Bolongo Bay Beach Resort - European Plan

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

1759 reviews

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  Amazing Time with Awesome Staff

  We had an amazing time at Bolongo Bay. The thing that made our stay above and beyond was the people. Literally every staff member was SO nice. We loved that it was small so we consistently saw the same bartenders/waitresses/etc. Seeing them day in and day out and them remembering you and continuing conversations with them was so nice. There are 2 cats the resort feeds as well and seeing them taking care of those cats made me so happy. If you are looking for a smooth and sandy beach this is not the place, but if you are looking for fun and snorkeling and activities then this is the beach for you. They have snorkel equipment, kayaks and paddleboards for you to rent and they are a blast to use. The water is rocky and grassy so not the best to just lounge in, but fun while snorkeling to see all the fish. There is a smooth, sandy area off to the side with beach chairs so if you aren't going near the water it is smooth back there. The rooms are not too luxurious, the shower is small and the mattresses aren't the best - however the atmosphere around the resort is so fun you only end up on your room to sleep. The heavenly days catamaran is on site and it such a fun experience. Again, the boat staff is awesome. The pool is also great! There is a swim up bar and a shaded area in the pool if needed. The food and drinks at the attached restaurant are unbeatable. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were all delicious!

  Mar 12, 2025
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  Bolongo Bay is a Beauty

  All inclusive really is all inclusive! BB’s restaurant’s (Iggie’s) breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are all included as are all drinks including the delicious “frozen concoctions that help you hang on.” We loved having plenty of time to choose for meals (3.5 hour windows) and meals were mostly served at a comfortable pace. Having a variety of live music every night was a special treat – from steel drum to island vibe vocals to rock and roll (Rox crushed it) – and dancing to it outside, we felt like newlyweds (despite our 38 years of marriage). All of the rooms face the bay, and our first floor one was the perfect location just a few steps away from Iggie’s to the left and the beach activities to the right. The BB boat, Heavenly Days, provided a wonderful snorkel trip – we saw turtles and had a nurse shark swim right under us. The reef provided plenty of colorful fish and we appreciated the extended snorkel time (almost a full hour) as well as a relaxing boat ride and most excellent boat drinks on the return trip (see the photo). There were hiccups, however. The beach is small and rocky so we spent a lot of taxi money (bring CASH and lots of it – the taxis never take credit cards) going to fabulous beaches on the island and St. Johns. You can rent a kayak and snorkel gear at BB, but we highly recommend Sapphire or Coki on St. Thomas and especially Trunk on St. Johns. While the location and view were spectacular and we loved having our own private little patio, there are no windows to open for fresh air and the showers are super tiny. The same goes for the pool. It was nice and clean but small – no lap swimming by a long shot. Overall, Bolongo Bay was a great experience, the essence of island chill and an outstanding value for the price (especially compared to some of the “name brand” resorts on St. Thomas).

  Mar 09, 2025
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  Not bad for not luxury

  Staff is friendly. Food is good for the most part. Fish was frequently overcooked. Drinks are consistent in flavor even when prepared by different bartenders. Great view and pool was never too crowded. I think the cost of the stay is a little high for the room that is provided. The shower is so small you can barely move. The shower head not adjustable. Hot water was hard to come by. Breakfast and dinner can only be had with a reservation which is not something I enjoyed while being on vacation. I did not want to schedule my wake up times or have to stop having fun in order to accommodate an eating schedule.

  Mar 08, 2025
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  If your expectations are reasonable, you will fall in love with Bolongo Bay

  Spent 5 nights at Bolongo Bay for the first time with my boyfriend. I read all the reviews before our trip and the range of reviews made me anxious. We fell in love with the place from the minute we got there. It’s important to read the reviews and have reasonable expectations to make the most of your time. Resort was close to the airport, clean, and food was great. Yes, the menu is limited but there are specials each night. My advice is to be patient, be kind, and be friendly to ALL staff. Don’t arrive and act like you own the place. We were always aware of the capacity of the bartender and tried not to order complex drinks while they were busy. 15% gratitude is included in the all inclusive, tips are appreciated and definitely noticed. We essentially tipped as if gratitude wasn’t included and got fantastic service. Definitely make breakfast and dinner reservations on OpenTable before you go to get a preferred time. We adjusted a few of our reservations with the hostess with no issues. Kanisha was our server most nights and was an absolute delight. Rocky and 007 were our bartenders and made our trip. We did the sunset cruise and that was well worth the price. Bar on the boat with snacks, great crew, and breathtaking views. Took about 2 hours. Would definitely do it again. I personally don’t think this would be my top choice for a group trip because of the size and it would be tough to consistently get seats together but it was a perfect couples trip. We can’t wait to go back.

  Mar 07, 2025
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  Quiet and Relaxing

  This is a unique all inclusive, I felt like we went back in time to the old resorts. The resort is small and a place for a quiet vacation. If you are looking for a big party with multiple bars this is not it. If you take it for what it is, this is a place to unwind and relax. There is one bar and one restaurant. The food is solid and the drinks are good. With a few exceptions, the staff and bartenders were friendly and accommodating. There is usually only one bartender for the pool, bar and restaurant. Sometimes it takes a bit to get a drink or service but they always get to you. Be patient, this is a laid back place truly on island time. I wouldn't recommend this place for kids or teenagers, there just enough for them to do. The crowd was mostly couples, most people kept to themselves. We didn't experience the towel issue people talk about, we went to the beach everyday and they always had towels at the activity shack. We did the sunset cruise on Heavenly days, we lucked out and it was a beautiful sunset. The crew was great, rum punch and snacks were included. I think it has been well stated in many reviews, you need reservations for breakfast and supper, not required for lunch. Everything is ala carte , there is not a buffet area to grab a snack. Overall we had a great experience, we stayed a week and with only one bar and restaurant we were wanting a little more variety by the end.

  Mar 07, 2025