Category: St. John Beaches

Introducing Salty Daze Charters USVI

Salty Daze Charters USVI- Veteran owned and St. John’s newest Charter boat experience!

 

Offering Full and Half Day customizable cruising charters around the USVI and BVI.

Salty Daze USVI is a family run, Veteran owned business with 30 years of roots on St. John. Kate (our booking concierge) first came to the islands in 1993, while her uncle managed Cinnamon Bay campgrounds. Her whole family fell in love, bought their residence and they have been around here ever since. Justin (Captain extraordinaire) had his first taste of the islands during one of Kate’s family reunions, on the East End of St. John. After a cruise around the BVI and a couple jumps off the Willy T, Justin proposed to Kate and the rest is history. Justin served honorably in the US Navy for 8 years, while Kate represented our country in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. Kate, Justin, their two daughters, Magnolia and Azalea, along with their English Bulldog, Hawser, reside in Coral Bay.

Justin and Kate have a beautiful and robust 31’ Mako Cuddy cabin boat, decked out to get 6 people to their destination of choice quickly and comfortably. They’ve got brand new E-Sea Rider bean bag chairs that you won’t want to leave, brand new upholstery done in 2018, a thumpin stereo system, top of the line snorkel gear, a cooler full of ice and bottled water, a convenient dry cabin to store your goods, tons of cooler space to store beverages and food, plus you get a free @saltydazeusvi cocktail cup or a koozie for your beer. Plus, for a limited time, they are partnering with Irie Pops by providing a cooler of pops for your day on the water!

Check out daily happenings on there Instagram and Facebook

Bookings can be made in real-time on there website, saltydazeusvi.com or by calling (340) 690-SALT. They always offer discounts to active service members, Veterans and Olympians/National Team Members and of course Island Abodes guests. Please inquire about other deals.

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5 Reasons to Rent a Car While on St. John

We recommend renting a car while you are staying with us. Here are some of our reasons…

  1. Money. Taxis can be pricey. You pay by the person not by the ride, so this can add up quickly. Especially if you are staying for an extended period of time, you will actually save money renting a car. Plus, there is almost always free parking in town. Just ask us about our favorite spots!
  2. Time. When you are here for a short period of time, you want to make use of every second. You don’t want to waste time waiting on a taxi. Most taxis will not leave until the taxi is full costing you precious time.
  3. Beaches. Taxis don’t always trav
    el to every beach on island. This means that you may miss out on what could be your favorite beach.
  4. Adventure. It can be fun driving around and finding new things while on island. Plus you get to experience the adventure of driving on the left side of the road! Our roads can be an adventure in itself to explore the hills and turns.
  5. Freedom. You want to be able to go where you want, when you want. After all, it is your vacation! You don’t want to wait until a taxi is full to go to where you want to go, or be restricted on where you can go or what time you do it.

Book your rental jeep today!

Here are a few of our guests favorite companies:

St John Car Rental

Just Sun Jeep Rentals 

Sunshines Jeep Rental

Aqua Blu Car Rental

L&L Jeep Rental

Destiny Car Rental

Mr. Pipers Jeeps 

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How Far Away is the Beach?

 

One of our most frequently asked questions is, “How far away is the beach from our Island Abodes suite?” The answer is simple: it’s closer than you think! When you arrive on island for a vacation full of adventure and relaxation, one of the first things you’ll want to do is throw on a bathing suit and head out to explore. St. John is home to gorgeous white sand beaches surrounded by the sparkling turquoise Caribbean Sea, so jump on in! And, most of our beaches are in the National Park, which means everyone has to drive to get to them! 

How far away is the beach from our Sunset Serenade Suites?

Great Cruz Bay Beach/ The Westin

Many guests stay with us to attend a wedding at the Westin or have boat trips planned with Cruz Bay Watersports from Great Cruz Bay Beach. Both properties are very close to the resort. You are also welcome to visit the Westin to enjoy a meal, spa services, tennis and workout room (all for a fee). Great Cruz Bay Beach is also where Cruz Bay Watersports is located.

Distance: .5 miles from Sunset Serenade Rentals

Cruz Bay Beach

The beach in downtown Cruz Bay is always a lively destination, as it is home to beach bars, restaurants, charter boats, and the ferry dock. While we don’t recommend swimming here, it does provide a picturesque backdrop for sunsets, beach strolls, and happy hour. Cruz Bay Beach is the perfect place to mingle and experience the eclectic, easy vibes Love City is known for!

Distance: .9 miles from Sunset Serenade Suites

Chocolate Hole Bay

Adjacent to Hart Bay you’ll find Chocolate Hole Bay, which provides the stunning bay views seen from the Down Yonder Pool Villa and the Garden Suite. There’s a lovely bay to swim in, a place to lounge and relax, plus enchanting views of harbored yachts and unique rock formations.

Distance: 1.1 miles from Sunset Serenade Suites

Hart Bay

Hart Bay is one of the closest beaches to the Down Yonder Pool Villa and the Garden Suite, both located in Chocolate Hole. Here you’ll find a beautiful sandy beach, perfect for sunbathing, snorkeling, and swimming.

Distance: 1.6 miles from Sunset Serenade Suites

North Shore Beaches 

Take a day (or three!) to explore along the North Shore of St. John and you won’t be disappointed. Nearly twenty stunning beaches span the coastline, all protected by the USVI National Park Service. Each beach has a unique personality, from quaint Salomon Bay to the world-famous Trunk Bay to sea turtle filled Maho Bay. Bonus: the panoramic views from North Shore Road are exquisite!

Distance:  1.1 miles from Sunset Serenade Suites to lower Lind Point Trailhead to hike to Salomon and Honeymoon Beaches

Distance:  1.5 miles from Sunset Serenade Rentals to upper Lind Point Trailhead to hike to Salomon and Honeymoon Beaches

Distance: 2.5 miles from Sunset Serenade Rentals to Caneel Bay

Distance: 3 miles from Sunset Serenade Rentals to Hawksnest Bay

Distance: 3.4 miles from Sunset Serenade Rentals to Oppenheimer/Gibney Beach

Distance: 3.7 miles from Sunset Serenade Rentals to Dennis Bay/Peace Hill

Distance: 3.8 miles from Sunset Serenade Rentals to Jumbie

Distance: 4.4 miles from Sunset Serenade Suites to Trunk Bay

Distance: 5.4 miles from Sunset Serenade Suites to Cinnamon Bay

Distance: 6.3 miles from Sunset Serenade Suites to Maho Bay

How far away is the beach from our Chocolate Hole properties?

Hart Bay

Hart Bay is one of the closest beaches to the Down Yonder Pool Villa and the Garden Suite, both located in Chocolate Hole. Here you’ll find a beautiful sandy beach, perfect for sunbathing, snorkeling, and swimming.

Distance: .5 miles from Chocolate Hole Rentals

Chocolate Hole Bay

Adjacent to Hart Bay you’ll find Chocolate Hole Bay, which provides the stunning bay views seen from the Down Yonder Pool Villa and the Garden Suite. There’s a lovely bay to swim in, a place to lounge and relax, plus enchanting views of harbored yachts and unique rock formations.

Distance: .5 miles from Chocolate Hole Rentals

Great Cruz Bay Beach/ The Westin

Many guests stay with us to attend a wedding at the Westin or have boat trips planned with Cruz Bay Watersports from Great Cruz Bay Beach. Both properties are very close to the resort. You are also welcome to visit the Westin to enjoy a meal, spa services, tennis and workout room, (all for a fee). Great Cruz Bay Beach is also where Cruz Bay Watersports is located.

Distance: .5 miles from Chocolate Hole Rentals

Cruz Bay Beach

The beach in downtown Cruz Bay is always a lively destination, as it is home to beach bars, restaurants, charter boats, and the ferry dock. While we don’t recommend swimming here, it provides a picturesque backdrop for sunsets, beach strolls, and happy hour. Cruz Bay Beach is the perfect place to mingle and experience the eclectic, easy vibes Love City is known for!

Distance: 1.4 miles from Chocolate Hole Rentals

North Shore Beaches 

Take a day (or three!) to explore along the North Shore of St. John and you won’t be disappointed. Nearly twenty stunning beaches span the coastline, all protected by the USVI National Park Service. Each beach has a unique personality, from quaint Salomon Bay to the world-famous Trunk Bay to sea turtle filled Maho Bay. Bonus: the panoramic views from North Shore Road are exquisite!

Distance: 1.6 miles from Chocolate Hole Rentals to lower Lind Point Trailhead to hike to Salomon and Honeymoon Beaches

Distance: 2 miles from Chocolate Hole Rentals to upper Lind Point Trailhead to hike to Salomon and Honeymoon Beaches

Distance: 3 miles from Chocolate Hole Rentals to Caneel Bay

Distance: 3.5 miles from Chocolate Hole Rentals to Hawksnest Bay

Distance: 3.9 miles from Chocolate Hole Rentals to Oppenheimer/Gibney Beach

Distance: 4.2 miles from Chocolate Hole Rentals to Dennis Bay/Peace Hill

Distance: 4.3 miles from Chocolate Hole Rentals to Jumbie

Distance: 4.9 miles from Chocolate Hole Rentals to Trunk Bay

Distance: 5.9 miles from Chocolate Hole Rentals to Cinnamon Bay

Distance: 6.8 miles from Chocolate Hole Rentals to Maho Bay

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Island Abodes Secret Beach Breaks: Brown Bay

 

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Brown Bay beach

St. John is loaded with special “off the beaten path” spots, and the Island Abodes team is here help you find them! This week, our team got the opportunity to scope out a wonderful destination called Brown Bay.

Brown Bay is located past Coral Bay toward the East End of the island. To get to this private oasis, it would be wise to rent a Jeep and drive about a mile past Skinny Legs. When you get to the entrance, you can park in the gravel lot and begin your hike.

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Lots of conchs to find at Brown Bay!

The hike to Brown Bay is a 1.5 mile round-trip and we rate it as moderately difficult. Waterproof hiking shoes are recommended given the rocky trail surface, but if you’re careful and a bit daring it can be done in flip-flops. When we got to beach, we were rewarded by the shallow and calm water, so refreshing! We spotted dozens of conch, crabs and sea stars! Just off the shore on the east side there’s great snorkeling with lots to see. This beach is also home to sea turtle nesting sites, so you may see a turtle gliding up to say hello. When we visited the beach, we were the only ones there for two hours. It was so nice to be able to enjoy our Sam and Jack’s deli lunch while gazing into the crystal clear waters and sitting in the plentiful shade around the beach.

brownbay
The Brown Bay Trail reaches the beach

At Island Abodes, we love every St. John beach and want you to see them all. Brown Bay is a spot that not many know about, making it the perfect unexpected adventure while you stay

Brittany St. John Beaches, St. John Hiking

St. John Beach Report: Hawksnest

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Breathtaking view from the Hawksnest beach access entrance

So you just got your rental car, checked into your Island Abodes suite or villa, and are all settled in. That means it’s beach time, and Hawksnest is the closest North Shore beach with easy parking, accessibility, and facilities.

 

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A view of paradise!

Hawksnest is located right off North Shore Road (Route 20) about 2 miles from Cruz Bay. From Sunset Serenade Suites, it’s located about 3 miles away (12 minute drive), and from Island Abodes’ Chocolate Hole villas it’s about 3.5 miles away (14 minute drive). You can also get there by taxi, which costs, per person, approximately $7-$8 from Chocolate Hole, and $6-$7 from our Sunset Serenade Suites. There’s a large free parking lot located steps away from the beach, and there are also bathrooms, covered pavilions and charcoal grills.

The beaches at Hawksnest, like so many on St. John, are gorgeous. Just because it’s located close to town does not take away from its breathtaking beauty. This beach shares a bay with Oppenheimer and Gibney beaches, and is home to a lengthy shoreline. In the mornings, the shoreline stretches out for lots of sun exposure, and as the day goes on, more shade is available. There are also plenty of trees to place your

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Evening views from Hawksnest Beach.

chairs and towels under while you snorkel or swim. Sometimes, you may see a little surf at Hawksnest because it is an unprotected bay, but nothing too wild, making it a fine place to float or for children. The snorkeling in Hawknest is a bit limited, but still an enjoyable activity. Overall, this is a great place to relax, swim, and enjoy your first day on St. John.

Staying with Island Abodes not only gives you beautiful views of Cruz Bay or Chocolate Hole, but with a rental car, you’ll have all the freedom in the world and a lovely home to return to after your many adventures. A visit to Hawksnest is the perfect way to kick off your vacation and relax on the beach!

 

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