As a long time guest at Sapphire Beach, I have watched the resort prosper and decline. The beach has always been the main attraction - it is arguable the nicest on the island and home to a beautiful reef with snorkelling. However, our last few stays there have met with poor customer service and dated accomodations.

Fortunately, our stay over New Years was phenomenal! The retaurants and bars are re-open. The staff seems to have gotten an attitude adjustment and the property looks to have gotten some updating.

Maybe, I went in with lowered expectations this last time but, our trip was really phenomenal. The improvements were noticable and I hope are a sign of things to come....

This is the first time I have ever written a review. My experience was so terrible that I felt compelled to warn others.

Our check-in time was to be at 2 (or maybe it was 3) PM. We arrived early having come from a week's stay in St. John. Understandably our room was not ready so we thought we'd use the lobby bathrooms to change into our swimsuits. The lobby bathroom was disguisting and one of the toilets was not flushing. I immediately reported it to the front desk clerk who made a flimsy excuse and did nothing to correct the problem. We immediately left the property to find other restrooms.

After numerous times of checking with the front desk our room was finally ready 1.5 hours after the official check-in time.


Our unit was at the Crystal Cove at Sapphire Beach. I realize that each one of them is individually owned. Our condo was spacious however, it was dingy, 20 years outdated and the furniture was extremely uncomfortable. The sheets were so gross that I slept on a large beach towel the 3 nights we were there.

I love to read books and relax on vacation but the accomodations were so dis-satisfactory that I could not relax or enjoy a book. It was the most miserable vacation I have ever experienced.

The one bright spot of this resort is the female bartender who owns part of the pool-side bar. She was genuinely warm and kind and has superb customer service skills!!!!

I am quite sure this resort was fantastic in its day but now it is a total dive. My next trip to the USVI will be spent by the pool at the Wyndham and I hope yours will be too!!!

We rented condo B209 from the owner from Nov 7 - Nov 14. This was the 2nd time that we stayed at Sapphire. Last time was at the Village...this unit was on the beach, 2nd floor.

I'd first like to say that the poster who said there was no restaurant at Sapphire is wrong. It's up on the hill where the village is and we were there quite a few nights. Happy hours are from 4-6 and 7-9. !/2 price appetizerse.

You really have to do your homework with Sapphire. Some units are definetly not kept up. Ours worked out well for us. Also loved having a small kitchen for breakfast and snacks

The view is gorgeous, the snorkeling is really good and it's in a perfect location. Red Hook is about a mile away. The ferry, stores, bars, etc. are right there.

Again, go to Sapphire but just do your homework.

Go to Sapphire, but just

We stayed on the beachfront, 2nd floor balcony overlooking the beach and bay with views to St Johns.

This review is conditional, I understand the complaints about the Resort, and if I paid alot more than I did, perhaps I would have complained as well. But the complaints led me to book the Condo vacation of over a week with an individual owner. B209. We paid many hundreds of dollars less than others. While on the island there are so many pro's and cons of all the properties. We were looking for a good vailue first and foremost.

If you book your vacation with an individual condo owner, and if you rent a car, but preferably a jeep wrangler(convertible top), then I am pretty sure that you will have a great time. Don't look for a top notch facility in the USVI unless you are willing to pay serious dollars for it. What you are getting on St Thomas and the other islands, is an experience and views and snorkeling, sailing and the other stuff. You really have to book high end stuff to get what you might expect in the USA or other parts of the Caribbean.

Food on St Thomas and the USVI is expensive, everything is expensive, you can get by on less if you like. Booking a condo is 1 way to do it. Booking at Sapphire is a good idea because of it's location. You are 2 minutes from Red Hook and the ferry to St John, a real plus. But with a car, and driving on the left is not the end of the world, makes the whole island and St John readily available. The Marina Market in Red Hook is a good place to stock up on your groceries. Nothing is ever more than about a 10 minute drive on the island, some places at some times of the day take a little longer, especially when a large number of Cruise Ships are in town.

The beach at Sapphire is pretty good, the views are great, coral is there, but the waves and wind make snorkeling not the best, on a calm day, it is good, but only 1 calm day out of every 3 or 4. You can also ride the $1 taxis, but they don't run after 6pm and only travel in 1 direction on the weekend. Rent a car, but best again, rent a jeep. You will be glad that you took that advice after only a few of the VI Taxi rides and steep fares.

Take your car on the ferry over to St John, the rental companies for the most part don't mind, it isn't hard, just get in the line, they will direct you, they leave every 1/2 hour. It is $50 or $55 roundtrip, but do a 1 way ticket each way, you will pay about 5 or 10 dollars extra, but there are 3 ferry companies and a R/T only works with that company. You can then explore St John via your Jeep and trust me, you'll be glad that you did. Go to as many of the bays and beaches as you like. Most people love Hawksnest, Trunk Bay, Cinnamon and Maho Bays. We did.

Finally, the food at Sapphire Village or Beach Resort. We'll the food wasn't that great anywhere to us. We live in N.E. Florida in a tourist town, and we have great local food, so we are somewhat spoiled. They have hotdogs and hamburgers down by the pool, nice pool by the way, really good pool and view from it. The restaraunt is way too expensive and our rental agent informed us that it was well, so-so. Most places are so-so unless you are willing to pay alot of money. There is a gift shop/store at Sapphire that will get you by in a pinch. The watersports staff seemed pretty helpful and nice. The front desk if you do rent from them is somewhat helpful, but not really, the Budget rental car stand staff are the pits, we rented from a local company. If you book through a private owner, forget any help from the Resort, it is between you and the owner.

We would go back again, and strongly consider staying there again. All in all, if you can book a good deal, you'll be pleased.

No problems mon.