Sonesta Ocean Point Resort, St. Martin - Complete Couple's Review

Reviewer Introduction

Reviewers: Brittany and Kevin (Kev)
Stay Duration: 4 nights in August 2025
Room Type: Junior Suite (entry-level room)
Disclosure: Not given free or reduced stay in exchange for review
Travel Agent: Brittany - Memories and Mojitos (specializes in Mexico and Caribbean only)

Property Overview

Location: St. Martin
Property Type: Adult-only resort within a family resort
Distance from Airport: 5 minutes
Price Point: Approximately $500/night for entry-level junior suite
Overall Rating: 8.2-8.3 out of 10

Accommodation Review

Junior Suite Details

Room Features:

Entry-level accommodation option
Spacious layout
Great view of ocean
Plane-watching views (landing aircraft visible)
Mini bar with water, beer, and soda
No food/snacks in room

Air Conditioning:

Worked well
Effective cooling

Housekeeping:

Cleaned room well
Good daily service

Bed Comfort Issue

Initial Problem:

Bed not very comfortable initially
Main complaint about room

Resolution:

Requested mattress pad next morning
Brought immediately by staff
Significantly improved comfort

Outcome: Issue resolved quickly with responsive service

Dining Experience

Restaurant Options

Azul (Signature Restaurant):

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Menus change daily for lunch and dinner
Can eat all three meals here without repetition
Located on adult side
Never gets boring due to menu rotation
Guests loved returning repeatedly

Blue Finn Restaurant:

Snacks available every other day
Snack hours: 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Bar open until 6:00 PM
On alternating days, grill set up at Point Pool

Family Side Options:

Pizza available
8-10 minute walk from adult side
Option if wanting variety

Standout Meals & Drinks

Kevin's Favorite Meal: Parmesan chicken with spinach ravioli

Brittany's Favorite Meal: Same as Kevin - Parmesan chicken with spinach ravioli

Kevin's Favorite Drink: St. Martin beer (multi-ish flavor) - only found on beach

Brittany's Favorite Drink: Frozen mudslides - "super tasty"

Barista Service: Excellent coffee service noted

Special Dining Touch

Scented Towels:

Provided at lunch and dinner
Cold towels with different scents
Scent changes with each meal and day
Examples: vanilla, lavender, eucalyptus
Reviewers considered this "such a nice touch"

Overall Food Quality

Assessment:

All restaurants very good
Food consistently excellent
High quality across all venues

Pool & Beach Facilities

Pool Options

Multiple Pool Choices Available:

Kevin's Favorite: Swim-Up Bar Pool

Nice ocean view
Can watch planes flying
Lively atmosphere

Brittany's Favorite: Edge Pool

Quieter atmosphere overall
Pretty good pool service
Bartender from Azul or Blue Finn checks on guests regularly
Well-attended service

Beach Access & Details

Maho Beach (Primary Beach):

Location:

Less than 10 steps from resort
Directly accessible
Right on famous Maho Beach

Features:

Beautiful white sand
Blue waters
Famous for plane watching
Get iconic plane shot with hands up as large aircraft lands overhead

Size:

Not huge (approximately quarter mile long)
Not suitable for miles-long beach walks
Compact but beautiful

Beach Setup:

Public beach (not private resort beach)
No resort chairs or umbrellas provided
Must rent from vendors
Rental cost: $20-30 for couple (chairs + umbrellas)
Can throw down towel for free if preferred

Atmosphere:

Crowded due to popularity
Still very enjoyable despite crowds

Plane Activity:

Large planes ("big boys"): United, JetBlue, Air France
Mainly arrive 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Not during sleeping hours (no 8:00 PM arrivals)

Mullet Bay Beach (Alternative Beach):

Location:

Behind resort (visible from property)
8-minute walk to beach
9-10 minute return walk
Would be shorter if could cut through back security gate (not permitted)
Golf course separates resort from beach
Access via front doors, walk around perimeter

Features:

Gorgeous beach
Absolutely stunning
Crystal clear water

Beach Setup:

Same rental system (chairs and umbrellas for purchase)
Can use own towel for free

Recommendation: Highly recommend Mullet Bay Beach over Maho - described as "absolutely stunning"

Entertainment & Activities

Current Entertainment Offerings

Evening Entertainment (Adult Side):

Typically in restaurant
Guitar player or saxophone player
Mellow atmosphere
Very limited options

Family Side Entertainment:

Entertainment all day
More extensive programming
Not accessible if staying strictly on adult side

Major Gap: Lack of Activities

Current Situation:

Nothing offered on adult side beyond dining entertainment
No structured activities
No organized programming
Very quiet resort

Brittany's Requested Additions:

Bingo
Cooking classes
Drink-making classes
Macrame
Painting
Any 2-3 activity options
Not asking for every hour, just some options

Important Note for Potential Guests: "If you want activities all day and all night, this is not the place. You're going to be bored to tears."

