Vacation Rentals by Owner

Lisa & Vin

Guest: Lisa & Vin (New York)
Date of Stay: 04/05/12 Review Submitted: 04/21/12

If you are thinking about renting Sue's condo for your vacation, stop thinking and just do it! It is so awesome to take your cup of morning coffee, open the curtain on the sliding door and step directly out onto your own private beach area. No packing up a beach bag, no drive from a hotel, no huge beach crowds. Just amazing! A vacation to me is not to have to worry about anything, to just be able to relax and if you stay in Sue's condo that is exactly what you get. Your only "worry" is a quick trip to the grocery store for your personal favorites. Everything else is there for you. I swear it is like your best friend let you stay in her beach house for a week. It was just the best vacation I've ever had. Thank you Sue! Already thinking about next year.

Owner response:Thanks for the great review. We always strive to offer the best and couldn't do that without our guests' feedback. Always happy to have you back for another vacation - you're part of our "island family" now! Mark & Sue

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Michigan family vacation

Guest: Kim (Michigan)
Date of Stay: 11/05/11 Review Submitted: 03/30/12

Three Palms Condo was absolutely wonderful and just what we were looking for! The location of this condo in building E was perfect. We could hang out on the porch while our two young daughters ages 2 and 4, would be able to play in the sand in front of us. It was just a few steps to the ocean too. We did feel as if we had our own private beach. The pool was just a short walk away and the condo had a lot of pool floats for our girls to use. The condo itself had everything we needed to enjoy a nice relaxing vacation. Susan was wonderful in answering any questions we had and she always was available. We had visited other condos at Sapphire, and Three Palms was definitely the nicest one by far! We rented a car and drove to Red Hook quite a few times, there are many restaurants to choose from and it was only a five minute drive. We would also recommend taking a day trip to St. Johns and Coral World for families. The beach at Coral World was very nice. We would definitely recommend this condo and would love to come back some day soon.

Owner response:Thank you so much for the wonderful review. We treasure our guests' comments which are testiments to our commitment to offer the best place to stay at Sapphire Beach Resort & Marina. Glad you felt so comfortable. Come back again!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

FANTASTIC condo and overall experience!!

Guest: Doug Wright (Phoenix, AZ)
Date of Stay: 05/01/11 Review Submitted: 05/16/11

May 1-6 2011, we had the pleasure of staying in this condo. If you are reading this, and the condo is available... RESERVE IT NOW. We have been to STT for the past 10 seasons. We have stayed in fabulous hotels.. and some not so fabulous ones... We have rented a house on the East End and rented condos on the East End... This is by far the BEST accommodation you will find on STT. Considering you will more than likely visit Sapphire beach more than once during your visit, you might as well just stay there ! But be warned, for not all condos at Sapphire Beach are created equally. In fact, most of them (most) do not even compare to this. Mark and Susan have created a beachfront haven of modern at home amenities such as 2 flat screen TVs, stainless steel appliances, IPOD docking station, and no kidding.. one of the most heavenly beds you will ever doze off in...But the true value of this condo is what lies outside of the well appointed terrace... The tranquil, tropical waters of the Caribbean are 30 feet from your patio. You cannot possibly tire of this view nor the sounds. The only bad thing about the patio furniture is that once you take a seat; you will never want to get up. After taking a dip in the ocean, a large bathroom can accommodate more than one person getting ready at a time as you head out for your night on the town in Red Hook... only a $4.00 cab ride from the unit ! If dining in is your choice, the kitchen is well appointed and offers good quality equipment, very rare for a condo rental on STT. If you need info on where to get groceries, have no fear, Mark and Susan give you all the details in advance with their large welcome packet complete with maps, discounts, calendars of events, and travel advice. If there is anything you need, you can ask Susan when she personally calls you to welcome you to the islands. We cannot wait to return next season, we still feel like we owe Mark and Susan a huge Thank You for helping us have the best trip to STT ever!

Owner response:Thank you for the glowing review! Our thanks to you for taking such good care of our home in Paradise. It's great to hear that our guests recognize and appreciate all the extra things we do to make you feel right at home. Makes us want to do better and in turn, guests like you want to return. You are welcome back anytime. Thanks again! Mark & Susan

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Awesome time at the Condo!

Guest: Dabn P. (USA)
Date of Stay: 04/17/11 Review Submitted: 05/04/11

Susan, Just want to let you know we had an awesome time at your condo last week. The weather was perfect (no rain at all) and it was just a an overall great experience. After arrival I went to Cost-U-Less and loaded up for the week. We left some extra foods and kids sand toys in your condo for future guests as well. The first two days we hung out at Sapphire and enjoyed the beach out front and the beach in front of the dive shop. My kids loved the shallow pool on top and playing in the sand. My son and I snorkeled all over the cove in front of your condo. I jet skied with him and he and my wife went para sailing. The third day we went to Lindquist and loved the beautiful sand beach and sandy bottom of the ocean. The fourth day we went to Drake's Seat, Mountain Top and Charlotte Amalie for some shopping and hit the condo beach in the afternoon. The fifth day we took the car ferry to St.. John and went to Trunk Bay, Cinammon Bay sugar mill ruins, Annaberg school ruins, drove up Bordeaux Mountain and did some shopping in Cruz Bay. The last full day we hit Magens Beach. I planned St. John and Magens Bay the last two days since there were no cruise ships stopping on St. Thomas those days (glad I did since the crowds were minimal). Your condo was so convenient, we were so happy with the closeness to the water. Thirty paces from your patio door and my feet were in the ocean. I have been all over the Caribbean and Hawaii and never have stayed so close to the water. We watched the kids play in the sand when we were inside for a rest or drink. The kids did fine on the pull out bed. PS - I am sure you know, but after snorkeling the left side near Pettiklip Point, I tried the right side of your condo cove near the rocks that border the marina. The snorkeling was much better on the right side. Deeper with crevices and lots more fish. In fact after snorkeling four beaches on my trip, I think your cove had the best snorkeling. Just thought I would let you know. Thanks Again!

