I have a 9 year old who says she wants beach, mountains, and Hawaii. I have been to Maui before, and I thought that I could come close to all of that there. I also thought that I could save a few dollars and come close by taking her to St. Croix. Right now, even though I would like to save a few bucks, I am leaning towards Maui. I THINK there is more for a kid to do there. Also, I am not convinced that the Buccaneer on St. Croix is everything that it once was.

This is a short notice booking that I need to do soon. Are there any pearls of wisdom out there? For a kid, Maui or St. Croix? Another Virgin Island maybe?

There are absolutely no mountains in St. Croix. Any of the other Virgin Islands is going to be more mountainous. Have you considered Tortola? Or even Virgin Gorda. Virgin Gorda would offer a much more interesting and beach-oriented vacation, with mountains and great snorkeling. Look at Guavaberry Spring Bay or one of the resorts on Virgin Gorda. Although not really like Maui, it's still much closer to that kind of experience than St. Croix, which is just as far from Maui as you could possibly get in the Virgin Islands except perhaps for Anegada.

Even Puerto Rico would offer something more like Maui.

I have to be certain that no passport is required.

My goose may be cooked.

Pine_Nut, I have to ask it a 9 year old is going to miss the mountains when you have given them the beach? And what part of the mountains does the child want? Pretty hills that come down to the water? Hikes with some elevation? St. Croix is pretty hilly. What are your expectations of how the Buccaneer used to be? I loved it last spring but I don't know how it was as you remember it.
My trip report:
http://www.fodors.com/community/cari...rip-report.cfm

^^^
Thanks. I must confess to having no first hand knowledge. I have been reading what may or may not be good information on the web. I read one complaint about room cleanliness, and one about the size of the pools at the Buccaneer. Then again with the ocean close by, why would the size of the pools matter?

As for the nine year old - would she miss the mountains? Hard to tell. If you are saying that there is enough on St. Croix to entertain, and that a kid her age won't miss McDonalds, and that the accomadations are good, maybe I should be leaning that way. I am seeking advice because I haven't been to St. Croix.

I liked St. Croix and my teenagers liked it but I can't say whether a 9 year old would like it. Have you thought of an all inclusive where there are a lot of activities for kids her age? The Buccaneer does have a kids program and those kids seemed to have a lot of fun but I think a 9 year old would be one of the oldest.

The pools aren't big. There are two of them, both the size you would find in someone's backyard.

I was told that the all inclusives would require the passport that she does NOT have. Reading the description of the kids program made the breese that I am swaying in start blowing Maui's way again. I here that there are kids programs there and that helicopter ride might make me the best dad in the world for a while.

If you absolutely cannot get a passport, then you have 4 choices: St. Thomas (more mountainous than St. Croix, with some bigger resorts, though no real AI ... though you can get the AI plan at either the Wyndham Sugar Bay or Bolongo Bay).

St. Croix (flat as a pancake but some nice beaches. The Buccaneer is a nice resort, but you might enjoy a condo-style resort more ... or even the Carambola Resort, which is being nicely renovated).

St. John (everyone's favorite resort, mountainous, more like Maui but with fewer resort options).

Puerto Rico (which is cheap and easy to reach, has everything but nothing extremely good ... still several good family resorts and good prices this summer).

Those are your choices. If you are looking for a Maui-like place, then St. Croix comes in dead last, though it is actually my favorite of the Virgin Islands, but because tourism isn't the complete focus of everything there. Most families love St. John. People wanting big resorts go to St. Thomas or Puerto Rico.

Ultimately your choice.

As a native to St. Croix, I can honestly say that I would recommend St. Croix over Maui anytime.

To address your comment about The Buccaneer not being what it once was, I can assure you that the family that owns and operates The Buccaneer has poured millions of dollars into the hotel to keep it one of the best in the Caribbean.

Sure, the pools are smaller than you would find at a 1000 room hotel, but due to the small nature of The Buccaneer, the THREE beautiful beaches that The Buccaneer houses, and the other activities available there, I can assure you- you wont be spending much time at the pool!

As far as mountains go, St. Croix's Tan Tan Tours has special excursions that take visitors to some of St. Croix's most inaccessible spots- including some of the most breathtaking tide pools one has ever seen and some of the coolest off road areas where your nine year old son would have a blast!

St. Croix also has one of the United States most beautiful underwater national parks in Buck Island. The beach itself is one of the finest in the Caribbean and the snorkeling trail is where you and your nine your old son can run wild and see nurse sharks, tons of colorful fish, turtles and hundred year old coral.

Again, being a traveler myself, and having been to both locales, I can assure you that The Buccaneer is one of the premier resorts in the Caribbean and you will enjoy a more relaxing vacation away from the hoards in Maui.

The Buccaneer has plenty of great deals too to help save some bucks- check out the list of them on their website!

Happy travels!

MRL38-
Neither my daughter or myself are underwater enthusiasts. Waist deep is about it for me. My daughter loves the water but does not snorkel.

I would ask again if there is enough there to keep a 9 year old kid busy for a week. There was a previous post that cast doubt on that.

If I were to choose today to go there, which rooms are the best rooms at the Buccaneer.

This is a tough and risy decision. The pain that a 9 year old can bring to bear with the simple question "What can I do now?" is more than I can endure.

Pine_Nut, note that MRL has only posted once on Fodors and is effusive about the Buccaneer. I always take posts like that with a grain of salt. I love the Buccaneer but I wouldn't say it is a Ritz or a Four Seasons. It is a comfortable, high end, family oriented resort and that is why I like it. Whether it is going to satisfy your child is a decision you'll have to make. I wish some of the other posters with younger children would join in the discussion. Do a search under St. Croix and read other trip reports.

When are you going? I would say that your child will probably be happier anywhere during a school break when there are a lot of other kids her age there. Also go onto www.theBuccaneer.com and look at family activities.