St. Croix - Hotels & Resorts
Cane Bay Reef Club
The Cane Bay Reef Club is a small hotel - just 9 rooms, located at Cane Bay on the the north shore of the island. The location is ideal, being only a quarter mile from Cane Bay Beach, and a short swim from the "wall" - the famous reef drop-off to 3200' that runs along the north side.
The 2 great things about this hotel are first, the location - it sits directly on the shore, and all rooms have balconies looking out over the ocean. On clear days, you can see St. Thomas and St. John on the horizon, and their twinkling lights at night.
The second great thing is, it's home to Bogey's Restaurant located on the same property. One of the most popular, and best priced eateries on island, read more on Bogey's under "Where to Eat".
Cane Bay Reef Club is an older hotel providing basic accommodation with a few extra amenities (including a pool), at superb prices. It's an excellent choice for folks on a budget. The rooms have satellite TV, and no phones, which can actually be a good thing.
The accommodations are clean and neat, have full kitchens, and the rooms are sized well, with king bed in the bedroom and a fold-out queen sofa in the living area.
The owner, Joe Scirto is a super guy who's had the place for 10 years, and makes you feel right at home. He has coffee waiting every morning - if you don't want to make it in the room, and he's happy to answer questions and give you the low-down on what to do and see.
Joe is in the process of selling the property, and I understand the folks buying it are quite interested in continuing what Joe started. Ensuring the place stays low-key, homey, with friendly, helpful staff will keep people coming back.
That, plus a room on the water, without costing a fortune, will be just the ticket for visitors wanting to stay longer than they might otherwise be able to afford.
After all, the rooms here only run about $100 a night (off season) compared to spending twice that at other places that don't have near as fine a view.
Besides relaxing to sounds of crashing waves, and enjoying gorgeous sunrises & sunsets, the large balconies are of particular use to divers as a protected place to dry out wetsuits, BCD's and other dive gear at the end of each day.
In short, if you want a friendly, laid-back place to stay - right on the water, but prefer not spending all your money on lodging, the Cane Bay Reef Club is a stellar choice.
The Waves Hotel
The Waves Hotel is another small hotel, also located at Cane Bay on the the north shore of the island. In fact it's only about a couple hundred yards to the west of Cane Bay Reef Club, and so has a similar ideal location with close proximity to Cane Bay Beach, and the famous "wall".
It is also located right on the shore with all rooms facing the ocean, providing superb views, as well as the relaxing sound of the surf direct from their balconies.
The Waves has been undergoing a facelift by the new owner, and is looking great from the outside. The work is being done room by room and though it seems to be taking some time, the property should be spectacular when all is finished.
A room quote was $130 (off season) which seems like a pretty good deal considering the fresh new look. At the time of this visit to the island, the property had some rooms available, and was in the process of completing the remaining work on the rest.
The hotel restaurant is not re-opened yet, however, it's location on a terrace overlooking the water looks particularly inviting. Once operational, it's sure to be a welcome addition to the several superb places to eat in Cane Bay.
To sum up, this is another older, quaint hotel, that appears to be readying itself for a grand official re-opening, and one I would like to check out. Best advice is to contact them via email or their website to get the latest updates.
Carambola Reach Resort
The Carambola Beach Resort is the place to stay if you're looking for a resort at which you can truly be spoiled. This is a large property with an ample selection of rooms to choose from, all grouped in different buildings, and spread across 28 acres in a most gorgeous corner of the world.
Carambola is self-contained, with a private beach, fitness center, restaurants, boutiques, pools, tennis courts, a myriad of activities and services, plus the world-famous, award-winning, Robert Trent Jones designed golf course.
Rooms are not directly on the water, but rather set back amongst the hills and trees. Suites are available with either garden or water views. Prices for a suite with a view of the ocean run around $180 per night during off-season.
If it's luxury you seek, then this is the place. It's recently undergone a multi-million dollar renovation, and will soon be part of the Renaissance Hotels & Resorts family.