Owner response:Sure glad you all enjoyed yourselves. It's always appreciated to have current updates on what attractions our guests discovered and enjoyed. Your recommendations are spot on. Sounds like a great itinerary for future guests. You are welcomed back anytime. Don't forget to ask about our "return guest discount". Mark & Susan

Recommended for:Families with young children

We loved it!!!

Guest: Alan & Jill (Red Bank, New Jersey USA)
Date of Stay: 02/23/11 Review Submitted: 03/18/11

This was the perfect place to stay for our family. Great beach access with the pool being just the perfect distance away. Nice, quiet and relaxing. The property photos and location are completely described as they are. Everything was very clean and the condo was extremely well equipped for everything you would need in the kitchen, bath etc. Felt like home. Sue, the owner was also a huge help with all the information she provided to us prior to our stay. All the restaurant recommendations were spot on!! We loved Island Time Pub for pizza...that was our favorite!! We have already told our friends that we want to come again next year!!! Thanks for making our vacation a great one!!!

Owner response:Alan & Jill, Thank you for the glowing review and we're so happy that you enjoyed yourselves. Looking forward to having you back again soon... We'll let you know if we find any new hidden treasures to share... Mark & Sue

Recommended for:Families with young children

4th year staying at E-107!

Guest: Bill & Dianne
Date of Stay: 02/02/11 Review Submitted: 09/18/11

Susan and Mark - It's our fourth year vacationing at E-107, and we have yet to have a bad experience. What a joy it is to get up in the morning and just walk out onto the beach and watch the sunrise over St. John. E-107 is our home away from home. You have stocked the condo with all the essential comforts and conveniences of home. All the guests have to do is buy the food and drink, as expensive as it may be in St. Thomas. If you want to go out for an evening, Red Hook is only five minutes away. It's a great place to eat, party and shop. If snorkeling, scuba duving, sailing or fishing is on the agenda, the Sapphire Marina, right next to E-107, can meet your needs. I found it much more convenient to rent a car for a week, which made it more convenient to come and go as we like. But, there are taxis right on the property that can accomodate trips anywhere on the island. The weather is always gorgeous in St. Thomas. 85 degrees with a beautiful seabreeze. We love Sapphire Beach and the comfort of E-107. We wouldn't think of staying anywhere else. We're looking forward to 2012. Thanks for another great vacation.

Recommended for:

Recommended!

Guest: islandLIZ (Minneapolis, MN)
Date of Stay: 12/20/10 Review Submitted: 01/02/11

We stayed at this location with two young children and would stay there again in a heartbeat. The ability to walk out of the front door and be right on the ocean with decent snorkeling was fantastic. This property is a great value. The condo had good climate control and kitchen (considering the overall size of the property) where we were able to prepare most of our meals. The owners make a great effort to tune you into the local scene, including a boat in the adjacent marina where you can buy fresh fish.

Owner response:Thanks for the great response Liz! So happy to hear you enjoyed your stay and our condo was everything we said it would be. Hope to have you and your family back again in the near future.... Mark & Susan

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, tourists without a car.

Great Week in the VI

Guest: Meemers (Oak Creek, WI)
Date of Stay: 06/11/10 Review Submitted: 06/23/10

This Condo is everything we expected and more. Sue was awesome to work with, she provides great information that may our stay enjoyable. The photos are exactly what we found when we arrived at the property. We enjoyed dinner nearby in Red Hook at several restaurants - we loved pizza from the Island Time Pub and mexican above Molly Malones was quite reasonable. Snorkeling at Sapphire was the best. We also visited Magen's Bay, no cruise ships and it was beautiful and very quite. We did rent a car, adjusting to driving on the left was relatively easy and allowed flexibility to explore the island.

Owner response:Thanks for the wonderful response! Sounds like you really got out and about to experience what St Thomas has to offer. Still many more things to discover so you really should come back again. We're always exploring when we're in St Thomas and love to share the new finds with our guests. Just tried the new restaurant called CoCo Blue in Red Hook (01/11)and it was fabulous. Best Sea Bass we've ever had! There's also Lindquist Beach which is our best kept secret. (although we're always willing to share with guests!) Now that you've got driving on the left down pat, you've got to take it a step further and explore St John by car. Those roads are indeed a fun and exciting challenge, but very much worth the trip. The condo is stocked again and ready to greet repeat and new guests alike..... Give us a call... Mark & Susan

