Sonesta Ocean Point (Adults-Only)

This past week I stayed once again at The Point. Have stayed here countless times over the past five years, as I dive in Sint Maarten 2-3 times a year. (The diving is outstanding and I can recommend a great dive shop). The hotel returned from the 2017 hurricane disaster well, physically. She looks just grand. The rooms are once again well appointed, spacious and full of every amenity I could imagine. The all-inclusive, for meals and alcohol is complete. Every bar (pool-side to beach-side to inside), every restaurant, every bartender, is eager to fulfil your liquid needs, including being able to mix just about anything. The restaurants are fine. There are two main; the AZUL, of which is just magnificent, and the Point, of which is second, but still fine dining. The Azul menu changes daily and is a 5-course experience you won't want to miss. You are treated to perfection dining and pampered. I must take this time to compliment the best two waitresses in the Caribbean: Shacam and Shaneequa. These ladies are as good as it gets. The chef at the Azul is a master. Never had even one average or poor meal. The view from the Azul, especially at night, is incredible. The hotel is easy to get to from the airport; just 15 minutes or less. The hotel grounds are impeccably manicured and include a perfectly placed private beach and private pool area, adjacent to the Azul restaurant. The other two main pools are also well maintained, large and accommodate a ton of guests at any time. Live entertainment is usually each night and the hotel sports a rooftop lounge that is pretty cool, even for us old seniors. The rooms are cleaned timely and the room bars and friges are restocked daily. The beds are large, the linens and furniture nice, just what you'd expect. The room balconys are large enough to sit 4 people and most all of them have an excellent view of the ocean and/or the island. If you rent a car for your stay, as I do, parking is available under the Maho resort of which is attached, but the Point is secluded from the Maho (and its thousands of guests), catering to just a few hundred adults only. I pay $30 a week for safe and secure parking, of which I can easily take the 5 minute walk from the multi-floor parking garage to the Point-and the walk itself is quite pretty. Back to the wifi issues. After years, the hotel still seems unable to provide decent wifi service. They offer free (basic) of which screws up daily and drops off. Also offered is two more secure plans, for what I view as a little pricey-per day. The check in desk staff, to be brutally honest, has gone to pot lately. I, and 3 others (airline pilots to boot) had to wait 45 minutes just to check out, as there was no desk staff. Two hotel employees approached us during this period, asked what we needed, each told us they didn't work in that area and couldn't help us. They left. Later, a brand new employee did his best (he just popped up), but he had no security/online clearance and could do zero. No manager was available; he attempted to reach them with no success. The airline pilots finally just left, and I checked out through The Maho desk. This has happened before, and seems to be a growing concern at the hotel. The front desk staff (when there) isn't well trained, doesn't put the best foot forward in resolving issues as much as it should, and the managers (day or night) are just hard to find. Otherwise, the staff at the hotel; the waitstaff, the cleaning staff, etc., is all topnotch-outstanding, and all of them go well out of there way to help every guest. I'm booked there again next March, 2020 for another full week, as I can take a deep breath and get through the front desk issues, and enjoy the rest of the fine amenities this hotel has to offer. I'd five-star this hotel, if the front desk and wifi issues were resolved. Don't let these sway you away, for the hotel experience is otherwise just super. I've stayed elsewhere on the island and view the Point is still the best. The views, just by themselves, will capture you. If couples are looking for a romantic getaway, this is the place. I was thoroughly disappointed over the continuing wifi connection issues the hotel has.

Bottom line: Book it! I could not have been more pleased with this location. This resort is a 3 minute Taxi to/from the airport (you can actually walk if you only have a backpack and no checked luggage as that could be a hassle.). Further, once you're at the resort, you're a 2 minute walk to Maho Beach to lay and frolic in the waves, oh, and watch planes! I love watching planes and one of the best things about this resort is that ALL of the rooms face the beach and the planes' approach path. December is a great time to visit as this tends to include less tourists, which means more space on the beach, pool, and fewer people at the bar. The service was always phenomenal. I'd be lying if I said the food was phenomenal, but I wasn't here for the food. There is shopping right outside the main entry, along with some local bars and restaurants. You can also walk to Mullet Bay, which is another, lesser-known, off-the-beaten-path, beach. Great experience and would highly recommend. - Keep up the great work, Sonesta!

The resort has great views, but many things fall short. There is an issue of food availability during all hours. They have a Tapas restaurant that isn't open during all off restaurant hours. The only upside is room service is available all day. There is an app they encourage use, but times of restaurant openings and closings are not accrate there or on the shert they gave us. The food quality falls short as well. The food tasted overall bland. While talking with another guest in the casino, they agreed the food was the greatest downside in this resort. The staff overall is nice. There was one issue in the casino where Akeem mocked me for wanting water at his bar. This was not taken well. In contrast, Damien at the sunset lounge was fantastic. Great demeanor, life of the party, and very nice.

Very relaxed and beautiful resort! Lots of good food options! However for this to be an Adults Only Resort, there were tons of children there! The sister property right next door is family friendly and they have access to the Adults Only side where some of the restaurants are and as expected the kids stayed up all night running around being kids! Other than the kids...This property is beautiful and very comfortable! I enjoyed every bit of it!