St Maarten: Review of the Alegria Hotel

Thursday, January 21, 2016


Ben and I stayed at the Alegria Hotel in St. Maarten during our trip to the Caribbean because of its awesome views and proximity to the airport. As some of you may know, St. Maarten is a great place to watch airplanes fly closely over your head on Maho Beach and what better way to see it than staying at a hotel that overlooks the beach!

Location:



Conveniently located next to the airport, the hotel is in Simpson Bay with views of both airport and Maho Beach. Guests can walk over to the hotel from the airport upon landing within a few minutes. There is also a casino in the same location for those looking to try their luck in gambling.

Eats:

While the hotel does not seem to boast a formal dining area, there are a few casual restaurants in the parking lot of the hotel. My favorite restaurant is the Sunset Bar & Grill for its pristine views of Maho Beach and the airplanes flying overhead. There is no better way to wake up than with breakfast and watching airplanes for a truly unique experience!


Rooms:



Rooms at Alegria were very spacious. The rooms appear to be minimalistic and modern with grey flooring, dark headboards, and white bed sheets. My room even had high vaulted ceilings and a balcony with views of the airport runway.



Hotel Atmosphere:



The hotel is very casual, yet offers a tropical vacation vibe. I thoroughly enjoyed my time by the pool soaking in endless views of the beach. It is also a family friendly location with many families with small children staying here.


As advice for those staying here, be advised that its proximity to the airport tarmac means it can be loud at night or early in the morning. I was woken up several times each day of my stay by a large commercial plane taking off on the runway. It worked as a cool alarm clock for me but may not be universally well received.

Service:

Check in was easy and the people at reception were nice. However service can sometimes be sluggish compared to service in the United States. There is generally a lower sense of urgency and this applies throughout the Caribbean whether dining at a restaurant or checking into a hotel.

Amenities:



The hotel has multiple pool areas lined with lounging chairs and is located towards the back, facing the corner of Burgeaux Bay. There is a separated hot tub area within the main pool in the hotel complete with a bar and swim-up bar. The second pool is next to the ocean. Both offer great views of the Caribbean and were quiet during my visit in the winter.

For those who enjoy getting some sun, there are plenty of lounging chairs and picnic areas next to the pools. It’s a perfect place to sit back in the sun with a cocktail or two with private views of the beach!


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