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Anyone have information on the Secret Harbour resort? We have reservations there in April but
wanted to get some first hand info -- the good, bad and ugly. Thanks
Karen - we are staying there for our first trip to STT in April also. If you do a search on here for Secret Harbour, I'll think you'll find most say its a very nice place. Not 5 star, but they don't claim to be. I think for the convenience of being right on the beach and the price, it can't be beat. On webshots, someone posted pics of the property, inside and out, and it looked perfect to me. Not fancy but neat and clean. And the restaraunt is one the best on the island, from what I gather. here's a link to pics:
http://community.webshots.com/album/350962430wgBcpP
hope this helps, hopefully others who know the resort will post their comments...
Secret Harbour is a great location, has a good restaurant and good snorkeling. Have fun!!
My husband and I stayed at Secret Harbour this past February, although it was only for a night as we were heading to Jost the next day. The suite we stayed in was very nice and clean, it was up on the hill so we had to walk up and down a steep hill to get to the beach, bar and restaurant but that gave us the opportunity to see the whole resort. It's very well maintained, very clean and it was quiet. The beach is nice, we didn't experience any great snorkeling it was rather dull in our opinion. We ate lunch at the beach bar and the food was good. Our only complaint about Secret Harbour was that when we woke up Sunday morning there was no water in our unit. We called the desk and they had someone out rather quickly but it took awhile to fix, once we did get water it was very slow and taking a shower was a long process; drip.............drip............drip...........and that takes awhile to get the shampoo out 🙂
The staff at Secret Harbout was extremely pleasant, very nice and very helpful. They allowed us to store our luggage behind their desk as we had to check out by 10am but our ferry wasn't until 3pm. We hung out on the beach, ate lunch, had a few painkillers and relaxed. It was a nice start to our vacation.
The location is perfect too because it's a 2 minute cab ride to Red Hook. If you do plan on leaving the resort and you don't have a rental car I wouldn't recommend walking into Red Hook as the road to and from Secret Harbour is rather windy and twisty and there isn't a lot of room for people to walk, although we did see some people walking and they didn't look like they were enjoying their walk.
Hope this helps.
Karen - My family stayed at Secret Harbour last June for 10 days. The resort is very comfortable and family friendly. Both of our kids (ages 6 and 10) loved the beach. Even when one day the sea was rough, the beach was sheltered and the waves were not high at all. We had the opportunity to stay in a couple of the one bedroom beach front suites (the first room had air conditioner problems, we were promptly moved to another room, and then we voluntarily moved again because a wedding party wanted adjoining rooms). All the rooms were well kept, neat and quite comfortable. Throughout everything, the staff was extremely pleasant and helpful. The resort is very clean and very relaxing. Everyone enjoyed our trip there last year so much that we are going back again this year for 13 nights in June - can't wait to get back there!!!!
I found the snorkeling to be good, not the best I have seen, but good and if you dive, Aqua Action Dive Center is on the property which is very convenient.
As Jill said, it is close to Red Hook, but I would not want to walk there.
That is it for the good, I don't think there was any bad or ugly items to report.
My husband and I stayed there last Easter week and it was a perfect vacation. We sat on the beach most days. Could go to Red Hook, catch the ferry to St. John. Even had a day sail with the Winifred which was very private and totally enjoyed the sail especially on a wooden masted boat. We only walked to town once when we were doing the day sail and all advice told us there would be very limited parking at the marina. I hated it but it was early morning and my husband is truly the adventurous type. We have used the buses esp when in Red Hook, there is no bus stop on the access road. We have used taxis and rented cars. We are very easy travelers and take what comes our way. We have been to St. Thomas 4 times and have stayed in different places everytime, but if I go back again, would definitely stay at Secret Harbor. Have a great trip, Melissa
OClocal: Sorry, but I had to chuckle when you said that you walked "to town" from Secret Harbour. You walked to Red Hook but of course you know that.
Years back, Red Hook was just a little quiet hamlet but it's rapidly becoming a secondary congested town of sorts. However, "town" is Charlotte Amalie and there's no way that you walked there. A bit of a hike also from Secret Harbour to Red Hook and I commend your being so stalwart as to keep up with your adventurous husband. Were you just a little bit inclined to smack him in the gob after such a hike?
Karen, reports of Secret Harbour over the years have been generally excellent and you'll have a wonderful time there. I would, however, advise that you rent a vehicle for at least a few days depending on the duration of your stay. Blue Moon is an excellent restaurant which is right there but there are so many other beaches and places to explore on this small island. One good tip as far as eating out is concerned is to ask the waitstaff and bartenders where THEY eat on their nights off. They won't lead you astray.
No worries where Secret Harbour is concerned, and enjoy your vcacation. Cheers and hope this helps!