s Reef the market was open 24 hours. We found it reasonable to buy the items for our breakfast, use the refrigerator, and eat in our room. We found that as part of our shopping trips into town, we could have lunch a bit cheaper. To go into town to eat meant either taking the ferry or a cab (unless you have a rental car). The fares in all cases were per person, so if you might have two couples going in one cab, it does not save any money. We happened to note that there were those who hired a cab to go into Red Hook for a special evening meal. This trip for two, round trip with tips, would be about $100.00. Having stayed near Red Hook, we know there are gourmet restaurants in and around the town. While the menus are in general limited, the most extensive was at Havana Blue. This, by the way, is a concession, but you can still charge the bill to your room. There were two buffets - a Caribbean night at Coco Joe�s (the beachfront restaurant at Morning Star), and an Italian night at Windows on the Harbor at Frenchman�s Reef. Both were $35.00/person not including beverages or drinks and tip.
62 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful.
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*This was a wonderful resort but there were too many iguanas!* Visited: September 2005
Posted by jchadwick
	We stayed at the Morning Star Beach Resort and loved being close to the beach. Also, the staff here was great. The resort location on the island was great and easy to get transfers into Charlotte Amalie to shop or do sightseeing. The ferry ride from downtown back to the Marriott dock was a highlight, along with a safari- snorkeling day tour to St. John arranged by the hotel. The only negative aspect was the abundance of iguanas on the property. My husband and I were greeted the first afternoon as we walked up to the main lobby to eat. Not one, but seven critters were lined across the sidewalk. I understand there is an iguana feeding by the pool daily, but we were not amused and did not participate after counting 44 Iguanas on the cliff by the pool at 4:oo pm. There were also a half dozen iguanas at the dock along with their droppings the next morning before we departed for St. John. They were a big nuisance. I thought I was safe on the beach, but the last day one came down a tree limb over my beach chair and fell on my flipflops and I almost had a heart attack! These were not cute little geckos, but iguanas that were two to three feet long. I am a corporate travel agent, and until the iguanas are removed from the property we will wait before returning to this property. They could add another soup to the menu!
30 users found this review helpful. 15 found this review unhelpful.
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*We had a very enjoyable experience.* Visited: December 2004
Posted by vijames999
	My wife and I really enjoyed the resort. The best part of the experience was dining at Havana Blue. Apparently, the Marriott leased out space to private owners at Morningstar and wow! The cuisine was top notch. The decor was stunning. This was the complete dining experience. We ate there five straight nights as there was no reason to go elsewhere. Don't even bother with Windows.
24 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful.
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*It was nicer than I expected.* Visited: December 2004
Posted by mvitali
	My family and I just returned from the Marriott over Christmas week and we all were pleasantly surprised by the resort. The location was beautiful, and our room - a two level Royal Harbor suite - was spacious, clean and cold. They had an excellent AC system. Service was good throughout the hotel with the exception of Coconut Joe's bartenders at the beach bar. They seemed to not care about the customer and tended to us only when they had nothing else to do. The new restaurant at Morningstar, Havana Blue, was excellent and the breakfast buffet at Windows on the Harbor was bountiful and made-to-order omelettes were the norm for us. St. Thomas had a lot to offer in terms of shopping, sightseeing, beachcombing and restaurants. A few of our favorites: Oceana in Frenchtown, Molly Molones in Red Hook, Havana Blue, and Iggie's at Bolongo Bay where they offer all you can eat Dungeness crab legs every Tuesday. We thought Herve was good, but overrated and small portions.
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*It was very, very nice!* Visited: August 2004
Posted by prance331
	In my opinion, this was the most beautiful place in the world. We could see the ships pass every night. The Sunset Grill had great food. I recommend going there. The beach was very clean and well maintained. There were a lot of beautiful shells. The rooms were beautiful and I had no problems.
14 users found this review helpful. 5 found this review unhelpful.
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*This was a very nice resort.* Visited: July 2004
Posted by m_voigts
	My wife and I just returned from the Frenchman's Reef, having stayed here with Marriott rewards points. The staff was wonderful, the resort grounds were beautiful, and the resort location on the island was great (easy access to downtown Charlotte Amalie and St. John). The rooms needed a little updating (our ice machine was broken, and a little mildew was in the shower) and part of the resort was showing its age, but overall we had a great time. The restaurants were a bit pricy, but the small cafe right on the beach had decent prices and a great atmosphere. We had one small incident with a restaurant, but the hotel staff refunded the meal to us. I'd recommend this hotel to anyone who wanted to get away from it all. The grounds were so spacious that walking from one end to the other was like going to a different resort entirely. They also had a nice beach, but small pools. And did I mention the wonderful staff?
