USVI-On-Line

I have decided that we will be going for 5 nights. However, our flight doesn't get in until almost 8:00 pm to STT. So, we will stay there for the night. Is there a decent hotel to stay at where we can easily access the ferry over to STJ the next morning? Does Caneel have their own ferry, and if so, is it free? Is there an easy way to get to it/find it? Is there a good place to eat on STT when we arrive there - it'll be a bit late and we will not have a car.

Also, if you've stayed at Caneel before, is the premium beachfront rooms really that much better than the "beachfront", or the "ocean view"? There is a big difference in price. I think we will rent a car from Caneel for a day or two when we get there.

Thanks a bunch!!

Melissa

You don't have to stay on STT for the night, unless you want to. The ferries run well into the evening. The last one is at midnight. Here's a schedule:

http://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/interisland_ferry/

I know Caneel offers a private ferry for a price, I think $90pp round trip.

Is it best to take the Caneel ferry, or the other ferry. I think $90 is kind of HIGH

I wouldn't be spending much time in my room any way so I'd opt. for the cheaper one. Rick will probaly chime in on a B&B he stays at. Yes you could go to Caneel that night but you would be paying a premium for not useing their grounds. Just get up from your hotel early have your suits on under your cover up they will hold your luggage till your room is ready and you can lay around the beach all day.

Yes, it is less to take the Red Hook ferry. You get a taxi from the airport to Red Hook (I think its $10-$20 pp), then the ferry costs $5 pp each way, plus $2 for each bag. So, you're looking at around $44 total to get to St. John, one way.

Great! Ok, what about the difference in rooms at Caneel; the beachfront, premium beachfront, and ocean view? I'm really contemplating whether it'll be worth it or not.

Thanks again!

Pm Liamsaunt she stays their a couple times a year

madcitygirl wrote:Great! Ok, what about the difference in rooms at Caneel; the beachfront, premium beachfront, and ocean view? I'm really contemplating whether it'll be worth it or not.

Thanks again!

Hey madcitygirl,

We are first timers to STJ also! In terms of your question I don't think anyone can tell YOU which one is best for you. However, from my previous trips to Hawaii, i can strongly recommend that beachfront/beachview are mostly irrelevant since you are usually within a short walking distance to the beach, and you will be spending 99% of your vacation OUT of the room (unless you are honeymooning or something). But if you really want to wake up w/that killer view then go for a beachview instead of beachfront and save the money for a nice dinner or two or a daysail.

P.S. I still think you should check out www.vrbo.com for rental listings of villa's that do daily rates and don't require a week stay. here is one http://www.vrbo.com/24469

-VayCay

P.s. you may find that most villas would cost you less for a week than caneel does for 4 days...and i'm sure the villa owners won't mind if you weren't there for a couple of the days you already paid for.

We really enjoyed staying at Crystal Palace - www.crystalpalaceusvi.com. They pickup/dropoff at the airport and your first drink is free from the honor bar. It's a very comfortable place. You can walk to the Charlotte Amalie St. John ferry from there. We'll be back. We stayed in the rooms with the shared bath and that worked out fine.

Cheers, RickG

Thanks RickG, we just got back from our STJ vacation and had that same problem of needing a 1-niter on STT. We stayed at Secret Harbor and it was fine, but for our next trip I will try out the Crystal Palace. Cheaper, unique place, save an airport cab fare and get to take the longer, prettier ferry ride the next morning. Nice recomendation, thanks.

We made reservations for next February and had the same dilemna of needing the first night in STT. We decided on the Mafolie, sits high above CA and was recently rated by CT&L as one of the best values.

We have stayed at several places on STT for that one night too. There are 2 Best Westerns near the airport - the closest one (I think it's Carib) is a pretty serious dive IMHO, the next one down (Emerald Beach I think) is much better. Those are closer to the airport - about as far from Red Hook as you can get and a pretty short cab ride to Charlotte Amalie. The Crystal Palace is up the hill from "down town" (not stayed there though) and right behind it is Villa Santana (it's a hotel, not a villa). We stayed there once and it was nice. Our favorite so far is the Green Iguana located next to Blackbeard's Castle - very clean, unique, walk-able into town (though regardless where you stay a cab after dark is probably worth considering) and is about 1/2 way between the airport and Red Hook.