St.Thomas-St.John Split
 

I'd like to hear from anyone who has split up their vacation between St.Thomas and St.John. We are there for one week and thinking about staying at the Ritz for 3 or 4 days and then Caneel Bay for 3 or 4 days.

We are interested in both properties and want to experience both. Any recommendations and advice on what resort to go to first or last would be greatly appreciated.

I'm not sure how soon you are going, but we're doing what you described. Staying 4 nights at Ritz St Thomas and 7 nights at Westin St. John in September. I'll post a trip report when I return.

My initial response was to save the best for last, so do the Ritz first and Caneel last. However m, much depends on what is important to you. Ritz's room are nicer, complete with tv, but snorkeling and beach is only so-so. Caneel's rooms, while spacious and comfy is more 'old Caribbean', but their seven beaches and grounds are heavenly and the off-shore snorkeling is great. I also feel that Caneel's food is better and more diverse.

The island of St. John has retained more of its natural beauty than St. Thomas.

Hope this helps.

We will be there in January 2005 to unwind and relax. So I was thinking of spending a few days at Caneel in St. John and then end up at the Ritz in St.Thomas.

I would like to end our holiday with a more upscale resort with nice rooms,etc. However, is Caneel Bay the real icing on the cake?

To me, it is. The beaches are more beautiful, uncrowded and private than the Ritz. Caneels grounds are more expansive, and in my view, more beautiful and not as hilly as the Ritz. I love walking from my room to breakfast each morning; however, shuttles are always readily available. Guest accommodations are spread about their multiple beaches, so that one almost feels that they have their own private beach.

While Caneel rooms are large comfortable, and are tended twice daily, Ritz rooms are more 'chic', but I feel that can be had in many cities anywhere in the world. I go for the 'island experience', and that is what I get at Caneel, more so than at the Ritz.

I would take Caneel over the Ritz anytime, but

Thanks for the help. We've only been to St. Thomas on a cruise stop, so we originally planned to stay for the entire week and just visit St.John on a day trip. After discovering Caneel Bay Resort, we definitely want to spend a few days there too.

Perhaps we'll stay on St.Thomas first and follow up with St. John. The question now is how many days... three at the Ritz and four at Caneel? Sounds like there's more to do at Caneel with all the different beaches to explore.

I agree with you. There is more to do onSt. John. hope you have time to file a tripeport and give your thoughts.

Hey There,

For only a 7 day stay, I think picking up and moving from one resort to another is a waste of precious time. Pick one of the resorts and stay there. It is so easy to get from STJ over to STT or from STT over to STJ on the ferry, IMO it makes more sense to do a day trip or two to the other island than moving. I know when I am on-island it takes me a couple of days to get comfortable and adjust to island time. Can't imagine trying to do it twice within the same week.

Schultz

Caneel makes the move easy. Just let them know where on St/ Thomas you are staying ( in your case, The Ritz), and they will arrange for taxi service from there to their private launch to transport you and your luggage to their dock. (It is a beautiful brief ride with complimentary rum punch.) On arrival, you will be greeted by a staff member with hot face cloths and escorted to your room where you will find your luggage (This service includes complete transport to the airport and unlimited useage of their launch to various points on St. Thimas.. I have done this on a 8 day split (St. Thomas - 3, Caneel - 5) and my sister/husband on a 7 day split (3 - 4). My neice and her husband enjoyed a 4 day splitdays, (2 - 2).

Caneel is definitely worth it.

Although it is great to stay at one resort, I don't mind the move to St. John since it's just the two of us. I had called Rosewood Resorts and their transportation service (for a $65 pp fee or included with some packages) will pick you up from the airport or wherever you are in St. Thomas and take you to Caneel and back to the airport on your day of departure. This includes the ferry as well, or is it a private launch? If so, even better.

I was thinking that it would be better to stay on St. Thomas first so we don't have an extra long trip to the resort in St.John after flying all day.

