St. John, July 14, 2007 for 8 nts. We have 6 free nts at the Westin. Would you book last 2 at Caneel or just stay put? Both hotels are about $299 nt.
Oct 28th, 2006, 05:51 AM
#21
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,477
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Stever--IMO the only more interesting day trip than staying on St.John would be to Virgin Gorda so you can see the Baths with its' exotic boulder formations. (Or save the money from a day trip and splurge at Caneel. The beach settings and grounds are equal to, or better than, anything you'll see for $$$ on a day trip.)
Oct 28th, 2006, 09:07 AM
#22
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
stever,
I you do decide to go to Caneel for a few days, they have a private ferry back. You can probably pay for the Westin ferry one way and the Caneel Ferry one way.
Also, I think that if you do go to the BVI's, you will need a passport for all family members as of 1/07. There are a number of day trips in addition to the New Horizons including sailing trips and catamarans. I liked New Horizons because it went to a number of spots that we wanted to see and they have a maximum of 18 people on board. We had 12. They tend to get to the Baths earlier than the other tours so it isn't very crowded.
You'll have a great time no matter where you stay and no matter what day trip you take.
If you rent a car, and I would recommend it, rent one with in town parking. St. John Car Rental gets very good reviews. We rented from Conrad Sutton, had no problems, but other posters on Tripadvisor has some issues. They have great in town parking right (basicaly room to park 6 cars) near the Lime Inn. Pricing for most rental companies are comparable.
I you do decide to go to Caneel for a few days, they have a private ferry back. You can probably pay for the Westin ferry one way and the Caneel Ferry one way.
Also, I think that if you do go to the BVI's, you will need a passport for all family members as of 1/07. There are a number of day trips in addition to the New Horizons including sailing trips and catamarans. I liked New Horizons because it went to a number of spots that we wanted to see and they have a maximum of 18 people on board. We had 12. They tend to get to the Baths earlier than the other tours so it isn't very crowded.
You'll have a great time no matter where you stay and no matter what day trip you take.
If you rent a car, and I would recommend it, rent one with in town parking. St. John Car Rental gets very good reviews. We rented from Conrad Sutton, had no problems, but other posters on Tripadvisor has some issues. They have great in town parking right (basicaly room to park 6 cars) near the Lime Inn. Pricing for most rental companies are comparable.
Oct 28th, 2006, 12:51 PM
#23
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Greetings, Stever. IMHO stay put., esp'lly for your dtr's sake. The full 8 days there will not seem ;like enough!
Westin's family oriented so your dtr will likely meet kids her age if she wants to. And its TVs are a good size
(My kids and grandkids are like that too--veg out at end of busy day in front of telly.) There are lots of activities planned for families/kids: pool games, outdoor movies in the evening at the pool.
You can rent a car right at the hotel for a few days to explore--highly recommeneded to get out to the Coral Bay end of the island and/or see the islands' beautiful beaches.
Westin also has on-site equipment rental.
You can rent a dinghy and and the three of you can safely "sail" to some nearby coves and beautiful beaches. Highly recommend Oppenheimers for that--you'll feel like Robinson Crusoe stepping ashore from your little boat!
I wrote a trip report last July and much was about our family's time at the Westin--search under my name here, if interested. We were there at same time of yr that you're going, and the weather was gorgeous!! In fact, we may be right ahead of you for a return trip in July 2007.
Westin's family oriented so your dtr will likely meet kids her age if she wants to. And its TVs are a good size
(My kids and grandkids are like that too--veg out at end of busy day in front of telly.) There are lots of activities planned for families/kids: pool games, outdoor movies in the evening at the pool. You can rent a car right at the hotel for a few days to explore--highly recommeneded to get out to the Coral Bay end of the island and/or see the islands' beautiful beaches.
Westin also has on-site equipment rental.
You can rent a dinghy and and the three of you can safely "sail" to some nearby coves and beautiful beaches. Highly recommend Oppenheimers for that--you'll feel like Robinson Crusoe stepping ashore from your little boat!
I wrote a trip report last July and much was about our family's time at the Westin--search under my name here, if interested. We were there at same time of yr that you're going, and the weather was gorgeous!! In fact, we may be right ahead of you for a return trip in July 2007.
Oct 28th, 2006, 02:42 PM
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good info on that Horizon boat. That sounds like a plan. So, now our plan is to try to book the last 2 nights at Caneel if prices stay at the great rate they are now (around $299 in July with breakfast),do the Horizon boat tour, and rent a car from St John car rental. I wonder if we'll really need a car for the 9 days or if we should just get one as needed. We might be on a boat one day and just hanging out on a beach another... though, we'd need transport to that beach to hang out.