Recommended for:Families with teenagers

Fabulous condo, prime location

Guest: Jen_X (New Hampshire)
Date of Stay: 05/15/10 Review Submitted: 05/26/10

I cannot say enough great things about Sapphire and the Three Palms unit. First, as another reviewer stated, the pictures here are exactly what you get but better. Sue and Mark's unit is super clean, very well-stocked with miscellaneous items you don't have to buy at the store (coffee, salt and pepper, condiments) and you cannot run out of linens, towels (beach towels included), or much of anything else. Housekeeping was excellent. The bed is extremely comfortable, the unit is roomy, there are two nice tv's and a great sound system. In short the unit itself is just exactly right--no complaints at all! The most important thing to know and the #1 reason to rent this unit is the LOCATION. It is unbeatable. I love E Building the best and the snorkeling off E's beach, while at times only slightly choppier than the other beach, is the best. The best reefs are directly in front of the unit. The beaches were cleaned every single day by 6:00 a.m.; I rarely saw trash or litter but did so enjoy seeing the funny beach cats and kittens playing in the sand, the crazy iguanas roaming the beach harmlessly, a wide variety of birds and of course the underwater beauty. Sapphire itself was very FUN, there's lots to do right there, and is within walking distance to Red Hook if you enjoy hiking (I lost five pounds this trip from all the hiking, which I loved!) a bit or catching the "Dolla Bus" is very easy to do as well and an interesting way to get where you need to go. I never felt unsafe, day or night. The staff and security at Sapphire and the people all over the island were friendly, informative, and fun. Absolutely wonderful stay at a perfect unit and location! Jen and Scott, NH

Owner response:Thank you so much for the wonderful review! Glad that you relaxed and took in all the beauty that surrounds us at Sapphire. It didn't take you long to live like the locals ~ "dolla bus"?? hahaha... There's so much more to explore so hurry back!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Exceeded Expectations

Guest: temmafay (Rochester, NY)
Date of Stay: 05/02/10 Review Submitted: 11/14/10

In May of this year, my sister and I surprised another sister with a trip to St. Thomas for her 50th birthday. I contacted Susan, the owner of this property and was all set to rent it. Unfortunately, after I hung up with Susan, someone who had previously requested the same dates I needed, sent in their deposit before I could send in mine. Tough cookies, right??? Not exactly. Susan felt so bad for me since this was my first time using VRBO and my first time ever renting a condo. She went above and beyond the call of duty by providing an alternate choice of a friend's condo that happened to be located in the same resort. I was over the moon. She also connected me with a wonderful and EXTREMELY patient man named Sam who not only provided airport transfers, but also took me grocery shopping and even waited for me while I shopped!! The condo I did stay in was phenomenal!! When the description said "Beautiful Condo, Directly On The Beach", it is NOT an exaggeration. When you open the back patio door, you go out approximately one step from the patio and you are on the beach! It was beautiful and amazing. The condo itself was clean, well maintained and fully stocked with all the extras you might need to help prepare your own meals, as food can be quite pricey in the USVI. The condo was conveniently located about 10 minutes away from the Red Hook area which has tons of shopping and dining options, not to mention you can catch the ferry to St. John from there for a fun day trip. Although I did not stay in this particular unit, I can confidently say that after dealing with Susan the owner, I am positive you will not be disappointed. Susan is very caring, thoughtful and professional. She will go out of her way to make sure you are satisfied and that you enjoy your stay. As a matter of fact, I am looking forward to staying with her again!!

Owner response:Thank you for the great review! So happy that you and your sisters had a wonderful time at Sapphire Beach Resort & Marina. We hope that the next time you choose Sapphire Beach for your vacation destination, we will be able to accommodate you in our own condo. We're very proud of the fact that it is comfortable, clean and well-stocked. Our kitchen is new as are the full-size appliances and it has all the comforts of home. We just replaced the pillowtop mattress and even added a 3" Tempur-Pedic pad for the comfort of our guests. Please come back again..... Regards, Mark & Susan

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The best beachfront ever!

Guest: h2heather (Arvada, CO)
Date of Stay: 03/24/10 Review Submitted: 04/01/10

The photo is truly accurate for Three Palms.....you are about 30 steps from the patio to the ocean (my 11 year old enjoyed measuring this out!) and this unit is in beautiful shape to make its "beachfront" location even better. Kudos to the owners for keeping everything so well maintained and kindly stocked with the essentials and more. The snorkeling directly in front of the condo is good, as is the adjacent larger beach (my boys spotted barracudas, angelfish and more) and the pretty pool is only a 2 minute walk away. We ate quite a few meals "at home" at the condo, but also thoroughly enjoyed dining out in the fun town of Red Hook (Fish Tales was great for a splurge dinner and fresh fish, East End Cafe was excellent Italian, and Duffy's Love Shack was perfect for casual food and "umbrella drinks"!). Three Palms was the perfect spot for a week in the Virgin Islands. And Sapphire Beach was THE place for watching the Rolex Regatta and the full moon. Thank you ever so much for a memorable vacation!

Owner response:Thank you for taking time to write this glowing review, Heather! This is exactly one of the reasons we love to rent our place in paradise ~ to share the bountiful beauty and natural resources of the US Virgin Islands with people who appreciate it... Also, we appreciate that guests like you notice all the little extra things we do for your comfort. Please come back again soon!

