Emerald Beach Resort

The calm beach was the only reason I didn’t pack up and leave. Before arriving, I’d asked for a building near the beach and pool because my mom has a bad back and walking is hard for her. Instead, we got the last building and last room, but decided to make it work. The room was missing both a coffee maker and a hair dryer. I complained at the front desk several times, and the kind woman there went and got each item herself. The water in the shower started warm, then suddenly became scalding hot without the dial being touched, and my 8-year-old was screaming. The room layout is poor, and even its light didn’t work. It’s hard to believe no one running the place can stay on top of basics like these. The front desk woman was sweet and did what she could, but the rooms weren’t enjoyable at all. At the bar and restaurant, we waited exactly 32 minutes before anyone acknowledged us or brought a menu. This is island time multiplied by a hundred. I wouldn’t recommend it unless glorified camping is what you want. It’s such a diamond in the rough, but it’s being treated like garbage.

We had to cancel because we needed to fly overseas for a funeral. We were even willing to provide a death certificate, but the hotel still refused to refund us. I understand that non-refundable rates are cheaper and usually mean losing your money if plans change, but I think exceptional circumstances like this deserve some flexibility and a more humane response.

The rooms were nice, housekeeping came daily, and the views were lovely. Restaurant, bar, and cafe staff were wonderful, and they’re the reason I’m giving extra stars. I work as a Director of Sales and know reviews can be biased, and I rarely write them. I had every intention of leaving a negative review because of how the front desk staff, especially Shanice, treated me before arrival. There was a justified reason for that, but the food and beverage team saved the experience. You can walk to and from the airport. Don’t pay for a taxi unless you have lots of luggage, children, or can’t walk, since it’s a short distance and not worth the fare.

Michelle in reservations was amazing and dealt with every fire I threw at her. Around 30 of us came for a work event, with 19 rooms booked for a few days and the conference space in use. The rooms were larger than average, all had ocean views and mini fridges, and room service was good. They’re dated, though, with few drawers and no microwaves. The restaurant seemed pricey at first, but after eating out, it didn’t seem so bad. Breakfast at the cafe was reasonably priced. The small conference room was dated but did the job. There’s free parking and WiFi, and the beach and pool were both good and convenient, with plenty of chairs and towels.