Hi everyone,

I have received a lot of great info from this forum....but one quick question - How are the coutside rooms at Caneel Bay? The other room options simply din't fit the budget. Are they tremendously far from everything? If you could do only one boat trip from St. Johns would it be Jost Van dyke or The Baths? Which one and why? (We only have time for one. We would be looking for the less crowded area I guess if I had to give my # 1 criteria. Thanks for the feedback. I plan on post my trip report for you all when we return.

C

You may have already read these threads, but they address your question.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34492747

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34414877

-Bill

Since you will only be in St John for a few days...I would concentrate on exploring only St John.Caneel bay beach is great for snorkeling also is Francis bay,Trunk bay,Cinnamon bay,Waterlemon Cay.

If you must do a day trip...Jost Van Dyke would probably be less crowded and more relaxing than the Baths.It just depends on what you are looking for.If you have kids..The Baths would probably be better.

Christie

Definitely stay at Caneel-- so much to do and luxuriate in right on that large handsome property!
Courtside rooms are for sure some distance from the beach-- a bit of a haul. And for sure the view is less spectacular there. BUT: the whole property is so splendid that I don't think it's going to make all that much difference. It's a pleasure simply to walk from place to place (plus they have little "jitneys" to take you everywhere-- but we never used them). In short, yes, the coourtside rooms are a bit far from some things-- but that property is so large (which is one of the reasons we like it so much) that all of the rooms are a bit "far" from something or other. E.g. you'll be closer to the Sugar Mill restaurant than folks who stay in some of the cottages that are closer to some of the beaches. Bottom line: not a problem!

We stayed in on of those rooms and didn't find it to be a problem to walk to everything else.The walk itself is slightly up the hill going to the room and down the hill going to the beach but it is paved and surrounded by beautiful flowers and scinery. May be 10 min only. If money is an issue it is a deffinately a solution, especially if you don't hang around in you room a lot. Jost Van Dyke trip would be not as crowded as Bath gets sometimes but both worth seing.
Luda.

I'll echo the previous replies and add that rooms at Caneel are priced by proximity to beach, not quality. Rooms are uniformly good, so if you're okay to walk or shuttle to a beach, you get all of paradise on earth which is Caneel.

An extra bonus: extensive renovations have just been completed on the Courtside rooms.
By far, Jost is much more quiet and laid-back, beautiful beaches too.

I half-remember that those courtside rooms are somewhat larger that the other rooms around the property, i.e. in the way that the Little Caneel rooms are. Can anyone confirm or disconfirm?

Thanks for all the suugestions. I guess I wasn't really aware quite how expansive Xaneel Bay resort is. I guess I was just concerned about going so far for a trip and never leaving that one area. But the feeling I get from all of your posts is that we will really be in some of the more beautiful places on the island.

Thanks!!
C
also, we don't mind walking to the beaches a bit so I am happy we wen with the "budget" haha courtside rooms!

Cordelia, you will be in one of the most beautiful places on earth!

Cordelia: Don't fail to ask for a room upgrade when you're at Caneel. Depending on who's at the desk when you check in, and mainly how full they are, they're often good about doing that. But you'll enjoy the place no matter where you are.