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Hey Gary,
Just got back from EBR. Don't get me wrong, it's an ok place---not bad and certainly adequate but I think you could do a lot better if it's not to late to rebook elsewhere. The staff was great. My main issue is that the place looks a little run down but they're trying to make improvements. The pool was closed for half of the week but it's open again. No big deal there as I go to lay on a beach, not by a pool. They also just repaved the parking lots and were moving in a lot of new TV's.
The good part is that we landed in STT and were actually checking into the hotel within 25 minutes! The restaurant is adequate but the menu is limited. The beach is ok but it certainly pales in comparison to the other beaches. We spent days visiting Coki, Magens, Trunk (twice) and Cinammon on St John and Cane Garden on Tortola. On a scale of 1-5, if Trunk Bay is a 5+ (and it is!), Magens and Cinammon are a 4+, Coki's and Cane Garden on Tortola (very crowded!) are a 4 and Emerald would be a weak 3. We hardly spent any time at all at Emerald Beach because there is so much better things to see in the VI's. The snorkelling at Coki's and Trunk were good. Don't bother at all to snorkel at Emerald.
The bad is that airport noise can be a factor if you care about that sort of thing. The runway is right across the street from the resort and when the planes roar over it can be deafening. On the other side of the resort over the hill lies a huge power plant and a constant hum is present but it's not too noticeable and can certainly be ignored. The air conditioners in the room run very loud and the weather stripping underneath the front door had a gap in it that allows mosquitoes. Last night my wife was eaten up in her sleep. The hot water temperature out of the sink is not that hot but the shower temp is adequate.
My intention is not to bash the place. Bottom line is that the place is adequate but it could really use a good coat of paint and a couple of other improvements. Was it totally terrible and did I hate every minute of it? Certainly not. I'm just trying to give Gary an honest review and allow him to take this info and make his own choice. I didn't visit any other resort grounds so I really cannot recommend an alternative.
The restaurants we visited in Charolette for dinner were Mafioli's (not to be missed---the view and food were awesome!), SIB's, Cuzzins and Hook, Line and Sinker; all had great food. My advice is to skip Coral World at Coki's unless your kids just have to see it.
Gary, I hope this helps. Let me know what you decide to do.
regards from Texas,
Jeff
What does EBR stand for?
EBR = Emerald Beach Resort.
--Islander
Thanks for the review Jeff, I bet its too late to change my resort location. We are suppose to be there Jan 8th-13th and we went through a travel agency. I will do some checking. Thanks from here in Arkansas! Gary
He is soooo right...the runway is almost on the hotel grounds...there i s no reason for people to book a Best Western and have the situation as to the lack of at least a decent level in the painting of thier environment......I have driven by this property and this is the downfall of Best Western...not high enough standards
Gary,
Take my advice and insist on a rebooking if you're able. I may have appeared to come across as being unreasonable about my assessment but I'm truly not a picky person. I just think that if one is paying a lot of money for a trip they should expect reasonability. If budget is a big issue then go ahead and stay but if not, reconsider.
But all in all I would rate St Thomas as one of my best trips. This was my 11th trip to the Caribbean and St.Thomas/St.John is not to be missed by a travel enthusiast. Make sure and visit Trunk Bay in St John.
I have no idea what is wrong with you people? On the island of St. Thomas, Emerald Beach Resort is the best hotel for the money, bar none. For about half of what every other hotel costs, you get more than adequate accommodations. The beach area is one of the best for a hotel, none of the "great" beaches, with only Sapphire as an exception, even have resorts. The location is better than most, it only costs $5 to get to town, instead of $12 each from Marriott, or even worse $15-18 from the East End hotels.
The airport only has a max of 20 loud flights taking off every day, most you will not ever hear. No flights go out after 9pm. You should out on the beach or on the island somewhere anyway during the day, not in your room worrying about hums from water plants. Emerald Beach is not the Ritz, nor does claim to be. It is a moderatley priced, beachfront resort that offers great rates and better than average service. If you can find a better beachfront hotel for $200 a night on St. Thomas, or anywhere else in the Virgin Islands, I would welcome your suggestions.
I must have been one of the lucky ones or maybe I had a refinished room. My room was more than adequate, paint wasn't peeling, and I had a shower that would knock me off my feet if I chose...hehe. I did have to call housekeeping for a coffee pot, but received one almost immediately. Plus, going along with what John stated, my daytimes were spent exploring the island or hopping over to St John. At night when I hit the sack I usually kept the window open and the ceiling fan on and was very comfortable...listening to only waves lightly hitting the beach.
Sorry Jeff if I steered you wrong by suggesting this place, but I really did like it and was quite pleased for the price.
Jay and John,
I agree that it is a good buy for the money compared to other places. I got 8 days for the price of what many resorts were charging for 5-6. If John will re-read my posts, my advice to Gary was that "if" money wasn't an issue then maybe he could do a little better staying somewhere else.
John, I did spend my daytime away from the hotel seeing other things, not spending it in my room "worrying" about a powerplant hum. No one "worried". Visiting 6 beaches on 3 islands within 8 days is what I call getting around. Within the same sentence in your post you desribe "20 loud flights taking off every day, most you will not ever hear". How can you not hear a "loud" flight? Doesn't the word "loud" describe extreme volume?Is it loud or is it not? Not hearing 20 jet flights a day taking off from a runway right across the street? You must be deaf, sir! Why you are taking this so personal is beyond me but I'm glad you enjoyed your stay.
Jay, you didn't steer me in the wrong direction. I originally booked this resort back in September by my own research.
My hotel room (#2103) had cracks in the walls, corners and ceilings, broken/chipped tile in the bathroom with sharp edges and a half-inch gap between the door's weather stripping and floor running the entire length of the door that allowed mosquitoes into the room. It wasn't a problem until the last night or two. Like I originally said in my first post, I didn't totally hate the place but both you have to admit that the place could use a coat of paint, as the exterior looks very shabby and my room (and probably others) needs lots of repairs.
The best thing about the hotel is that you can walk outside your door and be on the beach in seconds. That is a big plus.
I simply called it like I experienced it and tried to give advice for someone who asked me for it...
And I'm glad you did Jeff. Let me ask you, if you had it all over to do again, would you still go to EBR? Budget is somewhat in the equation, I figure if its "OK" that will give us more money to do other things. It cost us right at $2500 for the round trip + 5 nights stay. (Mostly airfare) probably cost another 3-400 to go somewhere else a little better.
Gary,
If you just need a place to lay your head at night and you don't care about the building/room cosmetics or noise then yes, EBR is a good buy. Use that additional $300-400 to visit Magens or Coki's and especially Trunk Bay on St.John. Have fun!
regards,
Jeff
Jeff I was just wondering if you had spoking to the management about your concerns regarding the Hotel. I think they would have been the best people to express your concerns regarding the up keep of the Hotel. Glad that you enjoyed the VI.
