Beaches in St. Thomas & St. Maarten

[DaisyDell]

I am looking for a beautiful and somewhat quiet beach while in St. Thomas and/or St. Maarten. Would like to rent beach chairs and have somewhere to eat lunch. Any suggestions?

[JCMass.]

I am looking for a beautiful and somewhat quiet beach while in St. Thomas and/or St. Maarten. Would like to rent beach chairs and have somewhere to eat lunch. Any suggestions?

 

On St. Thomas an absolutely beautiful beach is Megans Bay. They rent chairs, and there is a place that sells food right at the beach. It has been rated as one of the 10 best beaches in the world. I was there last November and it was wonderful.

[39august]

I suggest you go to the Ports of Call boards for each of these islands and tons of information. ********** is a great place for Virgin Islands info and pics.

[cb at sea]

If you have the time, from St. Thomas, go to St. Johns....it's a ferry ride, but oh, my....it's the most gorgeous beach I've ever seen. The water is so clear and so warm, you can't see or feel it....makes a weird sensation as you get into the water....you become bouyant...but you're not seeing the water!!! Really cool! White sands, trees overhanging the beach for shade.....just a wonderful beach day!

[DonnaK]

On St. Thomas, we prefer Sapphire Beach. It's beautiful, and you can rent chairs, etc.

[sailingawaysoon]

I'm looking for an all inclusive hotel at these ports, but having no luck finding any, even though I've posted at the other boards. We've been to Orient Beach so will prob go back there, but not sure which beach in St. Thomas. I don't want to risk going to St. John unless I book thru the ship. Decisions, decisions!

[efields2]

We went to Emerald Beach in St Thomas last year and LOVED it.

 

It's very quiet (not many people go). It's also really close to downtown, unlike some of the other beaches on the island. You enter through the Best Western hotel and can rent chairs/umbellas right there, plus you have access to their bathrooms and bar/restaurant area.

[efields2]

I'm looking for an all inclusive hotel at these ports, but having no luck finding any, even though I've posted at the other boards.

 

St Thomas is a US Virgin Island and might have one, if any, all-inclusive hotels.

 

I believe there are only two on St. Maartin/Martin: Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort and Casino, and Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino. I'm not sure if either provide day passes. We did Maho Beach to watch the airplanes come and go, and the Sonesta was right there. It looked nice, but we didn't walk over and see what kind of facilities were available.

[mrobstad]

Hands Dow, best beach in st.martin is orient beach....catch a cab in town or about 12 pp. each way....it has inexpensive jet kid, $2 beers, parasailing, Chris to rent, food, and old, fat nude people on the far right. Fortunately, on the left you get all the good features.

 

I've tried to get o Magen's bay beach, but ll CBS went to sapphire or coki. To me, neither is totally awesome. They are small with minimal amenities. Just my opinion. And crowded.....

[NorbertsNiece]

Maho Beach on St Maarten is NOT quiet.

 

[Worn out mailman]

Trunk Bay in St. John really is wonderful, but it takes about an hour or maybe a little less to get there, so you have to embark early, and leave the beach probably earlier than you'd like once you're there. Also, between taxis, ferries, and chair rentals you end up spending over $100 per couple round trip. Also, if you're sailing on one of the megaships which docks at Crown Bay, you can add about 20 minutes to a half hour to the trip each way.

 

I personally believe Trunk Bay is more magnificent than Sapphire or Magen's Bay. Sapphire is pretty nice but there's lots of coral so you have to look for a clear spot to wade around in. Having said that, the snorkeling is better by leaps and bounds at Sapphire than it is at Trunk Bay. Seems like the reefs at Trunk have grown relatively lifeless.

 

I'd like some details about Water Island, which I've read about here and there.

[janetz]

Water Island. Take the ferry from Crown Bay. :)

[joand452]

We went to Emerald Beach in St Thomas last year and LOVED it.

 

It's very quiet (not many people go). It's also really close to downtown, unlike some of the other beaches on the island. You enter through the Best Western hotel and can rent chairs/umbellas right there, plus you have access to their bathrooms and bar/restaurant area.

 

We went to Emerald Beach last year and enjoyed it, too. We'd probably go back if we decide on another beach day. Easy to get to and very quiet.

[elizabethbp]

check out the westin. You can book a day pass with hotel, or go on your own as we did, and order lunch and use the facilities. Great place. Very quiet.

[Ocean Boy]

Trunk Bay in St. John really is wonderful, but it takes about an hour or maybe a little less to get there, so you have to embark early, and leave the beach probably earlier than you'd like once you're there. Also, between taxis, ferries, and chair rentals you end up spending over $100 per couple round trip. Also, if you're sailing on one of the megaships which docks at Crown Bay, you can add about 20 minutes to a half hour to the trip each way.

 

I personally believe Trunk Bay is more magnificent than Sapphire or Magen's Bay. Sapphire is pretty nice but there's lots of coral so you have to look for a clear spot to wade around in. Having said that, the snorkeling is better by leaps and bounds at Sapphire than it is at Trunk Bay. Seems like the reefs at Trunk have grown relatively lifeless.

 

I'd like some details about Water Island, which I've read about here and there.

I agree with you. But I think that Cinnamon Bay even beats Trunk Bay. There are far fewer people at Cinnamon.

[cruisinfanatic]

On St. Thomas an absolutely beautiful beach is Megans Bay. They rent chairs, and there is a place that sells food right at the beach. It has been rated as one of the 10 best beaches in the world. I was there last November and it was wonderful.

Nice, but is far from quiet, and there are hundreds of beaches that at one time or another have been voted top 10

[cruisinfanatic]

We went to Emerald Beach in St Thomas last year and LOVED it.

 

It's very quiet (not many people go). It's also really close to downtown, unlike some of the other beaches on the island. You enter through the Best Western hotel and can rent chairs/umbellas right there, plus you have access to their bathrooms and bar/restaurant area.

Absolutely agree. The best, uncrowded beach on the island. Chairs to rent, bathrooms and a place for a beer and sandwich.

 

 

 

[centralcalicruzer]

We really enjoyed Emerald Beach. It is a super inexpensive cab ride, pretty and quiet, a few non-motorized water sports, chairs, palapas, a restaurant and clean bathrooms. Plus free wi-fi. Here are a few pics:

Water sports, chairs and palapas in front of the Best Western:

The bar/restaurant area:

Looking down the beach toward the other resort:

[BecciBoo]

 

I personally believe Trunk Bay is more magnificent than Sapphire or Magen's Bay. Sapphire is pretty nice but there's lots of coral so you have to look for a clear spot to wade around in. Having said that, the snorkeling is better by leaps and bounds at Sapphire than it is at Trunk Bay. Seems like the reefs at Trunk have grown relatively lifeless.

 

I'd like some details about Water Island, which I've read about here and there.

 

Trunk is gorgeous seen from above at the pull out on the road, but IMHO, I wouldn't return there. The snorkeling is abysmal due to damage to the coral from people(it is grey and pretty lifeless)...so the really pretty fish are actually gone and probably are around on the other side of the pytons and that area is off limits so you can't go out there. So I would recommend Sapphire for that reason. If you snorkel and want to see colorful reef fish, you need to stick with a beach that has living coral.:D