I would have actually given a rating of 5 for my overall experience at this resort- which was a wonderful 2nd anniversary vacation paradise..if we had been at the Morningstar Section our entire vacation. If we had not been moved from our first location- the main building at Frenchman's Reef - my overall score would've been a 2 at best.

Our first day we started on the 7th floor of the main building ocean front- considered one of the best locations at Frenchman's Reef. On the plus side- a fantastic view of the harbor, the bed was comfortable, the furniture was nice and mainly new except for the tiny old tv. But in general, there was similar negative room issues shared by other trip advisor reviewers. The biggest problem was the overall moldy-musty smell. They try to combat it with some kind of air freshner but that smelled bad as well..and doesn't entirely work..so you end up with 2 annoying odors. There were also mold spots in the room- especially the bathroom. The bathroom was small and not very pleasant. The floor both in the bathroom and main room was not very nice..old tile with dirty black grout. The main room had a thin carpet on part of it but felt like I had to wear my flip flops the entire time I was in the room. The balcony felt warn and dingy. Overall there was just not a nice feel to the room or the warn feeling of the hotel in general (i.e. parts of the hallways had huge stains in the carpet) The thought of staying there was depressing - but there were no openings at Morningstar that day. The next morning we asked to be moved to the Morningstar again. Thanks to the wonderful efforts of Hebe Iriarte the Guest Relations Manager we were able to move..and the moment we entered the new room (3rd floor facing the ocean) we were overcome with relief..THIS room was beautiful.. no musty smell, clean floor, plush carpet, beautiful designer touches, flat screen tv, much nicer and larger bathroom. There was also a wonderful breeze on the balcony which we didn't have in the main building- and you can hear the waves of the beach. Quiet and relaxing. Champagne and free water bottles awaited us.

The difference in rooms was $319 vs $345 - they were actually nice enough to upgrade us for free..but if we had to pay the difference it would've definitely had been worth it- it was an entirely different feel- from just above a budget hotel to a luxury hotel. Karl - the manager- was extremely nice and helpful.

After the move, we could then entirely appreciate the grounds..which are spectacular with breathtaking views. The beach sand was smooth and white and the water aqua and clear. There are waves but not too big..definitely swimable..we were in the water for much of the day. Even though the hotel was entirely booked chairs and umbrellas (no charge) were never a problem. The pools were beautiful as well with waterfalls, etc. We preferred the one on the cliff because of the amazing views. If you are in any kind of decent shape the walk from the beach to the main building was not a big deal- we really enjoyed it as the view and landscaping are so beautiful..the entire walk probably took no more than 5 minutes. For those not inclined to walking stairs, the shuttle was very dependable..coming every few minutes. (the glass elevator was still broken)

We were so happy at the resort we barely left...we had intended to go to St Johns and into town..but never made it..said why leave paradise?? We did go to Bluebeard's Castle and had a very good meal at Room With a View..good selection and reasonable prices- definitely recommend it. The meals at Frenchman's Reef could be pricey..but we felt the food was pretty good..and was worth the convenience. The service was slow but we weren't in a rush- always enjoying the views from the various restaurants on the property. We also took advantage of the convenience stores and had breakfast bars for breakfast which was a nice option which kept our daily meal prices down.

The hotel gave us a gift basket including wine and cheese for our anniversary which was a nice touch. On our final day we received a small print painting of Morningstar beach which was a nice touch as well. We found the staff to be generally helpful and pleasant.

A note about the airport: If your flight is BEFORE noon in the morning during the week..you don't need the 2 hrs recommended by the hotel and others who left during peak hours or on the weekend (this according to the customs official). An hour before during the week in the morning should be fine- we went right through very quickly.

In summary, we had a fantastic, relaxing, memorable vacation..and plan on returning..but only if the Morningstar section of the hotel is available.

Just returned from a marvelous week in St Thomas at the Marriott/Frenchmas Reef (June 17-22). This was our second trip there in 2 years. This time, 5 of us went. 3 adults and 2 kids (11 & 12yrs old). We got joining rooms. Prior to our departure, I was kind of worried because of the number of negative reviews this hotel had received over the past few months. Im not sure which floor these folks stayed on but we have stayed on the 6th floor both times and the rooms have been wonderful. This time, we were very pleasantly surprised to see a newly redecorated room that was vibrant, modern and very clean. The beds had headboards built onto the walls (dark wood and very Caribbean). The walls were a pastel yellow with a matching floral room rug.

