valerie

My husband and I have decided to go to Caneel Bay right after Thanksgiving for 5 days. We have an (almost) 1 year old, and since I finally need a few days off to relax, she will be staying with her grandparents.

We've decided on a Beachfront room and I just don't know which is the best choice. Hawksnest, Turtle Bay or Caneel?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

poss

Most people who choose beachfront at Caneel request Scott's Beach. Wondering why you didn't. Your answer will help me suggest which of the others you might prefer. Did you look at the "map" of the grounds, by the way? Do you have a clear sense of the lay-out of the place? That might help you. Is snorkeling your main pleasure-- or just lounging? Do you like to be close to the "action," or prefer to be removed somewhat?

xkenx

Caneel may have a policy restricting kids to Caneel Beach. It is the one closest to main restaurant, lobby, hotel entrance. This is the noisiest, most congested beach.Turtle is pretty, but very small. IMO the most bang for the buck is on Hawksnest. Very quiet, very serene, best beach for being able to be out a long time because of the shade and facing east to the trade winds. On Hawksnest you can live open-air w/o a/c, just using ceiling fan for cooling. You can have either upper or lower, with upper more private and having a private screened balcony off the rear of the room, looking at garden. Front balcony over sand looking to water. Hawksnest is best beach, by far, for "beachfront"
category. Some prople pay more to be on Scott because all one-story, spill onto beach, but not so private at night where people can walk in front of your patio. On west-facing Scott and Caneel, there is a lot of sun glare in the afternoon. Hawksnest is shady.

valerie

Poss, Scott Beach isn't available on the dates that we're going. I just made the reservations today for a room at Hawksnest, but wasn't sure if I should change it. I looked at the map and I'm familiar with where the rooms are located. I think that Caneel might be too busy. We're definitely interested in snorkeling--it's a big reason we're going to St. John.

Xkenx, my daughter is not coming with us. That's why I want to make the best decision -- we don't get to go on too many vacations alone any more!

I suppose I should keep the Hawksnest room?

xkenx

Valerie, we've stayed on Hawksnest and seen everything else. If you like what I said about Hawksnest, you won't be disappointed. The snorkeling is good everywhere. Depending upon currents on a given day, the snorkeling could be better at one beach or another. From the rooms at Hawksnest, it's only about 100 yards or less to walk over to Scott to check it out, and only slightly further to Turtle.

xkenx

P.S. for Valerie. Since you only have a few days, you don't ever have to leave the property for snorkeling. There are seven beaches to sample, all wade-in snorkeling. Possibly a snorkeling boat tour would be more spectacular, but for beach snorkeling you can stick with Caneel's beaches.

poss

Valerie-- I know Caneel well and essentially agree with what xkenx has said. Only place we differ is that my husband and I don't like the Turtle Point or Hawksnest rooms-- only because they seem more like motels to us. I.e. They're in the top/bottom configuration-- just reminds us too much of a Holiday Inn or whatever. We're not crazy abt Scotts-- for the reason that was mentioned (plus the snorkeling isn't very good off that beach.)
Our favorite accommodation is what I think is called the Ocean Point cottages. Interestingly, I believe that they're less costly than Scott's-- because they're not directly on the beach. They sit on a little bluff (takes abt 1 minute to walk to the beach), better views, more privacy, more like you're at a resort rather than a motel complex. Also, the snorkeling is very good. (It can be great at Hawksnest too-- and also along the rocks on the right side of Caneel beach and especially along the rocks on the other side-- where Little Caneel is-- and on around the point to lovely Honeymoon Beach.)

