I came back from St. Thomas 2 weeks ago cherie. I booked what I thought was a condo on Sapphire Beach Village...only to be pleasantly suprised by a ocean front room!! I was NOT gonna complain!!
It is less than 1 mile to Red Hook...we didn't walk, we had a rental car. I suppose one could walk tho! There is a grocery store in Red Hook & shops & places to eat...even a Subway!! We drove about a mile thru town to a better grocery store! And there are PLENTY of taxi's!! There are as many taxi's as we have teens on the street corner's!!

I thought Sapphire picks you up at the airport? Check inoto that! We were told we had transportation from the airport to the resort.

You won't be dis-apointed wherever you stay!! Trust me! The beach is on of the best...there is entertainment on the beach, 2 places to eat right there...& the best views ever! I'm sure there isn't anything you will complain about after you get there!! Even the rain that happens once in a while is refreshing!!

Can ya tell I lived it there!??! I would go back in a flash!

Thank you for putting my mind to ease a bit. I wish that we'll have your luck with an oceanfront room.

Last minute, my husband decided to rent a car - now I feel like we wasted the $62 for the airport pick up. Oh, well. We'll probably pick it up in Red Hook - just that he wants to make sure that the steering is on the left and the cars are automatic. Is the hotel parking free?
I'd also appreciate details about the better grocery store. I was going to ask about any gourmet stores?

I swear that (usually) I'm much more easy going than this LOL

Why don't you just get the car at the airport? Then you can drop it off when you leave there too.

The driving is on the left side of the road, but you get used to that pretty fast. The cars are automatic, but the steering wheel is still on the left side of the car!! The one thing we had to learn real fast is to watch out for the potholes in the road! That was my job as hubby drove.

I like the 'lil thing they use to remind you....."Keep your shoulder to the shoulder"!

Like I said, there is a 'lil grocery store right there by the pothole in Red Hook..but if you keep driving 'bout a mile more, there is a nicer, larger grocery store on the right hand side. It just seemed to have more!

I'm not sure about New Year's eve parties, but they do have a Sunday beach party . And live music alot in the bar down by the beach. I'm sure you won't have to go far for a nice time out New Year eve!

How long are you staying?

Check out www.sapphirebeachresort.com to get a good idea of the place.

New Year's Eve is big here, so you will have many different choices for where to join a party. My recommendation: bring your passports (or birh certificates and photo ID) and head over to the 2nd largest New Year's Party on the planet...Foxy's Old Year's Party. Check it out at http://www.foxysbar.com/

I'd stick with your airport pick-up and get your rental car right at Sapphire. They have a budget office right in the lobby. This way, after the long day of traveling, you won't have the stress of trying to find your way on an unfamiliar island, on the left side of the road, while you crane your neck in every direction looking at all the pretty views! haha!

Parking at the resort is free.

Marina Market in Red Hook is a gourmet store. The Food Center which Sitter mentioned (Hi, Pam! ), is a regular grocery store.

I don't recommend walking into Red Hook. No sidewalks. Only $3 taxi.

One week only, but I'm happy with that - haven't had a beach vacation since '96.
We'll see about the car, I'm still waiting for Budget to get back to me.
Thanks again and if you have any little tips that you remember from your vacation I'd love to hear them.

Marty, thanks a million! I was wondering when you'll come in with your wealth of information... 😀
All noted. And I wish we stayed at Sapphire Beach resort, but we'll be at Sapphire Village (which I understand is up the hill, behind the Beach resort). And the few reviews are not really glowing - but I'm sure it will be fine.
Yupee! New Year's on the beach!

Yes......get the free shuttle to Sapphire, & get your car there..but remember, then you have to take a taxi back to the airport...which is what I wished we had done!!
When you book with Budget, they give you a coupon bookley with loads of 2for1 offers like the New Horizon's sailboat day sail!! EXCELLANT!

You'll have to remember to watch the cruise ship docking's....they shuttle people to Sapphire beach for day trips. It could get crowded on the beach. Those days we you could head over on the ferry to St. John & go to one of the many awesome beaches there for the day!!

Hey Marty!!

I'll betcha you'll end up on the beach afterall cherie!!
Here's a link to check out some pictures I took, I'm sure you'll see Sapphire beach on one of them.

http://www.shutterfly.com/view/pictures.jsp?aid=67b0de21b3382e2125da

Hi
I think "sitter" is confusing Sapphire Village and Sapphire Beach Resort and Marina. I believe you said you are staying in the Sapphire Village which is located on a hill overlooking Sapphire Beach. The Village being on a hill does not have any beachfront units.
Sapphire Village is an older property and each unit is individually maintained so some are nicer than others. You will have to walk down the hill to the beach and and the amenities of Sapphire Beach ( louge chairs, towels, snorkle gear etc. )are not included.
The view from the Village is great but I don't know exactly what "island view" means.
It is just a short walk to Sapphire so you can go to their restaurants and bar. The Village also has a bar and small restaurant around their pool.
I would rent a car at the airport if you are going to rent as the taxi fare is the same or more as the one day cost of renting.
There is a market (Marina Market) in Red Hook, and just a bit further down the road a larger market (Food Court- I think).

sitter

When I copy and paste your link for pictures, it asks me for an email address and password. Am I doing something wrong? Would love to see the pics. I am arriving in St. Thomas on Dec. 26.

