FYI, AA is currently offering a 10% off coupon right now for flights from the US to St Kitts.

Just returned from 4 nights at the St. Kitts Marriott on the $125/nt including breakfast for 2 each day/buy 3 get 4th nt free deal.

I have to agree pretty much word for word with what hhoope01 said. I must've seen the same monkey man at the beach; that was my only monkey encounter on the island. We did occasionally see some small herds of goats roaming down the streets on our way to/from the airport.

We booked a garden room (no balcony). Supposedly we were given a double upgrade, initially to a resort view and eventually (before arrival) to a pool view with balcony. In all honesty, we had more of a view of the ocean than of the pool (however, neither was that close to us; our room was in the main building just off the lobby, facing the ocean).

The rooms were quite spacious and beds comfortable. The A/C was not as cool as I would have liked. Even at 67 the room never felt cold. The humidity in St Kitts is a killer and even in October temps averaged 88 in the day, only going down to 77 at night.

Food was decently priced, and drinks seemed quite fair, especially at the swim-up pool bar, which offered happy hour from 4-6p where the local Carib beer on draft went from $3 to $1.50. Can't beat it. Rum punches were $3 at happy hour and were very strong.

A pizza shack near the pool had surprisingly good pizza, though as in most island locales, the service was leisurely. We moved around the island to spots like the Shiggidy Shack (Thurs night is their big night, with live music and a fire eater. Food and drinks here were good) and The Dock (buffet style chicken, ribs, fish, rice, salad for $10 on Sunday, decent drink prices), both were located right on the water.

Locals and tourists mix freely on this island and there is quite a bit of nightlife here as compared to the Caymans or Hawaii (where there is little to none). People are very friendly and for the most part, the island feels safe. Having lost their sugar cane industry some years back, the island is desperate to increase tourism and they know that we are their future. Marriott is a major employer on the island and guests are treated well by the locals. All cab drivers are engaging and informative and would love to become your private driver for your stay; however they are not pushy and quite polite.

A large condo complex is going in and a new, exclusive golf course under construction are both eagerly awaited by the locals, as they see St Kitts as being the sleeping beauty of the Caribbean. Shopping in downtown Basseterre is decent and very much like what you find in Nassau or Georgetown GCM. Liquor prices were surprisingly good in the shops.

The Marriott casino was small but was busy on the weekends. I don't play tables much but the slots were paying nothing back. Another casino sits directly across the street but we never made it there.

We took a ferry over to Nevis. Unless you have a specific reason to go to Nevis, don't bother. The island is rather desolate, having lost their major employer (Four Seasons) to a tropical storm a few summers ago, and reconstruction is slow (they are hoping for a Feb 2010 reopening). These people have NOTHING else stimulating their economy and the island has practically no shopping or restaurants to make it worth the trip. The beaches are pretty but you can get that at St Kitts and the general feel there, to me, was of more poverty and certainly not the exclusive hideaway that I somehow thought Nevis was. Sad for the locals.

Marriott staff was good and efficient. Our final bill was correct and both the room discount and free breakfasts had been properly calculated.

All in all, a great trip. Marriott beach was just beautiful and the water was wonderful; a perfect beach if you have kids (though we saw remarkably few kids here. This is their slow season and Marriott staffers are anticipating higher crowds beginning Nov. 1). We probably would not return, simply because there are other islands out there to explore. Deals are good here so it is a worthwhile trip.

Hope that helps. Please feel free to ask more questions.

Same guy? We found him near the Batik.


We were there just after it opened and agree it was a great place to vacation - the locals are very friendly and the area is unspoiled. I just fear it is where some of the other islands were 20 years ago and will be another touristy mecca in a few decades. That would be a shame

Yes, it may be the same guy, though he has two monkeys now!

(Beautiful little girl, btw)

Yep, that was the same guy my wife and I saw as well. It looks like he gets around pretty well.

I hope he treats the monkeys well.

By the way, your picture confirms what I was told.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorocebus

Also see this, it's hillarious! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSm7BcQHWXk

We intend planning a trip shortly from the UK. Is there any particular time of the year we should avoid? Thanks in advance.

Winter months are generally the most pleasant and the driest. Down side is they are the busiest and the most expensive.

June thru October -- that is hurricane season.