Who This Works For:

Guests okay with just relaxing
People who enjoy making friends with other guests
Those comfortable with minimal structured entertainment

Alternative Entertainment:

Casino across the street (part of resort)
Option for those who like to gamble
Could serve as evening entertainment alternative

Resort Layout & Logistics

Adult vs. Family Section

Complex Setup:

Historical Context (Speculation):

Brittany believes was originally one resort
Adult section appears to be add-on or afterthought
Not typical clear-cut adult/family separation

Layout Challenges:

Restaurants:

Most restaurants on what would be designated "adult side"
Family section has limited dining
Creates commingling of sections
Not entirely separate like typical resort-within-resort

Check-In:

Adult lobby adjacent to family buffet
First day saw babies near dining areas
Takes adjustment to understand layout

Vertical Separation:

Adult side positioned above family areas
Family restaurants below adult section
Creates some visual separation

Security Measures

Extensive Security:

More security guards than any resort reviewers had seen
"Six a day... more than six"
Security guards everywhere

Access Control:

Different wristbands for adult/family sections
Wrong wristband = no entry to adult side
Must scan wristband at some entry points
Very strict enforcement

Result:

Kids NEVER come onto adult property
Very well-controlled despite layout
Security ensures complete separation

Reviewer Clarification: "I want to be clear that the kids never could come on to the adult side."

Initial Arrival Experience

Drop-Off Location:

Guests dropped at family resort first
Then shuttled via golf cart to adult check-in lobby

Major Service Gap - No Greeting:

What Happened:

Got out of car
No one there to greet
No cold towel offered
No one to take bags
No direction to where to go

Waited 45-60 Seconds:

Two taxi drivers only people present
No bell hop appeared
No greeting staff

What Reviewers Did:

Knew about Sonesta Point section (separate roped area)
Went to that area
Waited
Saw security guard
Walked up and said checking in
Guard radioed for assistance
Then promptly taken to lobby

At Lobby:

Very friendly once inside
Offered drink
Good service after initial gap

Problem: "This was the first resort I've ever stayed at where when you got out of the car there was no one there to greet you"

Why This Matters:

First-time resort guests wouldn't know what to do
Confusing for anyone unfamiliar with property
Poor first impression
Security guard shouldn't be sole greeter

Recommendation: Needs bell hop or greeter at both family resort drop-off and adult lobby entrance

Restaurant Hours & Timing Issues

Confusion Factor

Main Challenge:

Restaurants rotate schedules
Different hours on different days
Special hours complicate things further
Guests on vacation don't want to track what day it is constantly

Brittany's Take: "I'm totally fine with restaurants rotating. But when they're rotating and the times are different, it gets a little confusing."

Specific Timing Problems

Blue Finn Restaurant:

Snacks: 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Bar closes: 6:00 PM
Sunset during their stay: 6:45 PM
Problem: Can't have drink at bar while watching sunset

Sunset Bar:

Doesn't open until 8:00 PM
Problem: "How are we supposed to watch the sunset at the sunset bar if it doesn't open up until the evening?"

Snack Service Issues:

Only 2-hour window (3:30-5:30 PM)
Every other day availability
People line up before 3:30 PM
"Banging the door down" for 3:30 PM opening

The Irony

Kevin's Observation: Despite confusing hours, restaurants still had gorgeous views and good food

Food & Snack Availability Gaps

Current Snack Limitations

Problem:

No snack bar on adult side
Only scheduled snack times (limited hours)
No in-room food options
No grab-and-go options

Brittany's Recommendations

Requested: Snack Bar

Proposed Hours: 12:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Suggested Menu:

Hot dogs
Hamburgers
Chicken fingers
Tacos
Nachos
Simple grab-and-go items
Doesn't need wide menu

Benefits:

Available for guests who don't want sit-down meal
Walk-up convenience
Fills gap between meals
Allows guests to stay entirely on adult side if desired

Current Workaround: Walk to family section for pizza (which worked fine)

In-Room Snacks:

Would love to see food options in rooms
Currently only beverages in mini bar
No food whatsoever

Unique Features & Amenities

Plane Watching

Major Draw:

Five minutes from airport
Can watch planes land constantly
"I'm going to miss just sitting down and just watching the planes come and go. It was really nice."
Part of famous Maho Beach experience

Proximity to Airport

Exceptional Convenience:

5 minutes from airport
15 minutes total: deplaning → immigration → customs → taxi → on property
"Vacation started immediately"
"There's not very many places that you can do that"

Wildlife Presence: Cats

Cat Population:

At least 8 cats on property
Hard to keep exact count
Cats are around frequently

Cat Behavior:

Not aggressive
Don't approach guests uninvited
Must call them to you
Not jumping on people
Well-behaved

Important for Cat-Averse Guests: If afraid of cats or don't like animals, keep this in mind when choosing resort

For Cat Lovers:

Bring cat treats
Cats love them
Cat rescue center right outside resort
Kitten adoption available

Cat Rescue Center Details:

Open daily times
Evening hours: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (approximately)
Can go in and play with cats
Can pick them up
Adoption available
Paperwork provided for flying home with cats
Airline pet fee: approximately $100 (on their airline)
Staff keeps cats healthy
Cats checked every three months

Brittany's Take: "If you are a cat lover like I am" - enjoyed the cat presence

What to Change About the Resort

Kevin's Recommendations

1. Restaurant Timing

More consistent schedule
Clearer hours
Less confusing rotation

2. Snack Availability

Longer snack service hours (currently only 2-hour window)

Brittany's Comprehensive Recommendations

1. Better Arrival Greeting (Top Priority)

Need bell hop or greeter when exiting vehicle
Offer cold towel
Take bags
Direct guests to check-in
Shouldn't rely on security guards alone
Critical for first-time resort guests

2. Snack Options on Adult Side

Snack bar open 12:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Simple grab-and-go menu
Allows guests to stay on adult side entirely

3. In-Room Snacks

Add food options to mini bar
Currently only beverages available

4. Evening Entertainment Options

Currently nothing on adult side
Add 2-3 options minimum:
- Bingo
- Cooking class
- Drink-making class
- Macrame
- Painting
- Any structured activities

5. Restaurant Hours Clarity

Simplify rotating schedules
Match bar hours to sunset viewing
Make hours more intuitive for vacationing guests
Fix Sunset Bar hours (currently opens after sunset)

Overall Assessment

Ratings

Kevin's Rating: 8.3/10
Brittany's Rating: 8.2/10

Would They Return?

Kevin: Yes, would return

Brittany: Yes, would return

Not many resort options in St. Martin
Definitely wants to return to St. Martin
Would choose this resort again

What They Loved Most

Kevin's Favorites:

The vibe
Clear beaches (both Maho and Mullet Bay)
Many pool choices
Very good food across all restaurants

Brittany's Favorites:

Proximity to airport (15-minute arrival)
Plane watching experience
Absolutely gorgeous beach with crystal clear water
Scented towels at meals
Daily changing menus at Azul
Overall food quality

The Vibe

Quiet & Relaxing:

Must be okay with just relaxing
Limited structured activities
Social atmosphere depends on making friends with other guests
Not for those wanting constant entertainment

Not Suitable For:

Guests wanting activities all day and night
Those who need structured entertainment
People who get bored easily without programming

Value Assessment

Price Point Analysis

Cost: ~$500/night for entry-level junior suite

Brittany's Assessment: "For the Caribbean that's very good for what we got"

Value Factors:

Quality of food included
Multiple dining venues
Beach access (two beaches)
Pool options
Room quality
Location convenience

Overall Value: Good resort for the price

Ideal Guest Profile

Perfect For:

Couples seeking quiet, relaxing vacation
Plane-watching enthusiasts
Beach lovers (especially stunning Caribbean beaches)
Foodies appreciating quality dining
Guests who enjoy making their own entertainment
Cat lovers
Those valuing proximity to airport
Travelers seeking adult-only atmosphere

Not Ideal For:

Guests needing constant activities/entertainment
Those who get bored without structured programming
People afraid of or dislike cats
Travelers wanting miles-long beach walks
Those requiring clear, completely separate adult/family sections

Booking Information

Travel Agent Services

Agent: Brittany
Company: Memories and Mojitos
Website: MemoriesandMojitos.com
Specialization: Mexico and Caribbean only (expert in these destinations)

Contact Process:

Visit MemoriesandMojitos.com
Submit quote request
Discuss if resort is right fit

Important Communication Policy:

Questions: Drop in video comments
DO NOT email directly
Only communicates with clients via email
Does not respond to random emails from non-clients
Too many emails from general public to manage

Reasoning: "Just imagine you're at work and just random people are just emailing you all day long. Just imagine."

Additional Content

Reviewers' Channel:

Create resort review content
Based in Cancun, Mexico
Regular content for subscribers
Welcome new subscribers

Final Thoughts

Bottom Line

Despite some operational issues (arrival greeting, restaurant hours, lack of activities), this is a quality resort offering:

Excellent food
Beautiful beaches
Unique plane-watching experience
Unbeatable proximity to airport
Good value at ~$500/night
Adult-only tranquility (with extensive security)
Multiple pool and beach options

Recommendation: Great choice for couples seeking relaxation, excellent dining, and stunning beaches in St. Martin, provided they're comfortable with minimal structured activities and some logistical quirks.

Sonesta Ocean Point | Review