Sapphire Beach and Marina in ST Thomas VI, A summer bargain!!
Written: Aug 31 '03 (Updated Jun 09 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: It's on a wonderful beach with very good snorkeling and a friendly barracuda.
Cons: At peak prices it may not seem as good.
The Bottom Line: Sapphire Beach, in the summer, offers low prices and the beach and rooms are excellent.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Sapphire Beach Resort and Marina |
This is an entry in the travel sections "Great Hotel" W/O.
My wife and I hastily booked the Sapphire Beach and Marina for a summer vacation last month through Hotels.com.
To my horror when I opened my confirmation email a week later I saw I booked the wrong place!! I had booked the Antilles@ Sapphire Beach and due to being just four days before arrival and heavy cancellation fees my wife and I decided to just go for it and hope for the best. The prices for both places were exactly the same 119.00 per night. Now, stick with me here. Things got a bit confusing for a little while and the we found out the deal.
We landed in ST Thomas, Virgin Islands and were picked by a cab that gave us the complimentary ride to the Antilles@Sapphire Beach. We did know that the Antilles Sapphire and the Sapphire Beach and Marina were on the same stretch of beach. This is one reason we decided to go for it anyway.
So we get to the area and the driver turns into the Sapphire beach and Marina. My wife and I were puzzled and thought perhaps we mention the wrong place to the driver. He told us he is correct but that I will have to go out to the desk of the Sapphire Beach to get information about Antilles@ Sapphire Beach. Still with me?
I go in and they set me up for a phone call to an Antilles representative who we are then informed will meet us at a room that is already open and prepared for us at the Sapphire Beach and Marina!
To make a long story short we found out that the Sapphire Beach has some of their rooms sold as condos. These condos are cared for by the Antilles@Sapphire Beach management company.
So, though we booked through the Antilles@ Sapphire Beach we were staying at the Sapphire Beach and Marina with a few differences.
The FRONT DESK
Being we stayed through the Antilles management company the front desk was not really for our use or needed for that fact. We had to make phone calls for any requests or problems to the Antilles management. The front desk however, did know who was staying in which rooms. Non the less they were very helpful in answering any questions we had about the resort and use of facilities. This was of course better than having to make phone calls that, in fact, sometimes were routed through an answering machine will calls back to us.
The front desk is in an airy and open area. It was attractive and in the same lobby is a car rental place that we used. Prices were about fifty dollars per day. I suggest getting a four wheel drive vehicle for driving any of the mountain roads. One more note. If you rent a car from them for more than one day they give you a coupon book with some decent saving on places all over the island. It also has a coupon for two virgin drinks at the bar of the resort. We did get them and spiked them ourselves with the small complementary bottle of rum we were given on arrival.
Also in the lobby was a concierge desk that was NEVER manned, ha, or womanned. It seems it was really just a front for the front desk. The desk did confirm a reservation for me one evening.
The MAIN BAR
Just beyond the lobby and overlooking the beach is the bar. It is a cozy feeling place. The bar tenders hear were friendly and they did make decent drinks. They went for about four dollars. They have the usual tropical frozen drinks and a full bar with top shelf spirits too.
Now after checking in on our first day we returned to the bar area and there was a very lively, and noisy party going on. The only problem was, we weren't invited! It seems that from time to time the Sapphire books outside parties here. After inquiring I found out it was done more in the low season of summer. Hey I suppose you gotta generate some extra bucks.
On Sundays they would also have local bands play at the place and many of the local people would dance, drink, and play at the resort.
I was torn by this. In one way I liked the party atmosphere on occasion, but these were people that were not staying at the resort. Please don't take this the wrong way but I did not feel as comfortable leaving items at my lounge chair like my camera and other items when I went into the water snorkeling. I had the same feeling when I was in the pool area. The people who came down for the local band had freedom of all the property. I'm sorry but maybe being from NY I have too much security thoughts on my mind.
At the same time I never had any problem nor heard of any problems. The people who came down to party, were loud, upbeat, and enjoying themselves. They were not in anyway threatening. Maybe it's just all in my mind. Anyways, that's my opinion.
