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St Kitts / St Thomas

JonP

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We plan to holiday in St Kitts or St Thomas (from UK) early 2010 using MR packages for both flights and hotel (so need to book shortly). I have checked reviews on tripadvisor and found mixed results.

Has anyone visited both resorts? If so which was favoured and what time of year would be best to visit.

Many thanks in advance.
 

FlyerBobcat

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We plan to holiday in St Kitts or St Thomas (from UK) early 2010 using MR packages for both flights and hotel (so need to book shortly). I have checked reviews on tripadvisor and found mixed results.
Has anyone visited both resorts? If so which was favoured and what time of year would be best to visit.
Many thanks in advance.

Haven't visited the resorts, but from the Travel Demand Index, one can see the favored times (and hurricane season!)

You can see the chart that is applicable any single resort by going to the II website ( www.IntervalWorld.com ), accessing the online Resort Directory and then finding the page for that particular resort. Then click on "Travel Demand Index" on the right side of the page for that resort.
 

jimf41

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I can't speak for St Kitts as I've never been there. I go to St Thomas every year in the JAN-MAR timeframe for a few weeks. The weather is usually 75-85 with a chance of an afternoon shower almost every day. It's the high season in St Thomas. My advice for the hotel in St Thomas is to try to book in to the Morningstar rather than the Reef. The Morningstar is made up of a series of small cottage like Bldgs that are right on the beach.

I've read the tripadvisor reviews and you're right, they are very mixed. Predominantly people rave about the resort but about 1 out 10 comes across with a very negative review. If you don't drive or are nervous about driving on the left with a vehicle designed to drive on the right then it's going to be an expensive trip with all the taxi fares. The roads are in good shape but it's very hilly and narrow. The food at all three resorts in the complex is typical Marriott, expensive and average. The restaurants on the island are great.

Just noticed you are from the UK. Driving on the left should be a breeze for you, except that the cars are US and the steering wheel is on the left also.
 

icydog

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To say the roads are in good shape is a vast overstatement. We found the roads to be treacherous and narrow. They are like converted donkey cart routes that go up, up, up, and then down, down, down, again at precipitous speed. You could be driving up and down for a half hour only to go 10 miles. I know that if my husband wasn't driving I wouldn't have left the resort. He navigated the roads well but by the time we returned home from a short trip he was drained. In fact, the night we went out to dinner with our friends, he couldn't have a drink. He was afraid to have the slightest impairment on those crazy, hilly, skinny, roads. Sometimes it felt like we were going up 45 degree inclines and making 90 degree turns. Scary has new meaning after driving in St Thomas.
 

IslandJoe

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Have been to St. Thomas and St. Kitts. The beach at St. Kitts is much larger. Although more to do on St. Thomas, I would recommend St. Kitts for a more relaxed vacation
 

bw3

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St. Thomas

I agree with Jim Freeman. The prime months are Jan - March. It is a drive in the country compared to London or New York. But there are steep hills. St. Thomas has a lot more activity than St. Kitts or St. John. We stay at the Frenchman's Cove timeshare in February each year. We swim at the beach at Morningstar. The water temp is about 82 F in February. The Frenchman Reef is the high-rise hotel at the top of the hill. Nice view but I would recommend the Morningstar cottages if you can get in there.
 

normab

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Have been to both resorts. The resort at St Thomas is split and you take a van up and down the hill--was not so crazy about that but the resort itself was beautiful. St Thomas is an americanized and tourist oriented island, lots of shopping and other activities. We rented a car and DH did the left side of the road driving.

St Kitts resort is large but all together on level ground. The island is originally British and it is new to tourism. That means there is less to do for tourists and that some waitstaff are learning how to treat customers politely!! There is some shopping, golf and water sports and a large casino at the hotel. Most people don't rent cars--it ends up being cheaper to take a taxi. We loved the laid back atmosphere at St Kitts and as owners will go back!!

Note that it is easier to get to St Thomas than St Kitts, more flight availability since it is an established tourist destination.

Norma
 

pharmgirl

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Note that it is easier to get to St Thomas than St Kitts, more flight availability since it is an established tourist destination.

Norma

Hi

Also from NJ - what airline/s did you use? We would fly from Newark

We are very interested in St Kitts
 

djs113

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I agree with Jim

The roads are in very good condition, but it is a very hilly island, so going up and down the terrain and steep angles is to be expected.

we drive around each year without any issues

If the actual roads were in bad condition, then driving would be a major problem
 

icydog

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Hi

Also from NJ - what airline/s did you use? We would fly from Newark

We are very interested in St Kitts

We flew to St Thomas via Cape Air and CO.. The Cape Air part was fun but time consuming. I would not recommend it. I am not sure how one would get to St Kitts but I would love to know. I also live near Newark.
 

SpikeMauler

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St Thomas

Keep in mind also, you're only a 20 minute ferry ride away from some of the most beautiful beaches in the world(IMO) on St John(not to take anything away from St Thomas beaches). One thing St Kitts has that St Thomas doesn't are Casinos.
 

sernow

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The roads in St. Thomas are wonderful compared to those on some of the other islands in the Caribbean (I'm talking to you Dominica).
 

BobG7734

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We went to St. Kitts in 1/08 (and bought) and are returning this March...absolutely loved the place. It is what Aruba was 30 years ago and is now gearing up as the next hot spot. A new cruise terminal has just been completed. Great restaurants and golf course; the Marriot is a combination hotel and timeshare (which is about 50% completed)...a new huge high end residential/golf course complex is being developed on the other end of the island.

For the Northeast it is probably easier to get to than St. THomas...AA has direct flights from JFK.

To learn more about St Kitts this site has a lot of info:
http://myislands.myeyez.net/index.shtml?17
 

SpikeMauler

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We went to St. Kitts in 1/08 (and bought) and are returning this March...absolutely loved the place. It is what Aruba was 30 years ago and is now gearing up as the next hot spot. A new cruise terminal has just been completed. Great restaurants and golf course; the Marriot is a combination hotel and timeshare (which is about 50% completed)...a new huge high end residential/golf course complex is being developed on the other end of the island.

For the Northeast it is probably easier to get to than St. THomas...AA has direct flights from JFK.

To learn more about St Kitts this site has a lot of info:
http://myislands.myeyez.net/index.shtml?17

I'm not sure as an owner I'd be crazy about the new cruise ship terminal. The cruise ship passengers seem to be a nuisance to many owners on St Thomas. I was on St Thomas when they had 7 ships docked there in one day. It made getting around the Island quite difficult ,which is why people plan certain activities on the days when there are few cruise ships in.
 
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