Steve R
Steve R
Oct 29th, 2006, 06:03 AM
#25
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ahh.. nice problem, sort of like deciding between...hmmh... Harvard or Yale? Who cares?!! You're going to be on St. John, Baby!! Seriously, though. If it were me, I would get up and move and check out another spot for comparison's sake. But that's me, and honestly, you don't have to miss out on Caneel even if you stay at the Westin the whole time. As far as I can tell, Caneel (and the Westin) is pretty relaxed about folks coming there for a short visit, especially during the "low season." I have gone to Caneel a few times just for a couple of hours and have never been looked at funny or asked whether I'm a guest. So either way, you can't loose. Have a wonderful time.
Oct 29th, 2006, 10:15 AM
#26
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,771
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
lovethecape's transportation suggestion is best. But, you will loose 4-6 hours from time you leave the Westin until you are in your room at Caneel. If the $299 rooms are the ones up near the tennis courts I definetely would NOT switch. If you can get Turtle Bay or Hawks Nest and they will allow you early check-in (usually only do on 5+ nught stays has been our experience). If you want it near perfect I would give up 1 free day at the Westin and go for 3 nights to Caneel in "right" sections and put "on request-early check-in". There is no guarantee but if you arrived at 11:30 and tell them you are going to go for an early lunch at noon and restate your request of early check-in,I would venture to say you would be in your room by 1:30-1:45 and not the 3 PM check-in. The 3 nights makes it worth the move and Caneel maybe more accomodating. I realize it adds $300 to your trip cost but a 7 night stay really only gives you 5 1/2-6 full days, anyway.
Oct 29th, 2006, 12:41 PM
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hmmm - definitely food for thought on those last 2 posts. I'm still not sure if it's worth switching, so I guess we'll just sit on the idea till we are sure this is what we want to do.
I have this feeling that we're going to end up getting a pretty decent view at the Westin as there aren't supposed to be any garden view rooms then anyway, and then we'll switch to Caneel and end up with a room with not much of or no view at all (for $299 I wouldn't expect much!), spend a good portion of the day making the switch (my wife has alot of toiletries to pack up and move and then unpack again) and will have wished we had just stayed put and merely visited the Caneel Beaches and their restaurant for the day instead.
We're not spending less than 6 nights at the Westin, that's we've already decided. It's free, so we're just going with it. That leaves only 2 nts for Caneel or the last 2 at the Westin.
Steve R
I have this feeling that we're going to end up getting a pretty decent view at the Westin as there aren't supposed to be any garden view rooms then anyway, and then we'll switch to Caneel and end up with a room with not much of or no view at all (for $299 I wouldn't expect much!), spend a good portion of the day making the switch (my wife has alot of toiletries to pack up and move and then unpack again) and will have wished we had just stayed put and merely visited the Caneel Beaches and their restaurant for the day instead.
We're not spending less than 6 nights at the Westin, that's we've already decided. It's free, so we're just going with it. That leaves only 2 nts for Caneel or the last 2 at the Westin.
Steve R
Oct 29th, 2006, 05:09 PM
#28
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,771
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Steve R; Then, I would NOT move and visit Caneel for lunch. It is a gorgeous property if it had rained a bit in the prior 4-5 days. They have a hearty grass but it turns brownish without a bit of rain. It is quite amazing, 1-2 hours of rain and it goes from brown to a verdant green through the 170 acreas of rolling knolls.
Oct 30th, 2006, 07:47 AM
#29
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi, Steve. I've stayed at Caneel twice and Westin once (corporate incentive trip). Westin is nice, but very generic. You could be in Florida--nothing Caribbean about it. Also their beach is man-made and basically sucks. Caneel is spectacular and the beaches are some of the best in the world. I know it's a pain to switch hotels, but I would do it in a heartbeat if I were you.
Have fun!
Have fun!
Oct 30th, 2006, 09:55 AM
#30
Guest
Posts: n/a
Move to Caneel. Your daughter can make up those 2 nights of TV viewing when she gets home. Plus there is a TV in the bar. Yes, all the beaches in the VI are public, but access across private property is not guaranteed. The best beaches at Caneel is not the one that they open to the public. People who wrote reviews complaining about bad service were probably not used to the whole "island time" thing, and would likely have written the same thing about the Westin had they stayed there.
Oct 30th, 2006, 10:08 AM
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Interesting comments. I'll have to hope for cheap Caneel deals and think about it next March when they are supposedly coming out.
I know the Westin beach stinks. I just thought we could stay there the whole time for easiness sake and drive to all the other beaches.
Steve R
I know the Westin beach stinks. I just thought we could stay there the whole time for easiness sake and drive to all the other beaches.