I just want the chance to experience St. John for more than just part of one day. Perhaps on a future trip, we will love it so much that we will stay the entire time.

Does anyone recommend doing the meal plan at Caneel Bay?

I am being quoted $250 on top of the room rate for breakast, lunch and dinner included, as well as the transportation fee to the resort. I'm kind of thinking this is not much of a deal, as the breakfast buffet is about $25pp,lunch about $25 pp and dinner about $50 pp; plus $65 pp for taxi and ferry to the resort. Then you have to spend each and every meal at the resort. Is this a waste of $$$ or does it end up a good deal?

We may spend only three days at the resort, so I don't mind having dinners there every night. If we forego the meal plan, would we end up paying way more for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

It is Caneel's private launch which takes you directly to their docks. The public ferry takes you to Cruz Bay, which requires your taking an additional public taxi. The costs of paying for taxi service on St. Thomas and again on St. John, plus ferry expense two ways, makes the savings minimal. In addition, with the hastle with the luggage, it's just not worth it.(I did it once. Never again!) Also, I believe that the taxi service provided by Caneel is one that is contracted by them for their guests. It is always a very nice van, with a most professional driver.

I did the breakfast/dinner meal plan once. This allows for trying restaurants in Cruz Bay for lunch. Lunch at Caneel can be had in two ways, either at the Terrace where you can order off menu or the buffet, or at the area adjacent to the bar where sandwiches, salads, wings nachos and such are served. Food at both is very good. I prefer the later, since the other is just too much food for me. There lunches run about$10/person without alcholic drinks, Full hot breakfast with the cold buffet included is $25/person, and cold buffet alone is $15/person The cold buffet included coffee or tea a wide assortment of juices, fruits, yogourts, pastries and such. If you arise early enough (I believe before 8), complementary continental breakfasts are available in the covered open-air lounge area.

The one plus to the meal plan, is that an item of every course can be order without regard to cost. If you elect to go the complementary or cold breakfasr route, I believe that you will come out ahead by not doing the meal plan.

If one of your days there is a Monday. a wonderful complementary Manager;s cocktail party is given, with unlimited alcholic beverages and tasty appetizers. Also, if there on a Friday, they have a wonderful extragant seafood buffet.

For dinner, I love dining at the 'Equator'. It is upstairs in an old reconditioned flower surrounded sugar mill. If you opt for first sitting dining, you can request a table at the edge where you can see the sunset, and then the twinling lights of St. Thomas as the night progresses. Dinner at Turtle Bay is also very good.

Have a good time. I think you will be glad that you decided to go.

Diane,

The Friday Seafood Buffet sounds good. Is that open to anyone? (we will be staying at a villa). Can you tell me whats included in the buffet and the approximate cost? Thank You!!

Thanks for all your help. I will definitely book the transportation service, even if we don't do the meal plan.

There are lots of choices. I think perhaps we'll choose the plan with breakfast and dinner included, so that if we have a full breakfast, we don't need to have a big lunch buffet.

We're only there for three days, so I don't think we'll need to leave the resort for dinner.

Now my only problem is having to wait six more months!

Not sure if it's important to you..just wanted to mention Caneel has no phones or TV's in the rooms..FYI..

When we were at Caneel 2 years ago, we met a couple that had been at the Ritz first. They were very upset with the rooms at Caneel after the Ritz, BUT after a day or so at Caneel and their beautiful beaches, they preferred Caneel. We took breakfast and dinner with a package and will do so again this November. Many people like to try different places in Cruz Bay. We have traveled the world, and Caneel remains at the top of the list. Can't wait to get back. Good luck on your planning. Owa

As I recall, the price was $65/person. I belive. but I am not sure but believe they can, , that outside guests may reserve and dine there. Selections vary. As I recall there are several seafood items, such as lobster tail and one meat item, all sorts of vegie combos, appetizers, a large variety of salads, broiled shrimp, crablegs ect. and an unimaginable assortments of desserts. Since I am a seafood lover, it is a great deal for me, and worth every penny. Food can be pricey in the Carribean, where much is imported.

jpea, I agree with you. For a three day stay, the resort is much too beautiful to leave.

