Newbie - first trip to STJ

madcitygirl · Post by **madcitygirl** » Sat May 31, 2008 1:56 am

Hello! My husband and I have decided to go to STJ for the first time. I have wanted to go for about 10 years, but never had the opportunity. So, we went to Borders to find a book on the USVI, and on our way home, we saw a car with STJ stickers on it. So, being the stalkers that we are, followed it to see if they had any good advice. Well, they did. They pointed us here for our questions - they were also very nice.

This is our situation: We want to go for 4 nights, that is as long as I can leave my dog for. We want to stay on the beach and would like to keep it below $500 per night. My problem is that I just have no idea where to start. Any good recommendations for accommodations?

Thanks a bunch!

Melissa in Madison

Gene · Post by **Gene** » Sat May 31, 2008 7:14 am

Check out the cottages on Gibney Beach.I don't know what they cost, but it is the kind of place your looking for if you want to be on the beach.

Good luck Gene !

waterguy · Post by **waterguy** » Sat May 31, 2008 8:12 am

It will be harder to stay on the beach because most are in the park. But it is a small island and you can drive anywhere in no time. The to resorts on the island are Caneel great beaches and the Weston an ok beach. But you might want a private villa so many to choose from and the 4 nights might be a problem. What time of the year are you going that would help with the search

Tom

So did you meet up with Marcia and Pete or Tracy and Juice

Tracy in WI · Post by **Tracy in WI** » Sat May 31, 2008 8:42 am

Welcome Aboard Melissa (and Peter)!

She and her husband followed us home (sort of!) and came up the drive just as I was yelling mightily at my youngest son

!

I love that license plate!
"STJ LVRS"

I know you'll get some great answers here.....!

Tracy

pjayer · Post by **pjayer** » Sat May 31, 2008 8:55 am

Hi, Melissa. Unfortunately, I don't have any suggestions for you, but welcome to the forum.

That's a great "How we met" story.

gymnastika · Post by **gymnastika** » Sat May 31, 2008 8:55 am

Hi madcitygirl,
You can stay at Caneel for under $500 a night with taxes if you go in off-season. You won't have one of the rooms that step right onto the beach, but most rooms are all just a short walk away or a quick trolley ride away. There are 7 beaches there and you will be on the trolley anyhow as they are all pretty spread out. Their best deals are July thru October and include full breakfast for 2.

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Sat May 31, 2008 11:13 am

Hi, welome to the forum! If you can push it to 5 days, you could stay in a condo at Cruz Views. http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/cviews/cruz_views.html

I haven't stayed there yet, but that's my next rental, I think. Although it's not on the beach, it's convenient to town and clean. I'm sure others who have stayed there will chime in on this one.

madcitygirl · Post by **madcitygirl** » Sat May 31, 2008 11:22 am

Thanks everyone, we *could* stretch it out to 5 nights if I can muster up the courage to leave my beloved German Shepherd that long! We are going in August and our dates are not firm, we're pretty open. We could also spend more than $500 per night if we found the right place. Does anyone know if Caneel or the Westin is better?

Also, just for the record, we happen to live really close to the people we follow home. Thank you for being so outgoing and nice, Tracy!!

Melissa

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Sat May 31, 2008 12:04 pm

Hi there

First welcome to the forum, second Caneel hands down

The Westin has the only man made beach on STJ and there are alot of "live aboard" boats in the bay (you know what that means right

- none of the "locals" swim in the ocean at the Westin

)

Caneel has 7 beaches - no TV, phones, radios in the rooms so be prepared for that - but a wonderful property and fabulous beaches and a much prettier ride to town.

Pia

Sleehog · Post by **Sleehog** » Sat May 31, 2008 12:05 pm

Gallows Point is also another option. I surprised my wife with a week there for our fifth anniversary. This year will be our 10 year anniversary and 4th trip to STJ (we missed a year due to child birth

) That is when we fell in love with STJ and have been going back since. Gallows is not a resort per se, but a bunch of waterfront condos. They are one of the first things you see pulling into Cruz Bay. It is not on a sand beach, but does have really good snorkeling. It is an easy walk into town. I think it is a great spot as a home base for first timers. We LOVED Gallows.

Caneel is the highest end place on STJ - its on the north shore with great beaches. The Westin is on Great Cruz Bay with a man made sand beach. It is more family oriented and a little further from town on the SW side of the island. This year we are staying (again) in a villa on Maria Bluff with 2 other couples - very near the Westin.

I would vote Caneel if you were going all out - Gallows for bang for the buck. When my wife and I go back by ourselves it will probably be Gallows.

I dont think you can go wrong with any of the 3. They are all VERY different and offer different things.

VayCay · Post by **VayCay** » Sat May 31, 2008 12:13 pm

madcitygirl wrote:We could also spend more than $500 per night if we found the right place.
Melissa

That must be nice

if you have not already go to .. www.vrbo.com this is a wonderful site for finding a villa. SOME villa's will give you a nightly rate good luck planning your trip!

Teresa_Rae · Post by **Teresa_Rae** » Sat May 31, 2008 12:56 pm

Because most of the nice beaches on STJ are within the national park the options for staying on the beach are few. Before our first trip to STJ I thought I'd want to stay on the beach, but now I appreciate the unspoiled, undeveloped beaches and staying high on a hill in a villa with sweeping views instead.

As others mentioned, your options for staying on a good beach are either Gibney Beach Cottages (there are two) or Caneel. The beach at the Westin is not great.

The Caneel beaches are amazing. Check out Liamsaunt's last trip report...she and her husband usually spend a few days at Caneel at the end of their trips so you can read what she had to say and get an idea of what Caneel is like.

martini girl · Post by **martini girl** » Sat May 31, 2008 1:23 pm

Would Gibney Beach cottages rent for 4 or 5 nights, or do you just rent for the whole week, pay the weekly rental amount, and leave after your 4-5 nights?

Teresa_Rae · Post by **Teresa_Rae** » Sat May 31, 2008 5:17 pm

See: http://www.gibneybeachvillas.com/rates.htm

I don't know if they require a week stay or not...you can email them to ask

madcitygirl · Post by **madcitygirl** » Sat May 31, 2008 6:50 pm

madcitygirl wrote: We could also spend more than $500 per night if we found the right place

Well, that sounded a bit pretentious didn't it?! We are far from the "having money" type, however, we haven't traveled since we got married on Kauai - 3 years ago! So, we've been saving for a nice vacation and this is the one! I like what Teresa_Rae said about staying on a hill with sweeping views. Maybe we will look into that.

Thanks so much for the advice, I will just go into reading-overdrive and check out everyone's trips!

Melissa

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Newbie - first trip to STJ

Newbie - first trip to STJ