Marigot Beach Club and Dive Resort

The first thing you should probably know about Marigot Beach Club is that you’ll need to take a boat to get there. It's quick trip across the bay and the ferry runs regularly, but -- no surprise -- the hotel feels a tad cut off from the mainland. The dock is set beside the hotel’s restaurant, appropriate given that many non-guests journey across the bay for the sole purpose of dining here. Reception, which feels more like an office than a lobby, is found behind the restaurant in a low, sea-green building with white trim. 

Owned by British expats and open for roughly 20 years, Marigot Beach Club has slowly grown from a tiny inn into the small hotel it is today. Minimal updates appear to have been made over the years to some of the hotel’s older rooms and facilities, while some of the more recent additions are polished and contemporary. Guest room buildings are set into the tropical hillside beyond, which makes for pretty views of the bay, but it could pose a problem for those with mobility issues -- it’s quite a hike to reach some of the rooms. 

Marigot Beach Club’s wide variety of room categories attract a mixed clientele that ranges from couples to families. While amenities are fairly no-frills, the hotel could be a good fit for unfussy travelers satisfied by superb views and relaxed vibes. 

Marigot Beach Club is found in the small community of Marigot Bay, on the far side of a beautiful natural harbor. Guests will need to take a ferry to the hotel from the main hub of this community, which is set on the opposite side of the bay. There’s nothing within walking distance on the north side of the bay where the hotel is found. The south side, however, is home to a tiny but charming collection of shops, cafes, and restaurants -- there’s also a grocery store and a bank -- stretching for about a block in total. 

Marigot Bay is around halfway between the attractions of the north and south of St. Lucia, making it a practical base for touring both sides of the island. It’s about a 50-minute drive north to buzzing Rodney Bay and historic Pigeon Island; and an hour’s drive south to Soufriere and the Pitons. There’s not much of interest in Marigot Bay itself, however, so guests should be willing to do a fair amount of driving. 

Marigot Beach Club has expanded gradually over the years, and so decor in the property's guest rooms is mixed. Some of the original units are tired and need updating, while the newer rooms are quite sleek. (The hotel plans to refurbish all rooms by the end of 2017.) There are also a surprisingly large number of room categories for a small hotel, with options ranging from studios with queen-size beds to a five-bedroom villa.

Units have a homey, down-to-earth feel overall, with most featuring white bed linens and crown molding. Sandy-colored walls are decorated with generic but colorful artwork, and vases filled with flowers are set on bureaus and bathroom vanities. Many rooms have quaint details, like four-poster beds or vaulted ceilings. Most of the newer rooms have dark wood furniture, while others have old-fashioned white wicker or a hodgepodge of different materials. Flat-screen TVs are standard and free Wi-Fi reaches most rooms. All units have wall-mounted AC units in the bedrooms (some villas have open-air living areas), but these dated units don’t always cool the rooms thoroughly.

Balconies with striking views of the bay are standard, with some rooms set close to the beachfront and others featuring sweeping hillside vistas. Panorama Deluxe rooms have microwaves, mini-fridges, kettles, and coffeemakers, and all other rooms offer kitchenettes with hot plates, or full kitchens with ovens. Bathrooms differ considerably from room to room, but most have older fixtures and walk-in showers (although some have shower/tub combos). All have wall-mounted hairdryers and off-brand mini shampoo bottles and bars of soap. Many have large vanities, but some have pedestal sinks or modern basin sinks.

Marigot Beach Club has a convenient line-up of features, although none are particularly impressive. The hotel offers access to a semi-private beach, where thatched roof huts sheltering older loungers are interspersed amid sloping palm trees. There’s a second stretch of sands on the other side of the restaurant -- both areas are nice enough but have a somewhat man-made feel. The clear waters of Marigot Bay offer decent snorkeling, with groupers, parrot fish, and seahorses often visible. A PADI dive center on-site provides a variety of dive courses and equipment, as well as trips to well-known dive sites like Anse Chastenet Reef. Dive packages covering room rates, meals, and dive trips are available. 

While the decor at the hotel’s main restaurant, Doolittle’s, could use an update, its panoramic views over Marigot Bay make for an inviting atmosphere. The main section of the restaurant is designed to maximize the number of tables overlooking the bay. There’s a darker bar area toward the back with pool tables, TVs, and board games. The restaurant draws a fair share of non-guests and often hosts live weekend entertainment. The menu is a mix of local and international fare, including freshly-caught fish. While the food is good, it’s expensive and service tends to be slow. A walk-up window next to the restaurant serves about half-a-dozen different pizzas for eat-in or take-away. There area also meal plans available. 

The hotel’s tiny spa offers a short menu of treatments, including manicures, facials, and massages. The basic reception area includes a station for manicures and pedicures, and there’s also a single treatment room with two massage tables. A separate trio of gingerbread-style huts, which are found on the hillside, house a steam room, a flotation tank, and an infra-red sauna, respectively. 

Marigot Beach Club’s small, above-ground pool is nothing special, offering a few loungers clustered on one side of its faded deck, which was crumbling in one spot on our visit. A sparsely furnished open-air space overlooking the beach functions as a meeting room. There’s also a small boutique on-site that sells beachwear and souvenirs, and a business center with a PC and printer. The fitness center was under refurbishment during our summer 2017 visit.

Activities like yoga and aqua aerobics are offered, but almost all come at a surcharge. Free Wi-Fi is available in the common areas, and the signal also reaches most rooms. Guests have unlimited use of a free ferry that runs between the hotel and Marigot Bay’s main harbor (but you’ll want to check its operating hours, lest you get stuck on the opposite side of the bay). There’s a large free parking lot on the main harbor side.