Sapphire Beach Resort - St. Thomas, USVI

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Horrible service Visited: April 2004 Posted by sphelps My wife and I have just returned from a very disappointing stay at Sapphire Beach Resort. We found the staff to be extremely rude. The facilities were in disrepair, broken shades, holes in the linens, stains on the floor, sticky furniture, broken light fixtures. If you expect daily maid service forget it. The staff is unhelpful and would not comply with the most basic service requests. i.e. how about sending some fresh towels down to our room. I do not like to be treated poorly while on vacation. Many things I can overcome if I believe that the staff is interested in making your stay pleasant. I would not recommend a friend to stay at this resort. 3 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We had a very disappointing stay here. Visited: March 2004 Posted by elsakess My husband and I, and our 20-year-old daughter have just returned from a very disappointing stay at Sapphire Beach Resort. We found the staff to be indifferent, at best. We found the facilities barely adequate. Much of the literature described Sapphire as a luxury resort. It most definitely was not. But I could have lived with that, had the room been clean and comfortable. The location was indeed magnificent. However, you don't have to stay at Sapphire Resort to enjoy the beach. We paid for a beach front villa, but they did not have one for us. The number of things wrong with our villa were ridiculous--badly stained ceramic tile throughout; ants in both bathrooms; a non-working paddle fan in the upstairs bedroom, and the chain that would have operated the fan was coated with grease and stuck on dust along its four foot length. Also, both sets of sliding doors and screens to the terraces were barely operable (they kept jumping off their tracks); the furnishings were old, stained, and peeling; as were the bathroom doors; the upholstery was stained and faded; one rug was so filthy and stained that I asked it be removed; sheer curtains had mildew on them; the downstairs sofa bed smelled so badly, it was uncomfortable to sit on it for very long, and this was the bed my daughter was supposed to sleep on! And if you're looking for the advertised tennis equipment, forget it. They had five rackets, two of which were broken. The only positive was a wonderful housekeeper who came in and cleaned up the room as best she could, otherwise it would have been unbearable. A fresh coat of paint on the walls is not my idea of a renovation. If you care about cleanliness and even a small amount of personalized attention, do not stay at Sapphire Beach Resort! 4 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We had a wonderful stay! Visited: July 2002 Posted by uvproductions My sweety and I had a wonderful stay at the Sapphire Beach. The view was so beautiful and spectacular from the room. We stayed in a second floor suite, and the balcony faced the beach (all balconies do). We read the reviews here before we went, and were somewhat nervous about the service. However, service was satisfactory - not spectacular - but then again, this place was like a condo for rent, so you wouldn't expect the little extras. Stay away from the lobby, because they will try to sell you a time-share. But once you check in, you don't have to even go there, since the layout does not force you. We received a welcome package with a nice bottle of Cruzan rum - a must! In fact, go to Kmart for the lowest prices on rum in town! Taxis had a permanent stand at the hotel entrance, so you'll have no problem catching one 24 hours! The town of Red Hook was only five minutes away, and they offered plenty of restaurants. Overall, it was a very good experience. They were under renovations, so there were a few eyesores here and there, but that was still a small thing! Sunday afternoon was party time, as the best local band came in to play! They were great, and we got a chance to party with the locals. The beach never got crowded, there was plenty of room. The restaurant by the pool had good, basic food. And the pool was two levels, one mainly for kids (a three feet pool) the other was five feet. They were very well maintained. Iquanas live on the premises - so look out! They were friendly, though. 1 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A great place to stay. Visited: January 2002 Posted by jo_ann1 We just returned from 9 days at Sapphire Beach. If you are looking for posh, luxurious rooms, this is not the place for you. But, if you are looking for a nice, clean resort with spectacular beach access and views - then Sapphire is definitely the place to go. The rooms feature a bedroom and kitchen/living area. Kitchens are fully equipped with a stove, microwave, coffeepot, toaster, refrigerator and dishes. We went into Red Hook and bought some groceries and generally ate breakfast and lunch on our patio. The best thing about Sapphire is walking out the door and being right on the beach. The two restaurants at the hotel are average and the prices are the same as most other places on the island. We took a day cruise to Virgin Gorda and the Baths, which we highly recommend. Sapphire is a wonderful place for couples and people with small children. If you are looking for nightlife, this is not the place. But for a relaxed, laid back vacation - it's definitely the place to go. We will definitely return. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Nice Place, But Not As Good As Advertised Visited: November 2001 Posted by noah We recently returned from Sapphire Beach Resort. We had a lovely week. Good weather, great beaches, a great family vacation. The major problem with the resort is that they overrate themselves. This is not a posh 4-star resort by any stretch of the imagination. It is not beautifully landscaped and maintained, in fact the side of the buildings away from the beaches have a small strip of landscaping, the parking area, then a huge untended area that looks like it has been used for dumping. The rooms are large, but far from luxurious. They have tile floors that are cracked, very basic furnishings, adequate small kitchens, and both of the sliding doors to the balconies in our room were broken. The service is not up to par with pricey resorts. The only thing 4-star about Sapphire Beach Resort is the price. That said, if you are looking for a nice place on a beautiful beach with kitchens, balconies with gorgeous views over looking the beach, and spacious accommodations, it may fit the bill. It was a good family destination as well. The kids enjoyed the beach, and got to eat free at all of the restaurants. We found it a neccessity to have a car to be able to go buy groceries, eat at restaurants other than the resort (lunch cost at least $50), and to just get around. Taxis to Red Hook charge by the person, so it is a $32 round trip for a family of 4. Beware of the Budget rental car agency in the resort. We had a confirmed reservation that they ignored and never did manage to get us a car. Very rude with no idea of what customer service means. It is a franchise, so calling Budget didn't help. The kids club program that initially attracted us to Sapphire Beach Resort is not well staffed and managed. We met with the child care provider and found her to be dull, uninterested, and very unenthusiastic. There were a lot of families with kids at the resort the week we went, but only 1 or 2 got stuck in the kids program. I felt sorry for them. In recap: Sapphire Beach is nice, but they should do a more honest job of selling themselves as an older resort that has many great qualities, but not up to 4-star standards when it comes to facilities or service. If you go, go with realistic expectations and you can have a good time. 2 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A great resort with possibly the best beach and views in St. Thomas Visited: July 2001 Posted by william_p_chrencik We’ve been to St Thomas a few times before and remembered Sapphire Beach for the snorkeling. My wife, myself, our 18-year-old son and his buddy shared a beachfront two story villa (#B303), and this unit was just the right size—using the pull-out couch for the boys. The beach was exceptional for swimming and snorkeling with a small reef loaded with marine life about 100 feet out. You're 5 minutes from Red Hook where our teens did their thing at night and then grabbed a $3 cab ride back to the hotel. (The drinking age in St. Thomas is 18.) Every meal we had was good, especially the local fish. Agave Terrace, Whahoo's, Panino's on St. John and Cuzzin's in Charlotte Amalie are just a few that I'll go back to when we return. Our boys made several friends at the beach and it was safe for them all to be together at this gated resort. I would rent a car from "Discount Car Rental" at the airport - nice people - family owned -competitive rates. If you have a car and choose to go to St. John, take the car ferry. It was easy to use and you'll save significant money. For a day trip you will remember, book yourselves on the "New Horizon's" boat trip, which takes you to 4 British Virgin Islands from the marina right at the resort. The young couple that runs the boat knows what they're doing and you will have an incredible day seeing "The Baths" and doing some fantastic snorkeling. This was our trip's highlight. Sapphire Beach resort isn't cheap, but the location is great, the beach is second to none with nice breezes; it’s worth it. We'll be back, hopefully in our own condo! 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A beautiful spot that's seen better days Visited: July 2001 Posted by fman22 Sapphire Beach Resort needs a facelift. It was obvious that the place was built in the mid-80's and they haven't done a whole lot to make it seem fresh. Our suite had some peeling paint and a very noisy air conditioning unit. The food at the SeaGrape was about the same level you'd expect to find at a Baker's Square or another chain-type of restaurant. Not resort quality and certainly not worth the $60 or $70 you'll end up spending. On the positive side, the staff was very friendly and the location of the suites is literally right on the beach. We also enjoyed having our own kitchen, since we ended up buying fruit and lunch food from the Marina Market in Red Hook and fixing our own breakfast to eat on the balcony overlooking the spectacular blue water. The suite was very spacious with two levels and two balconies. Sapphire Beach is not a bad place to spend a few days, but it's time for them to bring it back to what it must have been when newly opened. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Still a great place for a family vacation Visited: July 2001 Posted by lcornell This was our second summer in a row at Sapphire. We had gone last year without the kids and couldn't wait to bring them, it was such a "family friendly" place. Much of what we originally loved about Sapphire is still in tact: the rooms are spacious and pretty, the beach is great for snorkeling and the pool is clean with a great setting. The full kitchens are a great help. The restaurants are still terrible. We ate at the poolside "steak house" our first night and never returned. The service was slow even for "Island time" and the waiter, inattentive. The children's portions were appropriate for 4-year olds, not our 9- and 11-year olds, with tiny bowls of pasta. The food was mediocre. To his credit, the Food and Beverage Manager did chat with us, and offer apologies for some of the errors made. He was sincerely interested in our complaints; hopefully they will work on the problems. One big disappointment was the new "rule" instituted by the folks who run the dive shop. Snorkeling gear is still free, but it can only be taken out for 2 hours/day unless you pay. UGGGHH! We (especially the kids) enjoy snorkeling all day and this was inconvenient. Most of the staff at the dive hut (except for Scotty who was wonderfully helpful) was grumpy and unconcerned. But: this is still a good resort with a lot going for it. It is truly a beautiful resort in a great location. If you are looking for a super beach, a fun pool and clean spacious rooms very convenient to Red Hook, (especially for a family with children) this is the place to go. The summer rates are reasonable, too (the 4th and 7th nights are free). 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Great beach access, tremendous snorkeling but... Visited: June 2001 Posted by kentman12 This is the best resort if you don't count on great service. We rented a 1st floor room near the beach and it was great. We bought our own food and drinks in Red Hook and only used the bar and restaurants at the resort sparingly. The steakhouse was good and overall if you don't go expecting the Ritz Carlton, it has got a great location and fantastic beach. The pool is fairly small but when we went, the crowd was small and it wasn't a problem. The town of Red Hook is a $4pp taxi ride one way and the ferry to St. John is right there. We spent two days in St John and loved it. It's not that long of a trip over and you can rent a jeep for $60 a day. Sapphire Beach Resort is best if you're paying off-season rates. If you go and pay $500 per night you're going to be a bit put out by it. Anyway, I'd highly recommend it if the beach and snorkeling is your thing and you have kids. The beach access was great and if you're adventurous, it's worth the price of admission. Overall, it was clean, we had no problem with maid service and the rooms were big with great tv and phone service. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We are not planning to return. Visited: May 2001 Posted by DMW1472 I was delighted at first to be staying at Sapphire Beach Resort, especially after reading about all of the renovations that were being done. I was more disappointed than I can say when I arrived only to see that they had not even begun. There was only one person of any real help upon our check-in. I later required assistance from the front desk for a few other things and received nothing but misinformation and little interest in our needs. I was upset that the property did not offer some type of shuttle at a discounted price seeing as we were so far from everything. The help in the restaurant was very pleasant and helpful. I did not appreciate having maid service every other day. We were not informed of this fact until halfway through our stay. As I said earlier, we are not planning on returning. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Wonderful resort - would definitely recommend! Visited: May 2001 Posted by Mad1967 My family and I have just returned from a wonderful week at the Sapphire Beach. The accommodation was extremely spacious and very clean. We were located overlooking both the pool and the beach, which couldn't have been more ideal for us. It is located on a gorgeous beach, which at this time of the year was very quiet. I must say, that after reading some of the on-line reviews (before we went) I was upset and concerned about what to expect, but most pleasantly suprised when I saw how lovely it was. Highly recommended! 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Nice Resort Visited: April 2001 Posted by tameshasmith I would recommend this resort to anyone who wants a great, exciting and relaxing weekend getaway. The staff were nice and friendly. The rooms were great. It was like paradise and heaven all in one. I stayed here one time before and loved it. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Doesn't make you want to return. Visited: April 2001 Posted by garrity Although the beach and view is spectacular, we won't be returning to Sapphire Beach (or St. Thomas) any time soon. We found the service to be terrible and the people to be extremely unfriendly (with a couple of exceptions). Plus, it is very expensive. This property is rated 4-star; the accommodations were nice, but not 4-star. The staff greets you with no expression. Don't expect lots of smiles here. The Seagrape Restaurant left more than a lot to be desired and had very slow service. While the food at the Steak House was very good, many times we were left sitting for a 1/2-hour before our waiter even acknowledged our presence in the restaurant. After our flight the first night, we called room service and were told it was not available that evening. After a couple of days of experiencing a long wait in the restaurant, we opted for room service once again. When we called they said, "we'll call you back," which they never did. I have never stayed at a 4-star hotel where room service says that they'll call you back with a sigh of exasperation! The "three bars" consisted of a beach stand, an eight-stool bar by the pool and a beachside bar, which is the only one I considered a real bar. However, you might be subjected to karaoke drifting into your room until 11:00 pm whether you want to listen or not, as they have very loud "nightly entertainment." Another note, they add on an "amenities" fee, which was not disclosed prior to my arrival and they had charged my credit card in advance for "potential" charges. Also, I was charged for meals that I left cash for as they automatically take your room number and write it on the check. So I had no way to prove that I had paid cash. So, either charge it all or pay cash for it all and don't leave your room number. I'm also still awaiting a refund on another "advance payment/deposit" for a rental car. Finally, I was told fresh flowers and a complimentary bottle of rum would await my arrival. Instead, we were greeted by the maid still making up our bed, which I understand happens. But once again, she looked aggravated that we interrupted her. To sum it all up, out of three restaurants, one was not always available, one was no good and one was an all-night affair. Taxis were plentiful and the beach was beautiful, but extremely crowded. I'm a friendly person and found this place to be extremely unfriendly and unaccommodating. In summary, if you don't mind crowds and attitude, this has a picture perfect beach and view, but that's about it. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Fantastic Resort; Highly Recommended! Visited: March 2001 Posted by sbpf53a The room was beautiful with a fantastic view. The buildings were all on the beach and only about 30 yards from the water. All units face the water, so it doesn't matter where your room is located. I saw nothing else to match this on St. Thomas, including the Ritz. The ground floor units are great for kids with patios right on the sand. This has to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. The grounds were nicely landscaped, but there is construction underway behind the buildings. Phase three construction looks like it was started in Sept 2000, but is definitely not done! When this is finished the place should look perfect. The food was excellent and reasonably priced. Service was slower than in the States, but hey, you’re in the islands! We went scuba diving and parasailing from their marina, but didn't have time for deep sea fishing. We will definitely be back! 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Okay, but not worth the price. Visited: March 2001 Posted by Sueknu1 Our villa was clean, comfortable and nicely decorated with a beautiful view. The beach was gorgeous and just outside of the rooms. However, we were very disappointed with the rest of the resort. The walkways and common areas needed updating, and many of the newer facilities the resort boasts just aren't there yet. They might be in the plans, but should not be advertised as finished when construction hasn't even begun. The pool was small with cloudy water and a resident family of ducks. Construction on their new pool (advertised on some websites) hasn't even begun. The Seagrape Restaurant was not well run or maintained. After the first breakfast, we went elsewhere for meals, although the poolside bar/restaurant was okay. We'd suggest renting a car or jeep because you can't walk to other hotels and cab rides really added up. For a fun, casual meal, try Duffy's Love Shack in Red Hook. For a nice dinner, try the Agave Terrace at Point Pleasant Resort. The food was good and the atmosphere was wonderful. We found the beach at Sapphire Resort to be very beautiful, but the resort brings in cruise ship groups on certain days and even serves them lunch. On those days, the beach was so crowded and it was hard to find beach chairs. We found this particularly upsetting because they charged all hotel guests a daily activity fee for use of recreational equipment, which was sometimes not available. We were never able to reserve a volleyball and wound up going out to buy our own. The Sapphire Beach Resort does not give guests the luxury atmosphere you’d expect for the luxury price you pay. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A great beach, but mediocre food. Visited: March 2001 Posted by skruskopf We stayed in a Beachfront Villa, which is the only way to go. (Request the upper level for better view!) Overall, the beach is not overrun with tourists; since it is public, but far enough away from the cruise ship crowd. It is the best beach for kids to snorkel, with lots of fish! It's great to be near the small town of Red Hook, too. Duffy's and Cafe Wahoo are great restaurants and there’s also small food market located there. This is good since the restaurant and facilities are not that great at Sapphire. Go to this resort for the ocean because the pool is small, and all of the updating that was supposed to happen, wasn't done yet during our stay. There was no night kids club and the service was probably the worst thing here, but I hear it's that way all over the island--everybody acts like it's a big pain to do anything! We did get a babysitter two nights ($9/hr for 2 kids). The Villas were very nice, and location was great. We took the kids in town to eat and got great take-out from Wok & Roll and Senor Pizza. Next time, I might check out a different hotel. For $450/night at Sapphire, I would expect more. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Heavenly Vacation! Visited: March 2001 Posted by cabaltlite I'd like to thank the friendly and helpful staff of Sapphire Beach Resort for their top-notch service. I just couldn't wait to tell others how wonderful it was. Their Seagrape Restaurant and their Steakhouse were wonderful. The fish was fresh and the steaks were juicy. The desserts were tasty as well. The rooms were wonderful and spacious. The cleaning staff was meticulous. The kitchen in our room had everything that I could ever need except for food, of course. We went to Red Hook's Marina Market to buy veggies, fruits, meats, bread and drinks. The view from our room was so beautiful that we sat in our living room at night just looking out. We also made great use of our patio and Sapphire Beach. Sapphire also had events that we could take part in (live entertainment, Shop Talk, and an Orientation). When it came time for us to go to Coral World, St. John, Charlotte Amalie and Mountaintop, we went to the Front Desk area to get a cab. There were always cabs waiting to take us out because VI Taxi is based in Sapphire Beach. Normally the fares were posted. I thoroughly enjoyed my vacation and I look forward to my return! 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Over Priced. Visited: March 2001 Posted by jeffdarbtc My husband and I just stayed here and we feel that it was over priced. We saw other resorts where the grounds and facilities were kept up better and had better prices based upon what we saw on the Internet. We also saw a couple of roaches at Sapphire. In addition, our refrigerator had rust on it and the floor definitely could have been re-done. Plus, while the beach was beautiful, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays the Cruise ships dock and many of the passengers come to the beach. Therefore, if you want a lounge chair you better get out by 7 a.m. Finally, the staff were not friendly at all. I would definitely recommend staying at a different resort and perhaps visiting the Sapphire’s beach one day. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A beautiful location with okay accommodations. Visited: February 2001 Posted by edjr My family of four stayed here for a week. The location is certainly beautiful. The beach is sandy and wide, with excellent snorkeling. One negative is the beach attracts many outside visitors, especially from the cruise ships. It can get a little crowded, and lounge chairs seemed to be reserved for everyone but the guests staying there. It’s very family friendly. My two boys hooked up with a group of boys who played volleyball, football, frisbee, and swam in the pool. Plus, the iguanas were entertaining. The pool was only fair; it was not very large. Accommodations were okay. We had a first-floor efficiency, just off of the beach—nothing fancy. The breakfast buffet at Grapevine was standard (and a little repetitive) fare. We usually ate lunch at the pool, which had a standard sandwich-type menu, with island drinks available, although poor service. One big advantage is that the kids’ breakfast and lunch were included. We only had dinner at the Grapevine one night and were disappointed. The food was poor and the service was worse. We strongly suggest going into Red Hook, a 5 minute taxi or 15 minute walk, to eat (Cafe Wahoo and Whale of a Tail) or take the ferry to Cruz Bay in St John's. To summarize, it was a beautiful location, family friendly, with okay accommodations, but we’d have dinner elsewhere. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Lots of potential Visited: January 2001 Posted by anton22 We stayed at the Sapphire from 1/26 to 2/5 and had an enjoyable time. While there were many young families here it was not over-run. Accommodations were good although we were forced to relocate after the 1st day due to a buckling floor. Personnel were mostly friendly although I felt the front desk could have been more responsive when we were forced to move. Concierge(Pam) was great as were the tour desk folks. The Steakhouse food/personnel were great while Seagrape left something to be desired. Enjoyed the beach and activity as the weather was mostly ok. One storm however knocked out power until 3:30 pm and water until 10:30 am. Contrary to the write-up here, the construction was far from finished; will be an excellent spot if they complete it. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful?

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