When you fly into these little island airports, one of the things I love most is immediately being hit with that warm, muggy tropical air – it instantly puts me into vacation mode! We flew American Airlines from Atlanta to St. Kitts with a brief layover in Miami, so over all a fairly easy flight. Going through customs in St. Kitts was very simple and we were quickly on our way. To get to the Marriott property, we took a taxi from the airport. Taxis are lined up right out front and you can estimate a fare of about $24 for your ride. Fun Fact – When we were planning our honeymoon over 9 (!!!) years ago, this Marriott property was one of our top two choices, so we were really excited to finally be able to check it off our list!
The check-in process was very smooth and with our status we were upgraded to a “Sea View” room. As far as the room goes – it was fairly basic, but a nice size with comfortable beds. The best part was the large balcony – I loved being able to sit outside with my coffee and enjoy the views and wonderful breeze!
This property is expansive to say the least. In the center is the very large pool area – we went at the end of November so it wasn’t too crowded. While there seemed to be ample seating, I could see how during the high season it might get a little tight. That being said, it really was a fun atmosphere! They offer a happy hour and a few games – so make sure you check that out!
We spent all of our time out on the beach. Full disclosure – our neighborhood at home has a pool which we love, so on vacation you will usually find us on the beach if it’s an option! While on the beach you might be approached by numerous people offering massages. They are not affiliated with Marriott, but this is allowed as every beach in St. Kitts is considered public. Each individual usually has their own little business and they each offer different prices. You might be able to negotiate a little bit and it is worth noting that they only take cash. If you are not interested simply tell them no and they will not bother you. However, if you are like us – take them up on a foot or back massage – it was a fun way to kick off our trip!
There are 9 restaurants on property. During our stay we ate at the lobby bar twice – we ordered the flatbread and I also ordered sushi. It was really good! We grabbed a couple pizzas at the Pizza Shack for a quick meal one night – super yummy and obviously no complaints there! We loved the Calypso Cafe for a grab and go breakfast. We both ordered egg breakfast sandwiches and Brandon ordered a smoothie. The last restaurant we ate at was the Bohemia Beach Pool Bar and Grille. Honestly, the food wasn’t spectacular, but you are right near the beach so you can’t beat the view!
A few other things to note:
- ATMs are VERY scarce. There is one located in the casino, which was really convenient. However, for the second half of our stay, we ventured over to the Park Hyatt (for more info. on that part of our stay, click here). We could’ve used a little more cash at times, for taxis and tipping….and of course they mentioned the ATM at the Marriott as being the closest.
- During our stay, we took advantage of the grocery store named Rams – just a short walk across the street from the main entrance of the hotel. You can take advantage of duty free prices on wine, beer and liquor and overall the store had a pretty decent food selection. Keep in mind you are in the islands outside of the US, so certain products may cost more than what you are used to.
- In that same shopping center was also a little cafe – we didn’t eat there during our trip but they appeared to offer sandwiches, smoothies etc… if you are looking for a little variety outside of the Marriott restaurants.
- There is a gym on property which we did take advantage of one morning. Honestly, for the size of the property we found it to be quite small. Luckily we didn’t run into any issues trying to grab a treadmill but it could be an issue during the busy season. It does have nice big windows with a view of the pool area, which I liked!
For more tips and information about a few restaurants around the island, click here. The other activity I would highly recommend is the day sail to Nevis, operated by Blue Safari. For more information on our experience, be sure to check out my post here.
Overall, we really enjoyed our stay at the Marriott and we would love to go back in the future!! It’s the perfect place for a long weekend away as a couple or even with the whole family! Be sure to add it to your list 🙂
