Trip Report 4/23 - 5/3/09, Final
Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 7:52 am
Trip Report 4/23 – 5/3/09, Final
Day 9 – Saturday, 5/2
Awoke to our last morning at Perelandra. Sad to leave such a beautiful home. But, happy to be heading over to St. Thomas to spend some quality time at Secret Harbour Beach Resort. We had another simple breakfast on our patio looking out to this gorgeous view. This is our last panorama of the lovely view from Perelandra.
We had the pleasure, during our stay, of having the company of this cute little hummingbird. Here are just a couple of photos from different perspectives. (Just had to include this close up night shot, as it is one of our favorites of the trip.)
Returning the jeep to St. John Car Rental is always a breeze. Jim dropped me and the luggage off at the ferry dock, while he returned the Jeep. We made the 10:00 ferry with no hiccups, at all.
And best news, yet….we were actually ON the beach at Secret Harbour by just a little after 10:30 in the morning. WooHoo! Even though check-in isn’t until 3:00, we just drop off our luggage at the reception area, take our beach stuff & snorkel gear and head to find some lounge chairs – of which, there are always plenty.
We are sad that by spending so much time on Virgin Gorda and St. John that we really could just squeeze in one night at Secret Harbour. But, the great news is that if you get here early enough in the day of your check-in, you can get in just about a FULL day of sunning, snorkeling and chillin’. Also, depending on the time of your flight home, you can get in, at least, a few more hours of last day sun before you head to the airport – as you are already on the island of St. Thomas.
Secret Harbour is a bit more expensive than some of the other lodging choices on St. Thomas. But, we have always found it to be well worth the cost. The tree-lined beach provides just the right amount of shade and sun to suit everyone’s pleasure. The snorkeling, in our opinion, is always great! Off shore is actually a nursery and you see the most amazing varieties of fish of all different shapes and sizes.
There are 2 restaurants – one is the Blue Moon Café which is beachfront and under a roof. Great food, wonderful ambiance. There is also a more casual beachside bar, with lots of tables and bar seats for a more casual dining experience. Oh – did I forget to mention the sheer pleasure of sending the hubby up, at my every whim, to get me another painkiller?? This is what I am talking about!
I know when we often have our little polls and surveys on the forum about St. John, sometimes people ask “What would you like to see on St. John?”. What I would like, would be a place just like Secret Harbour. Or at the very least, maybe a beach or two where you could actually rent a lounge chair & have killer drinks made at the ready. (Kind of like at Smuggler’s Cove on Tortola for those of you who have had the pleasure.) I know what you are going to say….”A place like that would spoil the “natural beauty” of St. John”. I agree. Guess this is just one of the things that make the visit to Secret Harbour an extra hidden treasure for us.
In any event, back to the day at hand. Upon arriving at Secret Harbour, we confirm some sad news – that Ernest, the former manager, had no longer been employed there since the previous November. We never found out the reason, but were very sad to learn that. Also, the VERY sweet gift shop lady is no longer there, either. Man…you just can’t get too familiar with things, as nothing is guaranteed to remain the same.
There were a couple of good maintenance repairs, though. There was a new raft and also the crooked dock had been repaired.
We enjoyed some great snorkeling. Saw MANY wonderful fish. We saw: 2 Southern Stingray, 1 Juvenile French Angelfish (black with yellow stripes), many Blue-Headed Wrasse, our first Yellow-Headed Wrasse, a Rockhind, Ballyhoo, 2 Trunkfish, many four-eyed Butterfy, Fairy Basslets, schools of Blue Tang, schools of French Grunt, a 3 ½ foot Great Barracuda, a Houndfish, 1 Juvenile Damselfish and some Stoplight Parrotfish.
For lunch, we headed to the Blue Moon Café. There is nothing like sitting rail-side, with the beautiful bay mere feet away. I had a yummy marinated chicken croissant with fries. Jim had the Philly Cheesesteak. We were serenaded with the tunes of Dire Straits, Fleetwood Mac and the Allman Brothers. We were in heaven. Also, the wait staff there are always very friendly.
