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St. Croix for honeymoon and Carambola beach resort Renaissance?

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St. Croix for honeymoon and Carambola beach resort Renaissance?

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(@rainbowsun)
Posts: 3
Active Member
Topic starter
 

There is lots of great information on this board. I really appreciate everyone contributing to this.

I am planning to go for honeymoon to USVI this December. I am looking for quiet and relaxing place. I was thinking between St. John and St. Croix. My understanding is that St. Croix will be a good combination of peaceful, relaxing beaches and visiting the two towns on this island. I would appreciate any feedback or comments on this. Also, I am considering Carambola beach resort by Renaissance. Any reviews or comments on this resort? I read some mixed reviews on this place; however most of them were good.

Thank you!

 
Posted : October 12, 2012 2:26 am
(@bassman)
Posts: 290
Reputable Member
 

My wife and I stayed at the Carambola late Nov. 2010 in one of the remodeled rooms. It was wonderful. At that time of year it was quiet, had the pool mostly to ourselves and the beach was also sparsly occupied. The setting is beautiful too. The tropical green mountain rising up behind the resort and the blue ocean, white sand beach in front. Palm trees shading the beach and manicured lawns.
Every visit we make it a point to have a drink and appetizer at the poolside bar no matter where we are staying.

 
Posted : October 12, 2012 9:05 am
(@linda-j)
Posts: 844
Prominent Member
 

Carambola is beautiful and would be a great place for a honeymoon. Be sure to get a renovated room. Also, understand this resort is pretty out-of-the-way. If you want to explore at all, consider renting a car.

 
Posted : October 12, 2012 6:04 pm
(@blu4u)
Posts: 295
Reputable Member
 

I stayed for long august weekend several years ago. This is what I remember in no particular order. We had beach front "un-renovated" room. It was fabulous. The resort is "old school" and spread out along Davis Bay. I loved the room and the screaned porch, Donald Scnell Lamps, authemic furnishings. It felt like stepping back in time to simpilar more cultured caribean. The food was horrible. Bar service was ssssllllllooooowwww. The pool is uncrowed and un-pretenious, one of the very best resort pools ever--at least in summer. Rent a car. Plan to eat off-property for "nice dinners". I think the reonvated rooms have a small firig. We just purchased a styrofoam cooler and stocked-up on b-fast and lunch items. Davis bay can get small waves, The current around the point is strong. Swim in front of the resort unless you are a better than average swimmer. Good snorkling a short drive up the road at cane bay. I would stay again in a heart beat . The property more than compensates for the lack of service and bad food. Take the drive thru the rain forest. Hike to the tide pools in the early am. Lots of stuff t do or just do nothing. Prehaps changes have been made in the past three years? I don't know. But I do know the resort is having some significant $$ issues. They were suposed to renovate all the room to be like every other marriot. but thank god they ran out $$ and some of the original interiors remain. Maybe you should ask to see picture of un-renovated v renotaed rooms and find out what extra the renovated rooms contain. renovated might be better for you. But denitely bring some light snacks to keep in the room. There is alos a friday night show and dancing. kinda fun. you can just go and sit at the bad and don't have to purchase the pricy dinner. In august we felt like we had the entire resort to ourselves. maybe a completely different vibe in high season.

 
Posted : October 12, 2012 6:22 pm
(@blu4u)
Posts: 295
Reputable Member
 

To answer your other question. STX v STJ.
STX is bigger and more populated. STX has "real life" like a home depot, fast food, Univestiy of the Virgin Islands, Rum factory, A (recently shut down) refienery, two legit towns, a vartiiy of out-of-control-spectacular land scape, good golf, history galore, farms and farmers markets, buck isalnd, danish forts, and an airport (you can fly direct from some places). Rent a car at the airport. Carenbola is good choice for Honeymoon.
STJ is smaller and good part of the island is National Park. STJ is much more torristy. And much more pricey. However there is defineity enough to keep you busy for a week or two. There is one torrist town with bars/resturants and shops. The major draw is the National Park beaches. A great place to honeymoon is Caneel Bay --if you have the $$$$. A less costly choice is Lindholm (outside cruz bay) not beach front but LOVELY and quick hop away from the famous north shore beaches. The Westin gets crowed, not the best honeymoon spot unless you like to meet new people, other than that you'll need to rent villa. Stay away form cruz bay for sleeping---very busy and noisy and dusty and hot. But cruz bay is good for nightlife and shopping. and no direct flights to STJ. Fly to STT. Taxi to Ferry. Ferry to STJ. Rent a car somewhere along the way. Kind of a hassle and limits flights to ferry schedules.
if you have piles of $$$ book at Caneel, for a world class honeymoon.
Lindholm (if don't mind small B&B and driving to beach)
Carembola for STX.
If you are working inside a budget ,STX gives more bang for the buck.
Another First Rate Fabulous honymoon spot is Little Dix Bay on Vigin Gorda, if you can swing the price tag, this is the PLACE. trust me

 
Posted : October 13, 2012 12:19 am
(@rainbowsun)
Posts: 3
Active Member
Topic starter
 

Thank you folks for all the great information. I am definitely trying to do within a budget and given the fact that i am doing it the week of Christmas. Looks like St. Croix and Carambola resort is the way to go.

blu4u - I completely agree with you. BVI is the place to go - little Dix bay !! but it is quite expensive especially the week of Christmas...!

Any more insights and suggestions on St. Croix in terms of activities, places to see, places to eat would be much appreciated..!

Thank you!

 
Posted : October 15, 2012 4:24 pm
(@linda-j)
Posts: 844
Prominent Member
 

Christmas is the MOST expensive time to vacation in the USVI. If you could wait until the first week of January, after everybody goes home on the 1st and 2nd, you would get a much bigger bang for your budk.

 
Posted : October 16, 2012 11:15 am

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