12 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful.
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*The Morning Star Beach Resort was great.* Visited: May 2004
Posted by nickrefvem
	We stayed at the Morning Star portion, and it was awesome. The only negative aspect was the wedding department. They were very unorganized and were not receptive to our ideas of what we wanted. Everything else about the stay was wonderful (food, the rest of the help, accommodations).
6 users found this review helpful. 7 found this review unhelpful.
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*It was our first time and it was fabulous!* Visited: December 2003
Posted by ussjfkcv67
	We just got back from a week-long stay at Frenchman's Reef. This was a first time for us in St. Thomas. The Marriott treated us quite well. Our first room was in the Sunset Wing right outside the pool. We had a problem with flying insects. After reporting the problem with the front desk and having someone come in to spray, he suggested that we could change rooms if we wanted to. We took his advice and asked for another room. To our surprise they upgraded us to a two-room suite in the Harbor Wing. That made all the difference. The rest of our trip was just terrific. The resort was huge and there was a lot of walking to do to travel between both hotels, but it was fine with us. The restaurants were somewhat expensive, so we traveled to the downtown area frequently. We liked the Green House (lunch and dinner) and also a nice Italian restaurant Fagioli (dinner). For breakfast, we either got something quick from the Presto Market in the Frenchman's Reef or traveled to Havensight Mall to a great place called the Delly Deck. They had great food and it was very inexpensive. All in all, service was friendly and all staff members were quite helpful. Go and enjoy - and stay at the Marriott for a great time.
11 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful.
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*It was not quite what I expected.* Visited: October 2003
Posted by kellietravel
	I was eligible for two free nights at a Marriot through a travel club I belong to, so I chose this Marriot. Maybe that had something to do with the kind of room I got. I agree with the lady who stated the beach water was somewhat rough. Cons: The furniture in the room was somewhat battered. The room initially had a bad odor which housekeeping took care of quickly when I complained. Also, from my room I could see the surface of the deck area around the pool looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a 'month of Sundays'. The elevator doors needed paint. The shower walls in my room had mildew, my room needed painting, and the TV was smaller than average Pros: All the staff were very nice and helpful. I did have a great view of the water, and I was able to get a close up view of the cruise ships as they pulled out. The rooms were fairly sound proof. I was right next to the elevators and didn't hear a thing. Also, the hotel was conveniently located to many restaurants. Most public areas were well-maintained including the fitness center. Landscaping seemed to be well-maintained also. I have no comment on the restaurant because I only ate the breakfast buffet which I would rate a 7 out of 10. I think that for most people, the hotel is probably okay, but I think I am getting spoiled and am used to staying at really nice resorts.
9 users found this review helpful. 9 found this review unhelpful.
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*We had a wonderful vacation, and the staff was very friendly.* Visited: June 2003
Posted by jtoolan
	This was our first time to the island and we really enjoyed our stay. The grounds were very well kept and the breeze during the day and at night felt great. We spent most of our time by the pool or ocean just relaxing. The food was good, but the choices were limited. They also had a 24-7 convenience store in the hotel to get food and other items, and prices were good.
7 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful.
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*The resort was nice, and the rooms were okay.* Visited: May 2003
Posted by ann
	The resort was really nice. They had a great pool and beach, and nice views, too! The rooms were okay - a little run down, nothing spectacular. The food was very expensive at this resort. Bring your own snacks and drinks, or stop at K-Mart or a grocery store on the island and get some. Coco Joe's was a nice beach restaurant. We visited some of the other resorts and were glad we did pick this one.
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*Highs and Lows* Visited: April 2003
Posted by nicolero
	Frenchmens Reef has a stunning view of Charlotte Amalie and the resort has many great features. We loved the beach which offered great surf to ride the waves and was a nice contrast to the serene water at some of the other island beaches. We also enjoyed the grounds and the overall service which was very low key, but friendly. St. Thomas was a haven for pirates and some of our negative comments relate to the exorbidant prices for cabs on the island and food and drink prices at the resort. Taxi cabs charge per person for a ride, which made all rides for our family of 4 quite pricey. Most guests did not rent a car because the roads are very hilly and narrow and you drive on the left hand side. The Marriott charged $7 for a rum drink and $14 for a hambuger. The nicest restaurant on the property, Tavern on the Beach, is lovely and offers an interesting menu, but for an entree alone prices ranged from $25 to $38, not including salad. All in all, we had a great vacation, but I would probably try a different resort.
12 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful.
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*it was AMAZING!!* Visited: March 2003
Posted by music410
	it was absolutely the best vacation ever!
