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 Ground transportation was the most pleasant part of our Caneel Bay experience. Visited: March 2008 |
| Posted by daviahelmer |
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We just returned from a four-day stay at Caneel Bay.
Unfortunately, the most pleasant part of the whole experience was the ground transportation from the airport in St. Thomas to the private ferry which took us to St. John.
We were greeted at the airport by a friendly and helpful representative of the Caneel Bay airport staff, and introduced to an extremely professional taxi driver who had a great personality.
During our ride to the ferry, he actually conducted a mini-tour along our route to the ferry. Once we arrived at the hotel, the experience went down hill.
The front desk staff was not what I would say was extremely cordial. We had been assured that our room would be located at a certain part of the property, and this request was not honored.
also, our room had not been adequately cleaned, and the furnishings were dated.
The meals at the restaurant facilities were certainly not commensurate with their costs. It appeared to me that upper management needs to get their act together. |
| 13 users found this review helpful. 3 found this review unhelpful. |
| We were disappointed! Visited: March 2008 |
| Posted by alyson |
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We just returned from Caneel Bay, and could not wait
to come home.
The beachfront room was very dated and had bugs. The outside deck truly needed to be cleaned and redone. The charge for this room was way overpriced!
The staff couldn't seem to care less, and trying to get a drink or anything was as if they were doing us a favor.
The beaches were pretty, but if you had a chid who wanted to go into the pool - think again. The water was grey and gross.
This resort needs to be redone. I'm sure in 1970 it was a five-star resort. I would give it two stars. If you like the movie "Dirty Dancing", this is the place for you!
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| 8 users found this review helpful. 4 found this review unhelpful. |
 This is a good family retreat. Visited: February 2006 |
| Posted by rachelan |
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We just returned from a five-day holiday at Caneel Bay.
The beaches were nice, and the main Caneel Bay beach was perfect for families with young children. The water was calm, warm and shallow. Grab chairs early. Day trippers often tote in their own chairs and secure the much-coveted shade.
One nice touch was that you did not have to sign out water sports equipment like you have to do at many other Caribbean resorts.
The staff was generally friendly, but not so at the main beach restaurant, which had a Euro cafeteria feel to it.
The rooms felt tired, particularly the outside decks and furniture. The rooms were large, though, and the beds were comfortable. Be warned that if you have very young children, there were no bathtubs, though they were thoughtful enough to supply a plastic baby tub, which was just big enough for our 1-1/2 year old daughter.
The grounds were nice, but quite spread out. It was fine to walk from place to place but, with young children, we had to wait for the "shuttle buses" that often were broken and ran very infrequently.
The food was decent, though nothing spectacular. They had expensive drinks and breakfast buffet. The all-day grill with TVs was okay and kid-friendly, though woefully understaffed at times.
The main bar -- no matter who was tending -- seemed less than thrilled to provide us with drinks, even juice for the little ones. The Equator restaurant had nice views, but the place was so busy that the service was rushed and felt very un-vacation like. The more upscale Turtle Bay restaurant was more formal and quite nice but, again, nothing like a high-end NY restaurant.
The clientle seemed to range from the old money, older crowd that have been vacationing here since Laurence Rockefeller bought the property, to young parents with babies. There were not too many teens or young, childless couples.
Also, there were no TVs, phones, or radios in the rooms (a bit of a drag when you are trying to order laundry service or secure a dinner reservation). They had an acceptable workout room with out of date equipment, but moderately well maintained and air conditioned.
The resort definitely did not draw the beautiful, young and hip crowd. But, for laid back families or eco-tourism interested couples, it would be a decent place to stay. |
| 27 users found this review helpful. 6 found this review unhelpful. |
 This was a beautiful property on a beautiful island. Visited: February 2006 |
| Posted by heeldawg |
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Caneel Bay is possibly the most beautiful resort property in the US Virgin Islands, with seven beaches and 170 well-manicured acres.
It is quiet, and unobtrusive - there are no phones and no TV. It is definitely "low-tech" (and proud of it).
Caneel Bay is not a bustling center of hoppin' nightlife. It is definitely not underpriced (it ain't cheap, folks)! It is also not a great place for teens (they'd be bored).
It is also not a shopping mecca, nor a playground for those who expect to have their noses (and other orifices) wiped by a subservient and over-indulgent staff.
We've stayed here three times. The grounds are always amazing, as are the beaches.
