Where to stay w/ family in St. Croix?
 

I'm thinking of going to st. croix in March, where should i stay w/ small children? would like kitchen, have heard mixed reviews on Chenay Bay (is the Beach nice there)? any recommendations would be appreciated.

I haven't stayed here, but I am also planning an upcoming trip to St. Croix w/kids and I am considering the Bucanneer www.bucanneer.com

If budget is not a concern, The Buccaneer is the best choice. Even on island I've heard the same things about Chenay Bay - some really enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, others are looking for more amenities. I'd probably be fine there.<BR><BR>Other choices to look at are Tamarind Reef (www.usvi.net/hotel/tamarind), the Cane Bay Reef Club (www.canebay.com), Cottages by the Sea (www.caribbeancottages.com) and The Waves at Cane Bay (www.thewavesatcanebay.com). <BR><BR>If your children are not too tiny, The Waves at Cane Bay has its swimming pool carved out of the coral and it has its own little ecosystem that might be fascinating to your kids. Neither The Waves nor the Cane Bay Reef Club has beach, but they are a very short walk from one of the nicest beaches on island - Cane Bay beach.<BR><BR>Check out some of the reivews on this site and also at http://stcroix.wheretostay.com/<BR><BR>I've been to St. Croix 18 times so feel free to e-mail me if you have questions.<BR><BR><BR>

Try Villa Dawn or Caribbean Dream.... check out their website...<BR>www.villadawn.com.... enjoy

I've stayed at a condo called Colony Cove, just west of Christiansted. It has a small beach. What it may lack in beach it makes up with a very nice pool area and beautiful gardens. Location wise it is about a 5 minute drive into Christiansted and there is a Pueblo Grocery store very close. Colony Cove was affordable, clean, and quiet. Many families with small children were staying here when I did.

I stayed at chenay Bay and would never recommend the place. Have also stayed at the Buc and if it's within your budget, go for it. It's a great place.

BTW Rachel, the kitchen at chenay Bay was so dirty you wouldn't want to prepare any food there. Then there were all the ants....everywhere and in everything.

If you can swing it, I highly recommend the Buccaneer. It is a beautiful resort, the food at the restaurant there is great, and the service and atmosphere was excellent. I can't wait to go back!

Has anyone stayed at the Divi Carina Bay Resort & Casino. We are thinking of going there in May, have never been to St. Croix and don't know anything about <BR>the area or the hotels? Is this one anygood-Aprreciate any info.<BR>Thanks

Rachel, Whatever you do don't stay at Cheney Bay. Me and my friends had a horrible time. The rooms had lots and lots of Millipedes!! They were not very clean. The beach is really not a beach. If you are thinking about white sand, this isn't the place. I've also heard several people complain about the "timeshare" salespeople. They can be quite persistent from what I've heard. Luckily, me and my friends didn't look like the typical family so they didn't bother us. I would recommend Divi Carina for the beach. They have a kids club also. I didn't stay there but visited. Seemed nice. Good luck.

I would stay home before I stayed at Chenay Bay.<BR><BR>We visited the Divi and it was very nice. The Buccaneer is our favorite if you can swing it. Last trip by the time I got done paying for Chenay and the bugs I could have had the Buc.

Clearly Chenay Bay is not for everyone but we go there every year.We have three kids and we like the protected beach, the free watersports and the great staff.Ther restaurant is fabulous with Sylvia Lee managing itThey have spent a lot of money on tne resort in the last few years ands it shows.You couldn't ask for nicer staff and a feeling that the staff genuinely like doing what they are doing. Look at their website,it's a beautiful resort.I am sure you would be very happy there with your children. Call them and see what you think.There is a recent review at Where to Stay that raves about the place.Email those folks and ask them what they liked about it.

I agree about the staff at Chenay Bay. They were the nicest people I have ever met. Unfortunately it didn't make up for the filth we had in our room and the fact the maid only showed up on days the spirit moved her.

As I said we have been going there for years and we have never hads a problem with the cleanliness. Did you tell them that the maid din't go to your room? The nicest staff are also very accomodating and will do whatever you ask of them, including their housekeepers.

WE got a lovely smile and a "we'll take care of it but they never did." After awhile I give up on bitchin'. <BR><BR>Did you ever have a king sized bed made out of two single beds shoved together, one of which was a good 4 inches higher than the other? The pool was too dirty to swim in, the beach was a mess, and we also had the millepedes, ants....etc.<BR><BR>We have travelled extensively in the Caribbean and this is by far the worst we have experienced.

I don't think you are being fair.First a king bed is made up of two twin box springs with a king mattress over top. Secondly your comments on the pool and beach are outrageous. The pool is always spotless and the water is always crystal clear when we have been there( the last 8 years in early January).The beach is fine as well.Clearly you have an ax to grind and you chose this medium.I am reasonably astute and have "also travelled throughout the Caribbean" and Chenay Bay is a terrific place.Also , although we refused to get involved in their timeshare program they are now a Gold Crown Resort with RCI.That award is based on performance and puts them in the top 10% of RCI affiliated resorts worldwide( over 4000 resorts).I know this because, like last year , they tried to sell us a timeshare and they showed us the plaque( it's in their reception area)and told us all about it.

Wow! They have a plaque and they showded it to you...I'm soooo impressed. I too have been there and I lean more toward agreeing with Carib Fan than I do with your assessment of the place.

Clearly another sophisticated world traveller Obviously a person of your caliber is not easily impressed by facts, inneundo and snide reference is far more sexy.Chenay Bay is a wonderful place, there are those ( who have probably never even been to the Caribbean..or down the street for that matter) who use message boards to satisfy their need to feel worldly, vital and of course travelled without having to actually leave the cushy womb of their techno lockup.Have a special day.

Martin, Come on now, you can tell us. What is your connection to Cheney Bay? Do you or one of your good friends own the place? I paid $1,100 to go on a trip there and I don't expect bugs in my room! I don't think that is asking too much. Granted, Bill the bartender rocked. But, that was about it. You seem to be taking this all to personally. We are just trying our best to keep future travellers informed. I was asked a question and I answered it very truthfully. You know about the bugs and the ratty rooms, why don't you just admit it--do you work for them or what? From what I've been reading on this message board it seems that the Buccaneer wins hands down. For god sake's Martin, my friend woke up in the middle of the night(at Cheney bay) with a millipede on her face!!! No lie. That is not my idea of a vacation.

I would never put a hotel down because I found a millipde in my room! Bugs are a part of life, silly! Would you rather they spray a lot of chemicals around that may be harmful to your health??? You're on an island and bugs live there too. Go with the flow. Chenay Bay was not a first class resort but we found it to be clean and neat and perfect for families!