If I'm not mistaken Crystal Cove Beach Resort was destroyed in Hurricane Marilyn - if the name Crystal Cove and it's location on an old island map is but two properties over from where I live.

New island map I got just yesterday from the tourist office at Havensight doesn't show it as being in exsistence.

Smashed building - nothing happening there.

So unless there is another Crystal Cove that I'm not familiar with - which is entirely possible - you might want to find another spot for your 30 wedding guests.

I think Crystal Cove is what they call the Condos on the beach at Saphire. Some friends stayed there a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed their stay.
Bill

http://www.antillesresorts.com/2crystalcove.htm

Hello Lauren,

Crystal Cove is a small individual condos/cottages type accomodation next to Sapphire Beach Resort. The buildings form somewhat of a semi-circle around a small man-made lake and there are walking paths around the lake to the beach; a very short walk. Its a very homey, quaint atmosphere and like Bill I have heard satisfactory comments about them. Crystal Cove itself I don't think offers entertainment, as far as the fun you mentioned, but you are only a short walk from Sapphire Resort and there is a beach bar there, watersports, live music on Sunday afternoons and sometimes a Caribbean show on Saturday nights. The area is also a very short taxi ride to Red Hook where you can enjoy an assortment of bars/restuarants. Crystal Cove has 27 rooms/villas; so your group might be renting out a large portion of the place.

--Islander

Irene and I stayed there in 1998, and enjoyed it very much. Most (if not all) of the units are 1 bedroom, so that would be many units for 30 folks.

Max

The name these days is Sapphire Bay West. The one bedroom units do have murphy beds and fold out sofas as well.

Islander,

Thanks for your resposne. Where else would you recommend accommodations near Red Hook for a reasonable price? Do you think the wedding coordinator can cut a deal with Hotel Managers? Maybe a rate of $99.00 a night? I was also interested in Secret Harbour and Saphire.

Islander you are so helpful and respond so quickly to people's questions.

Thank you for all your advice.

Lauren

Hello Lauren,

You are welcome! Bolongo Bay might be another option for you to look into. Elysian is another. www.bolongobay.com and http://www.extraholidays.com

Not sure how much more weight the wedding coordinator could pull as opposed to you talking to the manager yourself and saying I have a group of 30 people and need X number of rooms what discount can you offer me (my group) to bring my business to your place. I would certainly give that a try; if you are traveling in high season (Nov-May) you will definately have less bargaining room then during slow months.

All the best!

--Islander

Good Morning Islander,

We wil be heading to St. Thomas in May to pick a place to have our wedding. We are thinking of having our wedding 4th of July weekend 2006. Since this is around carnival time, I need to send out save the date invitations as soon as possible so we can book some rooms. Our guests will be traveling from Ireland and New York. I will not be able to fly back and forth to St. Thomas on a regular basis (we live in New York) so I will need to make a quick and correct choice as to where our guests will stay.

I will checkout the websites you recommended.

Islander, your advice is greatly appreciated and thanks you for helping us with our wedding plans.

Lauren