Secret Harbour on St. Thomas?
 

Hello everyone, I'm a complete newbie and need advice badly. I'm looking for great beaches and snorkeling, isn't everyone? :) I've read good things about Secret Harbour but am a little concerned about the crowds on that side of the island. Has anyone stayed there? How is the resort overall? Thank you in advance.

Hi Mike,

Secret Harbour is my absolute first choice of the resorts I've stayed at on St. Thomas. I've stayed at Sapphire, Bolongo, Morningstar, Pools & Pavilions and Secret Harbour. SH is probably the least overrun of the resorts on the east end.

My practice for the past couple of years, prior to heading back to STT is to take a look at and price all of them?.and then I go back to Secret Harbour. Six years ago, I took my girlfriend on her first ever real vacation?and we went to STT and stayed at SH. This coming August we will be back for our fifth stay at Secret Harbour (my thirteenth-ish visit to STT in the past eighteen years). She fell in love with the place. It is almost like going home when you get down there. The staff is so stable and many have been there for so long that it's like seeing your relatives when you check in and then walk around the grounds. Ernest is the GM and is great host. Sandra in reservations, and Margaret at the front desk who has been there for about twenty years now and has seen SH go through all of its changes over the years. Julie, who owns Blue Moon Café (only one of the best restaurants on the island) has been there since her former place, Oasis had its demise over at Sapphire. Her main bartender, Bobby has been with her for about ten years and is one of those "interesting bartender" types?..former champion surfer and all.

Anyhow, more specifics about the resort. ( I do have quite a few photos I can email if you would like). The resort beachfront is four buildings with the fifth housing the office, restaurant, shops, etc. We prefer a one-bedroom beachfront suite. Literally on the beach. The units are three stories tall so the entire resort is not that large?..I think maybe 70 or so units for the entire place. There are also condo units up the hill that you can stay in, while you still get a great location and spacious rooms, you lose the great beachfront location.

The suites are IMO very large for STT and well appointed. This past year ours had a new VCR as well as new patio furniture and wall hangings throughout the suite. You will have a fully functional kitchen that you can use. We always stock up with goodies and drinks when we first hit the island and make use of the facilities during our stays. It's great to have your morning coffee an a bit of pastry while you sit on the porch and watch the beach first thing in the morning or sitting in the evening having a drink while you watch the sun set. The suites have a nice dining area and a living room with color TV with cable. There are separate A/C units in the main area and bedrooms so you can chill the sleeping area and have the other area open to the outside if you like.

If you are looking for five-star pampering at a resort?.this is not the place for you. If you want a nice, comfortable suite on a beach that is beautiful and not overly crowded; on water that is about the calmest you will find anywhere in the USVI and with very good snorkeling, this is a good choice. The resort is comparatively isolated (as much as you can be on the east end of STT) which reduces a lot of the traffic??.you'll find locals head there to use the beach as opposed to tourists. IMHO, it's one of the best kept secrets on St. Thomas?and many of the people who live on St. Thomas tell me the same thing.

As for watersports, there is not a lot here. There is a dive operation that you can use, but this is not the place to rent a lot of water equipment. Most here will be laying on the beach or snorkeling, although you will find a number of locals who will bring their boats in and tie them up while they come ashore and take advantage of the beach bar.

As for location on the island, SH is close to Red Hook and an easy drive into downtown CA or over to the north side if you want to head there. But, you will find that almost any resort on the east end offers the same?.the island is not that large. The closeness to Red Hook makes heading back at night really easy?.whether you are coming back from the day on St. John or after a tough evening of partaking the local concoctions at Duffy's or the Caribbean Steak House & Saloon. LOL.

I like the ten steps it takes to get from my room to the water at Secret Harbour?and I go to the island for the beach and snorkeling and SH gives me about the best of both on STT. Also, remember that it's really easy to go from one beach to another on different days so you can experience a lot of the nice beaches regardless of where you stay.

To me, SH offers the best combination of room quality, beach and water quality, nice staff, good food and drink and decent price of all the places I've stayed?.but then I'm also partial to low-rise, beach properties as you probably could tell. Remember that you only spend so much time in your room?..to me it's the island that makes the trip.

Schultz

Thank you Schultz, that's the info I was looking for. One thing that worries me is that it is too far from Charlotte Amalie, that's what I want, but I'm legally blind and can't drive so it would be a rather expensive ($13?) taxi ride into town. How close is SH to Red Hook, there seem to be a few bars/restaurants there, is it walking distance?

Hello Schultz,

After five years shouldn't you turn your girlfiend into your wife?

I can recommend a nice place in St. Thomas for your Honeymoon!

:^)

MM

You can walk to Red Hook (I have done it), but it is quite a workout with the hilly terrain. We stayed there last year and the taxi rates to Red Hook were $4pp. I agree that Secret Harbour is the place to stay if you are looking for a quiet uncrowded hotel and don't expect a lot of upscale amenities. We enjoyed our stay tremendously and are returning next week for our second visit.