From: Mary, mlc1229@optonline.net
Date: 3/29/03 4:48:53 PM
Remote Name: 24.189.25.153
Just back last night from St Kitts (Marriott) and had a wonderful time. We were pleasantly surprised by the Marriott. No major problems or issues and the staff is just wonderful, as are all the islanders we encountered. The place is huge but there were only about 60 people at most there during our stay. It's going to be great when completely finished and every islander we spoke to, including on Nevis, are hoping it will bring more tourists. It looks like no expense was spared building it. There are only about 250 rooms finished right now, the majority of them in the main building but we looked in one of the garden villas and they are huge and very nice. The steakhouse and fitness center look to be a month or 2 from opening but the seafood restaurant, night club, kids center, and shops look to be quite a ways off. We didn't see the spa, but the spa manager said they were shooting for June. The golf course is now completely closed, as we were informed by the General Manager and the golf course superintendant that they have been unable to water due to drought. The club house is still being built. They let my husband take a cart out to the new holes to see them and he was impressed. They hope to have 9 holes open by years' end, and the rest 6 months later but honestly, it didn't look like that was a reasonable timetable to us.
The pool area is huge and very nice, the beach large with lots of shade gazebos. The italian restaurant left a lot to be desired but a new chef should be changing that as I type. Pool bar and grill was nice with good food, as was the Calypso cafe, which by the way DOES have baked breads and danishes, desserts, flavored coffees, etc.
We ate dinners at PJ's and Marshalls which were very good, and of course grilled lobster at Sprat Net. We must have caught Stonewalls on a bad night because it was just ok, and we thought a little overpriced. Other meals at Ballahoos and Bambu's in town were very good, as was Timothy Beach Resort and Ottley's.