Have a great time-- and don't fail to go over to the "Estate" for tea in the afternoon. They usually put out very nice fresh-baked goodies.

xkenx

I agree with Poss about the Cottage Point rooms. I didn't include them because they are not ON a beach; they are at the edge of a rocky peninsula.

poss

xkenx: thanks for the correction on the Cottage Point name. I've got a question which I've posed before on these boards, but haven't yet gotten a satisfactory answer. Perhaps you can help. We really love Caneel (tho not the food especially), and when we go to St John--every 3 or 4 years or so (with other Caribbean spots in between)-- we split our time between Caneel and Gallows Point. I wish we could split the 9-10 days between Caneel and a nice villa. BUT: Best I can tell, there are really no villas on or very near (like Cottage Point) a good snorkeling beach. Especially one where you can walk to restaurants (that's a nice thing abt Gallows Point-- tho it has no beach). Any ideas? Do you know Virgin Gorda well, by the way?

xkenx

Poss, we only saw Virgin Gorda on a day trip from Caneel to LDB, went to the Baths, so don't know anything else about it. We know of a couple villas on STJ. One is called Terrahawk, just up a driveway behind Hawksnest Beach. It is handled by www.cateredto.com (and probably others). Another one is Gibney Beach Cottage, right on the beach next to Hawksnest Beach. It must be between Hawksnest and Trunk Bay. Web photos look very nice at
www.destinationstjohn.com/homes

poss

xkenx: Thanks for responding. I'd looked at both of those before. Terrahawk (which looks great) is out because we need king bed. Gibney I'm a little leery of since there's a community center on part of that beach, and I'm afraid it might get crowded/noisy at times. But it has a king in one of the bedrooms, so I probably should look further into that property. We're going to Virgin Gorda this December, but I'm sure we'll be eager to get back to St John next year. (while we all hold our breath during the increasingly long hurricane season)

valerie

Thanks for all of the information. The Cottage Point rooms sound good too, but again, not available on the dates that we need. So I think I'll just stick with Hawksnest for this time around (I haven't even been there once and I'm already planning on returning!).

One more question. Should we rent a car? We like to leave the hotel for dinner, but it seems that we can take cabs. But I'm thinking that it would be nice to visit some of the other beaches for snorkeling.

poss

As xkenx said, there are so many different places to snorkel right at Caneel that you would unlikely get bored in 5 days. BUT: the rest of the island is handsome and pleasant to explore, and there's other great snorkeling all around, including quite near Caneel (there'll be plenty of "maps" of snorkeling spots). I'd suggest settling into Caneel for 3 days or so and then renting a car for a day or two. Conrad Sutton is a good place to rent. And, yes, very easy to taxi into town-- they're always there right at Caneel, not very expensive. We found the dinners at Caneel mediocre at best, by the way. Much prefered the restaurants in town. Do a search, if you'd like.

LauraD

You guys seem like Caneel experts. Perhaps you can give me your opinions.

IF you had one night in St. Thomas before boarding a cruise ship, would you go over to St. John for the one night at Caneel or stay on St. Thomas at the Marriott? (We arrive into St. Thomas at 4:20pm and board ship the next day at 2pm--in St. Thomas).

Thanks.

xkenx

As wonderful as Caneel is, no sense in going there for one nite unless you have beach/snorkeling time in the morning before you have to leave. Check
Caneel's boat schedule to STT to see if you have that kind of time.

LauraD

I think we could stay at Caneel till after noon. We can board the ship anytime after 2pm, it stays in St. Thomas overnight. Our cruise ship will go to St. John for a day as well (the day after we board.....)

Tuxedocat

Why not try out Rockefeller's personal favorite #7?

xkenx

LauraD, Since you don't have to board the ship until late, you can stay at Caneel even past checkout time and hang out at the beach.

lindasp62

I have been to Caneel and are going again this Deccember. We stayed on Scott last year, near the end with the rocks... more privacy there as the sand is not directly in front. As for Caneel Beach, it is more quiet at the end furthest from the dock. The snorkeling there in that area is great. Look for the Iguanas on the hillside. Caneel Bay has a new chef!! Food should be better as this guy apparently has a great resume. The rooms are to get a re-do next year. A lot of people will be happy with that! You can take a cab to other beaches. They are very reasonable...but inquire as to how to get back. If you rent a car, you can do so right at Caneel. Be aware, though, that driving is on the LEFT! Have fun!

BillU

Linda,

I thought the rooms were getting a re-do this year. Am I mistaken?

As I travel the addled cobwebs of my brain, perhaps I heard that the Courtside and Tennis Garden rooms were being re-done this year. Since we booked a Courtside for 3 nights in November, I was thinking that I could be lucky enough to have a new room, or even luckier to get upgraded to an oceanview or oceanfront room.