JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa [In-Depth Review]

I visited the JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa in early May 2024 with 2 friends. I was eager to check out the resort because of its remote location, low-cost rooms, and the JW Marriott brand reputation.

The JW Marriott St. Maarten opened in March 2024 and is the newest high-end hotel on the island of Saint Martin. It’s part of Marriott’s plans to expand across the Caribbean and Latin America.¹ The resort is a conversion of the former Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa, a beloved hotel, though one that sorely needed an upgrade. However, I was aware that the Google and Tripadvisor reviews of the JW Marriott St. Maarten were a true mixed bag, ranging from the excellent to the downright awful.

Like many new properties, this one had its many kinks to sort out, partly explaining the hot-and-cold reviews (as of June 2024, the resort had a 3.5 rating on Google Reviews, which is considerably low for the brand). Still, I entered my stay at the resort with an open mind, and the low cash price made booking a 2-night stay here considerably easier.

But is this hotel actually worthy of the JW Marriott name? Read on below for my review of the JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa and learn what I liked — and didn’t like — about Marriott’s only property on the entire island of St. Martin.

Booking JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa

I used St. Maarten as a jumping-off point to visit St. Barts, which is easily accessible via a 45-minute ferry. Still, I wanted to enjoy a few nights in St. Maarten and was eager to check out Marriott’s Westin-to-JW Marriott conversion at JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa.

Ultimately, I opted against using Marriott Bonvoy points because of the reviews of the resort. For a 2-night stay, rates with Marriott Bonvoy points started at around 120,000 points. I was running pretty low on Marriott Bonvoy points, and purchasing points didn’t seem like a good choice for this hotel.

Hot Tip:

You can also use a Free Night Award to stay at the JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa, which ranges between 25,000 and 85,000 points. You can earn a Free Night Award on several Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, as a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite benefit, or through promotions.

In the end, I paid roughly $665 (which included taxes and fees) for this 2-night stay, which I considered to be a steal for a brand of JW Marriott’s quality. I put the charge on my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, earning 2x Capital One miles — which came out to around 1,330 miles. According to our most recent valuations, this haul is worth around $24.

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Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
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Cons

• $395 annual fee
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

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Financial Snapshot

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Capital One Miles

 

Additionally, I also earned Marriott Bonvoy points for booking directly with the hotel. In this case, I earned a total of 10,275 points: 7,820 base points, 1,955 elite bonus points, and a 500-point bonus. We value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.8 cents each, so this was worth roughly $82. While this wasn’t much, awards at some Marriott Bonvoy hotels can cost as few as 17,000 points per night, so these points will be valuable if I need to top off my balance later down the line.

The travel benefits I receive as a cardholder of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, such as Hilton Honors Gold elite status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status (upon enrollment), came in handy at the JW Marriott St. Maarten. I also enjoy other travel perks such as yearly statement credits, lounge access, rental car elite status, and travel protections.

Bottom Line:

St. Maarten is one of the few Caribbean islands without a ton of points hotels, which should make staying at the JW Marriott St. Maarten an easy decision for points and miles hobbyists. But I suspect the low price may be, among other reasons such as season, attributed to the fact that the hotel isn’t finished. Thus, Marriott is offsetting the price to account for many perks that are not available. 

Location of JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa

The JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa straddles Dawn Beach, a small strand near the French side of the island that offers views of nearby St. Barts. 

The hotel is a 20-minute drive from Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) in Phillipsburg, the capital of St. Maarten, the Dutch side of the island of St. Martin. Taxis are readily available, and despite the remote destination, the journey is a breeze. Our hired taxi cost $40 for 2 passengers, and you’ll need cash. (My second travel companion arrived the following day.)

In my research of the hotel, I quickly learned that the new JW Marriott was in a more remote area of St. Maarten. Indeed, it is. While it is easy to get from the airport to the resort, there is little to do once you’re there.

