What do you want to do while here? Marriott is a large resort with several restaurants. The beach is at the Morning Star section but the main hotel uses it also. Secret Harbour has a nice beach & it's quieter. If you or your wife wants to shop a lot you can take a little boat across the harbor to downtown Charlotte Amalie. I assume your unit at SH would have a kitchen or kitchenette while the Marriott wouldn't. There's a good restaurant at Secret Harbor & it's closer to the ferry to St. John.

I want to just relax and enjoy the island, but I think she will want to shop. Can you take a boat from SH to Charlotte Amalie, or would we have to take a taxi? What I really want is to make sure that SH is a nice place to stay and that the beach is nice. I am sure that the Marriott is nice, but I don't want all the crowd, I want to live on island time for the week, and SH looks like it could make that come true. My wife doesn't want to take a chance on a non commercial name hotel, and I need word of mouth to help me win the fight.

Id take secret harbor w/o hesitation... but that being said the marriot is nice but doesnt quite have the island feel to me. compromise and split your visit between the 2 resorts and im sure she will kick herself and that will give you an out for when you have a couple to many rum drinks... you can say " heck yeah i had to much last night but at least i picked a better resort!!'

They both are nice. Who cares where you stay.... I mean you're in the islands!!!! There are so many good deals at nice places.

Beer Hunter,

I stayed at Morningstar and visited Secret Harbor both are great. What kind of beer do you like? Coors?

Marriott: PROS-1) Beautiful view at night & day, watch the cruise ships sail by in the morning & at sunset
2) Close to shopping either at Charlotte Amalie via boat or Havensight via taxi/rental car
3) Several restaurants on site
4) 2 pools
CONS-1) Busy place
2) Beach is just OK-no snorkeling that I know of
3) Price?
Secret Harbour PROS-1) Have your own kitchen area (make sure you specify what type room)
2) BEAUTIFUL beach-GREAT snorkeling-calm water
3) Reasonably quiet
4) Close to Red Hook (good restaurants, night life & ferry to St.John)
CONS-1) Not real close to shopping but doesn't take long to get to shopping areas (15 Mtes at most!)
2) One restaurant/bar but very good food (Blue Moon Cafe)
3) One pool but ya got the great beach!

Anybody think of anything else? There also used to be a dive shop on site at Secret Harbour to get snorkeling stuff-not sure if still there or not?

Or like someone else said, stay at both places so that you'll know where you want to come back to next year because "once you've slept on an island" you'll be back!! Have fun & let us know what you & wifey decided!

There is no boat from Secret Harbour to Charlotte Amalie to shop so it would be taxis to get there. However, unless there's a group in, July shouldn't be busy for Marriott.

All responses are right on the mark. If you want a "larger resort feel - do not stay at Secret Harbour".

My husband & I have not stayed at the Marriot - but, have stayed at Secret Harbour twice & will be returning again this April.

About 10 years ago, a travel agent that I knew said that if I ever went to St. Thomas I had to stay at Secret Harbour because that was the best & only place where this agent would, themself, stay.

I am sooo glad that I remembered that advice.

The Beachfront Suites are amazing. I highly doubt that you could be on your balcony or patio at The Marriot & be less than 20 - 30 feet from the ocean. The view from the Beachfront Suites are incredible. And as mentioned, you have a full kitchen, full living room, etc as they are basically condo units.

There is plenty of shade on the lovely beach, if you want it. Tons of lounge chairs & hammock & the snorkeling is fantastic. We have seen turtles, barracuda, stingray, tons of fish & even a few squid.

The beachfront restaurant is great, as is the more casual beach bar & grill.

I appreciate your wife's hesitation - as "Secret Harbour" is not a "chain" - but, if you are looking for a more "intimate" Caribbean experience, you will not be disappointed with your choice of Secret Harbour. Also, if you are inclined (as you should be) to check out St. John - you are just a short taxi ride away from The Red Hook Ferry.

Good luck with your decision making!

Hi SuefromMA!!
My husband and I, along with another couple will be staying at Secret Harbour April 19-26. We have a 2-BR beachfront unit reserved. I am always glad to hear others who've stayed there give it such great reviews, and its great to hear you go back there each time. I feel great about our choice (its our first trip to STT) Will you be there the same time as we? We've been planning this since last summer, and now its less than 3 months - I'm getting soooo excited!!

Beer Hunter - We have friends who's daughter own a B&B on STT, and they go every year. They told us Secret Harbour was really nice, but they've only been there to eat at the Blue Moon. They had never actually seen inside a unit, but what they said about it sold us. We could have stayed at the B&B cheaper, but we wanted to be able to walk out right onto the beach. And having a kitchen where we could make snacks/drinks and go right back out to our beach chair will be nice. A friend at work and her husband has just decided to go to STT in June for their 20th anniversary, and I think are picking Secret Harbour also. You really can't beat the rates for having a full kitchen and being so close to the beach! And I guess its like a 5-min drive to Red Hook.

