We just returned from a trip and stayed at the Renaissance. This is a really nice place to stay. Room was excellant. facilities were great. the pool side cafe was fantastic, good food and great service. the high end restaurant was too expensive and service wasn't the best. We are planning another trip the end of july and will stay here again.

Hotel itself?: Never stayed there... 🙂

Beach? The beach is Ok, the water is well, its not as clear as other beaches - not as swimming friendly in my opinion. But you can beach hop. The shoreline of the beach is lovely though. And many rooms offer beach view which is nice.

Restaurants? The restaurant by the pool I have been too - and enjoyed the food and service.

Activities? The watersports booth on the beach offers lots of stuff, windsurfing lessons, jet skis, parasailing... snorkeling at Coki which is right next door - you can walk there... Coral World is close as well. For the rest of the island a rental car is a good idea.

Things to do? -- Beach hop, restaurant hop, shopping, island tour, day trip to St. John, charter.... what would you like to do - what do you have in mind and then folks can give suggestions based on what you want to do.

--Islander

Would like to day sail, visit st john beaches, snorkle, relax.

Will be renting a car for a week.

fantasy day sail is excellant. Captain's Pam and Brian Heath. They do a great job.

Hello Matty,

Snorkeling you can do at Coki Beach which is close to Renissance, walking distance - but if you have a car you might as well drive so you can put your things in the trunk when not in use. Also you can take your rental car over to St. John; do a drive around the island there, stop at Trunk bay to snorkel, Cinnamon Bay - for snorkeling and walk the trail accross from the parking lot, Annaberg is nice too, have lunch there.. On St. Thomas Sapphire is nice, Secret Harbor and Magens Bay for beach hopping there are others and on your drive around the island you can stop on them to look around. Another great option for a day sail is New Horizons - http://www.newhorizonsvi.com/

--Islander

We stayed at the Renaissance a while back...Here's some feedback:

Rooms are very nice, comfortable...includes small fridge. But we didn't spend all that much time there.

Food at the main dining room was very good...but we only ate there for dinner once. There are many other nice restaurants around the island that should be visited - wish I remembered the names. Nice casual dive/lunch place a short walk down to the end of the beach - forget the name...

Service at the hotel was fine, but typical of the islands, not as "quick" as we're used to on the mainland. But that's okay for me - it's a vacation - what's the hurry...

Beach at the hotel is okay...but I wouldn't spend the entire visit hanging out there...Too many other "Gotta do's":
1) Visit Magen's Bay for a real day at the beach. Beautiful...and on top of that, as my group would say, it's a "full service" beach - rental chairs, food, tropical drinks.
2) Coki Beach is a very short hike down the road from the hotel. Grab your snorkeling gear (the hotel has a dive shop and let us use snorkeling gear for the week at no additional charge) and walk down for an hour or so of very fun snorkeling. Be sure to go early before the cruise ship crowd appears. After that it's far too crowded and "touristy" for my taste. I wouldn't plan to spend the day.
3) A day trip to St John for beaches and snorkeling - maybe two. Wonderful. Grab the ferry at Red Hook and use taxi's around St. John for the day or since you have a car use the car ferry. For beaches, Trunk Bay and Cinnamon are full service...all the others are even better, but you're on your own - bring water, etc.
4) We've rented a power boat in Red Hook and daytripped to Tortola and Jost van Dyke...totally fun. But one in our group is an experienced power boater. Couldn't have done that on my own. There are similar daysails available.
5) We have also taken one of the daysails the "The Baths" in Virgin Gorda. Wasn't as wonderful as we had hoped. Far too crowded the day we were there to really enjoy. If you were there early before crowd it could be very cool...also snorkeled off the caves at Norman Island - totally cool.
6) Shopping in Charlotte Amalie. Not my thing, but my wife has a riot. Be sure to check the cruise ship schedule for a day when fewer ships are in port. We always top the day off with drinks around sunset at Bluebeard's Castle. Look across the way to Blackbeard's Castle and imagine lobbing cannonballs back and forth and down to the harbor...and to think I always thought it was only a ride at Disney.

That's just a few ideas.

Oh yeah, you really asked about the Renaissance ... I guess the more I think about it, we really didn't spend that much time there other than sleeping ...

FWIW

bob

I have stayed at the Renaissance for the past three years and will do so on my next return. Each time I have gone the week just after Thanksgiving. (Actually, we stay for 10 days--can never get enough of St. Thomas!). The resort is well maintained (grounds and rooms) -- I always had different room locations and never had any complaints. We have only eaten in the restaurants on our first visit and they were very good. We usually take a trip to the K-Mart when we first arrive for breakfast foods and snacks--it helps in the morning when you want to leave and start the day early and it also helps cut down on expenses--if you like cereal and can take the coffee maker in the room. We tend to venture out now for dinner and lunch that we know the island a little better.
It's ery close to Red Hook where there are some lovely restaurants and you are close to the ferry. We have taken the ferry a few times during the time we have stayed there and have been able to enjoy the beaches on St. John.
You are close to Coki beach for snorkeling--which is outstanding! Relax on a hammock on the beach at night and just stare at the stars in the comfortable breeze--it's quite lovely!