blue_water

$700+/night…😮 For our post-cruise stay we’re just looking for a spot with a nice pool, no beach needed, but thanks!

Thanks... That’s the case with the Hyatt site as well…~$30/night which is typical 🫨

The day pass inclusions look great to us, especially for the price! Thanks for sharing! The lack of lounges is always a concern at these resorts and this one is no different… We’re planning on returning for a land visit in the future, splitting out time between the south and north areas, and I’ve reviewed Bay Gardens Resort and other properties in the Rodney Bay and Gros-Islet areas. It is one of those slightly more affordable beach resorts, and of course his is a very busy area. Thanks again for your very insightful review and the informative video!

Will do, thanks. We stayed in the Dania Beach area years ago and that is fine for pre-cruise. I started looking at Riverside and others hotel on the River Walk for the girls to enjoy post-cruise, prices are higher of course.

Yes the 2024 rates on the VT site are clear…those that are listed. I was expecting to have the Jan - Mar ‘25 rates available since we are < 50 weeks out but no worries, I’ll continue to check back! 👍 Valid Dates Day of Week Reg. Rate* Value Rate Apr 1, 2024 - Apr 30, 2024 Sun-Thurs $279.00 $239 Fri-Sat $309.00 $289 May 1, 2024 - Sept 30, 2024 Sun-Thurs $179.00 $109 Fri-Sat $189.00 $119 Oct 1, 2024 - Dec 31, 2024 Sun-Thurs $199.00 $129 Fri-Sat $229.00 $149

Yes I figured the Riverside rates were just an anomaly, but boy what a shocker until I looked at early March! And the differences between the Hyatt rack rate and the VT Hyatt rack rate doesn’t matter…I’ll check back…

Great video from the Captain!

I checked Hyatt Place site for pricing for our arrival date March 27, 2025, the rate is $396. Checking through Value Trips the rate is not listed for 2025, nor for March, 2024. The April, 2024 hotel rate for a Thursday stay is listed as $279, Value Trip rate is $239. so the $396 vs $279 is quite different.🤷🏼 But my question is about getting a quote through VT, it looks like I need to request a booking - with credit card payment - without knowing the rate. Is that correct? As an aside, the rate for Riverside jumps to $999 on March 4, 2025…I’m guessing they just haven’t updated the rates yet as rates up to March 3 are $250…

I highly recommend avoiding Junkanoo and heading to Goodman’s Bay, or even Saunders Beach. Much less crazy and more relaxing… Just hop a jitney (bus) in town (at Bay and Frederick Sts), #10 goes that way. Just $1.25/pp each way (exact change appreciated). The #10 and other buses stop there to return you to town…

I noted island tours in post #3… @mitsugirly shared some great ideas with hiking here and in her blog…

Nice to know you can go “ala carte” at Kalinago for folks who just want to spend a couple hours there. We’ll probably spend a little time there at the end of our private tour. How is the beach and sea there?

The map on the virginIslandsthisweek site is a good one.

Yes that does matter sometimes. Looking at a St Thomas map, you can see that Lindbergh Bay (aka Emerald Beach for the Emerald Resort) is the most convenient to those docked at Crown Bay. Brewers is a short ride, closer to the airport. The East End beaches (Coki, Smith Bay Park, Sapphire, Secret Harbor, and Cowpet) are all a ~30 - 35minute taxi. From Havensight (WICO), Lindbergh Bay is on the other side of Charlotte Amalie, so not convenient at all. The East End beaches are a ~20 - 25 minute ride. Magens may be 15 minutes from either port, MS411 can you comment on that? We rarely go there… And yes some beaches are typically calm and have a shallow entry, Magens and Secret Harbor for example.

We’ve only rented while staying on the island, and that was from Jerry’s Rental. He’s highly recommended by us and other land visitors. We’ve not rented in Road Town. I believe there is an Avis located at the port, perhaps someone can share their experiences. And contact Jerry’s to see if they are an option!

@PleasantTime - ALWAYS confirm the price BEFORE accepting a ridge. And if the driver gives you a hard time - look for another driver. That miserable experience is on you

There are other factors or considerations that can make or break your beach experience of course. All of these beaches are popular and beautiful, and you can’t make a bad choice. Just depends on how busy a vibe you want, and whether you want to snorkel or just lime… Sapphire gets busy but has space to spread out and get a nice spot; Coki is a much smaller bay and has a much busier vibe with many vendors; Secret Harbour Resort accommodates day visitors but there is less space, and they restrict where you can sit. AADivers rents lounges/umbrellas, and if you are not arriving very early you should reserve the lounges in advance; Smith Bay/Lindqvist does not have any amenities other than restrooms, at least the last I knew. But arguably the nicest beach on the island. I’m sure MS411 and others can share the current situation there; Lindbergh Bay (AKA Emerald Beach) is a convenient option from Crown Bay; And Magens Bay is gorgeous from high above, and is rated highly for good reason. But it gets very crowded and it is a deep, protected bay and great for families with young kids… For a getaway there are other options but transportation is less easy…