Hello Cherie,

You asked about walking to town... town is Charlotte Amalie; you can't easily walk there. Its about a 25 minute drive. Red Hook, which is where others have recommended for grocery stores, is as mentioned just a short drive away, couple minutes. Several places to get groceries in Red Hook, also there are restaurants, bars, the St. John ferry, an ice cream shop... very convienient.

It should be just a few dollars cheaper by grabbing a taxi at the airport. About $10 per person one way in a shared taxi, plus a couple dollars per luggage.

Have a great time.

--Islander

Cherie:

I think the kind folks on this forum took care of many of your questions. I figured I would add my own 2 cents.

Sapphire Beach is one of my favorite beaches on St. Thomas. My other favorite is Megans Bay. During my last trip in November, we met a couple who stayed at Sapphire Village Resort and they said they thought is was nice.

You are 1 mile away from Red Hook where the ferry dock is. Here you will find many restaurants, bars, souvenier shops, and a grocery. But..... don't try to walk there. I was planning the same thing and someone on the travel forum told me "dont even try it". I did try it ONCE and that was enough for me. WAY too dangerous. The roads are too narrow, there is no place to walk, and cars are driven too fast. It will cost you $4 per person each way ($16 round trip for 2 people). Expensive..... but better than getting hit by a car.

Take a day or two or ten to check out the beaches on St. John while you are there. Have a great trip.

TMax

Right on the corner you can pick up the open air taxi's for $1 - just ask before you get on. They come very regular and are a great way to get into Red Hook, into town, etc. They stop at bus stops normally. When my sister was here she had such fun on them she gave the driver $2 and asked if she could make the whole round with him :-0)
Pamela.

Oh, boy, you guys are great!!
Sitter, I can't see the pictures either, just what Roca said. And I do want to see them.

@Bill, your description sounds about right, that's how I immagined the Village. And apparently you are right about some of the studios being nicer than other. Sitter was lucky that she booked for the Village but she ended up staying at the Beach. I'm not hoping I'll be as lucky as her, but I pray we don't get a lemon of a room!
What confuses me is that the Expedia travel agent that I booked with told me that is listed as a beachfront property, and I remember her saying for sure that snorkel eqpt etc. are provided free of charge. Maybe I should call them again and make sure. But it really doesn't matter that much, I need a room that's clean and eventually has nice views.
About the taxi issue - we already booked airport pick-up r/t that I couldn't cancel. I was happy to read Marty's post this morning - it made so much sense! I'm sure it's much better to not have to drive ourselves (meaning my husband, as I don't drive - hey, I live in NY, many of us don't have a driving licence) especially that it would be for the first time driving on the left. Now I don't cry for the $62 paid anymore. And Islander, you are right too. Much more convenient this way.

@Max & all, we will definitely go to St. John. It was actually one of the reasons I picked St. Thomas. I understand there's a car ferry, right?

And last but not least, thanks for the tip Pamela. That sounds interesting - we'll try to figure out which corner LOL (kidding)

Thanks guys, keep them coming. Now I'm off to talk to Budget as I didn't get an answer yet from the stt site.

Cherie:

You are right..... this is where you can catch the car ferry as well as the passenger ferry. We did not do the car ferry thing when we were there for a few reasons. First of all, the car ferry does not run the same hours as the passenger ferry. I think the last car ferry from St. John to Red Hook is 5:30pm or 6:00pm. And you should get there at least a half hour before departure. We wanted to take our time on St. John and did not want the stress of trying to catch the last ferry at such an early hour.

The other reason is that if you are not used to the car ferry it can be a little stressful. You have to back your vehicle onto the ferry and it is a tight fit with all the other cars.

Last but not least, you really should have a 4-wheel drive vehicle to explore St. John. You can rent a Vitara for around $55 for the day.

Of course this is MHO. Other folks don't mind the car ferry. But for me..... its not my thing.

TMax

So far, I can't find a rental car... Need to do more searching tonight after work.

hi
try cool breezes on st john 55 a day

I seems that we'll have to leave the rental for when we get there. $55/day is probably throwing off our budget a bit, but we're thinking about renting for just 3-4 days now. We'll see.

But here I go with more q's 😀 Soooorrrryyyy

I read about Indigo, and I'm wondering if reservations are needed for an early dinner on the 31st. Or whatever info I can get: any special menu that night? prices? Marty, you'd be more than the best if you come up with this info.
We'll try to make it to Foxy's, but I think we'll get there later.

And I'm starting a new thread hoping that all you wonderful people will chime in.

Hello Cherie,

Yolanda's suggestion is on St. John; if you planned on spending a day over there and can get a car, its a great way to explore the island and see a lot. $55/a day on St. John is the avg. price. On St. Thomas, having a car for a few days is a great idea, will allow you more freedom to beach hop and explore.

Restaurants on New Years Eve - almost every restaurant is going to have a set menu for a set price. Makes things a lot easier... (for the staff 🙂

Yes on reservations for New Years Eve dinner. Its an excellent idea, strongly suggested.

Note on Foxys.... its on Jost Van Dyke so you have to take the ferry. The ferries on that night run at special set times. So that will affect what time you can have dinner, if its really something you want to do.

--Islander

I tried to find the phone number for Indigo without succes. 🙁
If anyone has the number, it would be much appreciated.