Note: Last year, around this time I had the pleasure of reviewing the Sonesta Ocean Point Resort and Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa. Two beautiful all-inclusive resorts located on the beautiful island of St Maarten. Days after my team left, the island was hit with a horrible storm that caused a lot of damage to everything in its path. The resort immediately went into survival mode to make sure all of their guests and staff were ok, which thankfully they all were. Next, it was time to rebuild, and I am excited to finally share this review because the rebuild is almost complete. You are currently able to book reservations for the projected open dates of November 15, 2018 for Sonesta Ocean Point and February 1, 2019 for Maho Beach Resort. Both of these resorts were already gorgeous, but now they are even better, stronger and able to withstand extreme weather conditions.
“You will never be defined by tragedy but, instead, by how you respond to it.” -Kevin Brady
OK! Let’s rewind time a little…
We landed at Princess Juliana Airport, the only airport which is located right in the middle of the island. It is not a huge airport so getting through customs and getting our bags was a speedy and easy process. After grabbing our bags, we took a $10 taxi ride from the airport to the resorts. US currency is used on the island but the ATM fees can be a little high, so bring cash. Once we arrived at the resorts, we were greeted by a lovely staff member holding cold water bottles and fresh damp face towels with a hint of lemon. A lovely welcome!
The Ocean Point Resort is located directly behind the Maho Resort, on the same lot, about a 2-minute golf cart ride from lobby to lobby. Check-in was quick, and the front desk staff was extremely accommodating. Dinner reservations were made for us at one of the resorts most popular restaurants, Azul, while we were being checked in. Azul Restaurant, exclusive to Sonesta Ocean Points guest, sits at the edge of a cliff overlooking Maho Bay. We actually ended up loving the view so much that most of our dinners were spent there. There are several different dining options, 8 restaurants and 4 bars, just depends on what you’re in the mood for. Reservations can be made via the lobby kiosk from the date of arrival for any of the upcoming nights.
A really unique thing that I wanted to point out is the room key technology. If you are one of those guests that have issues keeping track of your room key, *cough cough* me! LOL, well don’t fear because Ocean Point does not have traditional key-cards. They give you a waterproof wristband which replaces the standard room key. They snap it comfortably on your wrist before you walk away from the front desk so once you get up to our room, all you have to do is hold your wrist up to the keypad to unlock your door. I promise you will never have to take it off, you can shower with it on and go swimming. Once we got into our beautiful rooms, waiting for us was a bottle of champagne, a fruit plate and a letter inviting us to a sunset cocktail party at their Sunset Lounge and bar which is located on the roof. They really make you feel special. By the way, the rooms are beautiful, extremely comfy and the views from our rooms were fantastic! Take a look below.
On day two, we explored the resort and checked out a few of the amenities. There have been some changes made since last year of course but the resorts’ signature limitless, all-inclusive concepts will remain the same, as will favorite services, amenities with a number of exciting new features to debut. The large Oasis pool with swim-up bar and a cascading waterfall and the Serenity Spa were two of our favorites. The nightlife in the city that is basically a 5-minute walk away was very live and super fun, perfect for a girls trip or guys trip. You can dance the night away at a few different nightclubs that play great music or you can try your luck at the casino.
Later that afternoon we decided to go to the beach. We did some research before we left and outside of the great beach at the resort, we also found out about Cupecoy beach. It’s a small, beautiful, nude beach nearby. It was great because there weren’t too many people on the beach. The water was a beautiful blue, and it had gorgeous caves. This was our first time at a nude beach, and there were definitely a few naked bodies walking around, but we were way too busy having the time of our lives, so it did not bother us. We visited a few other beaches during our trip, but this beach was definitely our favorite beach outside of the resort.
Day three was our Billy Bones Boat Charters Full Day Eco Trip. Thank you to the resort and Nexus Tours for setting that up for us. They provide free transportation from the resort to the dock. The tour is 6 fun hours, 5 beautiful stops and open bar on a very comfortable powerboat. The tour takes you sightseeing, snorkeling with the fishes and turtles, feed the iguanas, and it wrapped up with a group lunch at a French restaurant. Be sure to book Captain Anthony, he was very funny and had the best playlist on his boat.
Day four, we took a private tour around the island, which was personally set up by the resort for us but you can find reasonably priced trips around the island, just check with the hotel front desk. Our driver Suki was so informative, and he drove us to some beautiful historic areas with great aerial views of the coast. Suki has his own taxi service called Suki Taxi Service, so make sure you inquire about him at the front desk, he’s a blast! One of our favorite stops was Fort Louis, it’s on the French side of the island. You walk up these beautiful stairs on the side of a big hill to the remains of the fort which was originally built in 1789. The 360 view from this vantage point was incredible. Beautiful views of the lush mountains and of the coastline, this fort was constructed so that the French could look out and see if any pirate ships were coming in back in the day.
The island tour of St Maarten was breathtaking! But, the day did not end there. On our way back, we stopped at Bikini Beach which is located in Orient Bay. We met the great guys of Fly Addiction Parasail, and they took us parasailing and jet skiing. This was the very first time I’ve been parasailing, it was a mindblowing experience! The guys were so funny and down to earth, so they calmed my nerves before I hit the sky. They are all about safety so they first explained everything in detail, rules and safety procedures. Then it was time to get hooked up and hit the air. Take a look!
Thank you again to Fly Addiction Parasail! Please be sure to check them out when you visit. They offer so many fun activities.
Our last day at the resort was very bittersweet, we did not want to leave. We had built such a great relationship with the staff and the manager, Eliska. She was terrific during our whole stay. She took us on a tour of both of the properties, and she was always available to answer any questions. She is one of the best managers that I have interacted with during my travels. She makes herself available for all the guests, she is very hands on.
If you plan to visit St Maarten, make sure you stay at Sonesta Ocean Point or Sonesta Maho Beach Resort. I would definitely recommend visiting the island around the summertime because it’s not as crowded and traffic is not bad. Make sure you do your research before you visit because the island has some great festivals and concerts that happen yearly so if you want to partake, be sure to book your trip during those particular months.
Special thanks to all of our partners that made this trip AMAZING!
Sonesta St Maarteen
Instagram: @Oceanpointresort
Instagram: @Mahobeachresort
Billy Bones Boat Charters
Instagram:@Billybonesboatcharters
Fly Addiction Parasail
Instagram:@Flyaddictionparasail
I am definitely heading back to Sonesta Ocean Point Resort for the grand opening, hope to see you there!
Naomi is a stylish, adventurous traveler. She’s a bit of a daredevil that loves excursions. Those that know her, call her a shoe connoisseur. She is also obsessed with music and has a playlist for just about any mood. She’s a foodie that loves a good vegetarian/vegan spot. Want to know where she is headed next… stay tuned to find out!
