I was at Sapphire on Sunday 4/26 and there was a beach party. Store was closed but restaurants were open. Are you saying they stopped the beach party since 4/26?

Correct - no more bars (everything is boarded up again) and no more beach Sunday. It has nothing to do with any war about tourists but is much more complicated, at least from what I've been led to understand. It's an ongoig saga - "As Sapphire Turns" but the site remains beautiful, a great venue for visitors and locals alike. Cheers!

What a sad turn of events that everything is closing again. As a long time visitor to Sapphire Beach Resort and Marina (11 years in June), I was hopeful that things were on the up-swing. Don't get me wrong, the place is "Paradise" any way you slice it. My family has vacationed at Sapphire every year since my kids (2 girls) were barely out of diapers. The oldest one just got her license. YIKES! The minute the final school bell rang announcing summer vacation, we were on a plane to Sapphire Beach to relax and enjoy the beginning of summer. That said, we've been there during the highs and lows, and still hope with great optimism that things will turn around again. The beach provides great shade for someone like myself, whose sun absorption quotient is about 15 minutes minus SPF 40. The Sea Grape Trees along the water provide small gazebo like areas for shade not five feet from the water. Don't even get me started on the sand castles that have been built over the years on that beach. With small children, it doesn't get much better. My youngest daughter, now 13 learned to swim in the Sapphire Beach Pool.

I've always booked our Sapphire Villa through the resort, no problems to date even through the lean years. And like previous times, we will board a plane at the end of June for our annual trip. With no restaurants this year, we will definitely rent a jeep! Marina Market (5 minutes away) provides everything you need for a leisurely breakfast and lunch in your room They have a great selection of wine and cheese too! A short walk past the marina, and up the hill to the "Grapevine Grill" provides the best dinners after a great day along Sapphire Beach. (Key Lime Cheese Cake to die for) We also love the "Caribbean Saloon" in Red Hook. And no trip to Red Hook would be complete without going to the store "Rhiannon". It's my families favorite!

In addition to the best beach on St. Thomas, the marina provides wave runners, as well as boat trips to the British Virgin Islands via the boat "Breakaway." I went with my oldest daughter last year, and we had a blast!

If you book a trip to Sapphire during this time, try to be in the "glass half full" state of mind. Like I said, we've been there through the lean times as well as the fat times. Its a beautiful place, albeit flawed at the moment, but after 11 years there isn't another hotel on the island I prefer. It hold great memories, and hopefully many more to come.

I took a day trip from the marina at saffire beach. I thought the resort was run down and I wouldn't want to stay there. Did not see the inside though. I stayed 2 nights in St T and 5 nights in St J. Didn't care for St Thomas at all. St John was complete paradise. You have to visit. It is like night and day between the two islands.

Catherine, you stayed 2 nights on STT? How can you possibly make an assessment of and island in that short period of time.

What did you do on STT and where did you go when you were there?

Catherine:

Yes, the resort has a lot of exposed wood (that is weathered) that makes it look "run down". But you really need to see the inside of the condos. We've been in three of them....one for a week stay in 2007. The condos are individually owned and maintained. The units that we saw were all recently updated....and were very very nice. Antilles Resorts runs the rental program there and does have certain requirements that the owners must adhere to. Again the actual condition of the interior is up to the individual condo owner....some are better than others.

As for the closed restaurants & bars....well....each unit has a fully stocked kitchen so you can prepare breakfast, etc......and be sure to rent a car for your stay.....then drive (about 1 mile) to Red Hook for a variety of restaurants & bars. Also, with your car you can explore the island and visit many of the other extraordinary beaches.

The beach at Sapphire is absolutely beautiful.

F.I.

I agree with STT. Great place to relax. Overlook the weathered decks and overheads. Salt spray does that. The rumor that I heard was a power struggle between a couple of wealth lawyers over the common areas, etc. With all units having full kitchens, don't worry about the restaurants. Be sure to rent a car and enjoy Red Hook , Marina Market, and the island experience of driving on the left. All of our visits have been great. Remember to adjust you clock and attitude to "island time".

The owner's association has no control over the restaurants and bars at Sapphire Beach. Those areas are owned by a different party. Why doesn't this person want income from these commercial entities? IMHO he's hoping to force we unit owners out for pennies on the dollar. Most owners share my view. We love the location, we love our condo and as long as we get enough renters who love it at Sapphire as much as we do; we aren't going anywhere.

I agree with you 08. We loved the location, beach, units, etc., but after going thru a forced assessment for upgrades by a condo association in florida, we got cold feet regarding a purchase of a unit at Sapphire Beach. With the amount of exterior wood on the units, the assessment would be pretty steep. For someone just visiting, we feel Sapphire is a great place. Will we stay there again? Yes. Would we patronize the restaurants on property, perhaps, but if there is not one open, it wouldn't deter us from staying. The power struggle rumor that I was referring to was a conversation at fungi's with a restaurant guy on the island. Supposedly, the rent is extremely high for the restaurant and the elec. bill was paid to Sapphire with a surcharge added. It was hinted that perhaps someone was trying to let the property get a bit distressed looking and buy the units at a greatly reduced price.

I understand every ones desire to know what is going on at Sapphire but I also feel that repeating rumors or conversations, with parties unknown ,will benefit no one. The problem is complex in so much as there is no easy or cheap solution. Thus the continued disagreements. Reasonable people must come to a reasonable agreement. Till then the problems will continue. That said Sapphire Beach is an awesome place to stay with or without the restaurants and bars. A minor inconvenience at best, given the proximity to Red Hook and the Kitchened units. On the upside, The Cocktails are MUCH cheaper from your room. Those views always seems to make all the other issues fade away.. Sapphire is truly a piece of Paradise that should not be missed. Keeps me coming back year after year.

I apologize for the rumor thing. The original post was asking about vacationing. I strayed. Sorry. Be sure to take the kids to the marina. They should love the boats and the iguanas that sometimes are sunning on the walkways.

No worries!!!! We are "seasoned" VI visitors...We've stayed on STT once....and dound STJ...stayed at Lavender Hill...rented true villas...camped at Cinnamon Bay....and even stayed at Water island....so we've sort of "done it all". Many of this was before kids ....so it is different when these little bugger need to be accommodated....LOL...so we hare hoping...(fingers crossed) that this meets all of our needs. We don't NEED the restaurants and bars to be open...but it would have been a nice amenity....yes, we do have kitchens....and with kids..that is a must...but sometimes one can dream.......and the pool side/beach bar would be heavenly!!!!

All will be ok....we will make do... I think it will suit us perfectly, actually.....as we expect to venture out quite a bit...

holly