Recommended for:

Perfect Quiet Getaway

Guest: Jeannette & Mick (Croydon, PA, USA)
Date of Stay: 03/17/10 Review Submitted: 03/31/10

As first time visitors to St. Thomas from 3/17/10 through 3/23/10, my boyfriend and I were hoping to relax in the sun after a very snowy winter in Pennsylvania. Our one week stay in Susan & Mark's condo was fabulous and the weather was perfect! The unit was set apart from the other buildings at Sapphire Beach Resort where all of the beach & snorkeling activities were and where the cruise tourists gathered. We basically had a private beach to enjoy (along with only a few other couples). It was wonderful to walk off of the patio and right onto the sand. I would definitely recommend a ground floor unit for this very reason. All of the other amenities were within walking distance. The only disappointment with the resort itself was that the pool bar & attached restaurant weren't open & apparently hasn't been for quite a while. The swimming pool itself was open & was very enjoyable! We did have some great meals & drinks at the Grapevine Grille at Sapphire Marina that was about a 3 minute walk from our condo. They'll even deliver to the beach. Chris (the owner) and Amy (our bartender) were awesome! Our condo was very clean & nicely decorated & the kitchen was very well stocked with not only the basics, but also a lot of extras that we didn't expect - coffee (a must have!), creamers, some snacks, and a few cold beers. Since we rented a car, we didn't have to rely on taxis (although they're plentiful and always available) and had a fun time exploring the island on our own. We only had to go food shopping once while we were there to pick up a few necessities. Susan was a pleasure to work with to coordinate all of the details and she sent us a packet of information & recommendations on places to eat, things to do, etc. We already had an idea of what we wanted to do before we even arrived on the island! Of course, we didn't have enough time to do it all. If you're a golfer or wannabe golfer, then you'll definitely want to spend half of a day at the challenging Mahogany Run golf course. Bring a lot of golf balls. Thank you to Susan & Mark for a wonderful, memorable getaway. We'll be back again!!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Sapphire Beach Resort & Marina E-107

Guest: Jeanne & Rick Petrocelli
Date of Stay: 03/08/10 Review Submitted: 03/31/10

Ahhhh... Susan said we'd relax, rejuvenate and return... We cannot wait for the return part! It was all that she told us and more. The condo E-107 is particularly clean and well-stocked. Coffee, filters, sugars and cream were there upon our arrival as well as butter, spices, foil, and even a few cold beers and rum. What more could we ask for? There were plenty of fine quality linens and her Property Manager/Housekeeper Sam was a very sweet man. He even offers airport transfers (we rented a car). We arrived with a long list of activities to do for the week but realized when we saw the place, there was no need to leave. Other than a day trip to St. John, a few dinners out and going to Red Hook for groceries, we hung out at Sapphire the entire week. We felt that we had our own private beach right at our doorstep. Fabulous!!! Thanks, Susan!

Recommended for:

-

Guest: Colleen and Steve (Cicero, New York)
Date of Stay: 02/23/10 Review Submitted: 02/23/10

Any of the reviews you read here will tell you what a beautiful beach Sapphire is, so I am going to treat that as a given and just review this specific rental E 107. When I first started looking for a place in St. Thomas I had absolutely no intention of splurging for a place directly on the beach, but after seeing this unit on line I just couldn?t get it out of my head. I am so glad that I decided to go for it because it was well worth any additional expense. I had pretty high expectations going in, but this place continually ?WOWWED? me. The first big ?WOW? was when I walked off the patio on to the beach; it was amazingly beautiful. It was so incredible that no how many times I walked out it astounded me over and over again. Being in the E building was like having our own private beach; during the week we vacationed there was never really more than one other couple on the beach at any time, sometimes no one else at all. It was incredible to just walk in and out of our place for a beverage, those forgotten sunglasses?. anything at all. How liberating to not have to pack up a bag to go to the beach because the beach is literally on your doorstep. I could even keep an eye out for my husband from my perch on the patio when he snorkeled without me. The other thing that was fantastic is how well stocked this place was, every week must be a bit different based on what has been left behind but other than the items that we brought or purchased on our one and only trip to the grocery store it left nothing to desire. In the unit everything was great: comfy bed, nice towels, spacious bathroom and living area, plenty of nice indoor and out door furniture?. there was everything you would expect in terms of linen, dishes, pots and pans etc., but I was surprised that they had all the other conveniences such as aluminum foil, saran wrap, baggies, paper / plastic plates, lots of condiments and spices. I have stayed places before where I had to buy or bring my own coffee filters, sugar, salt and pepper, etc.; this place had everything! The most amazing for me was that they even had cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and ginger among their spices which I happen to love on my frozen drinks, so I certainly put the blender to use. As an added bonus when we arrived all 7 ice trays were full and there was an ice bucket full of cubes in the freezer! I really can?t say enough about this place, just please stay away when I want to go back!

Owner response:Collen & Steve, Thanks for taking the time to post your wonderful and positive review. Glad to hear you truly enjoyed staying at our condo. We do try hard to make guests feel right at home. We welcome you back anytime! Mark & Susan

Recommended for:

Wonderful!

Guest: parr (Orangeburg, SC)
Date of Stay: 08/05/09 Review Submitted: 08/17/09

We enjoyed our stay so much. The view is wonderful. The condo was well stocked and very clean. We loved the flat screen TV and ipod docking station. We had all the comforts of home with a better view!

