Pason

I'm hoping to get some feedback about this resort. We just booked despite the few posts we could find that commented on it. So far we have seen favourable reviews but we are wanting some more recent travellers reports.

Has anyone been recently and able to comment on the: resort itself, food, rooms and general location in relation to other resorts (we like the idea of visiting a casino now and then). We know it's not right on a beach and that's fine if the resort area is nice.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Enya

Just did a reply but it went "missing" when I tried to post - trying again.
Hubby and I stayed at OTI twice in recent times. Our first visit was about 3 years ago and we thought it was very good especially for the price. Our room was lovely - spacious, nicely furnished in vibrant C'Bean colours with a view of the sea and a balcony overlooking the resort's gardens. Bathroom was spacious with a nice deep soak tub. On our second more recent visit of just over a year, we were less pleased with the accomodation. This time we were relegated to a room in the "plantation house" which is located quite a distance from the main drag of the resort - a good 5 minutes walk from reception. The room itself was just not nice - outdated with a dingy bathroom. It would appear that they might have been going for old world decor here, but they did not succeed IMHO. So my suggestion would be to request a room in the main (newer) building - you can't go wrong there.
Food - there are three restuarants on property. The main one servces breakfast, lunch and dinner and is IMHO just okay - passable. There is a poolside restuarant serving lunch and dinner, late night snacks etc. It serves its purpose. Then there is a seafood restuarant (can't remember the name) just off property but belonging to the hotel. We had dinner there one night - very good! Definetly recommend.
Location - OTI is a little out of town and a bit of a distance from the main resort area so you will need a car which you can arrange through the hotel itself. I found the area to be pleasant and did not mind the location at all. Nice views of the town and the sea beyond.
If you are in St Kitts on a Sunday, try having the brunch at Ottleys - fabulous!And spend some time driving through the countryside. Very pretty. Also visit Rawlins Plantation and the art gallery there.

Have fun!

Pason

Thanks Enya,

I appreciate all of your feedback, I had a couple of other questions if you don't mind. First, we are going AI so I wondered if you knew if the restaurants you spoke of are all part of the AI plan. Secondly, how did the grounds measure up. Were the pools nice etc. We have two kids and we will try to book in some excursions too but for the rest of the stay hope to enjoy the resort. Lastly, did you book with a tour company or direct, we are with Signature Vacations and I'm not sure how to go about requesting an area of the resort with them. I might just try OTI direct.

Thanks so much for your post and in advance for any more info you might have.

Enya

Hi Pason

I was'nt aware that OTI offered an AL plan. I would imagine that perhaps the main restuarant is where the AL would apply but you might want to check with the hotel direct for clarification.
We did not venture out into the pool but it looked fine, inviting actually - kids would enjoy it. There is the casual poolside restaurant right there so its a good place to hang out with the kids. The grounds are pretty, extensive and very well maintained. On our last visit there was a wedding party there taking photographs, just to give you an idea as to how lovely the grounds are.
Finally, we booked directly with the resort. Even if you are going through a tour company, I do not think it would hurt to call the hotel directly and inquire about room placements - especially with two kids, you definetly want a comfortable, spacious room.
What other hotels does the tour company offer on St Kitts or is it just Ocean Terrace? Just curious.

Pason

Thanks again for your reply.

Signature Vacations also offers the Marriot, Sugar Bay, Timothy Beach and Frigate Beach club.

I think the AI might be just a Signature Vacations thing and I don't quite know how long it's been around with this tour operator. The other hotels also have the AI option.

I'll do some more homework and see what exactly they include etc.

Did you get a look at the Sugar Bay while in St. Kitts. It used to be a Rex hotel I think. It's next to the Marriot. I am contemplating switching the reservation to this one but something is telling me to stick with the Ocean Terrace. Any opinion in this regard.

Thanks!

Enya

I do not know anything about Sugar Bay. On our last visit we did go to the Marriott to see what all the hoopla was all about as it had just opened. It is massive but oddly enough there was very little parking for a hotel of that size. We walked around the grounds. The beach is definetly not that great but they have pools (can't recall if it is more than one, almost sure that it is). Anyway, the grounds were expansive and nice. We also ate dinner there at one of the restuarants - it was a buffet dinner and was just average but there are lots of other restaurants on property to choose from. We also went into the casino - it was buzzing, very busy. If you are into casinos you would have fun here. Plus scores of other things to do on a daily basis - it is just one big place to play in it would seem. I am saying this to say that with kids you might find that this might be a better choice of hotel over OTI from the point of view of activities to keep them busy. But if you prefer quieter more peaceful surroundings while at the same time having the pool for the kids, then OTI is fine. Marriott may also be more costly. There is also no need to stay at Marriott in order to take advantage of some of the facilities such as the casino, the restaurants, not sure about the pools though.

baker

To Enya; Just curious about the "plantation house" you stayed in at OTI. Our friends used to own this hotel and we would go down in the summer for a long stay; we were put up in the grandmother's house which was across the street. We had a little self-contained apt. OTI also had a couple of rooms just outside the gate and across the street from the main entrance and granny's house was next to them.

And was the restaurant by the waterfront called Fisherman's Wharf?

Enya

Pason

The "plantation house" is on the property but some ways from the main reception area and main restuarant or the front of the property. It is a house standing by itself - large wooden Caribbean style house with the big porch out front. You enter through a living room with period furniture. The guest rooms are on either side of the living room. There is also a sizeable kitchen which appears to be used more as a utility room than a kitchen. The furniture is all period furniture - that style going back to plantation days. All wooden floors throughout including the rooms - the floors are nice. I suppose the house has its charm but we felt that it was showing signs of wear, not well kept. Our bathroom was awful with ugly old bathmats on the floor that needed throwing out and terrible rust and general stains in the tub. Thank God we were only there for a weekend. Such a contrast to the room we had on our first visit.
And yes, the restuarant that is just off across the street but owned by the hotel is Fisherman's Wharf. The house we stayed in is a stone's throw from that restuarant - ie it is on that side of the property - the far end.

Pason

Hi Enya,

I was wondering, you mentioned that the Plantation house was not a desirable as the main hotel section. In requesting a newer room with the hotel I was told that we would be in a refurbished room but not one of the newest as that is not the section of the hotel our tour operator has with the category we have booked. She did however say that we were not in the oldest section of the hotel either. Do you know if the Plantation house the oldest part of the hotel or not. She assured me that the rooms that they have been working on are freshly painted with new furniture and nicely done. I'm hoping they are alright.

Thanks for all of your help!!

katethetraveler

I had considered the oti, but decided on the new Angelus resort for the end of January. Can anyone give me some feedback on it?

Enya

Pason, I have no idea whether the house is the older section of the hotel or not. Can't help you there. Based on what your agent has said thought, you should be okay with the reburbished room. At the end of the day, how much time are you going to spend in the room anyway, other than to sleep, especially on an island as nice as St Kitts. Good luck and have fun!