Steve R
Oct 31st, 2006, 10:46 AM
#34
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,870
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It might make you uncomfortable not to have all of your plans set in stone with traveling with your family, but there's another possibility...
During your 6 free nights at the Westin, spend at least one day (preferably early in the stay) accessing the beaches and natural splendor of Caneel. It it really bowls you and your family over, book your last two nights there once you're on island. Negotiate for a better room than the one you're offered. It's the offseason and there's no way to place will be booked.
If, after spending that one day on Caneel property, your family thinks that it doesn't offer enough incentive to leave the Westin, just add on 2 nights to your stay at the Westin.
If you're comfortable with leaving the last two nights open, this could create a win-win situation for you. You won't be spending the last two days at the Westin worrying that you're missing out on Caneel, and you won't spend the last two days at Caneel wishing you hadn't given up your room at the Westin.
During your 6 free nights at the Westin, spend at least one day (preferably early in the stay) accessing the beaches and natural splendor of Caneel. It it really bowls you and your family over, book your last two nights there once you're on island. Negotiate for a better room than the one you're offered. It's the offseason and there's no way to place will be booked.
If, after spending that one day on Caneel property, your family thinks that it doesn't offer enough incentive to leave the Westin, just add on 2 nights to your stay at the Westin.
If you're comfortable with leaving the last two nights open, this could create a win-win situation for you. You won't be spending the last two days at the Westin worrying that you're missing out on Caneel, and you won't spend the last two days at Caneel wishing you hadn't given up your room at the Westin.
Oct 31st, 2006, 12:33 PM
#35
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,771
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The idea of on your third full day going to Caneel for lunch-open taxi's are now probably $20RT for 2. If you love it maybe you should not stand on your principles and you will give up the $300 free night and transfer early spend 3 nights at Caneel. "You only go around once in a lifetime on earth".
Oct 31st, 2006, 09:30 PM
#36
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I like your idea about giving up the one free night at the Westin and our 2 nts at $299 at the Westin and shifting over to Caneel for the last 2 nights, only deciding WHILE we're there... but, I just called them and they're saying we'd forfeit points for that last night AND the 2 nights we already prepaid for!
So... I guess we're not staying at the Caneel then, unless in advance we just decide to go for it in March when the promos come out.
Steve R
So... I guess we're not staying at the Caneel then, unless in advance we just decide to go for it in March when the promos come out.
Steve R
Nov 1st, 2006, 04:57 AM
#37
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
God knows you've gotten enough advice on your situation, but for what it's worth, I think you're right to just stay at the Westin the whole time - esp. with a teenager in tow. STJ has plenty of amazing beaches that are not part of Caneel. Take a tour of Caneel and enjoy the ambiance, but you don't need to go to the trouble of moving there for only a couple of nights. My two cents.
Nov 1st, 2006, 06:20 PM
#39
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ezron - Yes, it's the 5th night free, but we'll be there for 6 nts, so, well, it all works out the same 
. We get 1 night free, I know that.
Jim C - Also, a good point. Shlepping all our stuff over to Caneel for a couple of nights, or 3 nights... I'll think about it now and get back to you all! I'm very mixed about it. Just can't decide. Either way it'll be great I'm sure.
Cheers,
Steve R
. We get 1 night free, I know that. Jim C - Also, a good point. Shlepping all our stuff over to Caneel for a couple of nights, or 3 nights... I'll think about it now and get back to you all! I'm very mixed about it. Just can't decide. Either way it'll be great I'm sure.
Cheers,
Steve R
Nov 2nd, 2006, 02:42 AM
#40
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Steve,
You will have a great time & I agree with everyone that said they wouldn't want to unpack for 2 days. We will never take the Westin Ferry again. Not only does it cost too much but you have no control. If a plane after you is delayed by an hour they are going to wait, I know. When leaving the Westin you depart on one boat while your luggage is on another. Last time we used the Westin we waited 45 minutes in front of the airport for out luggage. The Red Hook ferry dock sells water but no towels. If you want towels on your way over you are going to the wrong island. Have a great time our kids ride the Iguana Stop golf carts for hours.
Mike
You will have a great time & I agree with everyone that said they wouldn't want to unpack for 2 days. We will never take the Westin Ferry again. Not only does it cost too much but you have no control. If a plane after you is delayed by an hour they are going to wait, I know. When leaving the Westin you depart on one boat while your luggage is on another. Last time we used the Westin we waited 45 minutes in front of the airport for out luggage. The Red Hook ferry dock sells water but no towels. If you want towels on your way over you are going to the wrong island. Have a great time our kids ride the Iguana Stop golf carts for hours.
Mike