The Turtle Bay restaurant is excellent, but overpriced. The Beach Terrace buffets are good, but overpriced. The Sugar Mill/Equator Restaurant is pretty bad, and overpriced.
The service can range from excellent to middling; the older staff members are much more accommodating and professional. They do respond well to compliments. We go here to relax and just "get away," and Caneel is perfect for that.
St. John is a beautful island, and there is a lot to do to outdoors (sailing, snorkeling, scuba, tennis, hiking) if that's your gig (it's ours). But don't expect a 52-inch flat screen TV in your room. And don't expect Ritz-Carlton levels of luxury in the rooms. The Caneel Bay rooms are nice, but you are clearly at the beach. Still, we love it. That's why we keep going back. |
| 24 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| Here, you'll find the best beaches and very good food, but the service needs work. Visited: June 2005 |
| Posted by revak172 |
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I've been visiting Caneel Bay since I was 11 years old (now 42). Caneel Bay has some of the best beaches on the island, if not the world - white, powdery sand and turquoise waters so clear you can see 50 feet.
Also, the snorkeling is awesome. Rafts are provided, as well as hammocks - so you can laze away an afternoon. Most of the rooms are nice, but some of the older ones need refreshing. They are simple and comfortable, so if you are looking for plush luxury and gilded furnishings, Caneel is not for you.
My husband finds it to be very overpriced, and he is probably right - but I love it anyway. The beautiful seashell placed on my pillow each night, the mango bath products, and plush terry robes are all the luxury I desire. I find myself anxious each night to get back to the room just to see what kind of shell I'll find on my pillow that night.
There are several places to eat within the extensive and beautifully maintained resort. The Equator, formerly known as The Sugar Mill, is a round restaurant set amidst old sugar ruins that has lovely views of St. Thomas. They serve great food. I highly recommend the cinnamon ice cream.
The tea served on the terrace at the Turtle Bay Estate House is lovely, as are the views (especially at sunset). In the evening, the restaurant opens (which is also very good). The breakfast buffet at the main restaurant is extensive, and right at the water's edge. The wait staff at all three are excellent, and most will go out of their way to please you.
The negatives: the maid service, the staff at the lounge, and the front desk definitely did not provide five-star service. The rooms are clean, but if you request shampoo to be replenished, it doesn't always arrive despite the tips.
Also, the staff at the lounge is not very accommodating or friendly. The front desk staff, while very friendly, are not always efficient, and the check-in process can be quite tedious and aggravating.
Despite those frustrations, I find myself always looking forward to a visit to Caneel. |
| 14 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
 This is a beautiful resort for a tranquil getaway. Visited: February 2005 |
| Posted by edward_d |
|
My wife, son (age 15) and I spent President's week at Caneel Bay.
The transfer from the St. Thomas Airport to the resort was perfect. It was very convenient to check in here, get on the taxi for the short trip to their dock in Charlotte Amalie, then on their ferry to the dock in Caneel Bay (about 45 minutes). Also, it was nice that they handled the luggage from the airport to the room. After a cool towel and cold drink, we were taken to our room, and the luggage followed a few minutes later.
We reserved a tennis garden room, which appeared to be one of the newer units. It was very spacious, with a cathedral ceiling and sliding glass doors out onto a large terrace. We had a king sized bed and a single bed, and there was plenty of room.
A big postitve was the extra bed we had ordered was a"real" bed, not just a rollaway cot, and was quite comfortable. But the best feature of the room was the bathroom. It was huge with double sinks, closet, shelves, and a large circular shower made from coral and shells. The soap and shampoo smelled terrific. We also had ordered a refrigerator to keep drinks and snacks in the room, which was a good idea.
As nice as the room was, the beaches and grounds made Caneel so special. Of the seven beaches, each had its own flavor. Caneel Beach was the busiest, with the dock and kayaks and sunfish. This was also were the families with younger children tended to stay. In addition, non-guests of the resort could use this beach. Our son had a great time with the kayaks and fishing off the dock.
The other beaches were less busy and more relaxing. Everyone had their favorite (ours was Scott Beach), but spend some time at all of them. The snorkeling was great at all beaches. The coral and vegetation had really come back after the hurricane a few years ago. There were plenty of fish of a wide variety, in addition to turtles and sting rays. Things were spread out, but walking the grounds was beautiful, or take the shuttle.
One day we took the trip to their sister resort, Little Dix Bay, on Virgin Gorda. Beware - the ferry ride can be rough. We went to The Baths, which were geologically interesting, but quite rugged and treacherous to walk around.
