I was at Caneel for 4 days as I toured the national park on St. John's. I wanted a comfy place to return to each day after exploring and Caneel certainly fits that bill. Caneel Bay is a charming resort, but i cannot give it 5 stars overall.

The location is, if anything, 10 stars on a 5 star system, with beautiful beaches and rooms that are well appointed! The trails were fun to walk. Each room seems to have a fine view out the back door at the least. Burros and deer came by in the evenings. The food is fantastic. The staff makes the extra effort whenever asked. Everyone is pleasant and helpful.

But they seemed to , with the best of intentions, do something boneheaded every day, and that costs a star. A 5 star hotel does better. Actually some of the mistakes were comical. Here is a partial sampling from my stay:

.........They delivered complementary champagne for the 2 of us with great fanfare when i was registered there solo.

.........The next afternoon I returned from my hikes to find that they had taken the trouble to enter the room and refresh the ice bucket holding the lovenest champagne, which was very sweet, but while not making up the room, even though I had left one of those "please make up early " signs on the outside doorknob. The juxtaposition of this was hilarious to me. The make up room sign has absolutely no effect on the timing of when they make up your room., at least where i was with a garden view. Since this is the case, why provide the sign at all?

........since there are no alarm clocks, if you need a wake up call, they have a charming knock on door service, by a group of men in uniform. As I had a 7 a.m. flight, I needed this service, and signed up for it for my day of departure. It was a delight, except that it came a day early. My first thought of course was: has something happened to my family?

..;.....And so, when I (without complaint) went to arrange another wake up knock on the following and correct day, the very competent lady at the front desk took charge and announced she knew what had happened, because (name withheld) was at the front desk. Well, if everyone knows this person is not up to it, don't leave him solo at the front desk, or backstop him!

On the other hand, there were another dozen exceptional things they did without any hitches at all. I did not mind any of these good faith mistakes. I simply have to limit things to 4 stars, despite how much I thoroughly enjoyed the resort.. In particular, Caneel has as stunning a set of beaches close at hand as anywhere i can think of.

We just returned from another great vacation at Caneel. We've been going to this wonderful resort for almost 30 years and simply have no complaints. It's the quintessential "get what you pay for" place... BUT Caneel is definitely not for everyone.

The resort is not cheap. And "luxury" is in the eye of the beholder. Not everyone wants the same sort of luxuries...so it's best to do your research.

What you will NOT get at Caneel: glitz. Forget it. No casinos, loud music, satellite television, hoopla at all hours, wet t-shirt contests and/or other "activities" around the pool, spiffy furnishings, i.e. NO marble floors and chandeliers, "servants" awaiting your beckon call...etc. If you're into partying, 24-hour entertainment, & all the bells and whistles of TYPICAL 5-star hotels, you will be disappointed. In other words, if you just love St. Martin or Cancun, you'll probably hate it here.

What you WILL get at Caneel: privacy. Quiet. Stunning beaches (7 in all), fantastic snorkeling a few feet from shore, high-end "rustic" accomodations (i.e. cottages with wonderfully comfortable beds, nice amenities, spectacular views), animals (the resort is located INSIDE the Virgin Islands National Park; it's environmentally friendly; there are lizards, donkeys, deer, mongoose, birds of all kinds, iguanas and sometimes the smallest of the creatures make their way into your room); good food, and some of the best views on the island.

It all depends on what you're looking for...we love Caneel and have found in all our travels to many places round the world, as well as to 10 islands in the Caribbean, that we always come back here. It's so good, too, to see that in these 30 years much has remained the same. Some things have changed -- there are tvs at the bar, for example, and airconditioning in the rooms -- but the beaches and gardens and the natural beauty of the place is the same as always.

Laurence Rockefeller had such a wonderful vision for this place back in the 50s and it's good to see that legacy continued. BUT, again, you must appreciate nature and want low-key luxury to get the most of a vacation here. Caneel is an escape form the glitz of the world -- if you don't want to escape it, don't go.

My husband and I spent 7 nights honeymooning at Caneel last year. I realize that it is a little late to write a review, but after reading some less than flattering reviews I felt compelled to share the fabulous experience we had at Caneel. Yes, it's a little pricey, but you are paying for the location and not the latest trendy amenities characteristically coupled with five-star hotels. The beaches are clean, pristine, and very private. It was such a pleasure to lounge on one of Caneel's beaches and enjoy the quiet secluded atmosphere. We spent time on each of the seven beaches (Scott was our favorite) and never had to look far for an empty section of beach - in fact, on a couple occasions we were the only people on the beach while we were there! Snorkeling was immediately rewarding as we saw a variety of sealife during each excursion. The staff was very attentative, yet unobtrusive, and took the time to greet us by name throughout the resort. Afternoon tea is a great feature offered, and I recommend checking it out. We had intended to rent a jeep, do some hiking, and explore the rest of St. John, but changed our minds as we enjoyed spending time at the resort. We did take a day trip to Virgin Gorda and had a great time visiting The Baths, but, ultimately, we were glad we decided to stay at Caneel as opposed to Little Dix Bay. We ate dinner on the resort 3 nights and enjoyed every meal. I don't understand what people are complaining about regarding the food. Cruz Bay had some great restaurants to choose from but visits to Cruz Bay felt busy and overcrowded. We took a cab to one of the grocery stores in Cruz Bay near the beginning of our vacation to pick up some supplies for lunches and snacks during the week. Groceries, afternoon tea, and our reliance upon Caneel's complimentary breakfast each morning allowed us to keep food costs down and to indulge a little more during dinner. Our room was charming, the balcony overlooked the ocean, and the bed was comfortable. "Wild" donkeys, deer, and iguanas roamed the resort adding to the feeling of living among nature. I can't express how relaxing it was to wake up each morning to the songs of the birds and not to the sounds of cars, other people, and, especially, screaming children! Caneel Bay offers an elegant vacation for those whom appreciate nature and a quiet atmosphere.

Caneel Bay is an absolutely spectacular resort. This was our first trip to St. John and I guarantee we will return to this beautiful island and once again stay at Caneel Bay. As a professional journalist, I consider myself objective. Before traveling to St. John earlier this month, I read many entries about this property. Now that we are back from St. John and having stayed at Caneel Bay while also stopping by and having dinner at the Westin one evening, there is absolutely no doubt about our (wife and I) preference for Caneel Bay. It runs at a slower pace. The service was superb. The grounds were beautifully kept. The staff was amazing. From the moment we arrived in St. Thomas and were greeted at the resort's airport office, to the moment we boarded the private boat to St. John, to our hot towel greeting on the pier to our last sip of Virgin Island Pale Ale, we were well treated and completely satisfied.
I am aware of some reviews on Trip Advisor that are less exhuberant. If you are looking for flash or glitter, Caneel Bay is likely not for you. But if you are looking for sophisticated, elegant service in a beautiful place, have no hesitation...Caneel Bay is for you.
We consider this our best "sun" vacation ever and plan to return next year.