Owner response:Thank you so much for the great review... We love share our condo with guests who enjoy the natural beauty as much as we do. Also, we appreciate it that you noticed how clean and well stocked the condo is. Please come back soon...

Recommended for:Romantic getaway

The Best Condo at Saphire Beach and the Best Beach

Guest: Rich and Theresa (Columbia, New Jersey)
Date of Stay: 07/25/09 Review Submitted: 08/06/09

We tried to do our homework before we picked your place Susan, but the truth is you never really have enough information. I say this in a positive way.I found that Saphire beach is everything we hoped for and more. I feel Saphire is the most beautiful beach on St. Thomas with all the different colors that blend together in the ocean and with St. John and other islands in the backround. There is a place for swimming and a place for snorkeling. The fish were beautiful. The fact that there were plenty of shade trees on the beach if you needed it and a dive shop on the beach with free snorkel rental equipment was great too. When our family decided that we would maybe just like to go for a swim, the multi level pool was beautiful with the ocean within a stone throw away. I say this because for the week we were there we could not get enough of the view. The things I feel sets your condo apart from all the others are multiple. You have a beach level condo which meant was all we had to do was walk fifty out the door and we were in the water. We would also sit in your lounge chairs at night watching the sun go down and the lights appear on St. John. We also found it enjoyable to watch the sailboats and regular boats come in and out of the marina next door. The other thing we really liked was since you are located on the part of the beach that is not only the closest to the water but primarily a snorkeling beach the vacationers choose to spend their time in front of the other condos where there was more of an area of swimming and snorkeling which made us feel like we had our own private beach. Clean is number one with us for any place we want to consider and I agree with the other vacationers that you get an A+ for clean. Other things worth mentioning are a variety of reasonably priced restaurants are within walking distance as well a the ferry, taxi, and car rental. I will definitely be recommending your place and hope to return myself someday. We also took a dinner sail with horizon one night. We walked 150 feet out the door and we were ready to sail. I would recommend it to anyone. Hi, I'm 'Rich's wife, Theresa and I couldn't have said it better myself. I'll just add that your contact man Sam was great at getting back to us promptly whenever we had any questions; he was both courteous and helpful. Your place was the gem of the Carribean!!!! I'll make one closing comments. You have no idea what if is to get praise like this from my wife. THANK YOU.

Owner response:Thank you, Rich & Theresa for taking the time to write a wonderful review... We certainly appreciate it and look forward to having you back as our guests at Sapphire Beach Resort & Marina. It is always a pleasure to share our condo with terrific guests as yourselves. Come back soon!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Carolyn Bedford (Vestavia Hills, AL)
Date of Stay: 06/24/09 Review Submitted: 06/24/09

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Three Palms. Susan is stupendously helpful and she also makes sure the place is incredibly well equipped for a comfortable stay. The unit itself is very nice, very clean, tv is GREAT, VIEW IS OUT OF THIS WORLD, patio is wonderful, we ate many lunches and dinners out there and it was so nice, the beach is great. The sand on Susan's beach never gets hot like the sand on the beach in front of the other units. The fact that the sand never got hot was great for my kids. The view in front of Susan's building is the best as it is not obstructed by trees, but if you want the trees for shade during your lounging on the beach just a few steps away you can head over to the other beach. Snorkeling is great in front of all the buildings and the diving is great as well. My husband has to walk just a few steps to the boat each morning for his dive boat and they were wonderful! Food is very expensive as Susan warned us, Duffy's is great food and a reasonable price. We also really enjoyed the two tiered pool. It is a lovely pool and the view from the pool is also out of this world. We had such a nice trip. Thank you for everything Susan!!

Owner response:Thank you! Bedford Family, for your wonderful comments. It's always a pleasure sharing our condo in paradise with geniune guests like yourselves. We welcome you back anytime. Susan & Mark

Recommended for:

Guest: Militello
Date of Stay: 06/10/09 Review Submitted: 06/09/09

Susan, Just wanted you to now how much we enjoyed our stay in your condo at Sapphire, E-107 last week. The weather was marvelous and E-107 is a delightful home away from home thanks to your touch. We are grateful for your generosity for the fruit basket. It added to our enjoyment throughout the week. Robert's American Grille is also superb. Thanks for the recommendation. Hope to be in touch with you soon for a third return trip to E-107.

Recommended for:

TRULY AMAZING!!!

Guest: Ali0223 (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 05/12/09 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

This truly was an amazing experience! From waking up to the gorgeous views in the morning to falling asleep with the sounds of the sea at night, my husband and I all around enjoyed ourselves. This condo is equipped with everything you would need – just like a home - we can’t think of one thing we went without - spices, coffee, cream, filters, sugar were included! It’s evident that they went the extra mile with the décor and ammenities – and still offer a very fair price. Susan (owner) arranged our pickup from the airport and a driver for the week - which worked out great. Susan also phoned to check in on us upon arrival to make sure we were comfortable and then again a few days later to ensure we were enjoying our stay – Thanks, Susan! Sapphire’s snorkeling is great – my husband and I would go out each day for 30 min or so and always saw something new. Sam, the concierge for E-107 also gets 5 stars – very informative and helpful. Take a day trip on the ferry to St. John – a wonderful experience. Pretty sure the ferry runs hourly and we had no problem getting on as it wasn’t crowded. We would highly recommend having dinner at Robert's at Elysian (less than 5 minutes by car) and a drink (or two!) at Duffy’s in the parking lot at Red Hook. Cooking dinner at the condo and sitting on their patio is hard to beat – it’s only a step away from the ocean and with truly quiet surroundings. 5 stars to Susan’s condo E-107 for a first time vacation and for sure repeat visits! You won’t regret it!! We cannot wait to go back, in fact, we just booked it for next year!

