Best Kept Secret Beach?

[sunhoney64]

Is there a best kept secret beach you recommend for St. Thomas?  We do not want to go to Megans Bay.  Looking for something that isn't so crowded/touristy.  

[blue_water]

If on this forum it’s really not a secret ☺️
But Hull Bay is a good option...beach bar & restroom but no other amenities last we were there. But not crowded/touristy 

Edited November 19, 2019 by blue_water

[sunhoney64]

Thank you!  I didnt have time to search through all of the posts.  Its been years.  Thanks again.  🙂  

[Ms411]

Not always easy to get a taxi to Hull Bay unless you have a large group or use a private driver. May be best to rent a vehicle.

 

[sunhoney64]

Is there a ferry that we could do St John instead?  Megans Bay is just to crowded for us.  Not a fan.

[Ms411]

Yes, there's a ferry to St John but many people go to Trunk so it's crowded, too. You need a vehicle to avoid crowded beaches whether on St Thomas or St John.

 

[Ms411]

This tour guide takes you to a secluded beach.

 

http://islandbuddy.net

 

 

[O2B@Cagain]

Magens isn't the only beach on St Thomas. The thing is, most cruise ship passengers want lounge chairs, umbrellas, and a bar. If you can do without those things, you will find "less touristy" places. Hull Bay and Brewer's Bay are two choices.

[blue_water]

Hull Bay is a good option if you want a less touristy beach, you just need to find a driver to drop you there and you may need to call one for the return. Those less-visited beaches usually require a little more to get to...

if you go to St John’s you will have a similar experience at Trunk Bay that you had at Magens as they are the beaches most-touted by the cruise directors. Cinnamon or Honeymoon are better choices for you, but not sure if you still want amenities?

I’d suggest Sapphire, room to spread out and a gorgeous beach with all the amenities. Just hop a taxi going there and taxis return for you...

[blue_water]

Should ask - Since you want a beach with a less busy vibe, what are your required amenities? Less busy usually = fewer amenities for day visitors. You will get more useful feedback if folks know if you need lounges and umbrellas and all the other amenities, or if you actually want to “rough it” a little to get that nice beach all to yourselves? Sapphire is probably the best middle of the road option, while the quietest spots (read fewest amenities) would be Hull Bay and Cowpet Bay on STT, and Honeymoon and Salomon on STJ that are easily reachable for day visitors...

Just depends on what you are really looking for?

[Ms411]

Honeymoon Beach on St John isn't quiet, because so many excursions go there. It became very popular after the storms because they were up and running with their amenities way before Trunk so people started going there. The Lindt Point hike that takes you to Honeymoon is also very popular.

 

[blue_water]

Yes I know the girls provide lounges, drinks and some food at Honeymoon Beach so more folks are going there rather than the busier Trunk Bay. The beauty of Honeymoon, beyond the exquisite views, is twofold IMHO:

Once for the majority of day visitors looking to be comfortable, and again for those wishing to escape the touristy experience -

 

There are enough amenities to attract those who want that more “catered” experience on an easily accessible, gorgeous beach; And a short walk away is gorgeous Salomon Bay where those looking “for something that isn't so crowded/touristy” can enjoy nature at its best without having to travel to Waterlemon or Maho, for example. Those folks can get drinks and a pulled port sandwich at HB and still enjoy the relative quiet of Salomon...Our visits to Honeymoon have been by boat only, and most of the beach was under water due to sea swells so we look forward to our next visit to HB, and especially Salomon...

 

So again it all depends on what sunhoney64 really wants. Both STT and STJ offer some great choices in both categories. 😉

Edited November 20, 2019 by blue_water

[blue_water]

And for the Trunk Bay lovers following this I’m not dismissing Trunk Bay, that is a beautiful bay and beach as well. I just don’t think it’s worth the OP’s time and $$ to go to STJ - and Trunk especially - as an alternative to Magens based on their experience/description of Magens...As mentioned there are beautiful beaches on STT that are not as touristy as Magens...

[Mud_Shark]

Water Island!

 

We just returned from our cruise and we chose a do it yourself day on water island.

