The Island House

The Pool Suites were absolutely beautiful, and the hotel has a stylish, calm feel in a lovely setting. We stayed five nights and the appearance really suggested a high-end experience, but the service kept letting it down. Turn-down was disappointing, staff often seemed uninterested, and asking for basic things could feel uncomfortable. Breakfast was slow and several orders came out wrong. The welcome drinks in the fridge were a nice touch, but they were never restocked, even after we called. We were told the fridge is only filled on day one. We wouldn't have minded paying for more, but the lack of flexibility was another example of the weak service. There was one fantastic staff member around the pool, but service elsewhere was poor. The gym is well located and a good idea, though several machines didn't work. The food at Shima was genuinely excellent, but the service there fell short of the food and detracted from the meal. We also used the beach and members club, about a five-minute drive away with a hotel shuttle. On Sunday, we were only offered the very average BBQ menu, and the service was poor again. It's a shame, because this is a beautiful hotel in a gorgeous setting. For a property at this level, the service just isn't good enough, and despite how nice it looks, we wouldn't return.

We had a wonderful four-night stay at the island house with our six-month-old baby. The hotel has a great size and vibe, and it was supposedly full, but it never felt crowded. The dreamy pool, saunas, cold plunge, and beautiful Pilates studio and gym were all lovely. The beach club included with the stay was amazing, just a five-minute ride in their house car. I also had an amazing massage at the Bamford spa, and we loved the meals at Shima and the island pizza. One tip for anyone bringing a baby: the tap water isn't drinkable. The hotel drove us to a really nearby, very nice grocery store so we could get plenty of water. We washed bottles in the sink with tap water, then used a brezza travel sterilizer.

This is specifically about the spa. My husband had a myofascial release massage and suggested I try one too, so we booked a 90-minute appointment with Lynn Lowe. I loved it. My back and neck were tight, and Lynn stretched me out before giving me a really relaxing massage. I'd highly recommend it. There's no doubt Lynn comes from a lineage of healers.

The food is consistently excellent, and Saturday brunch here is a regular for me. Service can depend on where you sit, since outside takes longer than inside. If you're not a hotel guest, you need membership to use the facilities.