Back to the beach and snorkeling until our room is ready. It is always fun waiting to find out where our room will be. This time, we actually got put in Building 3. This was our first time there. We even got a first floor room, which was new for us. What is nice about Building 3 is that the first floor rooms are elevated, because the building is on an incline. So, you get the convenience of being able to walk right off your deck onto the beachside walkway – but, still be elevated to get a great view. We were very pleased with the location. Absolutely fantastic!
One thing you do find with Secret Harbour, though, is that the decor in the rooms will vary greatly. It all depends on the individual unit owner’s taste. Ours was a little simpler than most. But, again, very clean, spacious and comfortable none-the-less.
Never much to write about when wrapping up a trip at Secret Harbour. More beach and snorkel time, after getting settled. At night, we decided to just have a simple supper at the more casual outside dining/bar area. I enjoyed a chicken Caesar salad with gorgonzola dressing. Jim just had a cheeseburger & fries.
Evening shots at Secret Harbour completely sum up the atmosphere! Tranquil, simple beauty! Do I hear a collective “Ahh……”??
Back to our room to have a cocktail and watch the Celtics beat the Bulls in Game 7 of the series. You will love this – in my notes I mention how we Celts fan (including myself) can’t stand Noah. But, personally, I felt badly for Ben Gordon – because I really like him. (For you basketball lovers – “yes” the Celts did eventually “crash and burn” in the Orlando series.) But, at least at that point, we weren’t dead, yet!
Day 10 – Sunday, 5/3
Great sleep. As always, up early on our last morning to take that shot from the balcony before the rest of the guests have hit the beach. Such a peaceful time of day!
By 7:30, we were taking a little stroll along the beach. We, then, enjoyed a lovely breakfast at the Blue Moon Café. French toast for me. Eggs, hash, potatoes and toast for Jim. Very good coffee and we always enjoy being able to have half and half in our coffee. So, kudos to them for that. Funny – I always make note of the music… This morning it was James Taylor singing Sweet Baby James and Fire and Rain. Van Morrison serenading us with Moondance and Bruce Hornsby and the Range nailing it with Mandolin Wind. What a way to start the day!
We were in the water by 9:15. Again, another great morning of snorkeling! Among our swimming companions this morning were: 1 Trumpetfish (in my notes, I say he was close to 3 feet – probably more like 2 ½ at the most), 1 Juvenile French Angelfish, 1 Gray Angelfish (approx. 12 – 16”), 1 Queen Angelfish (approx. 10”), a Juvenile Three Spot Damselfish (2 ½” at the most), 1 Smooth Trunkfish and more Blue and Yellowheaded Wrasse. We are always in awe at all we see at Secret Harbour.
Oh, forgot to mention, we were very lucky regarding check out. Check out time is normally 11:00. As we were checking into our room, the day before, we asked if maybe we could extend that until noontime. We were hoping to get in some extra beach/snorkeling time in the morning & hoped that we could still have enough time to shower off before we had to vacate the room.
We were thrilled that the woman manning the desk said “yes”. I think it was in no small part due to the fact that she LOVED my husband’s t-shirt. It is one that we picked up YEARS ago at Lake Winnipesaukee. It says “I’d rather be at the dock with a drink on the rocks than in the drink with a boat on the rocks.” It is funnier when you see it – trust me. Anyway, she got the biggest kick out of it! (We will be sure that he is wearing it when we check in again – next time!)
Anyway, we snorkeled for a little over an hour. Again, this was the best snorkeling of our trip. We swam a bit. As always, spoke to some very nice people. Sad that for the first time at Secret Harbour we did not spot a turtle. Other guests did that morning, but, we kept missing him. But, we were okay, as we saw 2 over on Leinster Bay earlier in our vacation. So, we were cool.
