Banana Beach Resort

The rooms were clean and comfortable, at a fraction of the price of nearby hotels. Edwin, the manager, and his staff went out of their way to make sure we had a great stay. We liked being outside the town center because it was quieter, and a golf cart made it easy to get downtown and explore local restaurants. It’s not a traditional sandy beach because there’s a seawall, but the place is right on the water. We used it to recharge between full days of diving, and the dive shop was an easy walk along the beach. It’s excellent value, which left more of our vacation budget for food and activities. I’d definitely stay here again.

The location is far from town, so you’ll need a golf cart. There isn’t much that stands out about the place. Parking in front is limited, with extra spaces in an empty gravel lot across the street to the left. Neither pool was warm, and they’re surrounded by rooms without much of a beach view. The hotel has ocean views but no walk-in beachfront, just a wall between the sand and water, with chairs on the sand. Food service is limited: breakfast is the only daytime option, and the restaurant opens at 6 pm for dinner. Rooms include complimentary coffee, tea bags, and two bottles of water. Studio rooms have a coffee maker and fridge, but no kitchenette or microwave, and there isn’t one in the office either. There’s no live entertainment, just music from a speaker at the bar. Netflix and Hulu didn’t work on the TV, and Prime was the only service that did. Paramount and Peacock weren’t available in the area. Maintenance kept the grounds clean, and some staff were friendly. But I didn’t see housekeeping once during my four days, even though the front desk said it came daily. My room was never cleaned, and they didn’t even collect the trash. I had to get fresh towels myself on the second night.

The food at the hotel bar was delicious, and I loved having two pools and fresh drinks to enjoy. It’s a cute little boutique right by the scuba center, with an easy walk over along the beach. Our room was cleaned well, and the lawn chairs were set out ready for lounging. Sargassum was especially bad while we were there, but the staff seemed to do what they could to reduce the irritation. Expect a wait if you eat at the hotel. Better for after a dive than before one, island time. A lovely stay.

The nearby construction got pretty noisy at times, and the beach unfortunately wasn’t suitable for swimming, which was a letdown. Inside, though, the hotel was modern and well maintained, with clean rooms that made a strong first impression. The staff were friendly and welcoming throughout our stay. The surroundings did affect the experience.