St. Maarten is known for its many bars, day clubs, and eateries. Unfortunately, if you want to explore the island, this isn’t the location to do so. It’s pretty remote, and even basic services, such as grocery stores, bars, and restaurants, are a drive. For a 2-day stay, I was content with staying on the property, but I heard many guests lament the lack of activities near the resort.

Checking In

One thing I immediately noticed before check-in was the radio silence from the resort beforehand. At many resorts in the Caribbean, a concierge rep will typically email you to ask whether you need to arrange ground transportation to the hotel.

I received no such email from the JW Marriott St. Maarten, which led me to believe the new resort didn’t offer ground transportation. (On my departure, I learned that there was a shuttle to and from the airport, but you had to request it proactively at a rate of $40 each way.)

We arrived at the resort via taxi on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. A friendly bellhop handled our bags, and we strolled up to the check-in counter to begin our vacation.

At first glance, I couldn’t tell if the hotel was open or closed. The main lobby, while incredibly spacious, was extremely dark. Nobody was working the bar, which the hotel touts as a main thoroughfare for social gatherings. 

While the decor was a significant upgrade from the old design (judging by the old photos), it didn’t feel much like a JW Marriott. Everything seemed haphazardly thrown together instead of tastefully curated. (But if you needed any reminders that this was, indeed, a JW Marriott, there was a large portrait of the founder by the entrance.)

Check-in was a breeze; however, there was no welcome drink, and very few actual details about the property were given. The friendly concierge thanked me for my Marriott Bonvoy loyalty, assured me that my luggage would be delivered to the room, and informed me that my room had been upgraded. This was a welcome announcement, as I rarely get upgrades as a Gold Elite member, though the hotel’s remote location and newness might have contributed to that.

The hotel wasn’t completed yet, and there were many examples of it being a work in progress.

Elite Benefits

As a Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite member (through my Amex Platinum card), here are the benefits I can expect to receive at Marriott properties:

• 10% bonus points
• Dedicated phone line
• Enhanced room upgrades (if available)
• 2 p.m. checkout
• Welcome gift of points

Here are the amenities I was treated to, a few of which were specific to this resort:

• Early check-in and late checkout 
• Room upgrade (more below)
• Pool chair loungers for elite members (more below)
• Bonus points (which I received after checkout)

The Room

The JW Marriott St. Maarten has 200 guest rooms and suites arranged in various configurations. Many feature ocean views and some have views of the nearby island of St. Barts.

The highlight of this trip was the room, which was absolutely gorgeous. (Reviews have noted that some guests had been placed in wings of the resort that hadn’t been completed; however, we were given a room in a finished part of the hotel.)

Our room, 3003, had 2 queen beds, ample seating, and a private balcony with pool and beachfront views.

The bed felt rock hard to me, as I prefer a bit of give in any mattress. However, my travel companions, Yas and Lex, preferred the firmer mattress. 

A small table and chair, which I used to catch up on work during the evenings, were near the balcony.

An additional table and ottoman were near the balcony door. 

The rooms were true to the brand — tastefully designed, spacious, and well-appointed. The rooms were very “Caribbean” in design, with warm tones throughout the room and beachy artwork adorning the walls. 

Two bottles of water, along with a coffee maker (which used K-cups), were waiting on a storage shelf between the TV and closet.

A large flat-screen TV across from the bed displayed a nice welcome message. There were roughly 2 dozen channels, with half of them in Spanish. As we spent much of our time outside of the room, this wasn’t a big deal to us.

A spacious balcony with chairs for 2 offered prime views of the pool. I enjoyed my morning coffee watching the sunrise from the balcony, with the sounds of the nearby surf and birds chirping.

The closet had ample space to store bags and was stocked with essentials such as an iron, ironing board, and bathrobes.

Neither my travel companions nor I could get the QR codes for room service, located on the nightstand, to work, and I found myself longing for the days of paper menus.

Bathroom

The bathroom was a personal favorite. A large, freestanding tub eased the aches and pains from a long morning of travel.

