Carambola Beach Resort St. Croix

Our team stayed at the Carambola Beach Resort for a couple days. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The sleeping rooms are large and comfortable. The Board Room has a beautiful view. The group did not have any meals except for breakfast.

The good things are the view is beautiful. The dining staff and bar staff where as accommodating as the amenities would allow. They worked extremely hard to satisfy the customers. If you want a remote island getaway with hiking and biking, then this may be the place for you. That said, it did not have much to offer in its amenities. It only had a functioning bar and grill and restaurant. Food was on the quality of a big chain fastfoodfor bar & grill and a quick dining for the restaurant; however, nothing was fast or quick, and cost was 2 to 3x what you’d expect to pay for the quality. Also, not the most accessible property for those with physical limitaions. Also, rooms did noy have phones to call for service at the front desk, no concierge staff for any good recommendations from the front desk staff. And the customer service of the front desk was limited to one or two employees being helpful but rarely friendly . Most of the other front desk staff made you feel like it was a chore to help you or that they were doing you a favor. Finally, it was a very remote location. The remoteness is a chosen preference. It is about a 25 min taxi ride on narrow, curving, hilly roads with pot holes to get to Christiansen, the down town area. It was shocking to learn this is a Marriott property. I expected better from the brand.

I'm a Marriott Titanium and stay over 75 nights per year at their hotels and resorts. Without exception I am greeted pleasantly and recognized for my loyalty. Not here. I was abruptly told by the young receptionist to put my bags in the corner and wait until 4. Never cracking a smile she reluctantly agreed to take my information and credit card info. The bar had 2 beers...bud light and corona light. The bartender couldn't say when he would anything else. No wait staff ever did take our food order so I worked with the bartender. All this in the first hour and a half. I can't wait to see what happens over the next 5 days.

The setting of the Carambola Beach Resort is astoundingly beautiful. The grounds and walking paths, as well as the landscaping, were lovely. We have been to many a lovely beach resort, and this setting was one of the best we've ever seen. We had a beachfront king suite with a beautiful view. The bed was superb, while the couch and patio furniture were a little run down and uncomfortable. The room had a spacious mini fridge. The storage space was excellent. The restaurants were the main disappointment. The first night we we were there, we ordered from the poolside grill. Better than average pool side choices, but the service was TERRIBLE. Friendly - but completely untrained. We waited 45 minutes for a glass of wine, and the burger came at an hour wait, cold. Good flavor - but truly not warm at all. There were 3 tables in use at that time. We had the same experience the next day. The fancier of the two restaurants, Saman, offered a nice menu, but the reviews were so poor we did not venture in after our poolside grill experience. Luckily, we discovered The Landing, five minutes away with GREAT FOOD and service with ocean view. We also discovered AMA as a great place to eat but you would need to make reservations in advance. Great food, service, and view. There are not a lot of restaurants in right nearby - so I harp on this to give a heads up to others! While the room was clean upon arrival, the cleaning of the room on alternate days was lacking. They might take the used towels, but forget to leave fresh ones. Coffee replenishment in the rooms was spotty - especially if you requested decaf. Even though we left our shoes at the door, there was still sand throughout the room that was not swept. There were things around the property that also negated our usual Marriott experience such as loose pavers around the pool. We would probably return, but hope the restaurant staff training could be remedied.

This resort was an absolute paradise! The beach was stunning with crystal-clear water, and the pool was equally inviting. The grounds were beautifully maintained, and the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful throughout our stay. The location was perfect, making it easy to explore the surrounding area (go on the hike to tide pools!). Very good for the price. This would be a 5 Star Hotel with just a few tweaks but then probably out of reach price wise. We had an unforgettable time!