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overall, it was a fun trip, the island isn't bad, little on the small side and you can run out of things to do if you currently live near the beach (I'm in LA).
however, the wyndamn sugar bay resort was one of the worst hotels I've ever stayed in. The service is non-existant, the staff could careless about helping, and is borderline indignant. The hotel is like a best western with a veneer. Food is average at best. Maid service came by "2" times in 7 days, didn't matter how many times you called house keeping. The journey spa there is fair to average but priced quite high. 50 min massage is $120 bucks. The "all inclusive" is only a good deal if you plan on eating all your meals at the hotel and enjoy buffet junk. I didn't do it, but others in the party did. What is funny.. if you get a burger from the grill down at the pool, it's $9.. and burger is like something from mcdonalds. However, the guy who works it, shawn is the only employee in the entire hotel that is fun, helpful and pleasant.. well Doc the bartender in the casino as well.
I did have fun at some of the local bars, most of which where in red hook. caribbean saloon has the best bartenders around, and that goes for bars here in LA too. Guys were all friendly, fun, and hook you up. Duffys when it's going off is fun. Friday night there was easily a good 200 people there. Pour mans (next to duffys) is a dive, but in a good way. pools tables and you pour your own drinks, can't beat that. Downtown has some good places too, but way too far to go from sugar bay.
if you plan on going out to party late at night, make friends with a local private cab driver. It's the only way you'll be getting back to your hotel at night or out anytime after 11:30pm. Hooked with a guy named john (I got his # if anyone needs it), no matter where I ended up, or what time it was, he'd show up. he works the 12am-6am shift.
If you want to do some good skin diving, hit up another part of the island, the beach at sugar is decent if you've never been diving before, but not a lot to see there.
The heat in the caribbean is a monster.. especially coming from the west coast where it's 72F and low humidity. It took me a day or two to be able to bear it, never got used to it tho. Coming back to the hotel room was always a nice treat... a/c. haha.
all in all tho, it was a fun trip (went for a wedding), not sure I'd go back however. Mostly due to how long it takes to get there from California (~12-14 hrs, flights + layovers). Hawaii is a lot easier and nicer imo.
getting out of st.thomas was a monster. check in counter is outside in the heat, lines are deep and the agents work at island pace. I got to the airport at 2:30pm for a 4:40 flight. I didnt get to the gate until ~4pm. Lot of waiting and standing around. The american airlines ticket counter has 1 lady working. customs is a bit quicker and at least inside and air conditioned.
what is kinda of funny.. a gallon of rum costs $3 and a gallon of milk $6.
The experience would have been better if the Wyndham was better.. all 50 people in the wedding party had the same complaints as well as most the other guests I talked to.
Luckly, the weather (sans the heat) was perfect. The day I flew in, miami was getting hit with that tropical storm and the forecast was rain all well. It ended up only raining 2 times and only for like 2-3 hours.
-d
Sorry you had such a bad time at the Wyndham. We have stayed there three times with no issues. Perhaps they were over-booked or something. We get the all-inclusive plan but truthfully spend a majority of the time exploring STT, STJ and Jost. If you spent 7 days at only the Wyndham and didn't get to explore the rest of the VI's, I imagine you did have a bad time! Haven't been to Hawaii, but I can't imagine a more perfect place in the world than the VI's -- even with the heat! Then again, the flights from STL to STT are around $450 and the flights to Hawaii are 8 hours and $1,500.
I guess it's all where you start from!
Sorry you had a bad experience. But don't shrug off the islands so fast...there are so many other places to stay and things to do.
If you've never been to Hawaii, you should go some time in your life. I haven't been for several years, but I remember the snorkeling being better than in the VI. It's a very different experience from the VI. On the whole, the VI is more relaxed and laid back, Hawaii is more luxurious with better infrastructure and better service. But both destinations are worth your time.
