Tara

Hi - After reading this board, I have decided to change my vacation from the Westin in St. John to Caneel Bay. When looking at Caneel Bay's website, they offer 4 packages - I am interested in the Allure package. However, it starts at $5,000 for 7 nights for the ocean-view rooms. Has anyone done a package at Caneel Bay and is it worth it? The package includes round-trip transportation to/from airport, a partner massage, b'fast and dinner, the bbq and a snorkel cruise and jeep rental for 2 days. <BR> <BR>Also - is there a big difference in the ocean-view rooms and the beahfront rooms? Thanks!

pennt

Hi Tara-We stay at Caneel and have been there 3 times. I cannot comment on the package to give a price comparison. We love to dine in the more casual Cruz Bay,as we like getting out of any hotel we stay in,that was part of why we chose Caneel. <BR>The rooms are spread all over the property,the decor is similar,low key-price is based on location. They will send you a map,some are more private than others. <BR>Our first time at Caneel I was very concerned and spent time with the people at Rosewood,being very specific what we wanted. <BR>The resort is spread out-many like the ocean view on the bluff or Point.We stay beachfront at Scott beach,Hawksnest and Turtle are nice too! <BR>Once they messed up a room request-and the manager sorted it out,and they made us happy. <BR>Caneel is worth it-the resort is very relaxing,everyone has a favorite location,and yes for the amount of money you are spending you are spending you should be HAPPY.

penny

Sorry for the above typos. When are you going? <BR>Penny

Lara

Hello Tara: <BR> <BR>IMHO I would go with the meal package only and not with the packages that include the excursions. <BR> <BR>It was hard to decide what would be more cost effective. We ended up going with the Classic Caribbean package. I wished I had gotten a package that included lunch (we threw down around $50-$60 each day for lunch for two). But we ended up not doing some of the excursions, because they were not that great. <BR> <BR>You can read the details in my trip report at www.caribtravelnews.com <BR> <BR>As for oceanview versus beachfront, there is obviously a walk involved to the beach from the oceanview rooms. Caneel is so spread out, to get to anything you have to walk *a lot*, and we were glad we did not get an oceanview room so at least we did not have to walk to one beach. <BR> <BR>Have fun!

Tara

Thanks for the great info. I checked out the trip report at www.caribtravelnews.com - what a great site! <BR> <BR>It looks like I'll be doing the beachfront on Scott Beach - from the postings here, it looks like that is the best one. <BR> <BR>Another couple of quesions - <BR>1) Has anyone hopped over to Little Dix for a night or two? <BR>2) The beachfront rooms - are they the ones in the pictures that Caneel advertises with (open-air showers, 4 poster beds, etc.). <BR> <BR>Thanks everyone!

Penny

Hi everyone: I just read Lara's trip report,you covered everythingggg what a detailed report. I will and my 2cents worth- <BR>1-Scott Beach is not rocky,there is a small coral reef out side rooms 80 to 85. Sometimes that very small section can be rocky. I actually prefer that end, I love to feed the fish bagels in the morning,and that is where I learned how to snorkel,great sunsets too!The turtles sometimes pop up there heads. <BR> <BR>@-I had to laugh when I read about the upstairs patio at the beach bar,I cannot tell you how many times we had to go place our drink order etc. It is one of our favorite spots-you can sit there and watch the water and activity on Caneel beach. The rum jumbys are killers. The chicken ceasar salad and the best huge hamberger are our favorites. <BR> <BR>3-Your discription of the Turtle Bay is great,try to eat on the outdoor terrace as it feels less formal and very tropical. <BR> <BR>4-The Scott beach rooms ( I believe since I do not have my brochure-are with the colorful bed spread,natural wicker chair 3-4 windows,picture frames above the bed). These rooms are some of the older ones-redone- the AC really makes a difference,it sometimes can be very humid . The lovely four poster bed and huge rooms are in Cabin 7-there are 6 rooms,the suites of Caneel. <BR>I never did locate that out door shower <BR>I suspect it might be the pool room area,as the outside has that same stone. <BR>Yes the cheaper room! <BR> <BR>5-Yes do Little Dix and Caneel. If you look at this thread a few days earlier there was a question about Which one? <BR>Lots of good info-------- <BR>You will have a great time-you made a great chioce-it is a very low key resort,and the beastpart is it is on St. John. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>p <BR> <BR>

Karen

Scott's is the "premier" beach with the "premier" rooms! Hawksnest would be my second choice. The "outdoor shower" is in the garden rooms, I believe. Rosewood does offer a "split" where you can spend some time at both resorts and it is a good thing - includes transportation. Not sure how that would work flying into one airport and out of another - they now charge a premium to do that!