We went to the Victoria House to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary (we travelled in August 2008, so yes, I am behind in my review of the property). But, in all honesty, I feel I can fairly review even after all this time has passed, because the hotel had a "once in lifetime" affect that isn't easy to forget.
The resort is small, maybe 40 or so rooms. The rooms are not equipped with TVs or radios. They have phones, but that's it for technology and we (who are both plugged in 24/7) relished the quiet. This is not the resort for you if you want animation teams or lots of action happening around you. This is the report for you if you want to feel like you are one of a handful of people left on an incredibly beautiful planet!
There's one restaurant and one bar at the hotel. The food was incredible! Especially the soups. We were there a week and never left the property in search of other eating options because we never tired of the food on-site.
We selected an all inclusive romance package. It wasn't the least expensive package, but we felt it was well worth the expense. One of the best parts of the package included a romantic dinner for two at the end of the private pier on a night of our choosing. The table was set with white linens, twinkling white lights decorated the palapa hut, and the center piece of fresh cut flowers were breathtaking. The Maitre 'd and waiters served us personally. The fresh-air setting over the water was incredible.
The service at this hotel is bar none among the best we've ever encountered while traveling (we vacation internationally at least once a year). Here’s a quick story about the service we received. While at the hotel, enjoying the romance and relaxation, I spontaneously decided to surprise my husband with a vow renewal ceremony at the hotel. I spoke with the Maitre 'd who had a local pastor in mind. He made the contacts, scheduled the day and time to coincide with our romantic dinner on the pier, and we discussed an honorarium I would make to the Pastor’s congregation. It was all set to be a lovely ceremony! What I didn't expect was that it would ultimately fall on the same day we went out to the Blue Hole to scuba (a trip NOT TO BE MISSED IF YOU SCUBA).
We did a day trip to scuba dive the Blue Hole. It takes about 3.5 hours to get out there, there are 3 dive stops plus lunch, and 3.5 hours to get back. So all in all a long day. On the ride back I was nervously looking at my watch because I knew we'd be late getting back to the resort and might miss the Pastor and the whole thing would be for naught. What to do? There was nothing I could do on the boat, but sit and worry.
We got back to the hotel about 2 hours late! I gave an excuse to my husband, who still didn't know what was in store, and scrambled down to the restaurant and profusely apologized for our lateness. I was prepared to be told "So sorry, dinner's off and the Pastor is long gone, never to return." But no, they said "No problem! We've set your special table on the pier, held dinner for you and the Pastor will return in an hour. Enjoy and give us the sign when you are ready for the ceremony to begin."
The dinner went off without a hitch. As we wrapped up another delicious meal, the Pastor came down the pier and together he and I surprised my husband with a touching, moving, loving vow renewal ceremony. That memory will be with us both for the rest of our lives and it is all due, 100%, to the staff at the Victoria House. No request is too unusual for this team who are the epitome of what it means to provide world class service.