Showered off, finished packing, left our luggage in the office – then headed back to the bar for our last painkillers (a steal at $5 apiece). And great tasting, as well. Is this a beautiful place to spend your last few minutes of vacation, or what??
Uneventful trip to the airport and uneventful trip home. In my notes, I mention that maybe for our next trip, we will try to do it up a bit cheaper. Maybe a stay at a less expensive villa, perhaps on the Coral Bay side of St. John. Maybe a stay in one of the Garden View units at Estate Lindholm. Or maybe head to Virgin Gorda again and stay at either Mango Bay, again or TRY to stay at the much ACCLAIMED Guavaberry Spring Bay Resort.
Well….. Is the suspense killing you?? The winner is………. “Guavaberry Spring Bay”! The email was sent to Guavaberry 8 days after we returned home, inquiring about a one bedroom unit for 7 nights. We knew, based on the people we spoke with during our visit to Spring Bay beach, that most of them were annual repeat guests. Also, since my husband is in education, we are tied to the school calendar – as are many other vacationers. So, we weren’t going to procrastinate at all in this decision.
So, here we are. Within months of our trip to Virgin Gorda. Looking forward to our stay at Guavaberry. Also, in our tentative plans are a day trip, via ferry, to Anegada, perhaps a snorkel trip out of Bitter End Yacht Club and also, maybe, a day trip to Cooper Island. Also, of course, looking forward to checking out beaches that we missed on our short trip to Virgin Gorda. But, mostly, looking forward to some “chill time” on the lovely Spring Bay beach at Guavaberry.
We will be searching the forum for trip reports for Virgin Gorda – but, also suggested itineraries for spending the “perfect” day on Anegada. Feel free to PM us with suggestions and/or reply with links or dates of your past trip reports.
So, looks like another year “off” of St. John. But, we are REALLY looking forward spending more time on the simple and quiet island of Virgin Gorda!
As always, thanks for being there to “share” in our adventures!
Sue & Jim
Day 9 – Saturday, 5/2
Awoke to our last morning at Perelandra. Sad to leave such a beautiful home. But, happy to be heading over to St. Thomas to spend some quality time at Secret Harbour Beach Resort. We had another simple breakfast on our patio looking out to this gorgeous view. This is our last panorama of the lovely view from Perelandra.
We had the pleasure, during our stay, of having the company of this cute little hummingbird. Here are just a couple of photos from different perspectives. (Just had to include this close up night shot, as it is one of our favorites of the trip.)
Returning the jeep to St. John Car Rental is always a breeze. Jim dropped me and the luggage off at the ferry dock, while he returned the Jeep. We made the 10:00 ferry with no hiccups, at all.
And best news, yet….we were actually ON the beach at Secret Harbour by just a little after 10:30 in the morning. WooHoo! Even though check-in isn’t until 3:00, we just drop off our luggage at the reception area, take our beach stuff & snorkel gear and head to find some lounge chairs – of which, there are always plenty.
We are sad that by spending so much time on Virgin Gorda and St. John that we really could just squeeze in one night at Secret Harbour. But, the great news is that if you get here early enough in the day of your check-in, you can get in just about a FULL day of sunning, snorkeling and chillin’. Also, depending on the time of your flight home, you can get in, at least, a few more hours of last day sun before you head to the airport – as you are already on the island of St. Thomas.
Secret Harbour is a bit more expensive than some of the other lodging choices on St. Thomas. But, we have always found it to be well worth the cost. The tree-lined beach provides just the right amount of shade and sun to suit everyone’s pleasure. The snorkeling, in our opinion, is always great! Off shore is actually a nursery and you see the most amazing varieties of fish of all different shapes and sizes.
There are 2 restaurants – one is the Blue Moon Café which is beachfront and under a roof. Great food, wonderful ambiance. There is also a more casual beachside bar, with lots of tables and bar seats for a more casual dining experience. Oh – did I forget to mention the sheer pleasure of sending the hubby up, at my every whim, to get me another painkiller?? This is what I am talking about!
