Caneel Bay vs. Gallows Point - Decisions! Decisions!
 

Although my husband and I have travelled to the Carribbean often, this is our first trip to St. John (actually to the entire US Virgin Islands). We're trying to decide - Caneel Bay or Gallows Point condos. We are used to staying at Sandals when we travel and having a beach very near us. However, I'm concerned that Caneel Bay is too laid back for us. Any advice? Also - what about the accomodations at each? Are the rooms at Caneel Bay nice or just your standard hotel room? <BR> <BR>Thanks!

Can't comment on either place but I must say, 'Gallows Point' is not a very appealing name!

First of all Tara, the whole Island is laid back. It is just a sun and relax atomosphere with some decent restaurants to go with it. Very nice beaches, etc. I have not seen the rooms in Caneel but did visit the resort on my last trip. It is a lovely resort, a little to "fancy" for my taste with a great beach area and $$$$. <BR>I believe if you do a search here on both Caneel and Gallows you will find what you want to know about the rooms. <BR>Gallows Point (name notwithstanding Noach - God you stick your nose in everywhere) is a nice condo complex with water access - a little rocky but fun snorkeling. Do not get hung up on the beach thing, St. John has many, many great beaches just a short ride from either Caneel or Gallows. I did visit one of the condos while there. I would say nice is a good word. When you do a search check to see which are the best to rent as some are closer to town and people have complained about the noise. I think both places now have air conditioning although not sure. <BR> <BR>Another great great site for reviewing posts on STJ is www.caribbean-on-line.com. Good info. Noach please stay away - you have never been to the USVIs so we don't need your comments. <BR> <BR>You are going to love the place and give us an idea what time of year and interests if you have any more questions.

If Noah had done some homework, he would find that "Gallows Point" is just that ... But, that aside, I guess the decision between Gallows or Caneel is a choice between a self-catering unit within walking distance of restaurants and attractions of Town sitting on the bay overlooking the flotilla of boats (or overlooking Town). Snorkling is supposed to be good but no beach so you rent a jeep/car or taxi to the beach. Caneel, on the other hand, is a resort with resort amenities and seven wonderful beaches on the property! Your experience with Sandals will compare to neither of these with the non-stop activities provided! The rooms at Caneel have neither TV nor phone but now have a/c and depending on location and room choice can be just footsteps from wonderful beaches. Caneel is the best the USVI has to offer but others prefer the self-catering but I don't go on vacation to cook, make beds, clean up or do all those other things I get to do at home!!

The Rockerfeller family purchased about 2/3's of St. John, the best 2/3's, and gave it the American people. It is now a National Park The family built Caneel Bay in the middle of the park and it remains the only hotel in the Park. Caneel is an upscale, laid back property which did not have TV's or telephones in their rooms until recently. There are really no group activities. They have a modest pool, but seven of the most beautiful beaches on St. John. I stayed at Caneel about twenty years ago. We were childless and we appreciated the serenity of the place. The joke was, "Caneel is for the newly wed and the nearly dead." For example, radio playing on the beach was strictly forbidden. They suggested that men wear coats in the lobby in the evening. <BR>Gallows Point is a short but hilly walk to Cruz Bay, downtown St. John. We have never stayed there, not we have eaten at Ellington's, their restaurant. It's quite sophisticated for St. John and quite good, again for St. John. Gallows Points's real drawback is its beach. It's really not a beach; it's a collection of rocks large and small. To get to a good beach, you must drive or take a jitney to the area around Caneel which will take you about 20 minutes plus. I don't consider that a "short ride to the beach". Facing it everytime you want a beach gets old quick. Quite frankly, if you prefer Sandals you probably won't like either place. <BR>There are only two resort properties on St. John, Caneel and The Westin, formerly the Hyatt Regency. After the birth of my daughter, we stayed at the Hyatt a number of times. It has a hugh pool with waterfalls and usually quite a few kids. Unlike Caneel which is genteel old money, the Westin is new money, well maybe little money, It's more lively than Caneel, but still no beer drink contests.

Why the gratuitous insults? I was simply saying that the name is rather ominous and not very appealing for a resort.

I agree with Vosaki. If you enjoy Sandals you will be very unhappy at Caneel. Caneel and Sandals have very different clientele--no activities like beer-chugging contests at Caneel. <BR> <BR>Caneel is very private and very quiet. You are paying a premium for the privacy and the almost deserted beaches. <BR> <BR>I thought the rooms at Caneel were very nice. Louvered windows, tile floors, a pineapple theme in our bedroom. The photos on Caneel's web site are accurate. <BR> <BR>Cannot comment on Gallows, but it's not difficult to compare a resort experience with a condo experience. They are completely different. Plus the cost of Gallows is not even close to the cost of Caneel, and this is not a fair comparison.

I would agree with almost everything that everyone has said before. Caneel and Gallows cannot be compared. Caneel is an ultra high class resort, Gallows is a simple condo complex. Caneel is for those with the money to spend and the desire to be pampered from sun-up to sundown. The real shame is that although Caneel's beaches are gorgeous -people who go there are easily tempted to stay there and forgo exploring some of the islands non-Caneel beaches - which are equally if not more beautiful. One does not go to Gallows to be near the beach - one stays at Gallows for the convienence of being within walking distance to town (and thereby restaurants and activities) and having the convienence of some do-it yourself meals. I have stayed at Gallows and loved the fact that I could fix myself cereal or toast or bagels for breakfast and not worry about being seated or paying etc. Gallows Point is like being in a hotel because there is daily maid services that changes the towels, makes the bed, cleans the shower etc (they even cleaned our breakfast dishes!!!!). However one can feel more at home because - well - it is someone's home rather than a hotel room. <BR>St John is for people who want to be in touch with nature, who want to relaz above or below water and not be bothered with a Miami Beach type atmosphere. It is not the commercial vacation that Sandals offers.

Why would one judge a place based on it's name? Do not be fooled by the name Gallow's Point. As you arrive by ferry into STJ Gallow's Point is one of the first things that you see and it looks spectacular. We stayed on STT and I would like to return to STT/STJ. If we decide to stay on STJ we will be at either Gallow's Point, Caneel or the Westin. I just arrived home today and need to do some homework on the three and what they have to offer. Someone on the plane with us was at Caneel and loved it. Please, please please. If you go to STJ do not limit yourself to the beach at the resort. We toured several of the beaches on both islands and they all have incredible beaches each unique in it's own way. My favorites on STJ where Hawknest and Trunk Bay. Good luck on your choice.

Tara, <BR> Caneel is laid back,but isn't that the way the Carribbean suppose to be? My fiance and I are high strung, always the talkers at parties(dinners..)We had a great time and will go back again and again!!We met nice people and always had something to do. If you want it to be laid back, then it will be. If you want to be busy,at Caneel(because it is so spread out, you can be!!!). We were not bored at all. <BR> As for the ambiance of the resort-understated class. Oh and the beaches!!!!Beautiful! <BR> The rooms did not feel or look like typical hotel rooms. This is coming from a person who travels on business at least thirty times a year. They were not large or a bit fancy...we felt like were in the Carribbean(I hope this makes sense!). <BR> I have not been to Gallows Point, so I can not comment on that resort. <BR> Good luck !!!!