I especially liked that the tub was separate from the shower. The shower itself had a traditional rainfall showerhead (which isn’t a preference of mine) as well as a handheld nozzle.

A large double sink made getting ready in the mornings easy.

The bathroom was stocked with products from Aromatherapy Associates London, including facial soap, lotion, a dental kit, mouthwash, and sewing kits. 

Bottom Line:

Overall, the room was smartly designed, extremely comfortable, and spacious enough for 3 travelers. 

Amenities

The JW Marriott St. Maarten has a wide variety of amenities, including a gym, a pool, and even a cooking school. All told, the resort has more than 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space for meetings, events, and other activities.

As you’ll see below, some of the amenities were open, some weren’t, and they varied in quality.

Pool

The pool area was a major highlight for this resort.

It consisted of 2 pools: The first led to a gorgeous infinity pool — reportedly the largest on the island — and the other was where the swim-up bar was. It didn’t seem like Marriott had made any major updates to the pool area, but it was still a gorgeous space to relax or swim.

There was ample seating around the pool, whether you preferred the sun or the shade. Several cabanas, further away from the pool, could be rented for the day. The towel attendant made grabbing towels pretty easy. However, nobody proactively walked around and asked if you needed them or helped you set up your chair.

The pool didn’t have a dedicated area for elite members just yet (though a staffer told me that it was coming). To compensate, the hotel sectioned off several chairs just for elite members. These chairs had better views of the pool and were typically better shaded than the regular chairs. This was a nice feature, especially as the hotel completed its transformation.

Daily poolside entertainment was available, though I wasn’t a fan. This probably made sense for the resort’s old life as a Westin, but I’m not sure it worked here. The (family-friendly) karaoke and electric guitar were deafening and made reading or simply relaxing by the pool quite difficult. Several guests noted that the feature wasn’t a JW Marriott brand signature. If you’re hoping to unwind with the soothing sounds of the beach, you may want to look elsewhere.

Iguanas are native to this part of the island and are not afraid of humans, so be prepared to see several near the pool and outdoor restaurant looking for food. The ones we saw ranged from a few inches to several feet in length, and they could swim! However, they didn’t bother humans unless provoked.

Hot Tip:

One thing to note is that guests at the hotel next door, Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Condo, are welcome to use the JW Marriott St. Maarten facilities, such as the pool and spa, which can slow down drink and food service if things get busy.

The Beach

The JW Marriott St. Maarten sits along Dawn Beach, a small beach with views of several nearby Caribbean islands.

The beach was pretty small, and we couldn’t even get in the water on the first day because of the seaweed. While seaweed is expected, many resorts keep track of the tide and have someone clean up the beach in the mornings before guests arrive.

The second day was much better, and the beach had clearly been cleaned before guests arrived for the day. It was nice to dip my toes in the warm water and enjoy views of the nearby islands.

A few chairs were scattered around the beach, but I learned not to expect towel service or someone to take food or drink orders. Virtually no staff attended to the beach, and guests who wanted to order typically did so poolside.

Spa

The Hibiscus Spa was on the third floor of the hotel and was pretty easy to find, as it was just off of the elevator.

There were a few treatment rooms, and the space felt calming and relaxed. Guests could select from a menu of massages, body work, and skin care. Prices were on the higher end — a standard 50-minute massage started at $170 — but they were commensurate with what you’d expect to pay at a Caribbean resort. 

Given the high prices, I didn’t use this service. However, several guests noted how difficult it was to find somebody working in the spa. That wasn’t the case when I visited, but I noted that there were only 2 employees working in the spa when I peeked in.

The spa also offered complimentary sunrise yoga by the beach (6 to 6:45 a.m.) and water aerobics (9 to 10 a.m.), which I saw several guests take advantage of. Additionally, you could also book a $40 meditation session, available 3 days a week from 7 to 7:30 a.m. 