THE RESTAURANT
On the property right next to the bar is a place by the name of "Sea Grape" It is written up in some travel books as a four star restaurant. When under the protective top you can see that the place is ready for some sprucing up. The salt water breezes have some of the supports rusting a bit. If however you aren't stuck on looking at this detail the dining experiences there can be wonderful. The place is very clean, the food fresh, and the service good.
We had breakfast there twice and dinner once. It was quite pleasant sitting out in the morning looking at our gorgeous view while watching iguanas eating fruit given by patrons of the restaurant. One day we ordered off the menu on a weekend day they served a wonderful buffet. The place decides day by day which they will serve depending on how many people are staying at the hotel. I do want to note that the service people here were very warm and friendly.
Dinner was wonderful under candle light with cool breezes. The food was good and the prices were better than most places in town.
This resort is just five minute/one and a half miles from Red Hook. This is a small town with many different restaurants and bars. We tried a number of them. It was nice to know we could have dinner somewhere and not have a long drive home.
The Island of St Thomas does offer some of the best restaurants in the Caribbean. Let the taxis drive you there and back at night. The roads in the mountains, though I found them easy enough to navigate, can be a bit challenging.
THE BEACH
The Sapphire Beach is quite beautiful. It is noted as one of the best beaches in the US Virgin Islands and it is! I do like the more secluded beaches of St John . but this was wonderful. I loved being able to see the views from our balcony and just walk out from the ocean front rooms, put on snorkeling gear and adventure right there!
The snorkeling, though on a fairly heavily used beach was rather good. We did get to see a sea turtle, a few rays, an ever present barracuda that made this beach his territory and schools and schools of colorful fish! There were some areas with some beautiful coral that was thriving. The water was very clear. There were a couple of days with jelly fish. They didn't present any major problems though.
Part of the beach is all sand while more to the north there were more rocks and pebbles where you could enter the water. We just went down to the sand areas in front of the water sports area.
WATER SPORTS and BEACH CHAIRS
By the main building with the lobby, bar, and nearby restaurant is the water sports area. They had some paddle boats, a Hobi-cat that they take you out on for a fee and other items. I was disappointed about them not letting us take out the Hobi-cat. I have done sailing in resorts in Mexico, Jamaica, The Dominican Republic, and even in Florida. Never did they limit my sailing to having someone on board.
Also offered by the hotel were floating mats. These were available for free for two hours use per day. You could check it in and out and spread out your two hours. There was a fee for anything over the two hours time.
Also at the water sports are were the towels that were there for use. Just give your room number and they hand them to you. The same went for the lounge chairs. They were all stacked and locked. You ask for the chairs and one of the guys comes over and gets it and sets it for you where ever you would like on the wide beach. They are looking for tips. I would give them a little something once in a while.
The BEACH FRONT UNITS
The Sapphire Beach area consists of about four or five oceanfront units that are four stories high with decks facing the beach. The decks and beach front area are all done in wood that had grayed over the years. I personally don't find this very attractive. The bottom rooms all have access to the beach. The other rooms must be entered from behind the building. The landscaping behind the buildings are very lush and well maintained. There is an area for parking your cars just a few feet beyond the vegetation. The area beyond the parking lot have very questionable views. There is a storage area with trailers and it is very unattractive. There is a chain link fence around that area. I wonder why they don't get that lattice you can put in the fencing to block the view?
OUR ROOM
Bed room area
All the rooms at the resort have the same basic two configurations. The first and second floors are one type while the third/fourth floor. The fourth floor rooms are part of the third floor suites. All the rooms have a kitchen area and sleeping quarters. The fourth floor has another sleeping area. These suites are for larger groups.
We stayed in a second floor corner room. It was excellent!
Our view was so beautiful that my wife nearly went to tears when she first saw it. We overlooked palm trees with the beautiful turquoise waters and views of islands and the British Virgin Islands in the distance. There was always a trade wind breeze coming right at us on our deck, so we were always comfortable no matter what the temperature.
