Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina

From the moment we arrived, our trip was plagued with issues. We specifically chose this resort because it offered a couples' romantic bliss package and we wanted a luxury experience. The sunset dinner we booked had to be canceled because the staff member we communicated with months in advance had left, and there were not enough staff to coordinate our date, despite following up with the concierge days before and being told to wait until the day of to get more info. I had planned to propose to my partner during the dinner. Ultimately we were only compensated the cost of the dinner which didn't feel appropriate. This highlighted ongoing communication issues where no one seemed to be able to confirm details about our stay such as: * breakfast times or how to redeem our breakfast meal tickets * calls to front desk would often ring with no one picking up * having to be transferred several times when ordering room service We also had to hound staff daily for coffee and bottled water which were only given during morning service and won't happen if you use the do-not-disturb sign. One of the days, we only received decaf. Staff issues aside, there were problems with the room: * dead bedroom/couch outlets forcing us to charge electronics at the one working living room side table * refrigerator had broken ice maker and rusty drawers * difficulty reaching coffee mugs due to poor placement over the kitchen counter and inability to fully open the cabinet door due placement near the range hood. Housekeeping would also return them to the same location each night during turndown. * curtains were incredibly hard to move and don't fully retract. Instead of a pull cord, they had to be physically yanked aside in the tract, and we ultimately had to crawl underneath them to access the balcony due to them stopping in the opening. * one of the windows was completely missing a handle which made it impossible to close from the inside This room had just been renovated. The old furniture and mattresses were sitting outside our door for the majority of our stay. The resort jacuzzi was also lukewarm and barely produced bubbles. The staff informed us that was the hottest it got. As mentioned in another review, you will have multiple credit holds placed against your card. Prices for special events (i.e. dinner tasting and Christmas festival) had varying quotes based on which part of the website you saw them mentioned, and were drastically different from the final bill. This makes it very confusing when trying to understand what you actually owe. In the end, the price you're expected to pay for what you get makes all of these issues inexcusable. Complaints aside, the view and the spa were great.

Another great stay at Scrub Island. We’ve stayed here 4 times over the years and love ending our BVI sailing trips here with a night or two in a hotel. The staff here is excellent! From Mellow at the marina docks to the amazing staff at Cardamon restaurant to the bell staff - they all make you feel welcome and like family. As other reviews have stated the rooms are starting to get a little tired and in need of a refresh, but that didn’t affect our stay at all. We love it here and can’t wait to come back!

I chose Scrub Island for several reasons. First, I wanted to celebrate Christmas with my two godchildren. Second, I was excited to share another of my favorite places to charter yacht guests. Third, I had an opportunity to write an article for ALL AT SEA magazine, focusing on promoting the Pig Roast and highlighting the spa and healthy eating options at the resort. We arrived on December 23rd, and everything seemed great initially. Our suite was spacious and comfortable, and the staff was friendly and attentive. For our first night, we dressed up and went to the fine dining restaurant for a reservation at 6 p.m. Unfortunately, it took over thirty minutes to receive our drinks and more than two hours for our dinner. My godson and I had excellent meals, but my goddaughter’s fish was overcooked. On Christmas Day, I asked to see where the pig was being prepared and cooked (for my article) but it seemed impossible to arrange. We booked the Pig Roast and the food was delicious. However, it was challenging to read the menu and make informed choices. That night, every time my goddaughter or godson used the bathroom, my toilet would gurgle loudly. At 8 a.m., we had two blocked toilets, I called the front desk, then called again at 9 a.m. and then at 10 a.m., the plumber finally arrived. In the meantime, we had to use the reception area’s toilet, which was inconvenient, and we were unable to use the shower. as it was overflowing, with the bathtub.. We waited around to see if there would be any improvement, but there was none. A friend from Tortola, arrived at the resort but was not allowed to board the ferry boat. The front desk finally called me, but they never informed me that we needed permission to have someone visiting. By that time, I had heard nothing from management regarding our suite. They finally told us around 1 p.m. that they would move us to equal accommodations that would be ready, at 2.15 pm; the new suite was not as good as the original. The drapes were falling down, and the patio furniture was damaged and dirty. I’m happy to share photos of the condition of the new suite. The next day, as we were about to leave, the management offered me a $200 credit, which I found quite insulting; we had wasted, a full day. I understand that things can go wrong, and that’s life—it’s not always perfect. However, the way Scrub Island handled the situation was not satisfactory. Having been in the travel industry for about 50 years and having traveled to 185 countries, so far! I can confidently say that Scrub Island is not a “high-end” destination. The only thing that could be considered “high-end” about it is the price. It was a very disappointing experience.

This is our fourth stay at Scrub Island over the past 6 years. We have always had great stays here. This one was bumpy. We do appreciate the private beach on the other side of the island, which was always well-staffed when the property was owned by Marriott. We struggled to find service outside of the main pool area on this visit. We stayed here for several days after our private charter and had scheduled a villa. The original villa we were checked into had several hiccups, such as some of the appliances flooding the main floor. Thankfully, management was swift in moving us (and upgrading) to one of their brand new villas, which had spectacular views. Other than the cockroaches on the lower floor suite, the rest of the villa from the outdoor shower to private pool were better than expected. We will stay here again during our bi-annual trip to BVI, but may be a bit shy to rent another villa.

The worst service we ever had. Beautiful location. Resort was empty, impossible to find staff or reach on a phone. Git the wrong room upon arrival, took over 2 hours to switch while sitting on a suitcases, staff kept promising that “room will be ready in 15 minutes “. Went ti front desk 3 times after 2 hours if waiting… Room service is awful, waited 1.5 hours for 1 bottle of wine, called 3 times. The staff member showed up with the wrong bottle of wine, no glasses, and wanted us to pay double for it. “Continental breakfast selection for 21$ included couple of dry not fresh pastries , butter, and jam. Absolutely no entertainment there. Overall its overpriced and overrated. The location is beautiful, but service is seriously awful.

Huge shout out to Merle. Her willingness to fulfill my request for bush tea made me feel special. She is a bit of a character. Thank you for the laughs. Candince is a true gem. Thank you for all your insight. I will definitely be back. Scrub Island will always hold a special place in my heart.