MarionCK

ttt...as a reminder that you have had some negative and controversial opinions.

faithie

Good work Marion.... I remember this one .

Tuxedocat

If the rooms are not to your liking then that is a legitimate point. If the service is not responsive in your opinion then that is a good point too. Caneel Bay is known for its simplicity in accomodations and the tremendous beauty of its grounds. Apparently, you appreciate one but not the other. Caneel Bay has made some significant renovations. Perhaps you were in a section that has yet to see renovations. Folks, the lesson here is: research thoroughly the place you are going to. If you cannot do with one thing or the other, make sure you know about it and choose accordingly. I am usually pretty congenial about people's comments but I have to agree with Diana regarding your distasteful comments about the locals. In their defense, it is their "patois", and the comments regarding their swagger apparently referring to physical manifestations of their attitudes is just so offensive to these fine people and our president that it is difficult to answer and probably doesn't merit an answer because it's so ugly on its face, I hope other readers understand it is the poster's own, limited interpretation. And your comments about not feeling safe in Cruz Bay are both vague, and in my substantial experience ridiculous. Sorry you had a bad trip. I'm sure no one on St. John will miss you either.

christiegr

I guess that advsrbill needs to read up on the history of St John and how the locals came to St John and maybe his/her words about the language "might" change.

Diana...good response!

peterboy

A very interesting thread but it was a little sad that one poster was,
"really glad that we read about the importance of polite greetings before visiting St. John and St. Thomas."

That comment speaks volumes about the culture we come from.

Tuxedocat

gfunk made almost all of the same fairly objective criticisms of Caneel Bay Resort as the original poster, but spared us the unnecessary ethnic bashing. I got valuable info. and based on gfunk's tempered post, will be careful to recommend Caneel in the near future, or at least not without caveats. I agree with Peterboy in that it is sad we have to remind ourselves to be polite, and probably should also remind ourselves to refrain from making sweeping generalizations about other cultures.

girlonthego

Reading this OLD post, thinking it was recent until the end, I am appalled at the name calling and the back stabbing. It is amazing how everyone likes to jump on someone's back for disliking a place for it's bad attitude. I personally feel that I would not bother spending 600 dollars per night for people to be rude to me because of history. I am kind to all I meet and expect to be treated the same. If someone is rude that is their problem, but I don't wish to pay for that.
I guess I will stick to what the board calls the "more americanized islands".
Sorry, but i found this thread out of control, distasteful, and not helpful at all.

MarionCK

I'm the one who topped this old post after reading some very *preachy* opinions from advsrbill on the LONG post started by Jaoaniejd.

It was meant to be a reminder to him that he had posted some offensive comments.

You know...judge not, lest you be judged...or something along those lines.

IRabbit

And I just want to post again (nearly a year after the fact, wow, time flies) that we found the staff at Caneel to be very kind and helpful. One woman actually tracked me down to the gift shop to return a baseball cap I left at the beach bar. I can't say enough good things about Caneel, so obviously there are widely differing reviews of this resort.

girlonthego

Thanks Marion. I just was so taken aback by reading all the negativity. I come here to read about places I want to go and hopefully can help someone else with a place I have been.
I am not a travel expert, but I try to be helpful and openminded to other's opinions.

girlonthego

1Rabbit, Just to concur with you. There are good and bad everywhere. I have been very fortunate to experience mostly good people in my travels. I have had very few negative "people" experiences.

MarionCK

Girlonthego,

I think we all try to be positive here, but we all do have our *buttons and triggers*. And in this technological venue we often type and send before we have time to reflect.

I have enjoyed following your thread on the US board about the trip to Chicago you have planned for your parents. You've had some wonderful and positive advice there

I'm hoping that you'll get advice from a local for your Mom's hairstyling. If not, you could call the concierge and ask for a recommendation.

I'm sure this will be a trip they will always remember, probably because they have adult children who are SO thoughtful !

