curious to know what the other guests there for the wedding had to say....please enlighten us so that we will know what to expect or what to watch out for! also what room number did you have so we know which one to avoid if anyone is going there.
was it the front desk people by the way? or the manager?

thank you

Wow! I'm so sorry you had a bad experience. I've stayed at Secret Harbour Resort 4 times, our 5th trip is next month, and I've loved it.

We found Margaret and Julia at the front desk very friendly and helpful. And Earnest, the property manager, gets things fixed right away in my experience.

Please try again sometime. Maybe it was just a bad week.

Nancy G

NANCY ....i completely agree with you!
the staff and mgt at secret harbour are THE BEST! THEY ARE THE GREATEST REASON TO STAY THERE!

we have been there many many times and friends and family too ...we all LOVE IT

i can't imagine ANY problem that ERNEST OR THE LADIES AT THE DESK AND CHARLES WOULD NOT HANDLE QUICKLY AND WITH CARE!

AGREE that maybe some mixup happened because we are thrilled with the secret harbour experience

i know many of the regulars here agree RIGHT ALL????

As a 22 year resident of STT and a 10 year restaurant owner here, I have had many Secret Harbour visitors come to my place and, honestly, have never heard a bad word about the place.

Did you maybe forget the general politesse about asking rather than demanding? Did you forget about saying, "Good Morning, Good Evening, Good Day or Good Night" before asking or did you just find something unsatisfactory and simply barge in with all barrels afire?

Various derogatory comments have been made on this forum from time to time from (particularly) wedding visitors who haven't bothered to research this and other forums and thus fail to understand that they're coming to a U.S. territory whose residents might be just a little bit different where service is concerned.

When in Rome?

I'm curious too about your posting on this forum with a complaint.

Did you post and ask questions on this forum before you came here?

Did you research this forum before coming here?

Did you not only research the forum but look into the "visitor info" thread way top of this page to get an idea of to where you were coming so you could determine how things just might be different here?

I am truly sorry that your experience at Secret Harbour was so upsetting. And I think a lot of us boarders would very much welcome input from the other wedding guests (and the bride and groom!)

I've no "in" with Secret Harbor, no cross to bear, just rather suprised by your posted experience.

Your further comments would be welcomed along with others in the wedding party if they'd care to contribute. Discussion is good! Cheers!

I got married at SH 8 years ago and have gone back every year since (sometimes twice a year).

It's become our home away from home. Margaret at the front desk is a sweetheart. And Ernest is a big Teddy bear. I never even heard them speak slightly rude to anyone. They are one of the many reasons we return to SH every year.

It's upsetting to hear someone bash someone when they don't even have the opportunity to defend themselves!

Well,

I guess I have to add my name to the list of folks who find this poor treatment to be surprising. We have been at Secret Harbour for 7 out of the past 8 years and will be back in August.

I have never had anything but praise for the resort staff. Have never found them to be anything but responsive and helpful. I think it's really too bad that you spent the time at my favorite resort on the island and didn't enjoy your stay. Wish your visit had left you with a better impression.

Schultz

Maybe Christina is trying to make sure she gets the room of her choice next time by scaring everyone off.

I am curious about posters like this who seem to "hit and run." My feeling is either they are unhappy people to start with or their expectations are out of control. One problem with some of our properties here on St Thomas is that they are NOT glitzy, white-glove service hotels. I have seen complaints about Secret Harbour and Bolongo along this vein. Secret Harbour is a condominium. The units are owned by individuals. Some place their units with a management group for vacation rental. There are also owners and long-term renters who live there. It is NOT a hotel. Bolongo is a family-owned and operated hotel. It is NOT a Hilton or a Ritz. It is the Caribbean of the 60s and 70s, which is quickly fading away as timeshare operations take over. Next it will be waterslides and dolphin prisons.

ARGH!

Off the soap box for the A & B EE!

I too notice that when a person posts something negative like this, they rarely seem to respond to other posts that reflect an opposite opinion. I guess I would respond to things folks said about my post, IF my original opinion was really honest!

Then again.........trolls do appear!

