Sand Castle on the Beach — Hotel in Saint Croix

I stayed at Sandcastle this past December 8-18, 2017. This was my third time staying at this resort and this time they were recovering from two hurricanes. Overall I had a phenomenal experience as always with just a few minor complaints which I will share last. I stayed in the sea-view suite and my view of the ocean was breathtaking. The room was cleaned nicely each day and most of the staff was very attentive and welcoming. I Ate dinner at sandcastle cafe just about every evening except the two days during the week when they are closed which I was already aware they would be closed and the food was to die for like I remembered however they had less selections on the menu. A plus which I appreciated They now have a very nice couple that prepares/grilles hot food on those two days that sandcastle cafe is closed they prepare hamburgers hot-dogs fish and probably other stuff as well that was a big improvement. I enjoyed going into the towns of christensted and fredriksted throughout the trip for shopping and dining. In Fredriksted there is this very nice authentic Caribbean restaurant called rose's cafe and their food is very good, the curry goat and red beans and rice is wonderful. The accommodations were comfortable and clean I had a fully equipped kitchen which I used to prepare breakfast each day and the King sized bed was extremely comfortable. I was greeted by most staff each day and made to feel very welcomed. The beach was very rocky due to the storms but its still the best beach in st Croix . I want to give some special praise to Irma and Verna who went out their way to ensure I had everything I needed such as extra towels, life preserver vest, water and coffee each day and most importantly they reserved my table at the far end facing the sea and setting sun every evening I am very thankful for their help and I hope to see them when I return. Also the wait staff at sandcastle cafe did an excellent job of serving and socializing with me and i appreciate it I however have forgotten their names. I overall had a wonderful time and I would argue that Its the best beach in st Croix and the best Sunsets in the world also night time stargazing is also awesome. I do have some negatives to report luckily they are minor and can easily be improved. I felt a very negative energy from some guy named Craig who was at the front desk throughout the week. I will define the negative energy, he would not speak or acknowledge me when I came up to desk, He acted like he was disgusted and did not want to be bothered. When I would ask a question he would give abrupt one word answers which did not address what was being asked. He overall had a bad attitude that is not in the spirit of customer service one would expect when paying top dollar for that Caribbean experience. Craig seemed like a very angry vile person that had some kind of problem with me and this was consistent day after day. The message Craig gave was that I should take my business elsewhere because I was not welcome. The ownership needs to be more thoughtful and attentive about who they have "greeting" and tending to customers. Another negative is the Toilet wouldn't flush consistently because the tank would not always fill up with water. Also there were no beach chairs on the beach so I had to use one from the cottages and they seemed ok with that. Overall except for Craig,The Toilet and the lack of beach chairs I had a great time and I would most likely come back simply for the beach and sunsets if...

I decided on a last minute getaway prior to an upcoming surgery which will have significant recovery time. I stumbled upon St Croix as a great US destination without requiring a passport, since mine had expired.

When reviewing places to stay as an LGBTQ traveler, I came across Sand Castle on the Beach. I liked that it was on the largest, yet least visited USVI, meaning nothing to really so but relax.

I arrived and presented with a welcome drink which was appreciated, even though I do not drink.

Upon arrival to my room I walked right by the beautiful pool just 20 ft from my room.

I chose to not leave the resort from the day of arrival until my departure and it was the best decision.

I ate every meal at the on site restaurant, with the exception of morning coffee and continental breakfast provided by the resort, which was limited and my most skipped meal.

The restaurant was exceptional! The consistent quality for every meal is not something taken lightly. Many restaurants, even large chains with "formulas" for consistency, are not able to achieve success in a simple menu.

The bang-bang shrimp was one of favorite items on the menu. I had many days for appetizer and even one day for lunch. From the burger, steak skewer, breakfast bowl to Mahi Mahi bites, everything was excellent. Out of 10 meals I give every on a 10 out of 10, with the exception of one a 9 out of 10. The meal I had with the grilled salmon was just a touch over done for my taste, but was still an excellent tasting meal.

The staff at Sand Castle are all friendly and welcoming and there for the asking. There is always staff taking care of guests on the beach setting up umbrellas, bringing over a table to place drinks or personal items on, as well as providing guests access to snorkeling equipment or a kayak.

The beach is listed with, what appears as sea weed in photos, but is actually all coral reefs. No need to get on a boat to see the reefs. Just put on a mask and start swimming.

I highly recommend this "boutique" resort(only 25 rooms) for a most relaxing vacation away from the hustle and bustle of a "vacation".

My routine everyday: wake, coffee/ continental breakfast outside my room on the porch, swim in pool, go to lunch, relax on the beach and swim for a few hours, back to room, swim and layout by the pool, nap, shower, dinner, swim in pool, sleep, repeat, EVERYDAY!

I made sure to take the time to bring my gratuity to the office as noted and made sure my wishes were it to be distributed amongst all staff, not just housekeeping.

Reward yourself with a TRUE vacation and check out Sand Castle on the Beach! I already booked next 11 night stay for December!

Thanks again to the staff at Sandcastle as well as the restaurant for a great vacation!

See you in...

You know how they say that first impressions are everything? Well, this couldn't have been more accurate for Sand Castle on the Beach! It was simply moments after speaking with the lovely Barbara, at the welcome desk who had given us our room number and key with a smile, that we were whisked away by Ted, one of the owners of the resort. Instantly, we felt at home. With his warmth and cheerful smile, he led us to our room and gave us a complete tour with instructions on how to use the fan, air conditioning and tv. When was the last time you visited a resort and felt like part of the family?? It was breath of fresh air....fresh and gorgeous ocean air!! Our room was extremely clean and welcoming. The accommodations we chose were modest, as we planned on spending little time in our room....Adventure Awaits! There are opportunities at the resort with grand views and more space, but we were completely happy with the room we chose. Upon touring the facility, we immediately felt immersed in the paradise that is St. Croix. This resort is in a perfect location for those who prefer peace and tranquility as opposed to the hustle and bustle of tourist traps. The lovely walkway leads to the crystal blue pool and beachside patio seating. Trust us when we tell you that the sunsets from this location are nothing short of breathtaking!! There was plenty of seating and absolutely no feeling whatsoever of overcrowding. Our fellow vacationers were friendly and simply added to the feeling of happiness...this speaks volumes to the customer service offered here because everyone was having a wonderful time. There is opportunities to rent snorkels and kayaks for no extra charge and we can tell you from personal experience that the snorkeling was nothing short of amazing. The Caribbean blue waters are an instant de-stresser and the sound of ocean waves crashing softly beckon to us even now, as we sit back at home dreaming of our return. We are quite sure that the area simply must have many amazing places to eat, but why tamper with perfection?? We ate every meal at the Beach Side Cafe at Sand Castle on the Beach and sampled a different menu item and exotic drink each time. And don't even get us started on the RUM cake!! Sigh...so good!! We both agree that we had some of the best food we have ever had here. We took plenty of pictures so that we may return in spirit to this our new paradise. We have even been visiting the webcam they have placed to view that beautiful beach and sunset. Chris, Ted and the entire staff were nothing short of amazing and we just can't say enough about our time spent here. We truly appreciated their suggestions for our thirst for exploration and their hospitality during our stay. We dream of our return and will 100% stay...