advsrbill

Going to Caneel in Sept., staying on Scott Beach. We love to snorkel and sit on the beach.

How do we get a beach chair or umbrella? Is there any drink or food service on Scott? I saw a picture of a food/golf cart, like on a golf course.

Where can we get cokes & rum, water & snacks to bring on to the beach for ourselves? At Caneel? or is there a grocery nearby?

Is there a refrigerator in the room to store our own stuff?

penny

Scott is a wondeful beach. The lounge chairs, beach chairs and floats are for the most part outside your room, there is an attendant somewhere, piles of chairs floats etc at the end near cottage 7. No umbrellas, but there is shade.
I have always found the beach service for drinks etc. almost non existant at
this resort. Once in a Blue Moon you will see someone tool by in a golf cart!
Maybe this has changed!
Each unit has a refrigerator, where you can get water, complimentary bottle of rum, and a few cokes. There is a grocery store in Cruz Bay for snacks and liquor-it might be called Star Market.
Scott is a beautiful beach,and I am
sure you will spot the Turtles! Enjoy!

sharona

The beach service we had at Caneel was very spotty at best. And we were staying on Caneel Beach, right next to the restaurant/bar area! One or two days during our 11 day stay someone walked by one time during the day and asked if we wanted something. And the wait person definitely didn't seem to be very happy that she was doing it.

There is a fairly well-stocked grocery store in Cruz Bay. I believe they have beer, wine and liquor as well. Cruz Bay is about a 5 minute drive from Caneel.

The snorkeling is wonderful off of Caneel and Scott beaches. We saw sting rays, eels, turtles and an octopus.

Michaelpl

I have to say that as much as I like Caneel Bay, I really feel they could and should figure something out for providing regular beach service(and with a smile) For the caliber of this property and the prices they charge, they owe it two their guest and themselves if they want to compete with the Ritz Carltons, Halfmoons and Four Seasons of the caribbean travel world.
IMHO.

hockeyfan

Previous posts are correct about previous beach service at Caneel; however, we were there last year and the resort has installed a small beach service bar on Scott beach. It is staffed by Miles who makes excellent cocktails. The only other beach I'm aware of on Caneel that sort of has beach service is Caneel Beach, but it only has service because it is close to the main bar and you can walk to the bar and get drinks. No food service on Scott beach; however.

As for the chairs, there are plenty on Scott beach right outside of your room. There are also foam floats available on the beach. As a previous post noted, there are no umbrellas, but there are plenty of trees, so shade is not a problem. My wife is very fair and burns easily, and she has not had a problem finding shade at Caneel.

As for groceries, there is a small refrigerator in the room. My wife and I typically go for a week at a time, so the first afternoon we arrive, we take a taxi to the grocery and buy snacks, drinks, liquor, etc... Its either the starfish market or another store I can never remember the name of; however, if you get in the taxi and tell them what you are after, they will take you to the store. They'll also typically wait for you if you ask. Fare is about $4 each way.

One bit of advice on the food front is to get some ziplocs. Don't leave anything out unsealed or uncovered as you will have a small ant farm started in a matter of hours.

Caneel is a great resort...you should have a fantastic time. enjoy.

traveldoc

Hockeyfan is right on. We've stayed on Scott many times, and until winter '04 and Miles the barman came into our lives, saw very spotty service on Scott. He works out of a new fixed facility in the grape trees at the south end of Scott and constantly runs back and forth with drink orders. He is a delightful person and has a great attitude. The grape trees serve as natural shade from the uv, but nothing is perfect, and after two pm, the sun is beating down fairly intensely from the west and short of a tent , nothing will protect your skin. Try Hawksnest after two and until near sunset, then return to Scott, pull up a beach chair in front of your room, mix a rum and whatever, and watch the show. Don't think it's over when the sun disappears behind St Thomas; we've seen spectacular colors for up to one hour after the orb disappears. Have a great time at one of the world's genuine gems.

poss

We've stayed at Caneel a number of times, and I agree with the previous posters. I want to add that there's an afternoon tea service at the "great house" which is wonderful. Iced tea, of course, and I think probably lemonade also. Best thing is that there's lots and lots of excellent little pastries and freshly made cookies. We would sometimes take a few extra and have that as our next-morning breakfast. The food at Caneel was mediocre at best, in our opinion. Pretty bad in fact. (We didn't do the lunch buffets-- too expensive and too much food.) There are some quite good restaurants in town. We thought it was poor that the food in the two restaurants at Caneel was so bad-- but we do keep returning because we love the snorkeling-- so MUCH of it, so varied, right off the beach-- and the beaches themselves are wonderful. The grounds, too, are very handsome-- it's lovely just to stroll around. Caneel can charge what they want and maintain the food as mediocre as they want because there's no competition there for them. Hands down it's the handsomest property on St. John. Have a great time!

advsrbill

Thanks for all of the great help! I'd love to hear more about Miles and any other brand new changes. I am hoping that Rosewood is addressing the issues keeping it from being a true 5 star. It does not make sense that they own other super high service hotels and not work on bring Caneel up to the others quality.