Sarah A.
Google
Mixed Honeymoon Experience at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa
My husband and I stayed here for our honeymoon and had a very mixed experience overall.
First, the rooms were pretty mediocre, and unfortunately the views were not great. We had a view of what looked like a sewage plant, we asked to move rooms which was an ordeal. The second room they gave us had a view of construction. Very disappointing. Also both rooms had visible mold, which was disheartening—especially for a resort that markets itself as a higher-end all-inclusive destination. My husband was very sick by the end of the trip and by the time we arrived home his symptoms drastically improved!
One thing we were surprised by was how many kids were at the resort. There were a lot of children everywhere, which isn’t necessarily bad, but it definitely impacted the atmosphere for a honeymoon trip. We were told that upgrading to the adults-only experience would have cost an additional $1,700, which felt like a steep price difference. If you tried to go to the adult only side you were told “you can’t be here” because we didn’t have the right color wristband. Plus not everyone can afford that when we spent over $4k on this trip to begin with. At times, it also felt like some parents weren’t closely watching their children, though to be fair staff did step in a few times to tell kids to move or play in other areas.
On a positive note, most of the staff were very friendly and welcoming throughout our stay. However, we did run into an issue at the end when returning our towel cards (which carry a $10 charge if not returned). Some staff members were reluctant to give them back when we returned our towels, which created unnecessary stress at the end of the trip.
Another thing worth mentioning is that the resort seems to act as a sanctuary for stray cats. While animal lovers might appreciate this, several of the cats appeared ill or in need of medical attention, which was a bit concerning to see around the property.
The food overall was pretty bland and portions were small. That said, the best meals we had were at Jings and La Fontana, which were definitely the standout restaurants on the resort. The best bar on the property was the one near La Fontana—great drinks and a fun atmosphere compared to the other bars.
As far as entertainment, it was mostly mediocre. The best show we saw during our entire stay was actually at the casino on Saturday night, which ended up being the highlight entertainment-wise.
The excursions offered through the resort are pretty pricey, but we highly recommend the sunset horse ride—it was absolutely beautiful and one of the most memorable parts of our trip.
We did visit their spa, which was also pricey for what was provided.
Getting around the island is easy. Taxis generally cost around $5–$15 depending on where you’re going, and a bit more if you’re traveling to the French side of the island.
One of the biggest frustrations was the pool and beach chair situation. The resort does not enforce rules about people reserving chairs. Many guests put towels on chairs as early as 7 AM and then don’t return until noon or later, which leaves very few chairs available for people who are actually there trying to use the pool or beach.
Overall, we still enjoyed parts of our honeymoon and the island itself is beautiful, but the resort experience didn’t quite live up to expectations. With better room maintenance, stronger chair enforcement, and some improvements to food quality, this could easily be a much better stay.