It all depends on what you are looking for. I chose September because the hotel was extremely inexpensive during this time (after the low rate, discounts, coupons, my rate was less than $70/night and included the full breakfast buffet for 2 adults). It is the off season, so the crowds are much less, we found that there were numerous shopping sales going on and discounts for food so that decreases the costs even more.

The weather was great and yes, it is during hurricane season. But most airlines and hotels will work with you on either cancelling the trip or changing the dates should a hurricane hit during your trip. (Unless you are planning on a more than 1 week trip, you should have a pretty good idea if a hurricane is about to hit the island before you head there.)

If you like crowds, higher prices, less chance at an upgrade, then definitely the winter months are for you.

I am a newly renewed Platinum (after not having been platinum for about 8 yrs) and have an upcoming revenue stay at the St. Kitts resort in June.

I booked a one-week stay (the buy 4 nights, get 3 free promotion) and picked the lowest grade of room (Garden View, no balcony - $204/nt), which of course is also the cheapest.

Per the platinum T&C they are supposed to upgrade me to the best room available, as a Plat. Member. Can I reasonably expect that they'll upgrade me to their 'best room available', which I presume to be the 'Ocean View Suite' ($409/nt), assuming that they have one available? As of now it's still available for a revenue purchase for my dates.

Thanks in advance.

In my experience, no.

I am a multi-year Plat who also went to the St. Kitts Marriott (in October) on a similar deal but for a 4 night stay. I also booked the lowest room category available.

When we arrived, we were told we were upgraded. Our room was in the main building, which is quite a stretch from the ocean. We overlooked a lot of gardens, a sliver of pool, and I think waaaaaaaay off in the distance was the ocean.

Since you will be there for a full week in June, I would think your chances of getting an oceanfront room would be slimmer than my chances for 4 nights in what was a slow time for them.

You can surely push them for the upgrade at check-in, but for a 7 night stay your odds would be less. Maybe you'll be luckier than we were.

Having said that, we really liked the resort and loved the island. I think it is a hidden gem of the Caribbean. The people couldn't be friendlier. The Marriott is basically the only name hotel on the island and the locals are very appreciative of all that the Marriott and it's (perceived) wealthy guests bring to the island. Crime is minimal on this island and at no time did I ever feel unsafe (well, be careful down by the docks, but that was about it).

Drinks at the pool are cheap during happy hour. Don't miss that if it's important to you (4-6p, as I recall).

Pick a cabdriver and stick with him the entire trip. Sounds funny but it is a small island and the cab drivers can be your lifeline to good restaurants and things to do.

I really liked it here. I know development will spoil this island within the next 10 years so you are fortunate to be going before everyone else gets in on it. Oh, and we went to Nevis. The boat ride was great but the island itself was a waste, to us at least. Unless the Four Seasons has reopened, there is nothing there. (Just checked...not reopening until November.)

It's pretty and the island is very laid back. The casino did us no favors Hope you have a fantastic time!

Tried to upload a picture of our view but I am having trouble. There was ocean in the distance, however

Thanks for the info, flyerwife - I appreciate it. I'll try the old 'moneytalks' at check-in to see if it helps for an upgrade.

Our package was the buy-4-nights-get-3-free, and includes breakfast for two each morning. We also have 7 and 4 year old daughters - do you think (being Plat) they will allow them to get breakfast as well?

We are renting a car (5 of us, including an 18 month old) so we won't need to deal with a taxi.

Will definitely let you know how it turns out. Thanks again.

The breakfast is a buffet (or off menu, if you prefer). It's quite nice and has a waffle station and omelette station. You'll see the same staff every morning.

I'm not real sure about the kids being free but since they are so young I'd be tempted to try and get away with it. I honestly don't know. Just asked my husband and he wasn't sure either. Perhaps you can order something small and 'split' it amongst them and then let them peck off your buffet plates? I'm really unsure. Might want to call ahead and ask. Just be careful because I know that, as a Mom of 3 kids as well, some of these Caribbean islands have fire laws that do not allow more than 4 ppl per room. If you call attention to the fact that you have 5, you might be opening up a can of worms. Please check and see the legally allowed occupancy there before you inadvertently slip and let them know you will be 5 to a room (and btw, I have done the 5 in a room thing many times on many islands, just don't want you to get snagged).

I think your kids will like the island. Bring snorkel gear as you can snorkel right there.

Send me your email address and I'll send you some pics.

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