I would like to ask people to be more careful when they make very general statements about the entire resort or condo complex. I've seen a number of very careless generalized and unsupported statements just being thrown out to the message board by people. As the East Ender mentioned, many of these properties are individually owned and can vary from owner to owner. They are vacation units on the island, not Ritz Carlton. If you want Ritz, you stay in Ritz, and for some people, including me, completely miss on the uniqueness of the islands. Chain hotels all have the same feel, island condos reflect the location and island tastes.

There were a couple of very nasty and bashing reviews of Sapphire Village, some of them by people who did not even realize that Sapphire Village and Sapphire Beach are two distinctly different properties. In one particular example, someone stayed in a very rundown unit (truly an unacceptable exception, but still an exception) and made a very loud and general statement about the entire complex. That was just one untit out of over 200 units!!!
IMHO, don’t generalize if you are not sure. If you have a problem with a particular property or establishment, first let them know and try to resolve with them. If it doesn’t work, then post specific information, not a very general comment which can completely misrepresent the entire complex or establishment and scare everybody.
Just remember, this board is an excellent resource and posting incorrect information does disservice for everybody.
Thank you for your time

I have got to say something here on behalf of Secret Harbour. I, like Schultz, Ginger, and the others have stayed there numerous times (minimum 4) and if you are going to stay there here is what not to expect:

Bellboys, wearing little round hats running at your every beck and call to deliver room service without a smile but a hand out for a tip.

Women in cute little French Maid outfits with feather dusters, skipping about your room polishing the silver.

A big hotel chain like feeling and all the rooms look alike and you don’t know where you are, or where you are going, and nobody cares.

What you will find is:

Real people who care about you and your stay on their Island.

A villa that is individually decorated and maintained for your comfort.

A manager and front desk staff that will always greet you with a “good morning/afternoon/evening” and will usually get one in return.

Some of the best beach front condos and snorkeling mere feet from your back door.

And probably the best laid back – relaxing vacation time you will ever spend. Not to mention a pretty good bar and restaurant right on the property!

So, I hope you weren’t setting your expectations too high (as mentioned before) and expected a high class ritzy chain hotel. If you did, no wonder you were very disappointed!!

Just MHO……..

-Bert

Dear Guest: I agree. I read one scathing review complaining that guests were supposed to be careful of water use but they saw the sprinklers going. Well, a lot of people do not understand the concept of the grey water system that many of the condominiums use.(Water from the sinks and tub along with treated waste are used for landscape and other non-potable uses.) Very ecological on an island, but a different concept for stateside folks!

I believe that most vinowers (vinowinians?) are smart enough to see negative posts for what they are.

I agree completely with the "beware of negative posts" theory. This forum and others like it are here to help those with questions about up coming trips.

My wife and I booked a villa on St. Thomas straight off the internet ( before I found these forums ) when I did look up feed back about where we were to stay , it was upsetting to read some of the negative comments. I thought maybe we'd made a mistake?

When we arrived it was perfect,,,actually it was purely magical. I couldn't have asked for more , however...while we were there another couple showed up a few days later at the villa next door and never stopped complaining about , the rain flooded the parking lot ( wow for a whole 6 hours, but it was right when they got there) the water pressure, the bugs.....you get the picture.

I think some folks just like to complain, their good at it, it's what they do. For us the islands where ....perfect in every way. So first timers beware the negative posts, verify facts if you can and remember : sometimes it's not what they say , but why they say it.

Wow....all of the "regulars" are on this one; STT Resident, Island Paul (how are you?), East Ender, Ginger....

Just a note....some people focus on the negative and some on the positive. While Chistina obviously only highlighted the negative (rude front desk staff, leaky toilet, missing crib for a day) there was no mention about the positive things that she experienced. I guess she just had a bad day.

We visited (and considered) Secret Harbour during our property search. It's a very nice place. For those who concentrate on the leaky toilets...get over it and look at the "big picture"....enjoy your time in paradise.

btw CariBert.....I like your idea of "Women in cute little French Maid outfits", but Mrs. F.I. won't let me hire one.

Have a great day everyone.

F.I.

christina i am hoping if we keep this at the top you might post again and tell us what you and your family experienced

you HAVE to say the food is fabulous and beach bar drinks the best...
also the private lovely beach can't be beat

did you have a room ocean front?? or up on the hill?? maybe you were up on the hill with a child that might have been stressfull walking down every day that is the only thing i can think of...

for those who haven't been to secret harbour it is just the greatest!