Please recommend a beach!

[dng6325]

We will be in St Thomas for 1 day from a cruise and would love to hear your opinion on which beach would be best for our family. We are a family of 4 who loves snorkeling but also a quiet and relaxing beach where people are not packed in like sardines.

 

We will be arriving on December 24th. It looks like we'll be the only ship that day, and we will be docking at Crown Bay. Our plan is to get off early and go to Coki Beach for the snorkeling, but we have also heard that it can get very crowded. With only 1 ship (roughly 2500 passengers) docking, do you still think Coki will be overrun by people? Our back-up plan is to go to Coki first and if and when it gets too crowded for our taste, we leave and take a taxi to Smith Bay. I have heard it is beautiful, but the snorkeling is not too great.

 

What do you experts think of our plan? Is it feasible with a 8-4pm time frame? Or should we just plan on going to 1 beach? And if so, which beach would you recommend? We do not need any amenities as we will be bringing our own snorkeling gears and can pack food before heading to the beach.

 

Thank you very much for any input.

[beautifulbill]

It is difficult to judge how crowded a particular beach will be. With one ship in port none of the beaches should be to crowded, but sometimes the ships have arrangements with certain tours and they take everyone to one beach which means they bring a crowd with them.

 

Coki and Smith Bay are close to each other so you could easily do both, but if I were to choose one I would choose Smith Bay.

[Ms411]

There will be hotel/condo guests, family members, and locals at all the beaches during the holidays in addition to the cruise passengers.

 

Coki is a very local beach, so Smith Bay is the better option. You might want to consider a day sail.

[blue_water]

Sapphire will be quiet in comparison to Coki and would be our choice. But if you like a livelier vibe Coki will be a great day.

[negn]

Just returned from Sapphire and was disappointed. Area in need of much repair. Murals show plans for the beach renovations but nothing has started. Very rocky also.

[blue_water]

Just returned from Sapphire and was disappointed. Area in need of much repair. Murals show plans for the beach renovations but nothing has started. Very rocky also.

 

What is in need of much repair, negn? The restaurant and pool bar? They are closed (the restaurant is boarded up), but that affects condo owners and renters more than day visitors because the beautiful pool is for condo guests only, and there are a few food and drink options at Sapphire. Sand does shift and can expose rocks, and there is also a rocky area as well.

So are you disappointed with your experience because you were under the impression this was a full-service hotel or resort property? If so, For your next visit Magens is a large, sandy bay with dead calm water and similar amenities, and Lindbergh Bay offers more of a hotel experience with the Best Western. Or if you just weren't impressed with the natural beauty, natural shade, and island views Sapphire just isn't for everyone...:)

[dng6325]

Thank you for all the responses. This is our first time in St. Thomas, so we would prefer staying on the island. I'm leaning toward going to Smith Bay. How is the snorkeling there?

 

Thank you!

[negn]

What is in need of much repair, negn? The restaurant and pool bar? They are closed (the restaurant is boarded up), but that affects condo owners and renters more than day visitors because the beautiful pool is for condo guests only, and there are a few food and drink options at Sapphire. Sand does shift and can expose rocks, and there is also a rocky area as well.

So are you disappointed with your experience because you were under the impression this was a full-service hotel or resort property? If so, For your next visit Magens is a large, sandy bay with dead calm water and similar amenities, and Lindbergh Bay offers more of a hotel experience with the Best Western. Or if you just weren't impressed with the natural beauty, natural shade, and island views Sapphire just isn't for everyone...:)

 

Have been to St Thomas numerous times and have been to many beaches Emerald, Honeymoon, Meagans ,Coki but 1st time at Sapphire.

As we drove in ,I noticed tennis courts had not been tended to in what looked like years. Yes, that would not effect the beach but kind of indicative of upkeep in general.

Cement walkways were cracked and crumbling and a fall hazard. Beach could have used a good raking also. BR fairly clean but when walking there was able to have show of men using urinal

Do admit other people there were quite pleased with the snorkling and the views were beautiful.

Also had difficulty getting taxi back to ship. As we were the only ship in port, beach was empty. 3 taxis did not want to bring us back as there were only 2 of us. I tried to explain we were it, no others there. Also quite rude about it.

And to add insult to injury... beer was warm !

[Ms411]

dng6325, the snorkeling at Smith Bay is good if you swim further out. The snorkeling close to shore is not that great, but if the water is calm, there's sea life close to the rocky areas to the left as you face the water.

 

Very little if any sea grass, so may not see any/many turtles.

 

No refreshments currently available at Smith Bay Park.

[catugirl]

What is a good beach for swimming and sunbathing and maybe walking on the beach, with loungers and umbrellas for rent? We're not interested in sunbathing. Thanks for your input.

[catugirl]

Sorry, what I meant to say is we'ew not interested in snorkeling.

