Secret Harbour or Gallows Point?

[liamsaunt]

John and I are facing a terrible dilemma (ha ha!)—we want to add on a few nights before we check into our villa, but are torn between Gallows Point and Secret Harbour. We have stayed at SH before and really like everything about it—the staff, the views, the café, the snorkeling... On the other hand, staying at Gallows and walking into town for dinner sounds good too! We ate at Zozos last year and thought that Gallows looked beautiful, plus we’ve heard that there’s good snorkeling off their little beach. But, if we do all STJ, will we miss STT? We bandied it back and forth for a while last night, but could not come up with a decision. So, I decided to ask all of you! If you were going to stay at a resort for a few nights before your villa rental, which would you pick to start your trip—Secret Harbour or Gallows?

[mbw1024]

Me? Never stayed at either but I would pick Gallows even though I'm staying at SH in November
Going to try not to complain about it either - LOL!

I just like the idea of being where I want to be from the get go.

[patr]

Wow, that's a hard one! We have stayed at Secret Harbour and would go back there in a heartbeat.

We have never stayed at Gallow's but would like to. I think the rates are lower at SH.

We loved the Blue Moon Cafe and the beach and snorkeling at SH. We were there two days last November and never left the property. We stayed at the beginning of our trip. I am not a good flyer and must medicate, so this was a great place to sleep off the meds and hubby had plenty to do, instead of laying around and waiting for me to regain consciousness. I always feel like I "lose" the first day and half of travel, so this worked out great for us.

I don't think you'll go wrong with either decision.

[lpowmacback]

We'd stayed on STT for over a week about 3-4 years ago - but not at SH - and have stayed at Gallows on STJ... Personally, I don't know why anyone would want to stay on STT when they could be on STJ - UNLESS they are into the shopping or nightlife that STT affords them that STJ does not.

To be clear - we did absolutely LOVE our trip to STT - we'd stayed at the Renassiance (now closed) and had toured the island extensively. We had done many fun things - and had seen many interesting (Mangrove Kayak tour was fantastic!) & beautiful sites - BUT, after staying on STJ on another vacation, the two just do not compare (to us). After seeing the natural pristine beauty, quaint towns & LACK of all of the commercial touristy crud on STJ... I just can not stomach seeing K-Marts, KFCs, BKs, McDonald's, tons of TOURISTS & touristy attractions & stores and conjested beaches that STT has... UGGGHHHH - that is just not my idea of a Caribbean paradise.

Sorry if what I have said offends any St.Thomas lovers - but I am just expressing my honest opinion.

ENJOY!!

[patr]

Yes, I totally agree with lpowmacback.

But, when you have a flight arrive late in the afternoon and you are feeling jet lag, plus the effects motion sickness meds, plus antianxiety meds, I just hate to board that ferry, and get to STJ only to collapse.

Secret Harbour was a great place to get my bearings and wits back about me, so I could start the "real vacation" feeling relaxed and refreshed. An added plus is I get chance to reset my clock to island time.

Our first year of traveling to the islands, we spent one week on ST Thomas and one week on St John. Since then we have spent two vacations with both weeks on STJ. The last time we spent one week on Virgin Gorda and one week on STJ. I don't know why?! It will be both weeks on STJ from now on.

But just a couple of days? Secret Harbour is really great for that amount of time!

69 more days and we're there!

[sea-nile]

We liked Gallows, but I've never stayed on STT.
Walking to town is a real nice convenience.
The sunsets are beautiful too.

[mbw1024]

we are in a similar position as PatR (well not really). we had a lot of trouble getting a place for 2 nights during Thanksgiving week (arriving Friday after thanksgiving) so SH it is. We will arrive Friday around 5, likley take the ferry to JVD on Saturday and then Sunday move over to STJ and pretty much stay put.
Couldn't really justify the prices of Gallows this time around but if that wasn't in the equation it would be my choice to be on STJ.

[CariBert]

I am not sure why people always want to compare STT to STJ, or any other Island for that matter. They are not comparable, each has its own charm and attractions. It’s like saying, would you like to have an apple or an orange, not would you like to have an apple or an apple with a worm in it?

We have been to The Virgins every other year since 1991, and we love all the Islands. We have never stayed on Water Island, but I hope to some day. On STT, we stay at Secret Harbour, for the snorkeling, beach and the close proximity to Red Hook. We explore the Islands every chance we get. We also take the Red Hook ferry to STJ for days trips. Wonderful times!!

We love STJ too, have never stayed on STJ, but we got married on Gibney Beach in 2005. We are staying on STJ this year, on Chocolate Hole in Calypso Del Sol. We will probably make it over to STT, just to look around, have lunch or dinner and enjoy the uniqueness of STT.

STX has Buck Island! Need I say more? Stayed on STX a couple of times, too. If there is one thing that holds true, it’s this: You really have to try to have a bad time in the Islands!!

Bottom line: Stay at Secret Harbour for the couple of days before you go to STJ, expand your vacation experiences! Or not….stay at Gallows for the first couple of days….I wouldn’t blame you. No matter what you do, or where you go, it’s who you are with and how you act that makes the vacation memorable, more so than where you stay whilst in the Virgins!!

