Rates are tricky. I always go direct through the hotel and make sure to shop their deals. Some people like to try discount websites. In my experience, Expedia and Travelocity are usually higher than going directly through the hotel. I can't speak for the other discount sites since I am not familiar with them. In July, you should be paying an average of about $140 nt for a beachfront suite at Sapphire. Secret harbour should be slightly less. Bolongs should be less than Secret Harbour.

IMO, the line-up is like this...

Sapphire
SH
Bolongo
BW
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Sapphire wins for the beach, the pool, rooms being so close to the water, amenities, close proximity to Red Hook, the Marina, restaurants on premise (don't forget Azure), etc... Sapphire has three levels of rooms (floor 1 is a 1 bedroom/1 ba suite with also a sofa bed...it has sliding doows that open onto a patio and the patio steps off onto the sand. Building B is best, in my opinion. ....There is a second level of 1 bedrooms suites, same configuation as floor 1, but you can't walk out onto the sand and you get a little more view becasue you are higher.....The third level offers the villas - they are 2 story units with 2 baths, 2 balconies, etc. Really nice!! To me, the second story units and the villas seems to be in better condition than the beachfront walk-outs. I'm sure it has to do with the first floor units being at sea level and so close to the salt water. Each unit has a generous kitchen....full size fridge...lots of kitchen amenities.

The beach is fabulous and snorkeling at Sapphire is probably the best on the island. Red Hook is an easy 2 minute drive. The Marina at Sapphire makes for an interesting stroll to look at the boats/yachts and if you rent a boat from someplace like Nauti Nymph, they bring it to you at Sapphire. Your kids might enjoy the voleyball games. There are a few hammocks here and there out over the sand. The beach is large enough to find a spot amongst the action or a fairly quiet, "alone" spot.

Sapphire's pool is built on a peninsula, so you can sit on the pool deck and see the sea on almost three sides...with beches on either side of you. There is also a really good grill restaurant at the pool. The larger restaurant leaves much to be desired, but the pool grill is good...and if you walk up to the village (sapphire residential condos) just above the marina (on the same property), there is a really yummy restaurant called Azure. Go on Thai night :)))) The Azure restaurant has a really nice pool in case your kids want to swim while the food is being prepared.

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Secret Harbour has a fabulous beach also, with hammocks. It is a much smaller beach than Sapphire and it is quiet - just the way many like it. Really, a lovely beach and no matter where you stay, you should visit. There is a swim platform out in the water. The restaurant on the beach is one of the most enjoyed dining experiences on the island - not fancy, just good food and a lovely tropical beachfront atmosphere! Again, the units are pretty much on the sand and are generously sized(there is a small walkway between the sand and the units). The watrer at SH is very calm (like glass), whereas Sapphire has a little more ripple action going on...not really waves, but not calm as glass like SH.

SH is also close to Red Hook...maybe 3 minutes farther than Sapphire, but in the other direction. SHs drawback is the pool: it is in back of the hotel, not offering any kind of beachfront view.

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Bolongo is a lively beachfront hotel with lots of goings on....lots of great activities. Bolongo wins for activity and for drawing people in. Visitors and locals alike are found here. Karaoke gets REALLY crowded and fun....Iggies is a major draw. Even when I am staying elsewere, I find myself at Bolongo a few times during my stay. Drawbacks...the beach isn't so hot. This is not a swimming beach (from what I have seen) and the rooms are much smaller than SH and Sapphire...pretty much like standard hotel rooms. They are pretty, bright and clean...but nothing luxurious. If I recall, they either don't have kitchens or the kitchen is just a mini-fridge and a tiny microwave. For a traveler who wants to be where the nightlife is, this is it. Also, the drive to Red Hook is probably about 10-15 mins.
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I have never stayed at BW, so can't comment. Reviews seem to be mixed.

Call Hotels direct for rates. Usually cheaper than discount travel places.

Also true about airfares, I find. I use travelocity to show me who flies where and then go directly to the airlines. Most of the time they will be cheaper.

crickett : )

Thank you all. I will look into calling hotels and airlines directly

Rick

PS

Bluewater

After further looking at Secret Harbor I would it to 2nd on my list ahead of Bolongo.

I would go with what Bluewater suggested. I wouldn't even concern Best Western Emerald Beach, I stayed there & rooms bite really bad but that is up to you. I didn't like it & wouldn't stay there again. But that me others might have had a better experience than I did. I did like Secret Harbour though.

We got married on the beach and stayed at Sapphire Beach 12 years ago and loved it. Last year we went back with our daughter to show her where we got married. What a changed place! Iguanas all over, even in the pool and the units are weathered and old. The beach has eroded and is fairly rocky. As for snorkeling,Sapphire was good but the water was a little rough.

We've also stayed at Secret Harbor recently and it has become our favorite place. The beach is soft and beautiful (they rake it daily) and the water is smooth and clear. The snorkeling is hands down the best we experienced. We stayed in a one bedroom beachfront suite which was clean and decorated nicely. The bedroom is separate from the living area, which is not what we had at Sapphire. Saphire was more like a studio but I'm not sure how the other units are. The restaurant at Secret Harbor was fabulous!

If you want a quiet, clean resort with a beautiful beach I would recommend Secret Harbor.

Sapphire has more entertainment and is more lively.

What ever you decide, have a great time!

I stayed at Secret Harbour in September of 2005, and it was incredible. We had a one bedroom suite, it was amazing. I have pictures of it up on my site if you want to look around, the room pics are towards the end. But I have a lot of views of the beach and sunset from our balcony.

"http://photographicmemory.photosite.com/stthomas/"