We docked at Havensight and so we needed to take a taxi to the water taxi pier which is right beside Crown bay (cost $6pp one way).  The water taxi departs hourly on the hour and returns hourly on the 15 mins past the hour.  Round trip price is $10pp.

 

From the water taxi drop off, it is a walk of no more than 10 minutes to honeymoon beach.  Which is a beautiful bay.  Chairs and umbrellas are free, but they hope you will buy lunch or drinks at the restaurant.  The beach was uncrowded but several ship excursions do stop there for an hour of beach time, so groups do come and go.  We swam out on our own to snorkel and found 3 turtles - just out to by the swimming area outer markers.

We also rented a golf cart for the day (rental place is right by the water taxi landing and is $40 per day - gas included).  With this, we were able to head up to the WWII fortification at the top of the hill, and over to Limestone beach - which is very secluded and rustic - no services, just a small trail into the shore from the road.  This beach is on the wavier/windier side of the island, so has a bit of surf, but we went swimming  there and were the only people there for the entire time we were there.  It's not a sandy beach.  It's full of shells and small rocks, but it was like being in a dream escape with the rolling waves and the swimming there.  Overall, you have the best of both worlds on this island - a very rustic and secluded beach all to yourselves, and a very beautiful and sandy beach bay with services - both just a couple minutes apart by golf cart.

 

Don

[Ms411]

Water Island can get very busy if there is a ship at Crown Bay. If you check the Water Island threads you'll see posts from someone who lives there.

 

You can now take a water shuttle from Havensight to Crown Bay on ship days. From Havensight it leaves from the little pier by Yacht Haven Grand. $5 per person one way. Great ride - no traffic! Leaves approximately every 30 minutes but not necessarily on the half hour or hour. For now it's cash only.

 

 

[Livethelife]

In the interest of clarity and to give a more accurate overall perspective of what a visitor to Water Island might expect I must respond to a recent post.  I am happy the Mud_Shark had such a great day on Water Island and speaks of it in such glowing terms however he did NOT experience a typical day.

Water Island’s Honeymoon Beach is a small beach that is heavily visited by excursion boats.  Many days the excursions start arriving around 9am and continue until near sunset bringing hundreds of visitors.  This is especially true during high season and when the larger cruise ships are docked in Crown Bay.  If a visitor is not on an excursion, the island is accessed via ferry as Mud_Shark described.  This ferry is not what most visitors are expecting – it is a small boat carrying only about 25 passengers.  On many runs transportation demand exceeds capacity which causes wait times of up to an hour while ferry makes subsequent runs.  In the morning coming over to Water Island this is usually only an annoying inconvenience – in the afternoon as everyone is trying to return to the ship at a specific time it can be a real problem unless one has planned for this contingency.  Travel, even short distances, in the islands can take much longer than expected.

With regards to the second beach identified as Limestone Beach – it is as Mud_Shark said, not a sandy beach.  It is actually the windward rocky shoreline of the island with no designated swim area.   It is accessible via a rough uneven trail and is it not recommended for swimming.  There are no lifeguards anyplace on the island and the safety of visitors is of great concern to residents especially in the more remote areas.

These observations are not offered to discourage anyone but to provide some factual information.  Trip reports tend to idealize the experience and not consider the practicalities and potential for everything not going according to “plan”.    Hope this response helps someone!

[Nerkbuck]

Secret Harbor..nice and quiet with dive shop and restaurant

[blue_water]

Secret Harbor does have a good restaurant and AA Divers rents lounges and other stuff along with offering excursions. It can get quite crowded being a smaller beach and day visitors are "encouraged" to stay in one spot if renting lounges/umbrellas, the Secret Harbour Resort guests have the rest of the beach. 

[Sheffie]

On 11/19/2019 at 9:36 AM, Ms411 said:

Yes, there's a ferry to St John but many people go to Trunk so it's crowded, too. You need a vehicle to avoid crowded beaches whether on St Thomas or St John.

 

Go one beach farther to Cinnamon Bay.  A taxi driver will take you and pick you up.