Caneel Beach access

pswlrw · Post by **pswlrw** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:11 am

We would love to spend some time on the Caneel beach(es) this April. We will eat lunch at the restaurant and buy drinks from the bar

I absolutely understand that the beach chairs are only for the use of Caneel guests, but can we bring our own chairs, or is that just tacky?

mbw1024 · Post by **mbw1024** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:14 am

hmmm, I'm just one opinion but I say tacky. sorry!

I don't know when you are going but when we were there in Oct. I didn't actually see any chair police and there were plenty of empty ones. If I was over on Scott beach and there was a non resort person there using a chair I wouldn't have known the difference and there still would have been plenty of chairs for me to choose from.

Enjoy your day there!

pswlrw · Post by **pswlrw** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:28 am

I think I new is was tacky when I asked the question, especially since there will be quite a few of us. I think we'll just stop in for lunch, a drink and little dip and not bring our entire "beach gear" with us.

traveler22 · Post by **traveler22** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:07 am

I have both stayed at Caneel and visited. If you go to Honeymoon Beach bring all your gear,if you go to the other beaches on the property leave the chair home. I do know from staying there that they can tell who's a visitor by the color of their beach towel. If you go don't lay your towel on a chair. I also have never seen any beach chair police. I was also told while there that the resort is inside the national park and they can't stop anyone from coming in but can from using caneel's facilities but I have never had a problem. I think that is the idea behind the guard at the entrance, they don't stop you but I think it does intimidate alot of people from going in.It's a beautiful place, enjoy yourself.
Scott

alw1977 · Post by **alw1977** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:17 am

As a newbie, I want to make sure I get this straight. The Caneel beaches ARE open to the public, right? However, in order to get to them, you have to go through the Caneel gate and the guard. At which point you just say "we're going to the beach" and he'll say "okay." Then, you are free to bring your own towels and snorkel gear and explore away. Is that right?

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:26 am

alw1977 wrote:As a newbie, I want to make sure I get this straight. The Caneel beaches ARE open to the public, right? However, in order to get to them, you have to go through the Caneel gate and the guard. At which point you just say "we're going to the beach" and he'll say "okay." Then, you are free to bring your own towels and snorkel gear and explore away. Is that right?

I think I can clairfy this for you. Honeymoon is not technically on Caneel's property, but the guard will let you park in the Caneel lot to hike over to the beach. This is a flat hike on a wide trail, as oppsed to the hilly Lind Point.

Caneel Beach, which is the beach that you come upon as you enter the hotel property, is open to the public. You can bring any gear, chairs included, that you want to this beach. The dive shop is here, you can eat at the beach terrace, etc. We always see people with their own chairs here, so don't worry about it.

All the other Caneel beaches are technically for resort guests only. There are signs stating that non-resort guests should not proceed beyond the immediate areas of the restaurants and the Caneel Beach.

If you choose to go to the other beaches as a non-resort guest, I am not going to judge you. I personally would not, but then I am an incredibly guilt wracked person about things that are pretty trivial. I will tell you that both Scott and Paradise beaches are off limits to children under the age of 13, even for resort guests, so if you have kids, don't go to those beaches, because someone will complain and security will make you leave.

Speaking of security, I have also seen them wave off people that have tried to moor nauti nymph boats off Scott. I'm not sure why, maybe their moorings are not public?

People pay a lot of moola to stay at Caneel and the private beaches are the main attraction.

jmq · Post by **jmq** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:59 am

I had the same question before we went last April. Read lotsa threads on this topic in tripadvisor STJ forum and came to this conclusion: No worries visiting beaches at Caneel as a daytripper – just be unobtrusive, and don’t use their chairs or floaties. I think they recognize that you may be a future guest and may spend money at restaurant and gift shop. The grounds are certainly nice to walk around.

Scott is a big beach so it is easy to not intrude on paying guests space. We also had our 13 yr old with us - no problems. Think we had a chair with us - wasnt an issue, but the property is big, and not sure you want to be humping tons of stuff there for that reason plus the unobtrusive bit.

This is up near the parking area.

Scott Beach is on other side of these rocks

These guys show up at Scott when the Caneel “drink cart” shows up and the “mobile bartender” tosses them the banana peels when he makes smoothies. No problems with him taking our non-guest money for refreshments.

Off the beach, Scott is known for the turtles that tend to come around in the afternoons.

Just be cool about it all and most likely no worries.

sea-nile · Post by **sea-nile** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 1:44 pm

When we went to Caneel it was almost empty. There were a lot of empty chairs so we did end up using them for a few minutes, and felt guilty. Mostly we snorkeled and walked anyway and never sat down for very long. The few people who were there were friendly.

jmg- Those pictures are gorgeous!

VaGirl · Post by **VaGirl** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 10:37 am

Thanks for this thread; I went on property once and felt like I shouldn't have been there...will try again. And jmq, that last picture you posted is beautiful!!

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 10:55 am

Good stuff. It's been ten years since I've been on Caneel Bay property. We walk to Salomon and Honeymoon from the Cruz Bay side. Christine rather enjoys that less than I do. We'll give this a try in April.

Cheers, RickG

SuefromMA · Post by **SuefromMA** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:35 am

If you have never made it over to Honeymoon Beach - you really should.

The walk from the Caneel grounds is very flat & easy (actually, if I remember right - it is either paved or hard packed dirt, anyway). And I think, once you begin the trail, it might only have been about a 10 - 15 minute walk.

It was a nice walk - where you could gaze out to the water along the way. But, be sure to bring WATER!

Can't remember if it was High Noon or what when we went - but, the walk is pretty exposed to the sun & it did get a little hot.

But, once you get to Honeymoon - there is shade & picnic tables & fairly good snorkeling.

Have fun! We will have to share pictures of ourselves before we go - as we will be on the island at the same time!

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:47 am

SuefromMA wrote: Have fun! We will have to share pictures of ourselves before we go - as we will be on the island at the same time!

That would be cool. It would be fun to run into each other!

Cheers, RickG

jmq · Post by **jmq** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:55 am

Rick - good Caneel map here

http://www.caneelbay.com/i/pdf/caneel_bay_map2.pdf

VaGirl - thanks. A woman from Australia saw that photo I posted on flickr and used it to paint this watercolor version. I was flattered that it so inspired her.

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 12:05 pm

Wow, what a great painting! Very cool.

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 12:13 pm

jmq, I remember that photo and painting! I even tried to replicate your turtle shot last trip but mine did not come out nearly as well. Did you end up buying the painting, or a print of it? It is really superb.

usvi-on-line