A Caribbean Paradise!!
Written: Mar 14 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Immaculate, gorgeous rooms, good food
Cons: COLD whirlpool, construction closed some of the beach
The Bottom Line: The St Kitts Marriott is a wonderful getaway resort on the very quaint island of St Kitts.
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| jwalters24's Full Review: Hotel Marriott St Kitts Royal Resort Frigate Bay |
I had read mixed reviews about the St Kitts Royal Resort, so I was unsure as to what to expect upon arrival in St Kitts this January.
I was pleasantly surprised. We were transported by taxi to the resort, and compared to the other hotels on the island, this place looked like a dream!!! The first thing I noticed was the immaculate grounds and well kept buildings. The hotel has one main building and then lots of smaller garden houses on the complex. There are three large pools and some smaller decorative pools, plus one whirlpool. The landscaping and palm trees are breathtaking.
Check in was a breeze. We were served punch as soon as we entered the lobby, and it took less than five minutes to check in and get our room keys. Our room was located in the main building. The main building is not totally enclosed, so the ocean breeze fills the air. It's wonderful!! My only complaint isn't really something the Marriott can help - but there's an ugly closed down hotel right in front of the Marriott that's an eyesore and needs to go!
Our room was a standard room. We were told we had a mountain view. The room was fairly large and decorated very nicely. We had a private balcony with a splendid view of the volcano and we could see the ocean to the right. Very lovely room and view!! Our room had a king sized VERY comfortable bed with the standard ammenities. Each room has a hair dryer, iron, ironing board, and complimentary coffee. The bathroom was spacious, and had a regular tub, shower, and bidet. Our housekeeping came twice per day and replenished towels, made the bed in the afternoon and turned it down at night. There was a stocked mini-bar in our room, but we found it to be much cheaper to purchase sodas at the convenience store downstairs and then replace the cold ones in the mini bar as we'd drink them.
There are several small shops on the main floor. Price-wise, they are more expensive than what you'd pay in town, so for souvenir shopping, I would recommend going into town.
There are plenty of eating options at the resort. I recommend upgrading to a package that includes the breakfast buffet. The buffet has everything imaginable, plus made to order omelettes and belgian waffles. While spending time at the pools, there are some outdoor cafe's to order food, and even a poolside bar!! The pizza shack is very good, as well as the outdoor cafe' by the main pool. The food there was very good, but service could have been better. For dinner, you can choose between italian (La Cucina), steak (Royal Grill), seafood (Blu), or a family style dinner (Calypso). We ate at the Royal Grill Steakhouse, and it was fabulous. Expensive, but fabulous! The filet melts in your mouth, and the caesar salad is made to order at your table.
The resort offers a full service spa, a first class fitness center, and of course the Royal St Kitts Golf Course!! I've heard the golf is wonderful.
The pools are very clean and well kept. The whirlpool was very disappointing however - it was ice cold and kind of small. The beach is on the Atlantic side, so the water isn't the turquoise color you expect from the Caribbean, but it's still very nice, and there are numerous beach huts with tables in them.
There is a cigar bar, but we did not frequent it. We did dabble in the casino, but is was very unkind to us!! It's a small casino, but very well kept and staffed with friendly people. They serve complimentary beverages as long as you are playing one of their table games. The slots range from penny slots on up, and there is a high roller section as well. When you're not gambling or smoking, you could check out the Tigers nightclub. It's very small but quaint, and we spent a few nights in here dancing the night away.
Overall, everyone working at the hotel was very friendly and helpful. The lobby staff was great. There is a table in the lobby to sign up for tours, or if you want to go anywhere they have a car rental place right there for you, or someone will always be outside the lobby to call a taxi for you.
Some of the tours offered include a rainforest hike, horesback riding, snorkeling, a volcano climb, and ATV exploration. We did the horesback riding, which took us halfway up the volcano. I heard the Gregs Safari volcano tour is fabulous, but you need to be very physically fit to enjoy it. I would recommend getting the island tour from the taxi drivers. It's much cheaper than doing it through the tour company, and the drivers are willing to personalize your tour. Our driver's name was Ken, and he was great!!!
There are two places that are must-see's while on the island. One is Turtle Beach. It's an outdoor sports bar with fabulous food and a nice beach that has monkeys and wild boars. They also have water sports equipment to rent. The other is Friars Beach. It's a lovely beach with white sand and gorgeous water, but there are millions of beautiful seashells that wash ashore. We brought back a huge bag of them, and we went in the late afternoon. The prime time to go would be morning. For shopping on the island, have a cab take you to "The Circus". There's not a lot of shopping on the island, but you will find what they do have right here. There are several unique shops plus an open air craft market.
Overall, if you're going to St Kitts and want a relaxing place to stay, check out the Marriott St Kitts!!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
jwalters24
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Member: Jennifer Walters
Location: Elizabethtown, PA
Reviews written: 170
Trusted by: 23 members
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