The room itself was very bright and airy. Aside from one spot on the wall worn from the back of a chair that would tend to hit it, the walls, and floors were very clean and well maintained.
Everything was in one huge open area. There was a portable built in wall if you wanted to separate the bedroom area from the kitchen/living area. We never did bother. We preferred being able to look out at the view from our comfortable king bed.
There was a shelving unit behind our bed with a huge mirror. If sitting at the kitchen table with your back to our deck you could still see the view in the mirror.
A very large dresser accommodated all the over packing we did. It had an 19' TV on it with US only stations. I couldn't get any local weather on it. There was also a large closet with plenty of hangers. One thing the room did not have was a safe. I like to have one, especially when I have my passport with me.
Kitchen Area
Just beyond the bedroom area was a small rattan, glass topped kitchen table with matching chairs. On the table next to the vase with a couple of attractive yet artificial flowers was a small bottle of local rum and two cans of coke. Others who stayed at the Sapphire Beach also received that same complementary bottle.
The room had a full sized fridge, stove top with oven, counters and cabinets with dishes, cups, glasses, tableware and utensils. On the counter was a blender, toaster, and coffee maker. Above the counter, hanging from a cabinet, was a microwave oven.
There was dish soap and towels under the counter. The maid service does not do dishes.
Through Antilles@ Sapphire maid service was only on Monday Wednesday and Friday. The Sapphire Beach and Marina had the usual daily service. You could always find someone from the Sapphire for housekeeping. We having service through the Antilles management had to call and it wasn't immediate attention.
Living Area
Part of the large room continues up to the large floor to ceiling windows and glass door to the deck. This area has two comfortable chairs, and a small pull out sofa win a subtle flower print. These were also in a rattan style with matching floor and table lamps and a ceiling fan.
A large cabinet held the twenty something inch TV. I think it was 28". All the rooms and the deck area were brought together with 12' white tiles that were clean and bright.
The Deck
The glass door with a broken handle, but good lock, went out into the deck area. Being in a corner room the deck also wraps around. This is with all the corner rooms at the the Sapphire. This gave us some flexibility as to having our lounge chairs or plastic backed chairs in or out of the sun. We spent many early morning here just absorbing the beauty of the beach.
Other rooms
I did take a peak into a couple of other rooms at the Sapphire. The styling was pretty much the same and the bedroom
The POOL AREA and RESTAURANT
We were very close to the pool area. It is on the north end of the property. It is a rather nice looking area. The pool was not crystal clear. It is on two levels and also has some barstools in the water.
This is not a couples only resort. Knowing this one must expect to find kids in the pool. Though this area has all the right looks for romance, the mood can easily be broken.
Just a note this resort does not have a jacuzzi, saunas, steam rooms, massage services or an exercise room.
ALL IN ALL
Upon booking this was the place I wanted and except for the maid service was the place we got. I had a couple of ups and downs about the place especially when the outside parties were brought in. They do have a schedule posted so you can skip out or join the party area as you please.
The beach and snorkeling were wonderful. The service at the sports area and desk area were very good as was the restaurant.
The looks of the structures were not all that attractive while the views out were fabulous.
If I were paying the usual $300.00 per night and up prices I would probably look at things more closely but at $119.00 per night I feel it was a bargain.
Other Virgin Island and Caribbean destinations reviewed by popsrocks .
US Virgin Islands An overview
St. Thomas VI An Island that has action!
The RITZ-CARLTON, St Thomas
Antilles@Sapphire Beach, St Thomas VI
St. John VI The island that is quiet and pristine.
US Virgin Islands National Park, ST. John This park is awesome with private beaches and fantastic snorkeling!
Westin Resort, St John VI
The BATHS of the British Virgin IslandsLike nothing else you have ever seen!
Barcelo Resort, Dominican Republic
Allegro Resort, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Hotel Mayaland, Mexico
Sandals, Negril, Jamaica
Renaissance Jamaica Grand, Ocho Rios
Jamaica, Jamaica me laugh, Jamaica me cry
Frommer's Caribbean 2005 My Bible To Warm Destinations
Recommended:
Yes
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