We found the service to be quite good and friendly. If you want to be pampered all day this may not be for you; it is more restful, peaceful and tranquil. They don't interfere, they accommodate.
The food and service at all three dining locations was terrific. Before arriving, I had sent a few emails with questions or asking to make reservations. It usually took over a week to respond, if at all, and often what they agreeded to do was not done, but they worked it out once we arrived. |
| 19 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| This was a beautiful place, but badly managed. Visited: March 2004 |
| Posted by harrycot99 |
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It's too sad- this was one of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean. The beaches were just fabulous, the setting was superb, but the whole thing was just too badly managed and not at all thought out. It is amazing that Rosewood let them get away with it.
The natural beauty of the property was staggering, but on the downside- the staff was generally fine, but some were unacceptably rude (particularly in the main restaurant and bar).
The lack of a phone in the room made organizing anything very difficult, and the transportation around the place was just absurd.
The best thing they could do would be to give all rooms a bike. |
| 6 users found this review helpful. 3 found this review unhelpful. |
 Equator Restaurant Visited: March 2004 |
| Posted by lechavous |
|
I planned a surprise dinner birthday for my wife at the Equator restaurant only to have the evening totally ruined by the staff of this restaurant. First, they bungled the reservation that I called in 10 days prior. Second, they have a "special" room called the Ruins that I had to get approved by a manager. When we arrived for dinner the table was not ready and then we were made to wait for almost an hour without any kind words or apology from the manager on duty. On top of it all, this manager decided to charge me a "set-up" fee at the end of dinner, even though the table was not ready AND I was never told about this fee. She then proceeded to illegally charge my credit card for this fee after I told her it was unfair to bill me for this charge. Needless to say, I hope to never run across her path again and, frankly, I do not see how she became the manager with that type of customer service.
I hope this incident does not reflect how service is a the resort since they have much higher rates that other stays on the island. |
| 3 users found this review helpful. 5 found this review unhelpful. |
| Beautiful grounds, but not beautiful service. Visited: July 2003 |
| Posted by rayandanastasia |
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My husband and I honeymooned here. This is how I would rate the property:
Atmosphere- 5 stars, the beaches, and the restaurants were all pleasing to the eye and well maintained, the rooms were a bit tired, but they were very comfortable.
Food- 3 Stars- the food was okay, but the prices were out of control. The banana mudslide was delicious (when they had bananas, which was 2 out of the 8 days we were here).
Service 1 Star- This truly could be a 5-star resort if the staff just got their act together and smiled a bit. It was like pulling teeth for us to get anyone to smile. Staff in restaurants seemed "put out" to have us there. The housekeeping staff was terrible; they would insist on entering the room even if our “do not disturb” sign was up.
All in all the beaches, and the atmosphere is wonderful here, but the service makes this resort sub par for the money you will spend.
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| 4 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful. |
| An incredible property with less than stellar service. Visited: May 2003 |
| Posted by mking |
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We just returned from our honeymoon at Caneel Bay and overall, it was a wonderful trip. I would rate specific aspects of Caneel as follows:
Property, beaches - 5 stars. The property itself was exceptional and the beaches were truly the most beautiful I have ever seen. The snorkeling at Scott Beach and Turtle Bay beach was wonderful. The grounds were immaculate and the views were truly spectacular.
Room - 4 stars. The rooms were spacious and clean. The twice-daily housekeeping service was great and the the linens were very nice. It was referenced in some of the reviews that there were issues with bugs. However, we didn't see one bug in our room while we were here. The only negative was that the rooms were old and very much in need of updating/renovating.
Service - 2 stars. This was really the only place where we could say that Caneel was truly lacking. It was not that service was slow, it was just generally bad. Staff at the restaurants seemed completely apathetic and, at times, ignored us. They wouldn't ask if we wanted a refill on our drinks or dessert before they brought us our bill.
On one occasion, when my husband made a special request at one of the restaurants, the waiter very strongly alluded to the fact that he expected a larger tip for fulfilling the request (which we had planned to do anyway).
Also, we requested items from the front desk and had to ask again eight hours later when they never arrived. When I said hello to the staff in passing, much of time they wouldn't even respond. There were a few exceptions but, given that we were spending close to $800 per day at the resort, we would have expected signficantly more with respect to service. It was the one thing that would keep us from going back.
