I also read that thread about being bumped. This was VERY wrong! It literally takes months to decide on exactly where to stay and I would never do that to someone who has booked my place. Sounded like a nightmare. Also doesn't sound like Secret Harbor......too bad. Blame it solely on the owner, however.

some of the units at Secret Harbour are privately owned and it may not have been the owner's "Fault" as bookings may have gotten screwed up and times not blacked out when he made his plans known. Rather bad form to move renters but what could be worse than arriving and finding "your" unit with all the amenitites that are stored there for your use (including clothing, beach supplies, personal items, etc) not available The Wyndham is/was NOT an appropriate option for those seeking the beach option at SH and I might have found myself camped in the lobby of SH until they found appropriate and more acceptable accomodations. .

How soon should we make our reservations? I am wanting to make them soon, but my wife is telling me to hold off for a while. What should we do? We are going in July how soon is too soon?

July is low season... you can wait a bit.

I have a lot of questions, and this message board has been wonderful. I am looking forward to my trip and trying Presidente. What are some good watering holes to visit? I to go to a couple places and drink, but is there any one that is a must go?

Beachman and toledo: Just to clarify: All the units at Secret Harbour are individually owned. Toledo, the hike up and down the steps at Maho is much longer than that at Secret Harbour. 😉

Not to put a twist in all of this...but you are so close to St. John...unless you love shopping, keep going on the ferry and stay over in St. John. Just my opinion.

STT is an island offering much more than world-class shopping. I am not a shopper and hardly spend any time in Charlotte Amalie, yet I return to STT a couple of times a year. The STT "only for shopping" thing is a misconception. However, I am sure that many of the STT regulars are happy to see the crowds bee-line to STJ. I don't see my favorite private beaches on STT becoming any more populated as years pass......which means that everyone is buying the "shopping" hype. Guess I should be grateful for the misconceptions.

I've been to both islands before. I'll only shop one day when the fewest cruise ships are in town. St. Thomas has much more character and things to do than St. John. I, honestly, could not handle beaches and snorkeling for a whole week, even if it was a different beach each day. Unlike many of you, I'd go crazy. Having the two contrasting islands so close to each other makes it easy to get a little of both.

With all the stir climbing I'll be doing, does anyone know where I can get a good massage?

There are quite a few places for masage on the east end of St Thomas- Seagrape Spa the the Elysian, Knots Away at American Yacht Harbor, A Touch if Wellness at Compass Point and plenty more.

Hi!

Call me crazy - but, I would go ahead and make your reservation now - with Secret Harbour.

If you already know that you are going & that you want to stay there & presumably want a Beachfront Suite - why put off securing your reservation?

I am sure that upon arrival, if anyone gets "bumped" out of their preferred room choice - it would be the people who made their reservations closer to the time of arrival. In contrast, I am sure that they would and should give most preference to people who showed enough interest & commitment to book early.

Again - call me crazy - but, I booked our 2 nite stay for this coming April back in May of '06. (I try not to leave anything to chance!)

Also, if memory serves me right - there are only 60 beachfront suites - so, again, I wouldn't put it off - if I knew that was what I wanted to do. If you are concerned that something might change your mind & you might need to cancel - just talk to them about their cancellation policy. I think that it might be a full refund if the reservation is cancelled at least 14 days prior to arrival.

Anyway - Congratulations on your great choice!!

Sue - we also booked early for our April trip - June to be exact. I don't think that there are 60 beachfront suites, but I may be wrong, since I haven't actually been there yet. Do you think that you could be including "oceanfront" which is not exactly "beachfront" in that number? Again, I may be wrong.(I may be thinking of 2-BR/2-Bath suites only) Regardless, if I wanted a beachfront suite, I certainly wouldn't postpone making a reservation any longer.

Hi, MountainGirl!

I am pretty sure that I am correct about the number of Beachfront Suites.

The Beachfront Suites (both 1 & 2 bedrooms) are in buildings 1,2 3 & 4. All of those buildings are "on the beach" and are all 3 stories. Buildings 3 & 4 have, I believe, 4 units per floor ( therefore, 12 per building) & buildings 1 & 2 have 6 units per floor (therefore, 18 per building). So, that ends up at 60.

Again - not 100% sure, but pretty sure.

Buildings on the "hill" are "Oceanview". There are, I think, only 4 "beachfront rooms - NOT Suites - that are above the dive shop.

Really love that it is such an "intimate" resort.

Sorry we will miss you!

I have to ditto Bluwater. For those who prefer STJ, that's fine but since I prefer STT & have lived here since the 80's I don't find it necessary to slam STJ & don't see why others feel the need to put down STT.

Not all of the units in either association (Beach and Villas) are in the hotel plan. The hotel advertises 60 units, but that includes both. People put their units in and take them out, so the exact number probably fluctuates.

Are the bugs bad at Secret Harbor? Also is Duffy's Love Shack as fun as it sounds?