STT Layover - BW Emerald Beach vs. Marfolie Hotel

[dbeahan]

Will be making our 3rd trip to St. John next spring and have a villa rented for one week. Will be arriving in STT 3-days prior to villa check-in and considering BW Emerald Beach Resort and Marfolie Hotel based on price, location, beach access (Marfolie has a shuttle to Magen's Bay),etc. Any recommendations from those who have stayed at both? Trip Advisor reviews I've read are mixed for both properties.

[paulandtracie]

We have stayed at both, and both have different advantages. Mafolie is an old property, nothing fancy, but the views are spectacular. It is hard to get to and from, and walking is impossible, you'd have to take a taxi or their shuttle to get anywhere. The restaurant is good too, and they include breakfast. They have a little pool and pool bar that has a great view of Charlotte Amalie.

Emerald Beach is extremely convenient as it is literally next to the airport, and of course on the beach, so if you want to get your toes in the sand that's the place to be. They also have a really nice pool and fun tiki bar. Rooms are basic but clean and perfectly fine.

Either way, enjoy!

[Nic in KC]

When we have one night to spend, we choose BW Emerald Beach. The rooms have always been clean and nice, I love being able to see the water. We've spent some time on their beach and in the pool. We actually like the restaurant there quite a bit. I could do three nights there easily.

If you have wiggle room in your budget at all, my favorite trip ever, involved us staying at Secret Harbour for three days prior to heading to St.John. We had a studio on the beach and ate cereal, snorkeled and enjoyed the beach, ate sandwiches for lunch, snorkeled and floated and then ate dinner at the hotel two nights and went out one night. It was a splurge, but well worth it!

[paulandtracie]

We have also stayed at Secret Harbour and loved it as well, the last time however we were really disappointed as they now have an agreement with the cruise lines to host a 'secret beach' excursion and as such we were literally inundated with cruise shippers, hundreds of them scrambling for space at the beach. It's too bad because it is a nice property and is in a great location to explore Red Hook, which we love.

[Exit Zero]

My opinion is on the STT forum : per your question there - not sure why it is on the STJ one?

[Iluvstjohn]

probably because more people are apt to see their question on this one! And/or there might be people who were in their same situation (needing a place to stay for a couple of nights prior to st john!)