The bathrooms had been redone too and included granite (maybe feux) countertops. We had 2 safes, a small refridgerator and a coffee maker in the room. Just nice touches all around. The patio furniture was new as well. So my suggestion, based on our 2 nice visits is to request the 6th floor water view if available. You shouldnt be disappointed. As for black mold/mildew, I saw NONE. I am a picky vacationer and I was very pleased. My only complaint about the room was that the matresses were a bit too soft. I sleep on a Tempurpedic mattress at home so any other is a lower standard..LOL.

Food:

We ate at most of the hotels fine establishments. The fancy one (name escapes me) for the breakfast buffet. Lunch at Co Co Joes, and the outdoor one at the upper level (again name escapes me). My personal fav is Captains Cove in the Frenchmans Reef. All food quality is great but my only complaint is that french fries run rampant. I wish this island served a friggin baked potato. All the food was WAY overpriced but hey, its the Carribean and thats how they survive and its vacation, so oh well. Unless you are going to gorge like pigs and drink alcohol like fish, I do not suggest going the all inclusive route. We actually saved about $300 by eating and drinking within reason.

Now onto the activities. Both pools are very nice. I have grown to prefer the lower Morningstar pool b/c it has more shade and is much more peaceful. Snorkeling IS good at this beach. I had always explored the right side of the beach (nearest to the tennis courts). The water is rough (waves) and very murky. I did see alot of fish there the one brief time I tried it. The best area is all the way on the other end (infront of the Morningstar Market). I saw 3 Baracudas and multiple other critters in a 2 hour period.

I highly recommend visiting the Adventure Travel desk (in the lobby) to book excursions etc. Their prices were reasonable (we compared them against someone esle). We took 2 trips that were great. First we took a boat trip (not a catamaran or sail boat, a BIG/FAST boat) to St John and then took an open air bus tour of the island. We ended up at Trunk Bay to snorkel and eat lunch for about 2 hours. I would have loved more time at Trunk Bay as its one of the best snorkeling spots I have EVER been to.

The next day, we booked an airconditioned van tour of St Thomas. It was $39/person and that is how much a regular taxi ride downtown would cost. Great deal. We toured the island and went to the Mountaintop for a great banana beverage. We also went to a Botanical Garden that was just beautiful. You can overlook Megans Bay (which is breath taking). We went there years ago but its boring for snorkeling.

The only bummer about this trip was courtesy of US Air and their limited flights to the island. Makes for some VERY long travel days.

I HIGHLY recommend the Marriott to people of all ages. We had a great time and will be going back for a 3rd visit soon.

We just returned from a 4 night trip at the Frenchman's Reef. Since I often use these reviews, I felt I wanted to return the favor on this hotel to potential guests. This hotels is at an absolutely beautiful location right on the edge of a little penisula. You can have beach views, spectacular ocean views and harbor views all at one location. However, the hotel though is in desperate need of a remodel. I feel they do their best to make an old hotel still look nice but if they invested in some renovations it would make the hotel worth the cost. Currently it is a 3 star location MAX with much higher pricing than your average 3 star. The rooms are beat up from use with make shift patching on walls, old carpets, grungy tile and moldy grout. The pool has a brownish tinge on the plaster because the plaster is so old. Just to give you perspective we were in what was considered by the resort staff to be the VIP floor (8th Floor facing ocean). The amentities in the room were very nice, new flat screen, comfortable bed and newer furniture. The floors and bathroom though were just so beat up and quite frankly felt dirty. We were there with a group of 200 other folks and all had similar complaints. Just be warned, the views are amazing but the rooms in the hotel itself are not worth the pricing. We were told the morningstar bungalows next door on the beach side of the resort were much nicer but did not get to experience them. Just be warm because there a definitely +'s and -'s to this resort.

The Morning Star Resort is right on the beach and is where we stayed. We loved the rooms, they were updated and larger for hotel rooms. The beach was so close and beautiful.

Markets and food are very expensive on resort and the taxis are $10 per person one way whereever you go as well. Didn't rent a car but we attended a wedding on resort and had plenty to do on site. We used taxis when we went places. We heard the the all inclusive was the way to go but haven't looked into it.