All in all, it was a truly beautiful place. We'd go back in a second if the service was better. |
| 4 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful. |
| Unacceptable for a 5 star resort Visited: April 2003 |
| Posted by cinbeach |
|
We planned a 10 night vacation to St. Thomas and St. John. We spent 3 nights at the Ritz Carlton in St. Thomas which was absolutely wonderful. Gorgeous rooms and excellent service. We then left on the 4th day for what we thought would be an even better stay at Caneel Bay. When we arrived our room was not ready so we waited for 4 hours until it was. When we arrived at the room we were shocked. It was small and totally outdated as far as design. The furniture was old probably original to 1956 when the resort was built and had no character at all except that of a cheap motel room. When you are paying $700 plus a night I expect luxury which this was not. We immediatley went to the manager and told him we were leaving. We went back to the Ritz Carlton for the rest of our vacation. If you do not mind spending these prices for this type of lackluster room then this is the place for you. If you want luxury all the way then go to the Ritz Carlton. |
| 5 users found this review helpful. 3 found this review unhelpful. |
| We had the perfect vacation. Visited: February 2003 |
| Posted by brennan812 |
|
We just came back from Caneel and we had such an amazing vacation. The view from our room was breathtaking. Every aspect of the trip was wonderful. The food was superb and the service was excellent. They had a nice wine selection. Everyone was so friendly. We rented a jeep and traveled all over the island.
The one thing we will suggest is to use the bug spray in the room after dusk, so you don't miss the sunset over Caneel Bay - it was beautiful! |
| 6 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| A pretty good resort with the Best beaches on St. John Visited: November 2002 |
| Posted by honorabley |
|
After deciding upon St. John as a destination, we were torn between the Westin and Caneel Bay. The Westin had a man made beach, which was just no comparison to the natural beauty of all of Caneel's beaches.
We also were originally concerned that Caneel's small pool was located far from our room and hence would be not easily accessable. The reality was that the beaches and water at Hawksnest Beach on Caneel, made swimming for our two small children more pleasurable than the pool.
Suggestions for improvement at Caneel Bay: 1) They need to provide each guest with a golf cart. Getting around the property meant waiting for the "Caneel Bus Service", often for 10 to 15 minutes. Even worse, at peak times the Caneel Bus (which was in reality a small van or extended golf cart) could be completely full, thus requiring you to wait for the next one.
2)The restaurants needed to focus on quality and quantity of food (as opposed to making a small portion on a big plate look like an art work). Also, the Caneel Bay restaurants were way overpriced. Coincidently, trying to make dinner reservations in Cruz Bay was even more challenging proposition. Not to mention renting a car and trying to find a parking spot in Cruz Bay took the "relax" out of the meaning of vacation.
3)The bugs in the rooms were terrible. Instead of providing Raid and Off (each room contained a complimentary container of each), they should install smaller screens on the windows. The small flying bugs were all over our room, as well as the two other rooms that were occupied by traveling companions of ours.
Overall, by staying at Caneel Bay you are choosing the best beaches on St. John. As long as you plan on using the Caneel beaches every day, and all day, Caneel is the place to go.
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| 4 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| A beautiful, relaxing vacation spot! Visited: October 2002 |
| Posted by monica1 |
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My husband and I chose Caneel Bay for our first vacation alone together since the birth of our 4-year old daughter. Upon arrival at St. Thomas airport, we were escorted by taxi to Caneel's own ferry for the 30 minute ride to the resort. It was complete with rum punch.We were handed chilled lemon-scented towels at Caneel's dock, a nice refreshing touch.
When we arrived at our room, our bags were there waiting for us. We were delighted to find we'd been upgraded from an oceanview to a beachfront room on Hawksnest Beach. The setting could not have been more beautiful! Although the room was simply decorated, it was more than made up for by the fact that we could step out the door and onto the beach.
We enjoyed sleeping with the louvers open at night, being lulled to sleep by the sound of the surf and the frogs singing. The bed and pillows were comfy, and Caneel provided robes, plenty of towels and terrific island-scented bath products for our use.
As others have noted, you will see tiny ants at times and when your room is on the beach, undoubtedly you will track in some sand, but if you choose Caneel, you're doing it for its natural beauty. This is not the Ritz.
Hawksnest was an ideal beach. The whole time we were here, we never saw more than 6 people on the beach. It was wonderful to be able to skinny-dip under the stars at night and watch the sun come up over Peace Hill in the morning.
The snorkeling was also excellent, but we saw more diverse sea life, including squid and several sting rays, at neighboring Scott Beach.
