Spice Island Beach Resort

We were greeted warmly and efficiently shown to our Anthurium suite. However a lot of the information shared with us was somewhat lost after a long flight. Luckily there is also a source of information on the TV but still it does seem as though they are in a rush to share a script. Maybe cut some of the info out so that guests can just enjoy their arrival and room reveal. The room had a very comfortable king size bed and an equally comfortable sofa bed. We were irritated by the protruding wooden surround of the bed which caused a few bruises!!! A few other negatives about the room. The spa bath was not working which was a shame because it looked so inviting. The private pool was unnecessarily deep (up to six foot) with steep sloped sections which went from 3ft to 6ft in just a single step. With no hand rail I feel that this facility is dangerous and impractical. Lastly but most importantly there was zero efforts made to control mosquitoes and other biting insects in the rooms. Some plug in zappers would have prevented a lot of discomfort.

I would also say that having successfully splattered one of the offending critters and seeing my blood exploded onto a bed sheet - I expected the sheet to be changed at turndown. It wasn’t - the housekeeper simply turned it over and hoped it would go unnoticed. It remained unchanged for two days. When the hotel has low occupancy there is no excuse for not attending to this more quickly.

The mini bar was well stocked and toiletries are genuine Molton Brown. All good.

The courtyard garden was private and felt safe - but again a bit too bitey in the mosquito department!

Food Generally of a high quality but it seems that corners were being cut Sunday/Monday when supplies were perhaps running low or chef was not on site. Several servers were lovely and professional (Karina deserves special mention) but some others were disinterested to the point of rude. Service was generally very slow and the night our table got swarmed by rain flies staff just shrugged. We had to insist on a table change - in a virtually empty restaurant!!

Other than that I would also make people aware that there are no easy bar snacks etc for lunch. If you fancy just a pizza, nachos or some shrimp you will be disappointed. They do serve a burger and the lunch options do have something for everyone - but personally I found it a bit too much! Sometimes less is more.

Beach

The beach is public and so hawkers do wander around but are generally not a problem. There are a few stray dogs on the beach who are friendly and seem to seek the company of tourists. This is presumably because of how they are treated by residents. I saw one local man throwing rocks and shouting at them. The dogs clearly feel safer with visitors and will simply walk alongside you for safety. Anyone who cares for animal welfare may find the treatment of animals distressing.

We also noticed used needles on the beach further along from the hotel (outside the university) so I would perhaps exercise caution when walking along the waters edge.

The sun beds were plentiful (maybe because there were so few guests) but again I would say that the attitude of staff could do with improving. One morning we were kept waiting for chair covers whilst the staff carried on putting cushions on all of the other sunbeds. As the only guests on the beach and as he was aware of his presence we can only assume that he was being rude on purpose. Even the security guard spoke with him but to no effect - he just kept doing what he wanted with no regard for guests!

But enough with the grumbles - because although I think it right to share these observations I wouldn’t want to put people off entirely.

The hotel is in a beautiful location, and our time there was relaxing and enjoyable.

The cocktails and mocktails included with the all inclusive rate were first class. The evening meals were generally of a good quality and beautifully presented.

Generally I would recommend this hotel but the above are points I would like to be aware of when booking so they are shared for that reason.

Breathtaking experience! Think White Lotus accommodations without the drama. Thank you Spice Island for such a memorable experience. This has become one of our best vacations and we’ll definitely be back. The team members were professional, personable and our family of four left bigger with our Spice Island family and you all are dearly missed! Curlyn, Crema, Aisha, Lyndonna, Ron and the team go above and beyond to ensure your experience starts before you even arrive. The team seamlessly anticipates your needs before you’ve brought them to conception.

The dining experience is definitely Michelin star. The level of expertise and quality, best food I’ve ever eaten. Even my picky 5 year old has become a Spice Island foodie. Try the pepper sauce and the COCONUT CHEESECAKE!!! I would subscribe for a weekly subscription of that please.

The rooms are beautiful and thoughtful. The service is truly exceptional at any time of day. Our quarters gave us direct beach access to Grand Anse and the locals were so warm and inviting.

There is NOT one disappointing thing I can say.

Again, thank you for giving us the much needed respite we needed. You all have and continue to do a wonderful job. Both your small and big efforts are seen and noticed, but more importantly are felt and have such a lasting effect.