We were on St John for a week during
Spring Break this year and did a day trip to St Thomas. Can't comment on the resort ammenities, as we stayed in a villa overlooking Chocolate Hole. I was disappointed in St Thomas--it felt like a giant shopping mall superimposed on what might've been a pretty island at one time. Crowded, overdeveloped. But I fell in love with St John...since so much of the island is protected and undeveloped, not to mention stunningly gorgeous, it lived up to my hopes for a tropical island getaway. Be sure to have dinner one night at The Fish Trap in Cruz Bay. In retrospect I wish I would've made the time to explore the nearby BVI...but I'll have to save that for the next trip.

We're headed to St.Thomas & St. John next week - a rescheduled visit from a trip we canceled in January. We LOVE St. John. Three years ago we stayed in St. Thomas & were disenchanted with the hustle & bustle - it wasn't easy to get around. It was fun but we like a more relaxed atmosphere. We ended up taking the public ferry to St. John on two nights for dinner - La Tapa & Asolare (you'll need a taxi from Cruz Bay for the latter) - both great.

We decided to stay at Caneel Bay last year (I had been 10 years prior). We love the resort but it may be too rustic for those who like room service and chocolates on the pillow (I believe what we got were seashells with the next day's weather report. We did the 7-day Explorer package which includes activities almost every day - snorkeling, kayaking, BVI day trip (all guided)- and jeep rental for 2-days (highly recommeded)- we even did a couples yoga. That package included breakfast/dinner daily. The food was really good & The Equator was our favorite (make reservations for the week) - we even canceled our 2nd meal at Turtle Bay, opting instead for The Equator.

That said, we're not staying at Caneel Bay this time - partly due to price. We fly in late afternoon so we booked a room in town in Charlotte Amalie - we plan to dine there (Craig & Sally's was great when we last visited) - then shop the next morning. We will definitely go visit Glady's Cafe as well - it's down Drake's Passage - she often takes off singing some blues while she tends bar (they're only open for breakfast & dinner). Then we'll hop the late afternoon ferry to St. John where we'll be picked up by the owners of the Lindholm Estates, a B&B where we're staying this time.

From our perspective, there were pluses & minuses on the meal plans at Caneel Bay - the food was great - but there are other nice restaurants to explore and we really didn't get to do that this time (Skinny Legs on the other side of the island was fun - Ship Wreck Landing is worth a visit on a day around the island - and the Beach Bar in Cruz Bah had cold beers & decent enough food).

Obviously I'm a big fan of the island... based on the queries above, I'd say go with Caneel Bay - take their transportation to St. Thomas for a day-visit if you want - not sure what arrangements have to be made for later returns - the public ferries, though good are, well, public ferries. You might ask at the front desk...

Another option is a split between Caneel Bay & Little Dix Bay in the BVI - they're partner resorts & they have such a split package.

Have fun - I know we will.

At first I was kind of surprised that there were no phones or TV, but it makes perfect sense. Why would you travel all the way to a beautiful island like St.John to spend it watching the tube? The best holiday we ever took was when we decided to leave our cell phones at home. It forced us to go without. What a concept!

As I am in the midst of planning our one week trip to St Thomas and St John next January, I am fairly confident we will spend 3 of 4 days at both the Ritz in STT and at Caneel Bay in STJ.

While I know these resorts are both considered first rate, I'd like to know whether their lower rate rooms are okay.

I've read on the tripadvisor.com boards that some of the rooms were not that great. We are in a bit of a dilemma, because I'm not sure if I'm prepared to pay for oceanfront or beachfront rooms, if the standard rooms are faily nice.

Can anyone out there provide any feedback on the your experience in staying at a standard rooms at the Ritz or Caneel Bay???