The resort itself was beautifully maintained given its size. We enjoyed quiet walks along paths surrounded by flowers and lit by flaming torches and path lights at night. There was a shuttle that ran continously around the property for those who wished to use it, since things were pretty spread out.
As for the food, as we expected, it was expensive. Complimentary continental breakfast was served from 6-8AM. The hot buffet breakfast was very good and the service was excellent - as it should be for $50/per couple. We enjoyed lunch at the bar where the food and drinks were excellent.
We called ahead to request a refrigerator in the room, which was great because although there was a minibar, everything was ridiculously expensive. We ate dinner at the Equator, which had a great view of the twinkling lights of St.Thomas and was housed in the beautiful stone ruins of a sugar mill. The setting was wonderful;the food was ok.
Several nights we went into Cruz Bay to eat. We enjoyed a wonderful meal and sunset at Stone Terrace and more casual fare at The Fish Trap. We also loved Duffy's Love Shack for the music and atmosphere. All in all, this was a beautiful vacation.
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| 4 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| It was very, very nice! Visited: July 2002 |
| Posted by 2palmers |
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The Caneel Bay was beautiful and and provided a quiet setting. We spent 3 days at Caneel at the end of a Caribbean boat charter. It was an excellent way to end a fantastic vacation. We are looking forward to the next trip. |
| 2 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful. |
| Caneel Bay offered beautiful grounds and beaches. Visited: July 2002 |
| Posted by reb1 |
|
We enjoyed our stay here. Check-in was done at the airport, and we were personally greeted and escorted to our room upon arrival to St. John via Caneel Bay's ferry.
It was a quiet and relaxing place - there were phones in the reception area and by the gift shop to make calls, and two computers with e-mail access.
My complaint would be on the room. For the kind of money you are shelling out, I think it could have been better. While towels and soaps were plentiful and first-class, the floor was always in need of sweeping. There were tiny bugs by the sink area which bothered me. We requested a roll-away bed for our child and the boxspring was all beat up. It looked like it was ready for curbside pickup! I don't mind simple and tasteful, but honestly, my room looked tired.
We ate at all three restaurants, but wandered the island and found many good and less expensive places as well. Their beaches were spectacular and always seemed uncrowded. They gave us complimentary snorkeling gear to use for the week and guests may use rafts, kayaks, and sunfish as well.
If they'd do something about the rooms, I'd give it 5 stars. |
| 4 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| It was even better on our third visit! Visited: May 2002 |
| Posted by hank_mancini |
|
My wife and I just returned from our third visit to Caneel Bay and it was our very best vacation ever. One of the differences this year was that we stayed for ten nights, instead of seven last year and four our first year. The longer stay and being familiar with what Caneel Bay had to offer allowed us to really enjoy it.
You may ask what does Caneel Bay have to offer? The first answer would be the beaches. Having traveled to French Polynesia, Hawaii, and much of the Caribbean, I have not seen more beautiful or enjoyable beaches. One of the reasons they were so enjoyable was the lack of people. I never counted more than about 25 people on Scott Beach, our favorite.
Another reason we enjoyed Caneel Bay was the very relaxed atmosphere. It was a very peaceful and relaxing place. After a day or two, there just did not seem to be any reason to move fast or worry about any schedule.
We also loved our room. The bed was the most comfortable we have ever slept in, the linens and pillows were of excellent quality, and the beach and bath towels were excellent and plentiful. There were louvres on three sides of our room and we kept them open 100% of the time, letting the breeze blow through.
The resort was just plain beautiful. There was so much open space that my wife kept asking me "are you sure this wasn't a golf course at some time?" It was a very romantic place.
The food at Caneel Bay was also very good, but somewhat expensive. We enjoyed a number of dinners in the Beach Terrace Bar. The food was very good and it was a very informal place where no one seemed to mind if you sat for hours. There was entertainment every night starting at about eight.
My highest recommendation would be that we are planning our fourth trip for June 2003. |
| 4 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| It was the best vacation we've ever had. Visited: December 2001 |
| Posted by adresner |
|
We went to Caneel Bay to celebrate our first anniversary.
We didn't think a seven-day vacation in the Caribbean could even come close to our incredible two-week honeymoon at the best resorts in Hawaii, but this place won us over heart and soul.
We were also lucky to be here off-season and got a great rate and upgrade to a premium room on Scott Beach. Call the hotel directly, they run specials now and again.
