By: Julie Schwietert Collazo

As the plane banks left and dips toward the strip of runway, the sun gleaming off the Caribbean Sea, it's easy to think you could be happy laying your head anywhere on the island of St. Kitts.

And that might well be true, especially if you're arriving, as I was, in the middle of winter, coming from a clime that was snow-soaked, not sun-soaked. 

There are certainly some interesting options, including the 71 room Ocean Terrace Inn, which was described to me as the first locally owned resort inn.

But the St. Kitts Marriott, built in 2003 as the "largest Marriott in the smallest country," according to Public Relations Manager Lavern Stevens, makes up in amenities and experience what it may seem--at first glance--to lack in intimacy.

The Marriott is huge: with more than 450 rooms, three pools, a 15,000 foot spa, and eight restaurants, the Marriott compound engulfs you, providing plenty of services that won't necessarily make you eager to go off and explore. Yet Marriott loyalists will recognize the stamp of service that has come to brand this chain as the top of its class, providing consistency and reliability regardless of the location.

The rooms here are generous in their size, as are the balconies that are a feature of the ocean- and pool-facing suites. No room amenity is overlooked, and if by chance you have some unique need the Marriott has failed to anticipate, there are shops on the property where you can stock up. The design of the rooms is simple, clean, and bright, making the most of the natural sun that pours in through the sliding glass doors. And the tile floors are smart: no mildewy smells here.

Though it's tempting to avoid the group of middle-aged adults taking afternoon calypso lessons by the pool if you do have that balcony, it's worth it to push yourself to leave the room and explore the grounds. The Marriott enjoys one of the few patches of beach on St. Kitts, and cabanas and umbrellas will protect you from the intense rays of the mid-day sun. There's the Emerald Mist Spa, which offers a full range of usual spa services--manicure, pedicure, massage, reflexology, steam/sauna/hot tub--as well as some unexpected ones, including a room for couples spa treatments, as well as a designated space for groups of up to 13 who want specialized mani-pedi or hair care services.

Besides the service and the rooms, the real highlight of a stay at St. Kitts Marriott is the food. You'll only be limited by your budget at the resort's eight restaurants, the best of which are Blu (fresh seafood), La Cucina (Italian), and Royal Grille Steakhouse. The hotel has spared no expense in sourcing the freshest ingredients to make exceptional meals and memories, so treat yourself at least once to the antipasti bar at La Cucina, the lobster tail and filet mignon at La Cucina, or the potato-crusted grouper at Blu. And be sure not to skip dessert!

Marriott has had a corner on the resort market since it's opening, but competition is on the horizon. The Mandarin Oriental is scheduled to open a property on St. Kitts in 2011. Despite its reputation for unparalleled luxury, Mandarin will be hard pressed to catch up with the Marriott, which has perfected the art of service, lodging, and culinary creation at its resort in St. Kitts.

• 
• Comment