Port de Plaisance Resort Guide and Review
Port de Plaisance Resort in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, presents a complex picture for potential guests. While it boasts a strategic location, appealing views, and some commendable amenities, numerous user reviews highlight significant issues that often overshadow its positives. Despite being categorized as a casino, the provided guest feedback focuses almost exclusively on the hotel and resort experience, with no direct mentions of the casino itself.
The Upsides: What Guests Appreciate ✨
Guests have pointed out several attractive features that Port de Plaisance Resort offers:
- Spacious Accommodations & Views: Many rooms are noted for being large, featuring balconies that often provide beautiful views overlooking the marina. This can be a significant draw for those seeking a picturesque setting.
- Value & Location: The resort is often seen as a fair price compared to other nearby resorts, making it an affordable option. Its proximity to the airport is also a plus for travelers, although it's noted that a car is essential for exploring beyond the immediate vicinity.
- Amenities & Comfort: The resort provides complimentary access to the gym and pool at the country club, which one guest described as "amazing" and having "everything you need." Comfortable beds were also a highlight for at least one reviewer. Free parking is another convenient inclusion.
The Downsides: Areas Needing Serious Attention 👎
Unfortunately, the negative feedback paints a concerning picture of the resort's condition and service:
Room & Property Condition
Cleanliness and maintenance are frequently cited as major drawbacks. Guests reported:
- Run-Down Rooms: Rooms are described as "run down" and in need of "updating and some TLC." Issues included dirty floors (appearing uncleaned for months), blinds covered in dirt, stained couches, and even "several dead roaches." Underneath beds was reported as "really gross."
- Dirty Pool: One reviewer specifically mentioned the pool being "very dirty."
- Grounds Maintenance: The overall grounds were noted as needing a "serious makeover."
Functionality & Connectivity Issues
Basic operational elements seem to be consistently failing:
- Non-Functional Services: Repeated complaints highlight non-working room phones, non-functional Wi-Fi, and inoperative elevators in some buildings (leaving guests to climb multiple flights of stairs). TVs in rooms were also reported as not working.
Service & Safety Concerns
Guest experience is significantly marred by poor service and alarming safety issues:
- "Horrible" Service: The service received widespread criticism. Issues included delays in check-in (4 PM despite a 3 PM advertised time), front desk not informing guests about non-working elevators, and security and management being unresponsive to serious incidents.
- Inconsistent Housekeeping: Housekeeping was inconsistent, with some days lacking basic amenities like water or towels, and beds not being made.
- Serious Safety Lapses: Alarmingly, one review detailed rooms lacking smoke detectors, and having no secondary lock on the main door or locks on sliding glass doors, posing significant safety risks.
- Theft & Lack of Follow-Up: A particularly concerning review mentioned a theft from a room, followed by delays in security response, attempts by the front desk to discourage calling the police, and a complete lack of follow-up from security and management on the incident, even refusing a refund for remaining nights after the theft.
Design & Comfort Flaws
Even minor details contribute to a less-than-ideal stay:
- Uncomfortable Pillows: Described as "probably the most uncomfortable pillows of my life."
- Poor Bathroom Design: One bathroom had a door that hit the counter, requiring it to be closed to access the toilet, which itself was "a whole foot off the ground for some reason."
Overall Impression: A Disappointing Reality for Many
Port de Plaisance Resort appears to offer a glimpse of potential with its lovely marina views, spacious rooms, and excellent gym access. However, these positives are heavily outweighed by consistent and significant issues related to cleanliness, maintenance, basic functionality, and critically, service and guest safety. Many guests felt they "got what [they] paid for" given the cheaper price, but found the compromise too great.
If affordability and a nice view are your absolute top priorities, and you are prepared to overlook considerable cleanliness issues, inconsistent service, and potential functional breakdowns within the rooms and property, then this resort *might* be an option. However, for those prioritizing cleanliness, good service, and basic safety, the overwhelming consensus from recent guests suggests looking elsewhere.
It's important to note again that despite its primary classification as a "casino," none of the provided reviews mention the casino experience itself, focusing entirely on the hotel/resort aspect. Prospective guests primarily interested in the casino might need to seek out different sources of information for that specific amenity.
This was the worst hotel! The rooms are run down, the pool was very dirty. The phones don’t work and I found several dead roaches in the room. It was cheap for a reason. I got what I paid for.The gym was the best! The scenery was amazing but the grounds needed a serious make over!
The good:- large space with balcony and a beautiful view overlooking the marina- free parking- comfortable bed- decent location- fair price compared to other resorts nearby- amenities available (such as pool and fitness - did not try these)The bad:- room phone did not work- wifi also did not work- elevator also did not work (3 flights of stairs to get to some rooms)- 5 minute walk from the parking lot to the buildings where rooms are located- poor cleanliness, don’t think the floors were cleaned in months, the blinds were covered in dirt, and the couch was stained.- housekeeping service left water one day and then no water any of the other days, some days they didn’t even leave any towels- probably the most uncomfortable pillows of my life- poor design of the bathroom (door opens and hits the counter so you need to close the door to get to the toilet - which was also a whole foot off the ground for some reason)Overall, if cleanliness and good service are important to you, I would suggest you go elsewhere, but if you would like somewhere affordable with a nice view and don’t mind the dirt then this place is for you.
It’s an experience. Don’t try and check in at 3pm like the Wyndham site says because it is 4pm and no reason why they don’t update. Some of the buildings might have working elevators some may not. Front desk neglects to inform you. The rooms are large but need some updating and some TLC. Our room had no smoke detectors and no other lock on the door nor did the sliding glass doors lock. Safety issues!!!
Service was HORRIBLE. There was a theft from my room, security came two days later to discuss, front desk tried to stop me (multiple times) from calling the police. Security after four days never gave me an update on anything, never even contacted me. I contacted them multiple times. I tried to speak to the manager on multiple occasions. When I was checking out, after waiting for an hour, he finally spoke to me. He told me he would “follow up” but never did anything about the incident. I would not stay there after the theft occurred. I asked for a refund for my remaining nights and was refused.The room itself was fine, nothing special but it was ok. Underneath the bed was really gross and clearly not cleaned for a while. My tv didn’t work. There were also multiple days my bed was not made.The location is close to the airport, but you need a car to go anywhere, there isn’t a view either.I would never stay here for multiple reasons, but the service was horrible. The front desk lady was very kind but everyone else would not do their jobs.
I’m in the marina and is great! They give you complimentary access to gym and pool in the country club and is amazing! Everything you need.