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/21/08 Review Submitted: 08/21/08

Thank you, Susan, for all your help and suggestions with our trip to St. Thomas. We have enough memories to last us MORE than a lifetime. Here is our story. My husband and I wanted to plan a trip with our two teenagers as one last big hurrah before my 19-year-old son left for the Marines bootcamp in a month. We wanted to have a big family vacation before he left! After quite a bit of research we decided on St. Thomas, the biggest reason was that we didn't need passports! I browsed the internet for months before deciding on St. Thomas. We had never been out of the continental U.S. and were excited to see somewhere different! I used the internet for everything from our hotel to a rental car to things to do! It worked out great for us! I used Vacation Rentals By Owner, which is a website. We actually rented a condo from an individual owner. We made contact directly with the owner, Susan. We stayed at Sapphire Beach & Resort, E-107. Some of the reviews said the resort was run down. We did not feel it was run down. The best part about it was how quiet it was, peaceful. Not a real tourist trap. There were people there to associate with, but when you wanted to be alone, there was a quiet spot on the beach if you wanted it! We stayed in E-107. Susan was great to work with. She answered every single one of the e-mails I sent her promptly -- and I sent a lot of e-mails. In E-107, we walked out our sliding glass doors and walked about 30 feet and we were in the ocean. The area by our condo was a little rocky, we needed water shoes, but it was great for snorkeling. The beach on the other side of the pool was the beach we called, "the swimming beach". It had a lot less rocks and was also great for snorkeling. We saw sea turtles, a stingray, squid and so many different kinds of fish. I couldn't believe the whole world that was beneath us right after you put your mask in the water. Beautiful is all I can say! We had a kitchen in our room so we spent about $100 grocery shopping when we got there, plus we brought some food in our luggage, which was a suggestion from Susan, the condo owner, and then we ate out one meal a day, usually dinner, and except for the steak dinner one night, never spent more than $70 for a meal for the four of us. St. Thomas is such a beautiful place! I was a little worried planning the whole trip on the internet on my own, but my whole family thought it was a great vacation. There was a little bit of something fo

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 08/26/08

We can say enthusiastically that staying in E-107 was every bit the dream destination we hoped for! The condo is clean, luxurious, and cozy, and there simply is nothing like opening the sliders and walking right out onto the beach. The view of St. John and the BVIs is just breathtaking, and the patio is the perfect spot to soak in the sun. And more than we enjoyed the condo, we were so grateful to Susan for all her help in planning our trip, providing tips and information, and other essentials as needed. We simply could not have had a better experience than that provided by Susan and her condo at E-107. Thanks so much for a great vacation!

Owner response:Thanks for the great review Dee & Colin. Happy to hear that you enjoyed yourselves. Hope to have you both back as our guests in the near future. Mark & Susan

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 08/20/08

Thank you, Susan, for all your help and suggestions with our trip to St. Thomas. We have enough memories to last us MORE than a lifetime. Here is our story. My husband and I wanted to plan a trip with our two teenagers as one last big hurrah before my 19-year-old son left for the Marines bootcamp in a month. We wanted to have a big family vacation before he left! After quite a bit of research we decided on St. Thomas, the biggest reason was that we didn't need passports! I browsed the internet for months before deciding on St. Thomas. We had never been out of the continental U.S. and were excited to see somewhere different! I used the internet for everything from our hotel to a rental car to things to do! It worked out great for us! I used Vacation Rentals By Owner, which is a website. We actually rented a condo from an individual owner. We made contact directly with the owner, Susan. We stayed at Sapphire Beach & Resort, E-107. Some of the reviews said the resort was run down. We did not feel it was run down. The best part about it was how quiet it was, peaceful. Not a real tourist trap. There were people there to associate with, but when you wanted to be alone, there was a quiet spot on the beach if you wanted it! We stayed in E-107. Susan was great to work with. She answered every single one of the e-mails I sent her promptly -- and I sent a lot of e-mails. In E-107, we walked out our sliding glass doors and walked about 30 feet and we were in the ocean. The area by our condo was a little rocky, we needed water shoes, but it was great for snorkeling. The beach on the other side of the pool was the beach we called, "the swimming beach". It had a lot less rocks and was also great for snorkeling. We saw sea turtles, a stingray, squid and so many different kinds of fish. I couldn't believe the whole world that was beneath us right after you put your mask in the water. Beautiful is all I can say! We had a kitchen in our room so we spent about $100 grocery shopping when we got there, plus we brought some food in our luggage, which was a suggestion from Susan, the condo owner, and then we ate out one meal a day, usually dinner, and except for the steak dinner one night, never spent more than $70 for a meal for the four of us. St. Thomas is such a beautiful place! I was a little worried planning the whole trip on the internet on my own, but my whole family thought it was a great vacation. There was a little bit of something for everyone!