I totally agree with you about Hawaii and about the snorkeling. I live in San Diego and have been to Hawaii 8 times so this year I went to St. Thomas. There seems to be more coral but not as many colorful fish. I knew I was giving up some of my favorite fish that are not present in the Caribbean (one being the Moorish Idol) but I was hoping to see queen angels. Unfortunately we never saw them. I have been thinking about going back and stay on St. John or possibly the BVI since I have been to Hawaii so many times.
I didn't have a "bad" time. Outside of the sugar bay's non-existant customer service, the rest of the island was fun and it was a good week of hanging out with friends and partying.
I might go back at some point in the future, but on the list of vacation spots it's just not near the top of the list for a return trip. the VI's are nice, but not 12-14 hours in planes and airports nice.
however, this relative.. I live at the beach in socal and surf 3-4 days a week. so for me personally, the island/beach stuff isn't that big a deal... unless there's good surf. which is why I like hawaii, especially in the winter.
The next trip to the area will probably be Puerto Rico. Great surf and I can get a non-stop flight there from LAX.
If I do head back to St.Thomas, I'd probably stay @ Bolongo Bay. Talking to one of the locals, they said it's one of the better places on the island.
Have stayed at the Wyndham Sugar Bay three times -- first time it was great -- and it was downhill from there. So I haven't gone back in years.-- and would not even consider it an option now. I'd suggest trying St. John -- a wonderful place! I also love Maui -- but being from North Carolina -- the air trip is tough. Cheers, Sunfish
Hi -
As you can see from my "name" I'm also in California - Southern California. When we went to St. Thomas last year, my husband's company did all the travel arrangements and our flight, with TWO plane changes took 16 hours! I guess they went for the cheapest ticket possible or something. I'm planning a return trip to St. John for next year and I have found flights that are only 8 - 9 hours and still have a fairly decent price. The flight I'm choosing is a red-eye out of LAX at 11:15 at night with one layover at JFK and then direct into St. Thomas. You don't have to spend 12 - 16 hours on a plane, you just have to shop around for the best flight that suits you. I also have been to Hawaii, although not for many years, and I don't remember the water being that BEAUTIFUL TURQUOISE color that you get in the VIs. I don't really see how anyone can compare Hawaii with the Virgin Islands.... apples & oranges if you ask me. 🙂 I'll go to Hawaii for a "cheap" vacation, but I'll always choose St. John for a "dream" vacation. Just my humble opinion 🙂
I agree California Girl!! I've been to Hawaii twice & a trip in the planning for April back to Hawaii. But for the ~real~ vacation....hubby & I can't wait to get back to St. Thomas!! Just haven't made any definate plans yet...
We do have 3 free nights at Wyndham...then I don't know!
California Girl -
I booked the best flights they had out of LA. Actual travel time was ~9-10 hours per the tickets. However you have to add getting to the airport early to check bags, etc. Best case you're in for 12 hours, worst case with those flights it's 14.
LAX you can show up an hour before the flight, but getting out of St.Thomas, you need to be there at least 2 hours before take off time + travel time to STT airport (which can take 45 min if there is a traffic).
However, I would recommend going LAX to Miami and Miami to STT. The JFK flight is technically shorter overall, but only due to the lay over at JFK being shorter, in plane time is longer. However, I'd rather sit in the admirals club @ AA and relax a bit vs. being stuck on the plane for the time delta.
There is also a LAX to San Juan flight, but the 2nd leg is on a puddle jumper, plus the admirals club at miami is one of the nicer ones in country as it's relatively new.
One thing I'd recommend to anyone staying at the Wyndham - sign up for the ByRequest program before you book the hotel. Aside from getting the fridge stocked up for free, you also get a late check out (up to 2:30pm I believe). Since most of the flights leave at 4:30pm you don't get stuck having to wander around with your luggage (normal check out is 11am). I left a day later than everyone, so my room became the luggage storage locker for the day, haha.
-d
