Hi Bob,
SEcret harbour is an awsome place. I did my scuba instruction there so I have spent alot of time there. The snorkeling is wonderful. I was there on wed. and swam with a sea turtle and a family of squid. Three aren't any trees between the rooms and the ocean except a few palms.
Enjoy!!

bob when are you going? we will be there labor day week...
i have been asking the same questions and bumped up a couple of posts on the forum that might help you....go look at the one about 'st thomas' you will see they say there is a better view from the top floor in 3 and 4 but steps to the beach and 2 and 1 are on the beach but trees block the views....
guess we have to check it out when we get there....

maybe we will see you there

I was at Secret Harbour recently and stayed in Room 725 for 6 nights (2 bedroom - 2bath) and it was beautifully decorated and had a nice view. Our last night was stayed in a one bedroom in bldg. 6. on the 3rd floor and the view was even better. Both were great. Hopes this helps.
Tamra

god i miss secret harbor ,,,,

Gary,

Me too (we stayed there in December of last year) -- and I now live in St. Croix!

Funny thing is that when I was recently returning to STX through Puerto Rico, I bumped into Ernest, the genral manager from Secret Harbor. Even though we hadn't seen him in that long while, he recognized us and talked to us as though we had stayed with him loast week instead of last year. Yes, the rooms are wonderful and you just can't beat having that amazing reef right outside of your room -- but it's Ernest and his staff that truly make staying at Secret Harbor totally stress free.

Bob,

We had one of the handicapped accessible rooms that are oceanfront -- there are only 4 of them and they sit to the right of the lobby. While the entrance to these rooms is at ground level, these rooms are actually on the second floor, so your balcony that overlooks the waterfront provides you with an amazing view. During the day, you look out upon the island and the amazing blue water, and at night you can watch the lights of teh cruise ships glide into the darkness as they leave the harbor in CA.

These rooms also have their own path down to the water -- it runs along the right side of the building and puts you within 15 feet of the shoreline, right in front of the dive center. This is at the end of the bay in which the coral reef exists, and the snorkeling there is excellent. Don't miss spending at least a day there -- and if you're eally into snorkleing, do a night snorkel too. Our one night outing found us following an octopus who we found feeding, seeing sevreal spiny lobsters, and an enormous pink sea cucumber. And when we turned off our lights, we found that the waters are filled with virtually invisible little creatures that emit a green phosphorescent light trail when agitated -- when you run your hand through the water, the darkness lights up with a million little green sparks that seems to fly from your fingertips. When you swim, it's as though there is a curtain of green stars enveloping you. It was one of the most magical experiences of my life.

Enjoy!

HC

Hi Bob,
My husband and I are planning to visit St Croix on 9/24 and are thinking about staying at the Buccaneer Hotel. We really want a little of everything: nightlife (happy hours & local music), golf, great beaches for snorkeling, volleyball, hangout with tourists & locals, etc. etc. The Buccaneer has a great room package and inexpensive golf that is what is driving us to stay there. However I'm worried we will be bored at night and thinking St Thomas might be a better choice. Originally we didn't want to stay on St Thomas because of how busy it is with cruise ships and tourists. Do you have any recommendations? Is there any real nightlife on St. Croix at this time of the year?

Thank you!

Randa

Oops! I addressed the last e-mail to Bob instead of HipCrip.

Secret Harbor is like a crap-shoot. It's a beautiful place with nice-enough rooms. It has quite a potential. It's the little things that add up to aggravation for many visitors.
My first visit years ago was great but my second was terrible. You name it, it happened.
The management booked a wedding one day that took up half the beach, squeezing all the guests into half the beach. Not fun.
The staff is beyond rude. Contemptuous better describes the staff's attitude toward guests. When I arrived, forty five minutes before check-in, the woman at the office front desk was anything but accommodating. We were treated as though we were trespassing and I was told I could only park on the grounds at my 'own risk' and not in any of the parking spots in their lot. The other staff members walk around with sullen faces and twice during my stay, workers pulled up in front of my room in an old truck and began cutting the palm trees. Both times, the two guys doing it were having a vulgar conversation laced with profanity across several yards at an equally obscene volume. Both times they littered my umbrella and chair with the falling palms. I saw them move a couple of ladies chairs out of the way but both times, while I was in the water, I returned to find my sunglasses and book and towel covered in dirt under the cut palms. This is true of almost all the male staff who walk around the place as though they feel challenged by your presence. One guy asked me every day for one week straight(the same guy) if I was staying at the hotel or else I had to pay for the chair I was sitting on. Another guy closed my umbrella and kind of packed up my chairs even though we were still enjoying the beach and their was still sunshine. I opened it back up and went back into the water and he came back and did it again. Why didn't he pack up all the other people out still there?
Try to bring a bottle of water before you try to get a drink at the bar; it's going to be a long wait and don't let the bartender charge you double even if he asks if he got "that last one?" What last one?!?!?
You'll also be glad to know that hate also flies free at the bar, so as you're being held hostage for your beverage, you'll probably be able to hear your city or section of the country disparaged. The good thing about that though, is unlike all the other nickel and dime-ing at Secret Harbor, there is no fee for this service.
The food at the restaurant is great and as a food professional, I have to really feel for the chef. The food is consistently well above par and I have never had a bad meal where the food is concerned. Again, the staff destroys another winning situation that could easily attain four stars if they didn't employ waiters who can't shut their mouths, or in the case of another, was visibly drunk each time I visited.
So, if you like gambling then this might be place the place for you. It's no secret the management is only in it for the bucks, enjoy all the sullen faces.

Mike: Tell us how you really feel! 😉

I wonder why you dredged up a 3 year old thread for this. Me thinks you have a burr under your saddle for some reason...

I agree EE! was wondering myself why someone would respond to a post from 2004. I had an absolutely wonderful experience with Secret Harbour, and the service at the bar was an A+ !!

Something's up, for sure. Actually, the post makes it sound like Mike feels like the staff at SH has a personal vendetta against him. That wouldn't affect other visitors.

In all of the years we've been on this forum reading post after post about SH, i have never read anything close to this.

I've never stayed at SH because I thought the rooms needed updating. Now that many of the rooms have been renovated, I'd love to stay there.

Mike: If you're referring to the restaurant and bar at Blue Moon then be advised that this is independently owned and operated.. As a restaurateur myself I'm very picky about where I eat and although you commend the restaurant on the quality of its food, I have eaten there many times and have NEVER experienced anything akin to the disparagement you cast on either the waitstaff, the bartenders or the "hate" atmosphere at the bar.

I should add that the owner of Blue Moon is a good friend of mine but please don't assume that I'm incapable of thinking independently outside that "box" as that is the farthest thing from the truth.

Both the restaurant and the resort are very rarely dunned. I'm really sorry you had such a dreadful time there but I felt compelled to respond to such a derogatory post in case somebody researching comes across it and thinks that your comments are the norm. Cheers.

STT Res:

Is that you Richard?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!! No, STTRes isn't Richard.

Thank you dntw8up!

Who's Richard?

LOL. Make note...STTRes' alter ego is Richard.

The Blue Moon is one of the very best restaurants on the entire island - as is the whole resort. It is unfortunate that you had a bad experience. The policing of the beach chairs is necessary as many people visit the cove to do their awesome snorkeling. Secret Harbor is unbelievably good for this - as you all know who have stayed there.
I also know the chef and some of the staff there - as well as Julie, the owner. This is a well run, beautiful, and great dining experience....to say the least. Don't miss the wonderful time you can have here, everyone!

Julie is one of the greats! Cheers!