Owner response:Thank you Kerri and Family! I'm so happy that you all enjoyed yourselves. It is our pleasure to be able to share our home in paradise with families such as yourselves who truly appreciate all the natural beauty the USVI has to offer. Thanks for taking care of our condo while we were gone... We hope to have you back as our guests in the near future... Regards, Mark & Susan

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 08/03/08

Sue, I want to express our great appreciation for the effort you made to make our recent celebration a great success. Your unit is beautifully decorated and updated and was ideal for the totally stress-free getaway we wanted at what has become our idea of paradise. Your assistance in accomodating the others in our travel party, helping us arrange the day sail and making us feel welcome and at home was beyond our expectations. You and your management staff were also unbelievably prompt in responding to and resolving a problem that came up. I'm afraid we're going to have to arrange return stays with you. As Arnold said, "We'll be back."

Owner response:Thanks Jim & Jean! It truly is our pleasure working with such easy-going and pleasant people such as yourselves. Glad you had a great time. We looking forward to reserving our condo for you again anytime. Mark & Susan

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/01/08 Review Submitted: 06/20/08

Thank you for a wonderful stay in St. Thomas! As a first-time user of VRBO, we appreciated the way Susan made us feel comfortable about our decision to rent directly from the owner. She communicated the process clearly, responded quickly to emails, and provided lots of information to help us make the most of our time in St. Thomas. When we arrived at Sapphire Beach, the condo fulfilled all our expectations and we loved it! The location and view were awesome. We especially enjoyed the view of St. John from the patio and beach after dark. We were also fortunate to be there during an almost full moon...very special. Anything we wanted seemed to be in the condo--from the comfortable king bed, super kitchen, and plasma TV to a bottle of after-sun lotion, beach towels,and small cooler for outings at the beach. We were only sorry we couldn't stay longer and will definitely be talking with Susan again when we plan our next trip to the Caribbean. We would love another stay at their beautiful vacation home.

Owner response:Thank you for the great review and taking care of our vacation home when we can't be there... Look forward to having you visit again soon... Mark & Susan

Recommended for:

PERFECT!

Guest: Relaxed Mom (Orange Lake, FL, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/01/08 Review Submitted: 05/31/08

We had been planning our trip to St. Thomas for over a year, for our daughter's wedding at Magen' s Bay (which was amazing). We are not travelers, and contacting Sue for our stay in E107 on Sapphire Beach was the best thing we could have done! Sue send us information about the island, answered all my questions via email so I would feel comfortable. Thanks! My husband and I, along with 2 of our children, age 12 and 17 had the perfect vacation! The condo is located on the quiet side of the resort (which we loved) and the view was breathtaking, not to mention steps from the water, beach is beautiful. The condo was clean, comfortable, everything we needed was there for us to use. The kitchen is updated and completely stocked with everything you need to cook and the flat screen TV was enjoyed by all. The king size bed was very comfortable. Nice to have our own private beach lounge chairs to use. As soon as we walked in the condo we felt at home! We went to Plaza Xtra (the locals go there, you can buy bulk items, everyone was very nice) and stocked up on breakfast and lunch items. Each morning my husband would cook breakfast, and we would eat out on our patio.. so relaxing! One night we carried out pizza from Pizza Amorie (real New York style, yum) and ate on the patio by candlelight, with the island breeze. The town of Red Hook is only a mile down the road. We had dinner at Molly Malones.. burgers and fries, and not overly priced, it was a relaxing and fun place, excellent! We rented a car (once you get used to driving on the left, you will be glad you did) On Sunday, we took the car ferry over to St. John's (Budget allows you to take the car ferry) and we drove around the island, and snokeled at Trunk Bay (a must!, ps, we had great snokeling right at Sapphire Beach), we also visited Cinnamon Bay, beautiful! It was nice to pack the coolers that were in the closet at the condo, with sandwiches and drinks for our St. John's adventures. This was a true vacation, we want to go back to the islands and we will be contacting Sue and Mark because this condo was perfect! It was everything we had hoped for and more! Thank you for everything!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Wonderful stay

Guest: LTD (San Francisco/Bay Area, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/22/08 Review Submitted: 04/30/08

Sapphire beach is in my opinion the best location in St Thomas to experience a true beach vacation. Wake up to beautiful views of St John, while experiencing all the amenities of home. The condo was stocked with all the necessities we needed, right down to coffee filters and citronella candles on the patio. Check in was prompt, the condo was clean and the bed comfortable. We loved our stay and will definitely return. Enjoyed the use of the beach floats, included in the rental -Thanks Sue! Location - Sapphire is on the east in of the island so I would recommend a car rental if you're okay with driving on the left. It's also convenient to Red Hook ( less than 5 min away) where lots of new restaurants and bars have popped up recently.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A Wonderful Place to Escape to!

Guest: Snorkel Rat (South Lyon, MI USA)
Date of Stay: 02/01/08 Review Submitted: 02/27/08

This unit at Saffire Beach is on the far east end of a gorgeous, tranquil beach and the patio of this unit is literally footsteps from the beach. The foot traffic on this end of the resort is very light--an added bonus!! This unit was outfitted with all of the necessities needed to cook great meals when not venturing into Red Hook which cannot more than a mile away from the resort. Red Hook is also where you catch the passenger and vehicle ferries to St. John. We rented directly from the owner and she made our stay extra special by providing some sand toys, books and games for our little one which we have left behind for future guests to enjoy. If our travel takes us back to St. Thomas we would definitely rent this unit again.