Marion

girlonthego

Thanks Marion, I am hoping that I can get a local recommendation for a hair stylist for Mom too. She is quite stylish and a city salon will be more up her alley. I swear I am older than her sometimes. She is very attractive and looks 10 years younger than her 65 years!!
I love planning their trip and hope that they have a great time. I have yet to go to Chicago so, most of my recommendations to them are coming from the Chicago regulars.
We traveled to San Francisco and the best restaurant and activity recommendations came from the board.

ctkathy

I also visited Caneel about 5 years ago and experienced pretty much what the OP cited. For your edification--I have lived in Singapore for 5 years, visited all over Asia including Thailand, Japan, Australia, Malasia. At other times have visited France, Italy, England, Ireland and in the Caribbean have visited Anguilla (my favorite), the Grenadines such as Bequia (my other favorite), Mustique, Puerto Rico, Caymans, St. Barts, St. Martin, and many others as well as a great trip to Costa Rica'many times in Mexico on both coasts and inland, too.

I cannot understand you people who defend the service at Caneel!! I personally experienced several unbelievaby rude service staff at Caneel which would make me never go back. The OP is absolutely right on with his observations.

Having lived and visted so many different cultures, I absolutely know how to approach and speak to folks who work at Caneel and are most likely native dwellers of this island. I could not believe the rudeness that happened on more than one occasion. Frankly, I was speechless. Even if I was staying at a local pension that charged far less than Caneel I would still have been speechless. In fact, if I ever did decide to go there again I would make sure that I had a video camera and tape recorder to record such interactions and send them to the General Manager and corporate office of Caneel Bay.

I would ask anyone who is considering a visit to this resort to reconsider based on the rudeness of the staff.

Tuxedocat

ctkathy: Being as well-traveled as you are, would you consider it well-mannered, open-minded or worldly to describe the "locals" as taking "our language and jive it up..." "Eye rolling, a swagger worse than Bush's,moving slow is more of an attitude thing than a culture thing." If you re-read the various posters' replies, you will see noone cares to defend Caneel Bay Resort or its staff. Bad value and poor service are legitimate gripes and good info. for other travelers. What is denouncement of a whole people based upon some lousy hotel staff amount to?

StanKase

Having been to Caneel 8 or 9 times in 20 years I can say the rooms have improved though still modest in size and decor. The food has gone from outstanding to average resort food-last visit in 2003.One cannot judge the rooms by the tennis villas for if your choice is there do not go but Turtle Bay, Scott Beach are quite nice. We stayed in Cottage #7 in rooms C,E and F (avoid A or B) on 3 occasions,it is even more $ a day but the rooms are 75% larger and the views are magnificant.
The staff was quite friendlier in the 1980's but still is o'k from my point of view.
I think that in the 1970's and 80's RockResorts managed the resort and their training and quality control was outstanding. Roseward is not as careful in this respect.
If you go with children it is ideal. But with our children out on their own I must admit I would like to see half the number we have run in to the past to visits even though both trips were not in the school vacation periods.
Being avid snorkelers I must tell you there is no other islands in the Caribbean with the varied amount of coral, fish and other sea life based often on which beach you go out from and then only 200 feet and we have been to 10 or 11 of them.
Someone mentioned Lucy and her tug boat. It is a "gas" and she is terrific. Also, a day sail with the Brown's is worth the price if they still offer trips.
I have tried to be objective and stay away from the political ranting in some of the comments on both sides of the "friendliness issue".

islandpaddler

Sad to say, Paula Brown mentioned by StanKase died of breast cancer in July. However, I'm sure there are still day sails out of Caneel.

user339993

Wow, some of you are pretty tough on advsrbill who was posting the "best and worst" of his trip experience. Everyone has a different experience, and employees as do all of us have bad days as well where we might be more crabby. Let the guy share his experience. I appreciate your honest report advsrbill.

peterboy

Nothing more honest than a little racism now is there.

Tuxedocat

Thanks, Peterboy, for succinctly saying what some of us have been trying to point out. I guess it's a clear example of why racism is such a problem... some folks just don't even know it when they see it or unwittingly practice it.