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*A nice hotel, but where was the Caribbean food?* Visited: February 2003
Posted by simmonsas
	This hotel had the greatest pool overlooking the ocean. My only comment would be that there wasn't any real option for a Caribbean lunch. The cuisine was very American. We ended up eating lunch downtown everyday at a very inexpensive and cute restaurant called Lillian's Caribbean Grill. Between this restaurant and the hotel amenities, though, we had a great time.
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*It was very, very nice.* Visited: January 2003
Posted by kurtisv
	My wife and I popped in for three nights. Our room was very nice, and the entire resort, including Morning Star, was fun to explore about. Do realize that you will need to water or land taxi to anything else, which, for two people round trip with tip, was anywhere from 25 to 40 dollars. For three nights we could have stayed at the resort, the food elsewhere on the island was not any better. Try the sailboat snorkel event. You leave right from the resort dock, and sail to beautiful snorkeling. We would definitely go back.
7 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful.
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*Good, but not great.* Visited: January 2003
Posted by jstrauser
	We spent a week over the New Year�s holiday here. Actually, we found a great rate only a week before we left at the Marriott web page, $219 for a resort view room. When we arrived, we were pleased to see our room was upgraded to a harbor view room. The views from this resort are tops. The pools are nice, though the one by the beach gets quite sandy. The beach is okay, but has rough surf and a strong undercurrent. Go to some of the other beaches on St. Thomas; they are fabulous. Food was average and overpriced. Eat off property if you can. You are close enough to downtown and Red Hook to eat dinner at either location. The property seemed rundown a little bit and there were strange odors in the halls. I recommend renting a car if you plan to leave the property at all. We had a wonderful time exploring St. Thomas and St. John using the Marriott as our home base. The resort was adequate, but not great.
6 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful.
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*This was honeymooon heaven.* Visited: November 2002
Posted by fiver105
	After much research, we chose the Frenchman's Reef, St. Thomas as our destination for a ten-day honeymoon. We were very pleased with the experience. It definitely paid to tip the staff. We were upgraded to a suite at no extra charge for the last few days of our stay, we recieved gift baskets, complimentary bottles of wine, and exceptional service. The night life wasn't all we'd hoped, so we headed down to Red Hook to party. The "Pour Man's Bar" was a blast! During the day we visited St. Thomas, we took a day trip to the British Virgin Islands (Jost Van Dyke is a must!) or hung out by the pool or on the beach to relax. Eda Brooks, at the pool bar, was wonderful! I read a few complaints about the beach at the resort, but we really enjoyed it. We also enjoyed the Bon Voyage parties and complimentary drinks at the resort. However, we didn't enjoy the restaurants on location. Fajioli's downtown, Room With a View, and Cuzzins were all wonderful, however. Our room was clean, had average decor, plenty of space and a wonderful beachfront view. And the two-room suite we stayed in the last few nights was spectacular with a spa tub, balcony, and gorgeous view of the harbor. We found most of the hotel staff to be helpful and friendly, but the restaurant staff was very rude and gave terrible service. Overall, we loved St. Thomas as a vacation spot. And this resort was just what we hoped it would be. We will definitely be returning some day.
8 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful.
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*A beautiful property!* Visited: October 2002
Posted by lkmatherly
	We thought Frenchman's Reef Resort was beautiful and well-kept. However, while we were there, they were repairing both pools, having completely drained the pool by the beach and partially drained the one upon the hillside. We were told they were getting ready for "peak season." That was a bit disappointing and an eyesore. We were also disappointed with the lack of night life at the resort. Many of the restaurants and bars were either completely closed for the season, or had shorter hours due to it being in the off-season. The restaurants had a nice atmosphere, the food was good, but a little pricy for the type of menu items offered. The service was excellent, though. Morningstar Beach was okay, definitely not the prettiest beach on the island. A lot of the beach was washed away as the surf was rough at times, with a very strong undertow. Snorkeling was not the best here. The beach wasn't crowded, so that was nice. The staff, from the housekeepers and the bellmen to the managers, were all extremely friendly and acknowledged you at all times. The staff at the Adventure Center desk helped us plan our week with excursions to St. John, the British Virgin Islands, and also helped us pick the island's best restaurants. If you are going to St. Thomas, this was definitely one of the prettiest hotels and had the best views on the island. The rooms were spacious and very clean. If planning to go during the off-season, be prepared to go elsewhere to find night activities and a variety of dining options.
6 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful.
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Marriott Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Beach Resort Overview

Frenchman's Reef Resort is located near beautiful Morning Star Beach and offers views of the Caribbean Sea and Charlotte Amalie Harbor. Morning Star Beach Resort sits directly on the beach. The resort provides luxury guest accommodations in a tropical and exclusive setting. The great number of amenities, facilities and...