Secret Harbor hands down! We've stayed at Sapphire, Bolongo Bay and they don't compare to Secret Harbor! The cost is reasonable also.

Hi, Mountaingirl!

Can't believe that we will "just barely" miss you.

We will be staying at Estate Lindholm on St. John for 6 nites, starting April 21st. And will be arriving at Secret Harbour on Friday, April 27 for 2 nites.

It is truly a wonderful place - enjoy!

Well, thanks to all of your help, my wife has decided to go with my pick of Secret Harbor. I would like to thank all of you very much. You have all been very helpful and I am sure that this will be the first of many trips to the islands.

I do have one last little question and I know this one has probably been answered a millions time, but should I rent a car? A coworker of my wife said that the roads are too dangerous and that we should just take a taxi, but I think that the cost of a taxi would be greater then that of renting a car. Any information on this would help.

Thanks,
Beer Hunter
P.S. I like Budweiser.

rent a car, drive slow,keep left and take it easy on the buds before driving.

Hi Beer Hunter -

I think you should DEFINITELY rent a car. I don't know what your wife's coworker means about the roads being dangerous. Some of them are hilly and curvy...but not outrageously so. STT roads are very well developed. The area around SH is relatively low lying. It is not a very mountainous part of the island. IMO, the most dangerous part of drivign around STT is the other visitors who sometimes forget to "stay left" and come at you "head on". Just go slowly so that you can steer out of that if you come upon it.

Rent a car and explore! The roads are not dangerous.

You made a very good choice. As stated in the other reviews, the Marriott is just gorgeous, but very big and perhaps a bit pretentious. The beach is also big and very crowded - since the cruise ships taxi their guests to most of the beaches on St Thomas. None ever seem to be private since anyone can pay to actually visit the spots. Go over and walk around at the end of your week at SH and you will see what I mean. Secret Harbor is quiet and gorgeous...with awesome snorkeling and a relaxing beach. It, of course, depends on your need to be around crowds. And - who really wants to SHOP when on "vacation"???
The Blue Moon Cafe is one of the very best restaurants on St Thomas, so be sure to dine there more than once. All fresh ingredients - some of the best fish (try the diver scallops) I've tasted and if you are not a seafood lover, the new chef cooks a beautiful ribeye and Long Island duck breast to perfection. The appetizers are to die for, also - as are the desserts (if you have room!). It is a bit pricey, yet no more than many cutting edge/gourmet fare on the island. The wine list is extensive and the staff will help you with your choices.....they are great. Lunches are equally good and all is casual since it is right on the beach. Bon Appetit!
A rental car is the only way to go since you will want to hit some other beaches....Sapphire is gorgeous....and if you MUST, you can drive into the crazy and busy Charlotte Amalie. I can assure you that you may only want to do it once.

Beerhunter: I hope you will try something Caribbean while you are here. Presidente is popular. And Heineken (aka "Greenies") is ubiquitous, although not actually from the Caribbean. Go figure! If you take a taxi from Secret Harbour to Red Hook, a distance of one mile, you will add $16 to the cost of your dinner ($4 per person each way, unless they have increased the fare.)

Budweiser? Jeez.....
Try the Presidente. Bag the skunky Heinies. You can actually buy loads of different six-packs if you choose to spend the money....$12 for a six of Sierra Nevada, but we expected that, of course. We actually prefer microbrewery beers....and haven't been to the new microbrewery on St John. Hopefully, next trip!

Again, do Secret Harbor. My mouth is watering for The Blue Moon tonight as we sit here in front of the fireplace (with a rum drink, by the way!) back in the States after 10 days in Paradise.

Sue -
Sorry we will miss you! It not only would be cool to meet someone from this board, but also talk to repeat visitors who can advise us on restaurants, etc. Enjoy your stay - and we'll compare trip reports in May!

We'll only have 6 full days on the island, and I want to go to Jost for a day, and STJ for a day, and maybe downtown CA, and then lime on the beach the rest!!

The sun and the sand, and a drink in my hand, with no bottom....

Thanks for all your comments. We're booked at Secret Harbour April 3-7th and then Maho Bay Camps (what extremes, I know) for 2 nights. We chose the ocean-view 2 bedroom and hope we won't regret the walk uphill and downhill. I am worried about condo types not being available when you get there. There was a recent review at www.tripadvisor.com from someone who was "bumped" from the beach-front by an owner who showed up. I haven't found anything to indicate these are individually owned.