We are booked there for only 2 nights in April but after reading all of the bad stuff I think we will change. I have already had a bad experience with them. They charged our credit card upon booking a room and agreed they shouldn't have. When they went to fix it they charged it again instead of crediting it. It took alot of phone calls to fix it. I finally called the main Best Western and let them deal with it. I don't need luxury but filth is not something I want to deal with. From what I have read some people think it is OK if you are just going to spend a few nights but I haven't heard from anyone who thinks of it as a destination.

I'm looking into some other options. Any ideas out there for clean, and not too expensive for 2 nights on STT?

Hi Mandy,

I know folks who have stayed there over the past several years and really enjoyed it. What I have heard is that the rooms are dated....typical Best Western type hotel room layout. I don't know anyone who has had a bad experience there. We've visited the past two years for drinks at the outside bar and the folks we've spoken to who were staying there were pleased. Lindbergh beach is very nice......like Magens, it's one of the longer beaches on STT. IMO you get what you pay for and it's a pretty good place for what you pay. It would be a good base of operations for a stay on STT. Personally I prefer to stay out on the east end, but it's easy enough to get around the island that location alone shouldn't dictate your decision either.

Schultz

We used Bunker Hill B & B in downtown Charlotte Amalie. Not a long term stay, we used 1 night waiting for STJ villa, but it was clean, very convenient and priced reasonably. 2 blocks from the main shops and not far from 99 steps historic district.

This whole thing is very confusing. Check out the reviews at the following url

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g147404-d150893-Reviews-Best_Western_Emerald_Beach-St_Thomas_U_S_Virgin_Islands.html

About half say the place is filthy and awful and the other half liked it. I can't understand how people can have such different experiences.

Exactly!! The reviews I read prior to booking the vacation all said that they loved it. The reviews I've read in the last week all said that they hated it and how filthy it was.

I called Best Western's customer service department and no complaints have been filed with them. I called the hotel directly and asked if there were any changes. The lady said that there was a management change and that the hotel was on the way back up. Now, I tend to believe her because she didn't have to tell me they had any changes at all.

I think we've decided to take our chances and stay at the Emerald Beach Resort, with fingers crossed it won't be as bad as the latest reviews.

Mandy

We stayed at Best Western Emerald Beach September 15-20, 2004. I quess we didn't stay at the same resort as some of the others that have the nasty complaints. I liked the hotel and no one was rude. It was our first (but not last) visit to St. Thomas and St. John. We were on a semi-budget and were pleased with the price of the room. The bed was firm, the sheets were clean and there weren't any bugs. We had a balcony with two chairs and a table with a view to die for. I had read bad reviews as well and was kind of nervous, but we did not experience any of the problems that some others have mentioned.

I found this board a couple of days before we to go to St. Thomas. I WISH I had found it earlier. Its a wealth of information. I recommend as most people seem to - rent a car. My husband had no problem learning to "stay left".

Make sure you say "good day" as you met people in stores, walking, beaches, etc. It makes a world of difference to everyone and will make your experience a lot more fulfilling.

I, personally think that the bad reviews are from snobby people...I mean, jeez, we have a Ritz Carlton on island and it still has people complaining. These are folks from the NYC area, usually. Just my HO. The only thing I would complain about Emerald is the air traffic noise....but that's only about once an hour. And the beach more than makes up for it...absolutely gorgeous. Go ahead and book it, and let us know what you thought of when you get back, as that will help other folks decide if it is right for them.

Thanks and have fun!!

The airport seemed to all but shut down after dark when I stayed there Sept '03. I work for an airline, and live about 10 miles from an airport so the noise never bothered me anyway. 😉

I also had a good room, although slightly dated as said by most, but mine was cleaned everyday and bedding was changed everyday. I think for the folks like me who are more budget minded but still want a decent place, the EB is just fine. Plus, most of the time will be spent exploring the islands anyway. 🙂

Hi,

Personally, I wouldn't put a whole lot of credibility in some of the really negative reviews on that board. Tripadvisor.com is the only place that I have ever read a really bad review of Secret Harbour resort. In going through that posting I had real doubts that the person writing it had ever actually been to the resort due to some of the clearly erroneous things that were said about the resort layout , room layout etc. It seems to me a times to be a hangout for flamers who like to trash some of the island hotels for whatever reason. Not to say that there can't be negative reviews, but take the really bad ones with a grain of salt. Just my opinion.

Schultz

Mandy, will you post us as to the conditions at Best Western Emerald beach. We are going in Feb. for 2 wks. and now I am concerned. We stayed there 2 wks. Feb. 2004 and it was fine. Older but clean and everyone was very helpful. Nice patios and beautiful beach.

We just returned last night from our stay at the Best Western EBR. YOu couldn't ask for a better place to stay on the island, in my opinion. The rooms were modern, clean, and located on beautiful Lindbergh Bay. Anyone who is considering staying there should go ahead and book it - you get much more than you pay for!! I put up a full commentary on tripadvisor.com which should be posted in a day or two hopefully! All of the negative reviews were totally unwarranted in my opinion!! Go ahead and book your stay at the EBR, you won't be sorry! Oh, and do have one of Sam's Bushwacker's!!!!

Mandy

Thanks Mandy. We stayed there for 2 wks last Feb. and felt the same way as you do now. Yes the Bushwackers are teriffic. We are seniors and the location was good as we did not want to be driving. We we're there 18 yrs. ago with our children, stayed at Secret Harbor and did all the things tourist do. Now it's R & R and beach time with some shopping. I was so glad that I had read your first message on this board. When you said they had new Management, I called to confirm our res. for Feb 2005. Thank god I did. They had cancelled our Res. Said they did'nt have a Cr. Card # They we're able to re-book us without a problem. We are looking forward to getting out of this cold weather and snow. . Thanks again.