The grounds were incredible and we couldn't help but take long walks exploring each and every part. It was even more beautiful at night under the full moon and shooting stars.
The beaches were the best I've seen (and we are beach people), and we snorkled off our beach whenever we had a moment. Even the morning of our departure, we got up early and just floated for two hours.
The beach was never crowded - never had more than a few people in view. The older couple next door slept out on the beach one night and the honeymooning couple down a few rooms admitted they skinny dipped in the middle of the night a few times.
Food in the resort was very good, but we often went into Cruz Bay for dinner to many wonderful places. The day trips and excursions were a lot of fun. The bed and pillows were really comfortable - I've even ordered a few pillows for home. The room was cleaned often with clean beach towels and our ice bucket was always left full. The bath products were the best!
Some of the staff had a bit of an attitude, but overall everyone was very nice and helpful. It seemed to me there are so few places like this left in the world. It was the absolutely the most relaxing, beautiful and special place I've ever been and we are already planning our next trip back! |
| 4 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| Everything we wanted in a Caribbean vacation! Visited: December 2001 |
| Posted by mandj |
|
My wife and I almost decided not go to Caneel, which would have been a big mistake. We spent two weeks here, and found the resort to be very much as described by their website and by the onsite reservations department. (It's worth calling to the property directly; they were not only helpful, but also very candid in answering all our questions.)
As others have posted, the property is truly gorgeous--straight out of the pages of a travel magazine. We thought their facilities appropriate for the resort's philosophy. The rooms and common areas are simple but classy (enough so that a number of Hollywood celebrities make it a repeat destination). Although you may be disappointed if it’s truly "brass and glass and glitz" that you're after.
Rooms without tv's or phones were fine with us (contrary to other postings, there are a number of phone kiosks located throughout the property). The only hitch with the phones was in trying to coordinate plans with other guests. You had to send notes back and forth between rooms.
Much has been said about the property's upkeep and the staff. It's a non-issue. Really. Our room was well looked after twice a day--including lots of clean luxurious beach towels left every evening (which were very handy for the early morning snorkeling that we did). Linens, towels and bathroom soaps/shampoos etc. were all first-rate. Ice was left for us every morning if we wanted it (no charge, in case you're wondering).
As for the attitudes of the staff and interacting with them, our experience was wonderful. I can't imagine that anyone who smiles and says hello to a member of the staff will get anything less than a genuine warm response. We've found that anywhere you travel, showing a little respect and friendliness usually earns you the same in return. Caneel Bay was no exception.
Their restaurants are expensive but not outrageous, and the food is quite good. We often ate at Caneel but also at a number of nice restaurants in Cruz Bay. (A rather expensive dinner at the Westin was the only real dud.)
The snorkeling is great (big turtles, octopus, starfish, large manta rays, and thousands of neon-colored fish), nice tennis facilities, professional massages, and a decent gym if you can somehow force yourself to go indoors. Our personal highlight: drinking champagne under the stars on our private balcony overlooking the Caribbean Sea!
In sum, if it's wild partying or lots of golfing that you're after, Caneel will disappoint. Otherwise it is a splurge (because it is pricey) that's really special.
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| 4 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| Not what we expected from a 5-star resort. Visited: July 2001 |
| Posted by deborah_martin |
|
It was our first real vacation in 5 years. It will be our last vacation at Caneel Bay. We don't mind spending the money, but we expect certain amenities.
We knew that the property didn't have TV's or phones in the rooms, but were surprised to find that they had no ice machines or vending machines on the entire 171-acre property. The only phones were pay phones in the lobby.
Since they have you captive on the property they control all of the prices. We requested information to determine whether we would go with one of their packages. We asked multiple times for activity prices and for the restaurant menus before we booked, but never got the information and booked with no packages. What a mistake! A hamburger was $15 at the bar. Most dinners (though very good) were $120 for 2 people. We made a lot of trips to Cruz Bay to dine at a much more reasonable price, even though it was not always convenient.
My favorite part was the snorkeling right by the room and the beautiful surroundings.
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| 1 users found this review helpful. 3 found this review unhelpful. |
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 Fun, friendly beachfront resort with a Caribbean flair. One of-a kind All Inclusive plan with 100% a la carte dining, and also Eurpean Plan rates. |
| Hillcrest Guest House |
 Escape to pristine turquoise beaches on St. John, US Virgin Islands. Complimentary menu and Wi-Fi. 25% off rates. |
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- St. John, USVI Links
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