Secret Harbor is GREAT! Great rooms, great staff, great beach, great snorkeling, great restaurant, great mass...massues...massoose...massage person! Just a great place all together!!

Marty, Gee this is fun!! Thanks for the info. Also for the ecotent info. The ecotents sound like they are rightup our alley! Should we bring water purifier? so we've got 3 days on STJ and 3 at Secret Harbour. Will the Carnival make it tough for us to get around? Especially for the airport on Sat, 30April? Thanks!!

It's cistern water,so I never drink it. We just bring a gallon of bottled water. Since you will only have 3 days there, I'd keep the luggage space freefor all the goodies to take home! Haha!

As far as leaving on the 30th, just take the Northside down to Nisky, and you won't have any trouble. The taxi drivers will probably be watching the festivities, so renting a car is a good bet. As far as getting around, you won't have any trouble except when going near town. If you want to go to town during the festivities, go early, or park by the cruise ship dock, across from Pueblo, and walk into town. It'll take 10 or 15 minutes, but worth the walk to be out of the traffic. You could taxi in from there for $3 each, but I'd just walk.

Donna: You will probably arrange your airport pick-up time with Stanley, the main Secret Harbour taxi operator. You will tell him what time your plane is and he will tell you wnat time he'll pick you up. He knows the back roads, so don't worry. Carnival on the East End is pretty quiet. You will find some restaurants and shops closed that weekend, as many people take time off, either to do Carnival or to get away!!

Hello Donna,

I don't think being here for Carnival is a bad thing. You have the oppurtunity to enjoy part of our biggest cultural event! Since you are leaving on the day of the adults parade you might head downtown and catch a couple hours of the children's parade on Friday and perhaps go to the village one evening to enjoy some local foods - alternatively you could come over on the day of the food & crafts fair (the 27th). The downside would be if you planned to shop downtown - as thats where the parades take place of Fri & Sat so stores will be closed. You can read about Carnival and see pictures in our Carnival Section at https://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/carnival/

Secret Harbour is a great spot & choice.

For getting to the airport on the parade day - as mentioned there are alternative routes that bypass downtown. The taxis will know the best route and if you have a rental car the folks at the hotel can show you on a map which way to go.

--Islander

OHMY don't get me started about secret harbour!
i will find my old post and put the link here....

YOU WILL LOVE IT
we are going this april THIRD TIME SINCE SEPTEMBER!

as for carnival is it like miracle on main street where the shops stay open with great sales?

anyone know what date miracle on main street is in dec 05

Here is Ginger's Review...

TOP RATING! FIVE STARS!
couldn't have been more perfect!

PHOTOS HERE

http://share-dell.shutterfly.com/action/share/landingA3?i=EeAMnDZk5btGbfbg&x=1&sm=0&sl=0

I will write a much more detailed report but for now i have to say that everything was perfect!
american flight direct to st t was lovely! so quick you never realize it from new york...

budget rent a car was 169 for an automatic four door car(they gave us an upgrade...and well worth it for the full week....those taxis can add up if you want to get around and they are per person etc...
no problems with budget at all i highly recommed them

secret harbour is HEAVEN...we checked out almost every other hotel we could and we couldn't wait to get back to our new 'home' on nazareth bay!
all the rooms are great.....we preferred the top floor with lots of light and sun and central view of the bay! all the furniture was white wicker and the floors white tiles and the kitchen new white formica can't go wrong so clean and lovely...
who can beat it....just steps from your one bedroom condo is your beautiful clean beach .....the room had cable...so we were able to watch hurricane frances every day etc..and even catch a movie at night...

the front office is incredible the PEOPLE make the place for sure!
MARGARET is a doll at the front desk and she made sure every need was taken care of from the start! also JULIA TOO....two great ladies
earnest halliday the manager was great he always took time to check on us and kept everyone smiling..he is a great host!!!
SANDRA in reservations is THE BEST! she really knows her stuff and even helped us see some other rooms since we are thinking of having a family reunion in the near future and some of the two bedrooms were great for that! THANK YOU SANDRA! YOU GAVE US THE 'PERFECT ROOM' and your lovely personality made us feel so welcomed!

we were a three minute ride to red hook which has everything you need
THANKS TO ISLAND PAUL.....WE HAD ALL THE SCOOP AHEAD OF TIME..WHERE TO GO WHAT TO DO! ETC....THANK YOU PAUL!
THIS BOARD WAS WONDERFUL ....IT IS HOW WE MET A GREAT NEW FRIEND AND HOPE TO MEET MORE OF YOU ALL IN THE FUTURE...sorry we missed the get together it was just after we left ....!!!

marina market is best for groceries and great deli items etc....

oh and NO BUGS...just one night with some ants that my husband got rid of realizing we had a hole in the terrace door......a littel duct tape solved that problem.....

the hotel was so much better than expected.....food in the restaurant was great i loved the peanut butter chocolate pie...

also we visited st john and enjoyed hawksnest THANK YOU TO WHOMEVER HERE TOLD US NOT TO BOTHER WITH TRUNK so we just took that pic on the overlook and went to hawksnest where it was way more quiet and free!

caneel was not worth bothering with...i stayed there many times in the past but it was not the same....seems like the people who work there don't care anymore and it is not a warm welcoming place...we couln't wait to get back to secret harbour

the ferry ride with the car was easy! you have to back in to the ferry..good thing i wasn't driving!

my favorite new restaurant hands down is in frenchtown
NOCHE....amazing southwestern food...and most of all the staff there was so great we made new friends there tooo...ate there three times in the week!

shopping was as usual fun but the outdoor market just near town had the best bargains and goodies to bring home for little gifts.....unless you need perfume or jewelry you might as well just get a fun item at the outdoor market..

PAUL AGAIN THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR 'FAMILY' AWAY FROM HOME! YOU WERE THE MOST GRACIOUS HOST ON YOUR ISLAND! THANKS FOR BEING OUR NEW FRIEND!......WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR NEXT TRIP ALREADY

Ginger! You expect St Thomians to plan ahead? 😉 Miracle on Main Street will be on a Friday night,probably the 16th, but that is just a guess.

Carnival has lots of different activities. The food fair is similar to what you experienced, but it is during the day. For the two parades, all the businesses downtown will be closed, but there will be vendors around.

P.S. I see that Islander reposted your trip report...Noche has changed their theme from Southwestern to a steak house. And I am sorry you didn't like Secret Harbour. 🙂

Ginger, Hope this finds you! Thanks for all the info about Secret Harbour. It was conforting to know it is good, because there were some ugly reviews. I am not expecting Taj Mahal (sp?). I will be there the last 4 days of our trip in April. Maybe we'll catch up? Donna

Hello Ginger,

They are not similar.

Carnival is not a one day event, its a month long period of various events with a focus on culture; calypso shows and reviews, Carnival royalty pagents, food fair, parades, music, boat races... nothing to do with shopping downtown ;).

--Islander

thanks so much islander! !

and east ender you are a riot i almost thought you were serious about me hating sh

can't wait for carnival....

as for miracle on main street i will just have to book it anyway all that week just to be sure to catch the sales...