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Carambola’s Superior Rooms have Turkish marble floors and rich mahogany beams and furniture |
On the island of St. Croix are two of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ most enduring and popular resorts—the Buccaneer Hotel and Carambola Beach Resort & Spa. Here’s a look at what your clients can expect from these venerable Caribbean properties.
The Buccaneer Hotel
Founded in the 17th century, the family-run Buccaneer Hotel is said to be the oldest resort not only in the U.S. Virgin Islands, but the Caribbean in general.
But you won’t find any squeaky staircases or cobwebs here as the resort tastefully combines the old with the new, giving clients a comfortable mix of history and old-school, classic elegance with the modern-day amenities necessary to please today’s Caribbean traveler.
A spokesperson for the resort told Travel Agent that the best rooms are undoubtedly the Beachside Doubloons. These feature expansive patios and balconies overlooking gorgeous views, and are the largest and most private of the hotel’s accommodations.
All the rooms have recently been redecorated. Apart from granite countertops and under-mount sinks, the rooms come equipped with appliances such as a microwave and dishwasher.
For your clients who happen to be fitness freaks as well, the Buccaneer Hotel offers tennis, watersports and golf. It is also ideal for destination weddings, honeymoons and family gatherings. Although the hotel draws a diverse clientele, we are told this is not the place for young singles in search of nightlife.
Located in the Great House, the Terrace offers covered and open-air dining with views of the fairways, Caribbean Sea and Christiansted Harbor. A complimentary full breakfast is served to resort guests. Dinner selections feature classic cuisine with Caribbean accents.
The Mermaid restaurant by the beach has an extensive lunch menu of seafood and specials, soups, salads and sandwiches, and gourmet dinners that include all-American favorites as well as island and vegetarian specialties. There is also a bar that serves frozen island favorites and vintage cocktails.
Currently, agents can book the Buccaneer Quick Escape package, which includes a free fourth night, $100 resort credit, a single day’s car rental, one category upgrade, daily breakfast, free stay for children under 18 and a free Kids’ Camp. Bookings can be made now through October 15 for travel till October 31. For a four-night stay, you can save from $891 to $1,246.
For details, agents should contact Reservations Manager Nadia Bougouneau (340-712-2100, [email protected]).
Carambola Beach Resort & Spa
While the Buccaneer’s main selling point lies in its half-modern/half-classic vibe, Carambola Beach Resort & Spa is all about the location.
This place has both sand and greenery as it is set along a nearly 1,000-foot-long stretch of pristine beach surrounded by a tropical landscape.
Carambola’s Superior Rooms are its showpiece accommodation. These have recently undergone renovations and are appointed with cool granite and marble throughout. The contemporary island decor includes Turkish marble floors and rich mahogany beams and furniture.
The rooms are equipped with a king-size bed, a flat-screen TV, a full-size refrigerator, porcelain-top stove and additional appliances. Perhaps the best features are the screened-in porches with padded seating, which provide the perfect spot to relax and listen to the waves lapping the shore.
Again, like the Buccaneer Hotel, this is a great place to chill, whether your clients are a family, a young couple or baby boomers, but it’s not recommended for those looking for a loud party atmosphere.
The resort offers a variety of activities and services, thanks to the beautiful beaches nearby, a freshwater swimming pool, lighted tennis courts, restaurants with live entertainment and 150 guest suites.
Carambola Beach & Spa Resort offers some attractive packages, in addition to your clients’ room rates at the time of booking. Here are some options:
• The Carambola Golf & Country Club 3 Rounds package starts at $890 for two people. It comes with three rounds of 18-hole golf, one three-course dinner for two with a bottle of house-selected wine, and transportation to and from the Carambola Golf & Country Club.
• The Carambola His & Hers Breezy Beach Spa & Golf package starts at $519 for two and includes a bottle of champagne in the room on arrival, one three-course dinner for two with a bottle of house-selected wine, one Breezy Beach massage that lasts 50 minutes, 18 holes of championship golf with a shared cart and two robes.
• The Carambola North Shore Snorkel & Sightseeing Tour package starts at $229 for two. The attractions are a North Shore snorkel and sightseeing tour and a three-course dinner for two.
• The Carambola Island Adventure Honeymoon package starts at $809 per couple and includes roundtrip transfers for two from Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, a bottle of champagne with fruit and cheese in the room on arrival, one three-course dinner for two with a bottle of house- selected wine, one 50-minute Breezy Beach massage for two, two Waffle Weave robes and a choice of either a Tan Tan Annaly Bay Tide Pools Tour or the Half-Day Buck Island Snorkel Sailing Excursion.
Agents should contact Director of Operations Ike Turner (340-778-3800, [email protected]).
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The Beachside Doubloons at the Buccaneer Hotel are the most private, spacious of the rooms, and all afford dramatic views of the sea and Christiansted Harbor |