Owner response:It is always a great pleasure to share our condo on the beach with guests who really appreciate the natural beauty which surrounds us at Sapphire. Although there are many "must sees" not far from Sapphire Beach Resort & Marina such as Megan's Bay Beach, laid-back St. John, quiet Secret Harbor, one can also be quite content with spending their entire stay right at our condo... We pay attention to the details so you won't have to worry about a thing in Paradise... Please come see for yourself!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

GREAT, LUXURY CONDO!!

Guest: Meaghan (Boston)
Date of Stay: 10/01/07 Review Submitted: 11/03/07

We have visited St.Thomas many times but this was our first time staying at Sapphire Beach Resort and Marina. The amenities at this resort were great and even better in our condo! It is obvious the owners of condo E-107 take great pride in their home away from home. Everything was updated, clean, and top notch. My family and I really appreciated the extra little things they offered in their condo - board games, flat screen TV, the use of all snorkel gear, a George Forman electric grill - there was no need to leave the resort all week. I would highly recommend this particular condo - it is on the first floor with the beach access only steps away. Great place for kids as the pool is near by. It was nice to be able to hang out by the pool and get a great lunch and drink from the pool grill/bar. Cannot wait to go back! This was the most memorable vacation we have ever had together. Thank you to Mark and Sue for making my family feel welcomed!

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Tom T. (Jerseyville, IL)
Date of Stay: 08/01/07 Review Submitted: 08/08/07

Mark and Sue, Our family enjoyed our 10 day stay at E107. Clean, updated and steps from the beach. What a perfect location on St. Thomas. The East End is definitely the place to be. Red Hook and the ferry to St. John are less than a mile away. The snorkeling at Sapphire Beach is awesome. Not too crowded, but not club dead either. Thank you for sharing your piece of paradise with us. The Tavolacci's St. Louis, MO

Owner response:Thanks Tom and Family! It is our pleasure to have you as our guests at Sapphire. It's always nice to have people who really appreciate all the little extra things I try to do for our guests. Thanks for taking care of our home in Paradise while we were gone. Hope to have you back again in the near future... Mark & Susan

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Heather_HAC99778 (New Hampshire)
Date of Stay: 08/01/07 Review Submitted: 08/05/07

Sue & Mark, I can't thank you both enough for sharing your amazing "home away from home" with us...my friends and I stayed at your condo at Sapphire this past April, and can't wait to return again! We have been to St. Thomas and St. John before, but have never had a more enjoyable and stress-free stay in the Caribbean! The level of detail you have put into the place has truly made it unforgettable and relaxing for all of your guests. We felt like we were at home the whole time! The remodeled condo is gorgeous and the up-to-date kitchen area is fit for a chef! We love the stainless steel appliances and convection oven! You've thought of everything a guest would ever need. We purchased fresh fish from the marina at Sapphire, and cooked a dinner that was enjoyed on the patio, by candle light, as the sun went down over St. John; it's a memory we will never forget! The ease in booking, and helpful suggestions you offered along the way were another huge perk- it was unlike any other place we've ever rented from! Your knowledge of the island is astounding. We would also like to thank you for the free snorkel rentals-it was a blast and one less thing for us to have to worry about! Thank you again! We are already booking our next trip and can't wait to stay at E107 again! Thank you again Sue and Mark for an unforgettable Caribbean vacation!

Owner response:Thank you, Heather, for the wonderful comments... We are happy that you enjoyed your vacation and look forward to having you as our guests again soon. Susan Twardoski (Owner)

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: mark nania (massachusetts)
Date of Stay: 06/01/07 Review Submitted: 06/12/07

The condo on Sapphire Beach was fantastic! It's location is perfect and the views are breath- taking. Everyone was very helpful and friendly. We look forward to returning to the same unit. Thanks Sue!!

Owner response:Thanks for the positive review, Mark. Glad you enjoyed yourselves. We hope to have you as our guests again in the near future.... Regards, Mark & Susan

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/01/07 Review Submitted: 06/05/07

GREAT STAY in our condo at Sapphire. There were 4 of us staying in the condo and we had plenty of room. Great view - you walk out of the patio directly onto the beach, right next to the marina. The owners were very gracious and super responsive to all my questions before and during our stay. Everything we needed was already in the room -- would definitely recommend!

Owner response:Thanks for taking the time to write in our guestbook, Gina! Glad you enjoyed your stay and hope you can visit Sapphire again in the near future.... Susan (Owner)

Recommended for:

Recommended for everyone!

Guest: Kerry (Boston, Massachussetts)
Date of Stay: 03/01/07 Review Submitted: 10/27/07

This was my third trip to St.Thomas and the first time staying at Sapphire. I would never stay anywhere but here now. This condo was perfect and the new renovations are so luxurious and up-to-date. This was the best condo I viewed at Sapphire and near by resorts. The condo was equipped with every appliance and amenity needed and the flat screen tv was perfect at night for the kids. Whether it was relaxing on the deck or taking another step out onto the white sanded beach our vacation was worthwhile and ive never came back home so relaxed.

Recommended for: