Caneel Bay

Caneel Bay

Caneel Bay is a Rosewood Resort located on the northwest side of St. John, one of the US Virgin Islands. The resort is nestled within Virgin Islands National Park on property once owned by Laurance Rockefeller. The hotel was one of the early members of Rockefeller's hotel chain, Rockresorts. The resort takes its name from the location of the property at Caneel Bay (Caneel means cinnamon in old Dutch). Rockefeller was so impressed by the area's beauty that he arranged to buy up most of the island of St. John. He then donated most of it to the U.S. government for the creation of the Virgin Islands National Park, the 29th U.S. national park. Rockefeller had the resort buildings designed to blend in with the landscape, giving the area a pristine beauty, and most property lighting is indirect so that guests can be able to see the stars at night.

Consider the numbers: 170 lush, landscaped acres surrounded by a 9,000-acre national park on the Caribbean’s least-developed island; 170 plush, secluded rooms; 7 private, pristine beaches lapped by 5,600 acres of underwater national park; and 400 smiling staffers to make sure your vacation is supreme. Laurance Rockefeller was so stunned by St. John’s natural beauty when he visited in 1952 that he bought up a large part of the island, created an exquisite getaway for his blue-chip cronies, and donated the rest to the U.S. government for the creation of the United States’s twenty-ninth national park. Luxury here is low-key but five-star every inch of the way: five-course breakfasts served on your open balcony to the music of ocean breezes and birdsong; tennis on first-class courts; snor- keling with 100-foot visibility amid some of

the Caribbean’s most dramatic undersea land-scapes; strolls along footpaths shaded by eighty different species of palm trees, past flowering plants with names like Flamboyant, Cup-of-Gold, and Angel’s Trumpet. Your most challenging decision during your invariably too-short stay: Which beach today?

WHAT: hotel. 

WHERE: closest airport is on St. Thomas. Hotel can arrange transfer by car and boat ($65/passenger). Tel 340/7766111, fax 340/693-8280; in the U.S., tel 800928-8889; www.rosewoodhotels.com. COST: doubles from $275 (low season), from $475 (high season). BEST TIMES: Nov-Apr.

Caneel Bay, St. John USVI

If you are looking for calm and crystal clear, Caneel Bay is your beach. The white powder lined with rich, green tropical foliage is awesome. There is a resort here, the Caneel Bay Resort and you can access the beach right through the resort’s entrance. You’ll need to check-in at the front desk of the resort where they will give you a day-visitor pass and guide.

Caneel Bay Honeymoon 

Here are just some of our top suggestions for planning special moments with those who are most special to you:

Watching the sun rise or set as you walk along the beach

Taking a tandem kayak ride at Honeymoon Beach

Enjoying a champagne breakfast on your terrace

Going off to snorkel together, just the two of you, sharing our magnificent underwater scenes and taking underwater photos and video of your discoveries

Relax blissfully together on your floats, chatting as the gentle ocean swells lull you into a wonderful sense of peace and comfort

Going on a nature walk, following one of our resort’s most beautiful paths

Hiking our trails and looking out over the ocean at our scenic points

Getting in-suite massages

Planning a private stargazing moment on the beach or at the Estate House grounds

Sharing a pina colada in the shade while the others scuba, snorkel or kayak

Having a private casual lunch at the Terrace Bar

Watching the ballgame together on the big screen at the Terrace Bar

Enjoying afternoon tea with your Mom, sister or best friend

Playing a round of golf or tennis

Planning a private dinner on the beach at sunset

Ordering room service and enjoying a terrace or beach picnic together

Enjoying a family-favorite beverage for a special toast to one another

And more...