[blue_water]

What is a good beach for swimming and sunbathing and maybe walking on the beach, with loungers and umbrellas for rent? We're not interested in [snorkeling]. Thanks for your input.

 

Magens, Lindbergh, and Sapphire ar all good choices for swimming, walking beaches with either umbrellas or natural shade. Secret Harbor and Coki wouldn't be good choices because they're smaller bays, more crowded, and not as walkable.

 

Magens is the longest beach, you can walk from the most crowded section but will have no lounges there. Very calm water and pretty bay, but no island views and the food leaves much to be desired in our opinion. Also just too busy for our tastes, even with 1 ship in port. But definitely ranks up there as a walking beach.

 

Lindbergh (aka Emerald Beach) is also long and home to the Best Western which offers more of a hotel experience with a nicer restaurant, beach bar, and restrooms. The Island Beachcomber is a more casual property with a more "locals" vibe. A good beach choice, especially if docked in nearby Crown Bay.

 

Sapphire is a bit shorter but definitely walkable, we walk it in the morning for exercise when the night before wasn't a late one:p. No umbrellas needed as there is abundant natural shade. Pretty island views and gorgeous sapphire and azure water colors. No real restaurant but there are a few food and drink options with runners taking orders on the beach, we love the mahi mahi sandwich at the Banana Cabana.

 

So we'd suggest Lindbergh or Sapphire!

 

[EDIT] Hull Bay is also walkable and has a beach bar and you will be virtually alone there from the ship. Natural shade, but no lounges for rent that I know of.

Edited October 24, 2015 by blue_water

[O2B@Cagain]

catu: Magens has the longest swath of walkable beach and has a gentle, sandy entrance. A favorite pastime is bobbing in waist to chest high water with a drink in your hand. The bar provides beach servers who will bring your painkiller right to you. :D Lounge chairs are available.

[blue_water]

Have been to St Thomas numerous times and have been to many beaches Emerald, Honeymoon, Meagans ,Coki but 1st time at Sapphire.

As we drove in ,I noticed tennis courts had not been tended to in what looked like years. Yes, that would not effect the beach but kind of indicative of upkeep in general.

Cement walkways were cracked and crumbling and a fall hazard. Beach could have used a good raking also. BR fairly clean but when walking there was able to have show of men using urinal

Do admit other people there were quite pleased with the snorkling and the views were beautiful.

Also had difficulty getting taxi back to ship. As we were the only ship in port, beach was empty. 3 taxis did not want to bring us back as there were only 2 of us. I tried to explain we were it, no others there. Also quite rude about it.

And to add insult to injury... beer was warm !

 

Tennis courts are not part of the SBRM property.

We never saw walkways in disrepair while staying there the last 3 years, the walkway between the dive center and condo bldg 1 is actually useable for wheelchairs. Perhaps you're speaking of near lobby which is currently closed along with the restaurant and pool bar??? Th closures are an ongoing issue but do not impact day visitors.

Restrooms are great in my opinion for free beach restrooms. Not sure what you mean by show of men using urinal, the bathroom is enclosed with an outside entry???

If it's a quiet day and taxis heading back to port aren't stopping in because they're not going by Sapphire you can flag a taxi or the $2 bus at the top of the hill.

Did you get the beer yourself at Dive In or have it delivered by a runner from BC or SV?

 

Hopefully others there than day can report with more a positive experience.

[luv2travel06]

What is a good beach for swimming and sunbathing and maybe walking on the beach, with loungers and umbrellas for rent? We're not interested in sunbathing. Thanks for your input.

 

 

We enjoyed Morningstar Beach. Short taxi ride from port.

[Peachy59]

We were planning to taxi to Sapphire next month but now I'm worried about getting a taxi back. :eek: We will be the only ship in port on a Sunday.

[Ms411]

How many of you? Ask the taxi who takes you to bring you back. If that driver won't, you should call East End Taxi if there is no taxi. The dive shop should be able to call them if your phone doesn't work.

[Peachy59]

How many of you? Ask the taxi who takes you to bring you back. If that driver won't, you should call East End Taxi if there is no taxi. The dive shop should be able to call them if your phone doesn't work.

 

Just 2 of us.

[beautifulbill]

I am surprised that a taxi would not take you back from Sapphire. But taking a taxi in St. Thomas is much different than what most are used to in a taxi ride. The drivers are always looking for additional fares and may stop to pick people up. They may also stop in the middle of the road to talk to another taxi or a friend on the side of the road.

If you are someplace where no taxis are nearby call 340-774-7457 and they will send a taxi for you.

[Ms411]

It is easier for them to get return fares from Coki, and it's closer to the dock but they charge the same to go the further distance to Sapphire ($10 per person each way), so naturally the taxi drivers prefer to take people to Coki.