Haven't been there yet (visiting May 18-25th), but we did get a pretty good price for the Ritz Carlton on the East End for ~$250/night. Seemed like a good deal, especially compared to $400 for Caneel bay on St. John. Like I said, I haven't been there, but the photos look amazing and you usually can't go wrong with the Ritz.

Hopefully, maybe this will help.

Sapphire Resort is lovely - the rooms for the most part or right on the beach - the bottom floor rooms you can walk right onto the sand. The beach there is nice, watersports available. The beach front buildings are being renovated right now - just the exterior - painted and things of that nature.

Ritz is great, Frenchman's Reef, Secret Harbor, Sugar Bay.... there a several of them on beach front - if you really want the beach view.

We stayed at Pavilions and Pools on our first trip (our honeymoon) so we are partial to it. We opted for the private pool (you know how honeymooners are). It is a very short walk to Sapphire Beach. It all depends on what you want to do. P & P is a little older, very quiet with a friendly and helpful staff. We had Room 108 and had a great view every morning of St. John and the other islands to the East. We did have a car so we got to travel around St. Thomas as well as St. John. P & P has a website if you want to check it out.

I'm going to St. Thomas etc. in June....as I've never been there I'm not sure where I want to locate, possible side trips to other islands etc.
Can I get by without reservations that time of year? Or does it book fairly fast. I"d like to remain flexable, but don't want to end up without anything.