Gym

The fitness center was akin to what you’d find in a full-service gym or luxury apartment building and was markedly better-looking than the old one (again, judging from photos of the old Westin). 

There were several Peloton machines, treadmills, free weights, and a Stairmaster.

There was also a feature I haven’t seen at many hotels: a full Smith machine squat rack.

The gym was fully stocked with towels and decorated in warm, neutral tones. It had views of the resort, and of all the amenities at the resort, the gym felt most like the JW Marriott quality the brand is known for.

Market

There was a small market on the resort’s ground floor where you could purchase coffee, water, and snacks.

JW Cooking School

The JW Cooking School was a culinary school where, according to the hotel, guests could take part in a “plethora of enriching and uplifting experiences” during their stay.

I didn’t see the space open during our stay, but it was certainly a neat feature. Other JW Cooking Schools offer cooking classes, so it’ll be exciting to see how this one approaches the classes, especially in a destination like the Caribbean, which is known for its food.

Kids Club

A large children’s playroom was on the first floor to keep the kids occupied during the day. 

The hotel had a solid lineup of weekly activities for guests of all ages, such as painting, yoga, Zumba, and painting classes. 

Bottom Line:

Marriott significantly upgraded the amenities at the JW Marriott St. Maarten. Some, like the pool, received minor cosmetic updates. Some, like the casino at the old Westin, were removed entirely. Others, like the gym and children’s play area, received massive updates.

Other Amenities

The hotel boasted a whopping 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including a grand ballroom and an under-construction outdoor veranda.

When completed, the spaces will be excellent for meetings, events, weddings, and anniversaries. 

There was a small store where you could purchase beach necessities such as swimwear, hats, and sunscreen. You could also purchase trinkets and sundries to take home, such as rum, sand in a bottle, and more. Prices here ranged widely — my friend looking for a hat for shade found them ranging from $30 to a whopping $200!

Many Caribbean hotels offer places to purchase jewelry, and this hotel was no exception. However, I didn’t go inside of the shop, as I don’t wear too much jewelry.

Food and Beverage

The JW Marriott St. Maarten offered 2 restaurants, Carambola and Liguria. Additionally, there was a lobby bar, which served up cocktails, and a popular pool bar where you could order a drink by the pool or on the beach.

Carambola

Carambola served as the resort’s main dining outlet, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You could dine indoors or take a seat outside with prime views of the pool. Carambola also served as the main dining outlet for guests lounging by the pool.

Carambola offered a scant selection for its continental breakfast, which I hope the resort improves on as it settles into its new brand.

The continental breakfast was steep — $24 — especially considering it was just your standard continental, in this case a sad selection of cold cuts, toast, cereal, and yogurt.

There was no breakfast meat with the continental breakfast, of course, so I ordered a side of bacon for $6 extra.

You could also order à la carte. Options included egg dishes (which I prefer to avoid while traveling), crepes, and oats. 

I found the service to be impersonal but quick, though one of my travel companions noted that her breakfast — eggs Benedict — took nearly 30 minutes to arrive and had to be sent back several times.

Carambola also offers a $99 bottomless Champagne brunch on Sundays, featuring a breakfast buffet, seafood, pasta, sushi, and Caribbean dishes such as johnnycakes. We arrived too late for brunch, but several guests commented that it was a highlight of their stay.

Pool Bar

Many guests congregated at the pool bar, which offered views of the Caribbean Sea. 

Drinks at the pool bar kept flowing, thanks to bartender Justin, who ensured guests were satisfied even though he was the only person working the bar. We sampled many drinks on the menu, though the rum punch and lemon drop shots were personal favorites.

This hotel isn’t an all-inclusive resort, which means you pay per drink.

I felt the prices for food and drinks at the pool bar were extremely reasonable, with drinks averaging around $14 each. On our trip, however, we had to request tap water because the servers automatically brought us bottled water, which came with a charge, unless we specifically said otherwise.

