The Crown House Hotel

Please avoid booking this hotel if you don't want your vacation spoiled. The furniture is old and broken. They advertise a private beach with loungers and umbrellas, but when cruise ships arrived, our loungers were swapped for old rusty ones and moved elsewhere. The beach attendant was very rude and sometimes drunk. The cleaning lady was the only good part. Receptionists were polite, but they knew about the problems and couldn't change anything.

This was the worst experience I've ever had, and I travel a lot, often in a "roots way." We were first put in an abandoned room that wasn't meant to be in use, then moved to another one. The receptionist said all the hotel staff were away December 24-27 and she was working alone, normally handling laundry too. We have doubts that everyone went on a boat trip, but let's say it was true. The second room was awful: dead cockroaches on the floor, dust everywhere, urine marks in the bathroom and toilet, pubic hair in the bathtub, sheets with holes, no hot water, and mold. In the middle of the night I went to the bathroom and found it teeming with cockroaches. That was it. We left first thing the next morning. The receptionist's main concern was, "For the good of the hotel, please don't share the videos." I decided to post this so others wouldn't go through what we did. Pimples and asthma attacks included!!!

A beautiful spot right on the beach in Philipsburg, St. Maarten, with the marina and lots of ocean tours and fishing trips within walking distance. The service was excellent. This was the view we woke up to each morning, stunning. We'll definitely come back!

The food was delicious and came in a good-sized portion. I was late for breakfast the next morning by mistake, but the woman at reception kindly got something for me herself. The staff were really friendly and looked out for me, especially since I was new to the region. My employer had booked the place in advance, and it felt like one of the most intimate places I've visited. I enjoyed it from start to finish. The rooms were very clean and spacious, and many have lovely ocean views. I'd definitely like to return.