I know when we often have our little polls and surveys on the forum about St. John, sometimes people ask “What would you like to see on St. John?”. What I would like, would be a place just like Secret Harbour. Or at the very least, maybe a beach or two where you could actually rent a lounge chair & have killer drinks made at the ready. (Kind of like at Smuggler’s Cove on Tortola for those of you who have had the pleasure.) I know what you are going to say….”A place like that would spoil the “natural beauty” of St. John”. I agree. Guess this is just one of the things that make the visit to Secret Harbour an extra hidden treasure for us.
In any event, back to the day at hand. Upon arriving at Secret Harbour, we confirm some sad news – that Ernest, the former manager, had no longer been employed there since the previous November. We never found out the reason, but were very sad to learn that. Also, the VERY sweet gift shop lady is no longer there, either. Man…you just can’t get too familiar with things, as nothing is guaranteed to remain the same.
There were a couple of good maintenance repairs, though. There was a new raft and also the crooked dock had been repaired.
We enjoyed some great snorkeling. Saw MANY wonderful fish. We saw: 2 Southern Stingray, 1 Juvenile French Angelfish (black with yellow stripes), many Blue-Headed Wrasse, our first Yellow-Headed Wrasse, a Rockhind, Ballyhoo, 2 Trunkfish, many four-eyed Butterfy, Fairy Basslets, schools of Blue Tang, schools of French Grunt, a 3 ½ foot Great Barracuda, a Houndfish, 1 Juvenile Damselfish and some Stoplight Parrotfish.
For lunch, we headed to the Blue Moon Café. There is nothing like sitting rail-side, with the beautiful bay mere feet away. I had a yummy marinated chicken croissant with fries. Jim had the Philly Cheesesteak. We were serenaded with the tunes of Dire Straits, Fleetwood Mac and the Allman Brothers. We were in heaven. Also, the wait staff there are always very friendly.
Back to the beach and snorkeling until our room is ready. It is always fun waiting to find out where our room will be. This time, we actually got put in Building 3. This was our first time there. We even got a first floor room, which was new for us. What is nice about Building 3 is that the first floor rooms are elevated, because the building is on an incline. So, you get the convenience of being able to walk right off your deck onto the beachside walkway – but, still be elevated to get a great view. We were very pleased with the location. Absolutely fantastic!
One thing you do find with Secret Harbour, though, is that the decor in the rooms will vary greatly. It all depends on the individual unit owner’s taste. Ours was a little simpler than most. But, again, very clean, spacious and comfortable none-the-less.
Never much to write about when wrapping up a trip at Secret Harbour. More beach and snorkel time, after getting settled. At night, we decided to just have a simple supper at the more casual outside dining/bar area. I enjoyed a chicken Caesar salad with gorgonzola dressing. Jim just had a cheeseburger & fries.
Evening shots at Secret Harbour completely sum up the atmosphere! Tranquil, simple beauty! Do I hear a collective “Ahh……”??
Back to our room to have a cocktail and watch the Celtics beat the Bulls in Game 7 of the series. You will love this – in my notes I mention how we Celts fan (including myself) can’t stand Noah. But, personally, I felt badly for Ben Gordon – because I really like him. (For you basketball lovers – “yes” the Celts did eventually “crash and burn” in the Orlando series.) But, at least at that point, we weren’t dead, yet!
Day 10 – Sunday, 5/3
Great sleep. As always, up early on our last morning to take that shot from the balcony before the rest of the guests have hit the beach. Such a peaceful time of day!
By 7:30, we were taking a little stroll along the beach. We, then, enjoyed a lovely breakfast at the Blue Moon Café. French toast for me. Eggs, hash, potatoes and toast for Jim. Very good coffee and we always enjoy being able to have half and half in our coffee. So, kudos to them for that. Funny – I always make note of the music… This morning it was James Taylor singing Sweet Baby James and Fire and Rain. Van Morrison serenading us with Moondance and Bruce Hornsby and the Range nailing it with Mandolin Wind. What a way to start the day!