The food wasn’t spectacular, though it did the job of keeping us well-fed during our boozy vacation. I particularly enjoyed the lobster roll, which came with a side of well-seasoned fries.

The hotel’s pool bar offered daily amuse-bouches, including brownies, fruit tarts, and strawberry cakes. We noshed on these as we took in the stunning pool and palm trees swaying in the wind. 

The pool menu was pretty expansive, ranging from Caribbean dishes to American fare, like hot dogs and burgers. However, there were few options for vegetarians and vegans.

Liguria

The Mediterranian Liguria was toward the back of the hotel. The restaurant wasn’t open during my stay but had a menu featuring seafood and fresh vegetables alongside an impressive wine list. 

Service

The mark of any JW Marriott property — and what separates the brand from Marriott’s midtier brands — is an emphasis on service culture.

Unfortunately, the JW Marriott St. Maarten has a long way to go. Service ranged from incredibly personalized and warm to aloof and cold. Luxury hotels are known for providing high-end, high-quality service, but other than a few scattered experiences, here there wasn’t much of the warm hospitality the brand is known for. Small asks, such as extra towels, were met with dismissive attitudes or confusion. It seemed like very few people knew what their jobs were.

One bizarre moment came on our second evening when we returned to our room to find that it hadn’t been cleaned at all that day. We didn’t receive a knock on the door with the familiar call for housekeeping until 6:30 p.m. — I’d never had housekeeping drop by when the day was practically over! Clearly, the room should have been cleaned while we’d been out of our room, and we’d been out of the room all day. We certainly hadn’t expected housekeeping during what would normally be turndown-service hours at a hotel with efficient service.

Part of the reason for the mixed service may be staffing issues. It was obvious that the hotel wasn’t staffed appropriately for a resort of its size. Minor things — like ordering drinks or clearing away food — took upward of 20 minutes. The pool bar had just 1 bartender for the entire resort — which was open to the guests at the timeshare next door, a fact that was not mentioned at any time before booking or during check-in. These are major flaws for a big resort that will likely draw Marriott Bonvoy travelers looking to spend their points.

However, there were also plenty of positive moments, which makes me optimistic about this resort’s future.

The bellhop brought our bags to the room promptly during check-in, and during checkout, the outdoor concierge ensured we had a taxi to take us to the marina to catch our ferry to St. Barts (even calling to ensure the driver was on the way). This was one of the few moments of above-and-beyond service here that the JW Marriott brand is normally known for.

Several associates, like the manager on duty, Rodney, and bartender, Justin, ensured that our stay went off without a hitch. They ensured that we had drinks or that the umbrellas were raised to protect us from the sun.

It is well-documented that the travel industry has experienced staffing issues after the COVID-19 pandemic, and hotels have also been affected. I hope that the JW Marriott St. Maarten staffs up to meet the demand it certainly will have during peak season. 

Final Thoughts

My experience at the JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa was strikingly similar to the weather on the island during our stay — bright and sunny one day, overcast and dreary the next. Now that I’ve stayed here, the mixed bag of reviews from Google and Tripadvisor makes much more sense. The hotel has promise, but right now, it is a JW Marriott in name alone.

The resort’s remote location may be off-putting for some travelers who want more things to do near their hotel. However, the isolated location could be a plus for travelers who want to feel off the grid while on vacation.

The features that are available — like the pool, gym, and spa — are top-notch. The rooms are outstanding, with high-end finishes and spacious enough for multiple guests. But the mark of any luxury hotel is its approach to service. The service here needs a lot of work to bring the resort up to JW Marriott standards, and I sincerely hope that the hotel staff levels will increase as demand for the property grows.  

While the JW Marriott St. Maarten has been open for a few months, it is not yet ready for prime time. To be clear, I do not doubt that the resort will eventually become a high-end resort for guests looking to earn and spend their Marriott Bonvoy points in a destination easily accessible from much of the U.S. However, it’s not there yet. For now, it’s little more than a Westin hotel with a paint job.