Our personal beach rating for our 6 favorite beaches based on what we look for 😉 Share yours! GORGEOUS WATER COLOR(S) Sapphire ***** Smith Bay/Lindqvist **** Coki **** Magens Bay *** Secret Harbor ** Lindbergh Bay ** BEAUTIFUL ISLAND VIEWS Sapphire ***** Smith Bay/Lindqvist ***** Coki **** Secret Harbor ** Lindbergh Bay ** Magens Bay * GOOD FOOD & DRINK OPTIONS Sapphire ***** Secret Harbor ***** Lindbergh Bay *** Coki ** Magens Bay ** Smith Bay/Lindqvist SNORKELING Sapphire **** Coki **** Secret Harbor **** Smith Bay/Lindqvist *** Lindbergh Bay ** Magens Bay AMENITIES/RENTAL GEAR Sapphire ***** Secret Harbor ***** Lindbergh Bay **** Coki *** Magens Bay ** Smith Bay/Lindqvist Average * Ratings (out of 5): Sapphire 4.8 Secret Harbor 3.6 Coki 3.4 Lindbergh Bay 2.6 Magens Bay 1.6

Thanks, I’m sure everyone will have different opinions though…☺️ I will start a new thread and then others can share their ratings!

Yes, if KathyLee didn’t need facilities I would have suggested Lindqvist. Arguably the nicest beach on the island… I think I mentioned in another thread we would stop at Moe’s Market in Red Hook to pick up a nice picnic lunch and drinks, and lay on our towels at that beach 👍

Reviews on TripAdvisor are mixed, but this one from doktaidez posted in February is helpful - “This waterpark was great overall. It was very open and did not ever feel crowded the way waterparks often can feel. It was very clean, the food was expensive but surprisingly VERY good. We ordered a cheeseburger, hot dog, and chicken wrap from Cleo Grill and we were impressed. 1 full day is more then enough here as there aren't a ton of slides, but just enogh to feel satisfied. However the biggest problem I found was there are rides for people who are 48" and taller, and there are rides for children under 48". There are no rides where if your child is shorter, they can ride with you. The 2 main kids areas are fantastic, with water slides and splash pads etc. However my son is almost 7yo and 47". He had fun at the kids area for a while but then wanted to ride some bigger slides and was not allowed. I felt bad and was wondering if this was going to be a problem. So that was the only main complaint I have, otherwise suck it up, and just spend the money for a day. Especially if you have little kids, they will love!” Check out the other reviews there… We spent 2 weeks on the island and never spent any time at the Margaritaville Hotel. But it was very busy, and the day pass price seems crazy for what you get…Just our opinion of course. And if you do go to Baha Bay, just hop a jitney (small bus) at the stop at Bay & Frederick Sts. Not a long delay getting as there are few stops on the way, all quick, and just $1.25/pp each way (exact change appreciated) with a stop right outside the park for your return pick-up.

Sure! I contacted her through Facebook Messenger. Another option, may be less expensive - shashamane.slu@gmail.com We’ve not yet used Nio’s services but great reviews, and she is great to work with!

I suggest contacting Nio Rose. She has very flexible options for PI and other areas via water taxi! We were considering a water taxi to Marigot Bay, then back up to Pigeon Island, and she has some great options. Just google her, if you need contact info I will dig that up.

We (two couples) are organizing a private catamaran daysail for this date. This is on the Celebrity Beyond Ultimate Southern Caribbean cruise, from March 28 - April 7, arriving St Lucia April 1. This is a ~5 hr sail south that includes a tour of Marigot Bay, a stop in Sugar Beach between the Pitons, and possibly Soufriere as time permits. This will leave ~2 hours to see Castries or to return to the ship early. Guaranteed to be a smaller group on a very nice cat, and the cost is just $88/pp. So first come, first in… Anyone on this cruise interested, please join our Roll Call for this cruise and see the invite there, or if not familiar with doing that reply here. Thanks!

Thanks! We’re planning on a cat sail that includes a stop at Sugar Beach so we’ll get views during the sail… We may end up not spending enough time in Soufriere for lunch, but I do appreciate all the great info, we will save that for our future lad visit!

Our requirements or desires - GORGEOUS WATER COLOR(S) Sapphire ***** Magens *** Secret Harbor ** Lindbergh Bay ** BEAUTIFUL ISLAND VIEWS Sapphire ***** Magens Secret Harbor ** Lindbergh Bay ** GOOD FOOD & DRINK OPTIONS Sapphire ***** Magens * Lindbergh Bay *** Secret Harbor ***** SNORKELING Sapphire *** Magens Secret Harbor ** Lindbergh Bay * RENTAL EQUIPMENT Sapphire ***** Magens *** Secret Harbor **** Lindbergh Bay ***