We were in the water by 9:15. Again, another great morning of snorkeling! Among our swimming companions this morning were: 1 Trumpetfish (in my notes, I say he was close to 3 feet – probably more like 2 ½ at the most), 1 Juvenile French Angelfish, 1 Gray Angelfish (approx. 12 – 16”), 1 Queen Angelfish (approx. 10”), a Juvenile Three Spot Damselfish (2 ½” at the most), 1 Smooth Trunkfish and more Blue and Yellowheaded Wrasse. We are always in awe at all we see at Secret Harbour.
Oh, forgot to mention, we were very lucky regarding check out. Check out time is normally 11:00. As we were checking into our room, the day before, we asked if maybe we could extend that until noontime. We were hoping to get in some extra beach/snorkeling time in the morning & hoped that we could still have enough time to shower off before we had to vacate the room.
We were thrilled that the woman manning the desk said “yes”. I think it was in no small part due to the fact that she LOVED my husband’s t-shirt. It is one that we picked up YEARS ago at Lake Winnipesaukee. It says “I’d rather be at the dock with a drink on the rocks than in the drink with a boat on the rocks.” It is funnier when you see it – trust me. Anyway, she got the biggest kick out of it! (We will be sure that he is wearing it when we check in again – next time!)
Anyway, we snorkeled for a little over an hour. Again, this was the best snorkeling of our trip. We swam a bit. As always, spoke to some very nice people. Sad that for the first time at Secret Harbour we did not spot a turtle. Other guests did that morning, but, we kept missing him. But, we were okay, as we saw 2 over on Leinster Bay earlier in our vacation. So, we were cool.
Showered off, finished packing, left our luggage in the office – then headed back to the bar for our last painkillers (a steal at $5 apiece). And great tasting, as well. Is this a beautiful place to spend your last few minutes of vacation, or what??
Uneventful trip to the airport and uneventful trip home. In my notes, I mention that maybe for our next trip, we will try to do it up a bit cheaper. Maybe a stay at a less expensive villa, perhaps on the Coral Bay side of St. John. Maybe a stay in one of the Garden View units at Estate Lindholm. Or maybe head to Virgin Gorda again and stay at either Mango Bay, again or TRY to stay at the much ACCLAIMED Guavaberry Spring Bay Resort.
Well….. Is the suspense killing you?? The winner is………. “Guavaberry Spring Bay”! The email was sent to Guavaberry 8 days after we returned home, inquiring about a one bedroom unit for 7 nights. We knew, based on the people we spoke with during our visit to Spring Bay beach, that most of them were annual repeat guests. Also, since my husband is in education, we are tied to the school calendar – as are many other vacationers. So, we weren’t going to procrastinate at all in this decision.
So, here we are. Within months of our trip to Virgin Gorda. Looking forward to our stay at Guavaberry. Also, in our tentative plans are a day trip, via ferry, to Anegada, perhaps a snorkel trip out of Bitter End Yacht Club and also, maybe, a day trip to Cooper Island. Also, of course, looking forward to checking out beaches that we missed on our short trip to Virgin Gorda. But, mostly, looking forward to some “chill time” on the lovely Spring Bay beach at Guavaberry.
We will be searching the forum for trip reports for Virgin Gorda – but, also suggested itineraries for spending the “perfect” day on Anegada. Feel free to PM us with suggestions and/or reply with links or dates of your past trip reports.
So, looks like another year “off” of St. John. But, we are REALLY looking forward spending more time on the simple and quiet island of Virgin Gorda!
As always, thanks for being there to “share” in our adventures!
Sue & Jim
Thanks for the well written TR ! Secret Harbor looks wonderful. Really enjoyed your photo's ,especially the underwater shots 
