Secret Harbor would appeal to you more I believe from the seclusion aspect you mentioned. To see a view of Secret Harbor that you might not have seen, facing it from across the open water, check out the Panorams Gallery on my website at: http://bastenphoto.com.

I would personally choose a beachfront studio, as you will definately be spending a great deal of your time outdoors and in the water at this great beach. Great snorkelling and scuba diving, and great place to just hang out and read a book.

I'm a little surprised at the $2500 figure as it seems high, but then I don't know that much about pricing, I go by what my eyes tell me.

Don't get me wrong, Saphhire is a great great beach, and perhaps even has better snorkeling and diving........but seclusion, that to me would be the nestled in the crook of the land - Secret Harbor.

Let me know when you're here and you can wave at me across the bay! LOL

Gary,
I don't know anything about Secret Harbor or Sapphire but for comparison's sake my wife and I got 8 nights at Best Western Emerald Beach resort with R/T Airfare from D/FW for $2650 through a sale on the American Airlines website when I booked it in Sept. Emerald Beach resort is directly on Lindberg Bay beach. I found it to be perfect for what we were looking for.

Check out their pix and features on http://www.emeraldbeach.com/sub1b.html

Hope this helps...
Jeff

Thanks Jeff, now looking at Emerald Beach too. The round trip is what is getting me , looks like they are all around $2500 for 5 nights, expedia has $2483 for Emerald Beach, Secret Harbor is $2503 and Sapphire Beach is $2653 Thanks for any more advice. Gary

Emerald Beach is no comparison to Secret Harbor or Sapphire. Secret Harbor is quiet and calm. Sapphire may have a better view but larger etc. Forget about Emerald. It is downtown!!

Emerald Beach is downtown??? When I stayed there a couple months ago I couldn't see any businesses other than the airport. It took a few minutes by cab to get to CA.

The other places might be a little nicer or quieter, but I enjoyed my stay at Emerald Beach and will likely stay there again. Of course I might just be easily pleased when I can overlook the bay and walk right out to the sea just outside my room. 🙂

Emerald Beach is not directly downtown.

I'm with Jay; the biggest appeal about deciding upon EBR was the ablility to walk a few step from your room to the beach and the view from the balconies.

Hello Gary,

For your option of wanting seclusion - Secret Harbor might appeal to you more as it is a bit further away from "things"; its sort of nestled in a cove along the base of a hillside in front of a bay/ocean. Things being stores, main road, town ect... they are all close enough since the island is small but still seem "far".

If its the ability to be right on the beach that you want then all three options would work, Emerald Beach rooms are all basically "beach right outside the porch/balcony"... Secret Harbor has beach front rooms and so does Sapphire - they also have non-beach front rooms.

On a side note - the restaurant at Emerald Beach - the Palms has great food, service and atmosphere. The Restaurant at Secret Harbor - Blue Moon Cafe has great food, service and atmosphere. 🙂 obviously I think food is important too. LOL

Happy Planning.

--Islander

Thanks so much everyone!!! Talked to a travel agent today and they asked if I would be interested in Bolongo Bay Resort? More choices......thats not what I needed! lol
I'm kinda thinking about Emerald Beach more as it will be cheaper for a taxi from the airport and going downtown. I also like the looks of the smooth sloping beach for swimming. Never been in the water. Going to have a blast regardless of where I stay I'm sure. I'll keep looking till I get closer. Gary

Gary, just so you're not in shock when you get there...the taxis from the airport charge about $4.00 per bag. I'm not sure if they charge for people since my wife and I had 3 bags and were charged $12.00 from the airport to Emerald Beach. Another couple in our cab had more bags and were charged $20.00 for the 1/4 mile ride. Pack light! 🙂

Like Islander said, the Palms restaurant at EB has great food, and the restaurant is open air. The bartenders at the little beach bar were also great and very friendly, plus you might meet some interesting people who are either locals or travellers.

The beach is very nice and you can walk way out into the water without worrying about dropping off a ledge...heh.

Wherever you go I'm sure you'll have a blast...

and now I'm envious of you because it'll be around next fall before I'll get to come back. 🙂

Jay

Hello Gary,

Bolongo Bay is also nice and beach front - however because you said you have never been in the water - ocean I wouldn't recommend Bolongo as the beach is not as nice as Emerald Bay but of course its easy to get to other beaches on a small island. Emerald Beach has a nice beach.

Jay is right about the taxis - they charge per person and additional for luggage. I always look at the published rates I have from the taxi commission for estimating fares and it says $1 per bag over the first one and $3 per person from Airport to Emerald. Ronnie posted in another thread though that the airport has a chart up with what seems to be different fares. $12 certainly does seem like a bit for such a short distance.

--Islander

Thanks Islander, Emerald is looking better more and more for what we are looking for. I don't think the few daytime planes will bother us, and the palms restaurant sounds like a nice place for lunch. We look forward to going out at nights to eat........and yes.....the food does matter! 🙂

I leave for Emerald Beach resort on Friday morning. I'll post a review when I get back.

regards (and soon to be on a beach....)
Jeff

You better bring back a good report, cause I just booked it!!!! Be there Jan 8-13th

Cool Gary! Congrats!

I feel somewhat "responsible" for your decision (LOL). I hope EBR lives up to it's billing. Regardless, I'm sure it will be more than adequate and the airport noise won't bother me a bit. Not much bothers me when I'm lounging in a beach chair staring at a beautiful blue/green shoreline, you know?

Jeff and Gary...tell the beach bar bartenders Sam and Rolston I said hi!...(LOL...just kidding!) Watch out for Rolston, he'll never let your Bushwhacker glass go empty...and then you'll get the bill and realize they're pretty expensive. 😀

Enjoy your trips!

*pout*

🙂

Will do, Jay!

Sam and Rolston---that itself sounds like a brand of beer. 🙂

I have booked a by owner for Dec 25 -Jan 1st beach front Sapphire 1 br suite
for 1600.00.. A couple out of Chicago..
you need the contact let me know

At the airport it SAYs bags are 1 dollar- bags can be up to 4 dollars at the taxi drivers discretion. He will show you a list in his taxi AfTER you get to your destination which will tell you how much he will charge you for each bag. He may also tell you of his pick up fee, night fee and any other fee he can think of at the time. BEFORE you get in the taxi i would ask him this way " when i get out of your taxi, at the location im going to and get all my bags out of your car, how much will you charge me for this trip?" The signs at the airport say whatever they say and he will agree with whatever they say before the trip. Example- how much to blackbeards castle? answer- points at board, that will be 4 dollars. Reality- when you arrive at said destination- that will be 3 dollar pickup fee, 4 dollars for the bag, it was night time 3 more dollars...and so on. There are some who are probly starting to think im making this , and other stuff up, for those i say...go get in a taxi and look like a happy smiling tourist who just got here Im not smiling anymore...

Whew---sounds like some good advice.

Thanks Tony.