Resort Review

Hotel Name: Divi Little Bay
Address: Box 961 Little Bay Road
Phone: 011-599-54-22333 Toll free 1-800-367-3484
Email: divilittlebay@diviresorts.com
Web Site: http://www.divilittlebay.com/divilittlebay/resort.asp

Type of Resort: Moderate-All Inclusive (Economy, Moderate, Luxury, All-Inclusive)

Check in Rating: 3/10
We checked in just before Midnight and the person on duty couldn't find our reservations. After bumbling around a while he pulled his manager from the back office. Everything was confusing and they didn't try to communicate anything to us, so we just kind of stood there. The only bright side of this confusion was even though we took the cheaper rates "run of house" (their choice of room) we got nice beach view rooms.
Staff Rating: 7/10
The staff was friendly enough and I might have given them a higher rating but they didn't seam very well trained in service.

Food Rating: 8/10
Although we didn't get the A-I package we ate most of our dinners and one lunch with them. I was amazed with their system. One evening they did off the Menu everything under $21.95 was included for A-I guest everything over had a surcharge and most was over. On buffet nights you were required to get a coupon to exchange for one serving of meat and dessert everything else was all you could eat. For the most part the food was average to slightly above although one evening we had "surf and turf" Steak and shrimp that was outstanding a surcharge was included for A-I guest of course. I might add that it was supposed to be grilled lobster night but they claimed their delivery didn't come.

The lunch we had was no big deal and their breakfast started too late for me to catch the first dive.

Amenities
A few shops including gift shop/drug store, coffee shop, jewelry and clothing. They also had a nice large fitness center, a couple pools, beach and pool bars with a pet parrot, kayaks, jet ski rentals, and a small scuba shop with free discover scuba.

The dinning area also often included entertainment for lunch and dinner. The entertainment included a steel band, some Caribbean dancers, and some other styles of Caribbean music (reggae calypso ect...)
They also had a mini disco for small children. I never checked it out since I didn't need it.

Activities
The usual beach volley ball, water aerobics, and games (including crab races)

Room Rating: 7/10
The room was on the large side of average and well kept with an alarm clock, Television, coffee maker and a nice balcony with plastic table and chairs over looking the bay. We enjoyed reading on the balcony in the mornings and evenings with the sounds of the waves.

The sink in the bathroom drained real slowly and there wasn't much water pressure and very little hot water. I never complained but I doubt they could do much other than moving us to a different room but we liked where we were located. It was near the end away from most of the noise.

Location Rating: 7/10
The location is the primary reason I choose this resort. The Dutch capitol of St. Maarten is located in the basin of a primary bay "Great Bay" then there is a narrow peninsula separating Great Bay from "Little Bay". The resort property takes up most of the peninsula and the basin of Little Bay, the area with the best beach.

It has a very nice semi protected beach with fine sand, although it is more beige in color than the more white coral sands on the other side of the island. It is far enough from town to be quiet, but close enough you can walk or take an inexpensive cab ride. The walk is only about 10 minutes but it is up a pretty steep hill to get back.

Additional comments
Cabs are about $8 dollars to town although some drivers will give you a lower price if you are going to the close side and $10 for the far side. They also charge $4 dollars per person so that 2 people are still $8 dollars 3 is 12 and so on. They also often pick up other riders so you may get the $4 rate.

Prices in St Maarten including the resort usually include a service charge "SC" of about 10%, additional tipping is not necessary unless you found the service outstanding.

Other tips
I don't recommend the A-I package here. The difference in price seamed high when we were booking and I've since discovered the have lots of items that they tack on extra charges for. The breakfast at the resort always started to late for me to use so I always grabbed a coffee, roll and an apple at a little store on the marina after checking in.
Often after the morning dive I would leave my gear at the Marina and meet my wife in town for lunch at one of the many side walk restaurants in town (a short walk). After lunch I would return for an afternoon dive or shop with my wife awhile then grab my gear and catch a cab back to the resort.

We ate most of our dinners at the resort, the food was good and often included live music and a little entertainment. They do offer some prepay meal plans you can purchase when you check in or the next day if like us you check in late.

Overall Rating: 7/10