Andy,

I already posted a review "off to a fabulous start" on TripAdvisor. I had a great time at Raffles. It is very expensive, but I found the food and the service to be outstanding. I did not encounter any of the problems that other people wrote about. The only thing I would have done differently would have been to hire a car and driver to take me to some beaches outside the property, just to see the rest of the island. My family was not interested in doing this, which is probably why I did not do so. Do have dinner at the Casino restaurant. Take snorkeling trips too. My only quibbles would be that the generators next to some villas are too loud. My family had a villa with its own small pool, and the generator heated the pool. So at night, I had to close the window. If you like golf, the course is as challenging as it is spectacularly beautiful. When I was at Raffles there were not a lot of people there, so I do not know what it is like if the resort is full. The other people I met at the resort were happy with their stays. I did not hear any complaints.

Thanks for the reply manhattanislander. Would you recommend getting the full meal plan @$149pp? The other option is the $79 breakfast/lunch plan. How feasible is it to eat for $70/pp for dinner (or not)? The only thing my fiancee seems concerned about is whether or not eating at the resort the entire time will get "old"--but with a few restaurants, I would assume there are plenty of options. I told her, there's not really any other place to go on the island! And I should hope there are less expensive drinks than the $300 martini that I read about in the Travel and Leisure article :-) Thanks for the tip on the snorkeling trip--definitely will put that down. How many days did you stay? Any pictures from your trip? If you'd rather email me, that'd be fine: andyran26.2@gmail.com. Thanks again for your feedback, it's quite helpful.

Andy, definitely go on the meal plan. There is enough variety at the restaurants (La Piazza is the best one). There is also a weekly barbecue at the Godahl beach restaurant, and a weekly buffet at the Jambu restaurant. Make sure you dine at La Varennes at least once (the venison main course and the apple tart desert are fabulous), where the casino is. The views are beautiful. I don't like casinos usually, but the casino there is very understated and elegant. As for dining off-site, the sister property, Tamarind, is supposed to have great pizzas. But even if you go there once or twice (and you'll have to pay; it's outside of the meal plan), you'll still save money by going on Raffles' full meal plan. Ordering a la carte at Raffles is very expensive. Note: things like lemonade and cokes are not on the meal plan. Just water. And the staff is always ready with bottled water, whether you're in the gym, the business center, at the beach, etc. I don't have a scanner, so I have no pictures to show you (I still use real film.) Have a great time.

Folks, how expensive are we talking for the trip. Can a couple get by on 5k for a week, excluding airfare?

re rates - here's a web address wiol.com/st-vincent/carenagebay/default.html…

Can you do it under $5K for the week - depends on when you go

if you cant get it for under 5k then you are being overcharged! The link posted above mentions catamaran, should read van, and gourmet should read overpriced!

LOL! Thanks Big Vern

Big Vern, can you explain your comments? Did you have a bad stay. I am thinking of going in summer of 06, as I love the location and beach, and am hoping they have solved their problems by then.

Ed

Check out my review on here. If you want to know anything else drop me a mail at bennymciber@hotmail.com.

wow, those are pretty devastating reviews...even worse than under the previous management. And for this people pay up to $1500 a night? Golly.