JMHO….Bert

[FlaGeorge]

It’s no surprise that this forum is bias towards STJ (for good reasons), but STT has is own beauty too. No – it’s not the “knock-your-socks-off” beaches that STJ has, but more subtle. It’s having a drink in a bar that is right in the middle of a parking lot called Duffy’s Love Shack. It’s having a drink and a bite to eat at Uncle Buddies on Coki beach and talking to the “locals” as the sun goes down. It’s stopping at Udder Delight and getting an adult milkshake to take to Drake’s Seat and look down on Magen’s Bay. It’s getting up early to find the little bakery in a strip center that has freshly made coconut bread. It’s sitting on the deck of Fungi’s with a drink and listing to the waves lap up against the rocks.

Like I tell a lot of people – the grass isn’t green on the other side, it’s just different grass and we always make some time to enjoy STT. Heck – it’s where we took our honeymoon. We have so many friends that treat us as family on both islands - I could not go down there and not stay on STT.

My vote – spend a day or two on STT and discover what it has to offer.

[Diana2]

We love to stay a couple of days at Estate Lindholm before getting into our villa. We will do the same this June when we go down. It's a good way to ease into island mode. Lauren picks us up at the ferry dock and then we walk down the hill (by flash light) for dinner at Morgan's. We take a taxi back up the hill and in the morning we walk down into town to pick up our Jeep. That's been or routine for the last several years.

Secret Harbor sounds nice and I know lots of people here on the forum love it there. We're just always in a hurry to get to STJ. It's like coming home.

[liamsaunt]

Just to clarify, we have stayed on STT before, twice, both times at Secret Harbour. Once to start our trip and once to end it. While I agree that parts of STT are built up, and Charlotte Amelie doesn't really appeal to us (I HATE to shop. Lucky John!) Secret Harbour is not like that at all. It's a little oasis, nice and quiet, pretty location, good snorkeling...

I was more trying to decide whether to try someplace new--in this case Gallows Point. We are going to have an additional 17 nights after this--all on STJ, which had me leaning towards a return to Secret Harbour. I think the main reason I was thinking of Gallows is that we are staying at villas we have rented before, and we usually try something new.

[lpowmacback]

Bert - you are correct in saying St. Thomas ans St. John are very different islands - and maybe you feel they should not be compared - but it this case, the op needs to make a choice between the two. Therefore, it is a necessary evil to draw up a comparison.

A wonderful time can be had on either island, and it is, to a large extent, one's attitude and outlook that will help that wonderful time come to fruition. THAT, combined with what a person wants out of their time on the island: shopping, bar-hopping, touristy things, lounging by a pool, kayaking - WHATEVER FLOATS their BOAT but I do not know what will float Liamaunt's boat... so....

As I said above, "we did absolutely LOVE our trip to STT!" I am on this board trying to be helpful and give my perspective based on my experience on the two islands. That's all

ENJOY!!

[CariBert]

Hi Lisa, I was not directing my comments toward you, but rather the general contributing members of this (and other) boards. I only wish I had the problem of trying to decide where to stay!! I am soooo jealous. Of course my opinion only counts with......me.

One of the problems with writing on a chat board, is there is no inflection of voice so one can tell if there is sarcasm or just plain humor or anger or any other emotion going on..I respect your opinion, as well as the others who contribute, but mine is the only one that matters. (That was an injection of humor)......

Have fun deciding, Liamsaunt....I am not very much help, I'm afraid......either one you choose would be great for me!!LOL

[lpowmacback]

Don't worry, be happy - and you can do that on any of the Virgin Islands!

[jmq]

Hi Liamsaunt

Thats a tough choice. We’ve actually done a few nights at each one tagged onto time spent on STJ – Secret Harbour in 05 and Gallows in 06.

You are basically spot on about the charms of Secret Harbour. You are also so right about “the walk” from Gallows being one of the best things about staying there, especially on that first night of your travel day -- you poke around Gallows, get settled in the condo, make a drink from the complimentary rum and Ting, freshen up, and there was something really special about absorbing the sights and sounds of the early evening as you walk down towards town, take a deep breath in, and feel so good about being back. A very memorable moment that is always replayed in my mind when I think of that trip.

Other nice things about Gallows - we were in Unit 1 ocean lower and you can fall asleep to the sounds of the water lapping at the shore – very nice. We also enjoyed the poolside “Managers Reception” night I think it was called – free drinks, apps from Zozos, steel drum player, and nice conversation with fellow STJ junkies.

Our view from Unit 1 lower:



BUT, to give Secret Harbour props, the first night there we walk down to Blue Moon. In the bar area, a singer (Andrew – maybe you’ve seen him there) is playing steel drums with backing bass/drum synthesizer machine. We decide to do the app/bar menu at a table in the outdoor bar area to dig the music. We enjoy great eats and drinks. He is VERY good and among others, he does Marley and a beautiful version of Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight”.
We walk back to ground level beachfront room 214. I climb into a beach hammock just outside the room. My daughter climbs on, we enjoy the palms and stars overhead, she cuddles up, and falls asleep in about 3 minutes. I take a few minutes to give thanks and cherish the moment before I too fall asleep. Magic happens in St. Thomas too.
JMQ