B~11 "The Bargain on the Beach"

Since we made B~11 available for rental in 2008, it has received well over 160 reviews. One is ***, seven of them are ****, and the remainder are *****.

Why does B~11 (The Bargain on the Beach) get all those great reviews?

It's not because B~11 is the closest unit to the beach—although it's just a short and pleasant stroll.
It's not because it has the best view. The view is not at all bad, but it's not anything special. You can see it in one of the photos in this listing.
It's not because it is the most fully renovated. We are working on it, but we need a few more years.
It's not because the rates are the lowest—although they are close to the very lowest.
And as hard as we try to be the best hosts, there are many others that are just as good, and probably a few that are better!

So here is our secret formula.
First we try to offer the best value in the area. We know that there are more desirable units, and there are less expensive units. We strive to approach the quality of the very best units while remaining priced only slightly higher than the least expensive. (TripAdvisor has posted 2016/12/13 that B~11 is "18% cheaper than nearby 1 bedroom properties")
Then, we strive to describe both the condominium and our unit as accurately as we can. We do not promise what we cannot provide. If there are surprises for our guests, we want them to be good ones.
We do not try to provide a “hotel experience”. When our guests arrive at B~11, we want them to feel that they have arrived at their own vacation home.
We try to make B~11 as comfortable and convenient as we can. This includes providing almost everything that we reasonably can, so our guests need to schlepp as little as possible.
We do what we reasonably can to furnish our guests the best vacation that we are able to. Problems inevitably arise, but when they do (unless they are extremely minor) we try to get them resolved as quickly as possible.
And, finally, a few days after our guests (not including friends and family) leave B~11, we email them and ask them to leave a review.
We hope that you will join the many happy guests who have shared B~11 with us and leave another glowing review.

Thanks, Steve

This condominium has been owned by our family which has been enjoying the magic of Sapphire for over fifty years. It was largely renovated and offered for rental for the first time in late 2007.

B~11 is only one hundred and fifty steps from the front door to the beach. While on the beach you can see St John and the British Virgin Islands. Because the unit is on the lower level, when you arrive you park at the rear of the unit and bring your luggage and groceries into the unit by walking about thirty-five feet from your car and up just four steps, rather than lugging them around to the front of the building and up a flight of stairs


B~11 retains the original floor plan, except that the original front porch has been enclosed and now expands the already large living/dining room, and the kitchen has been "opened" to the living room/dining area and slightly enlarged,

The unit contains its own front-loading washer and matching dryer. For drying wet towels, swimsuits and such, there is a solar powered 'clothesline' just outside the rear door.
There are two televisions, and 'expanded digital cable' (a total of approximately seventy channels). Wi-Fi Internet access is included.

There is a 65 inch TV in front and and a '32 inch class' in the bedroom. The bedroom TV audio is routed through a decent (Yamaha M-35) amplifier, an equalizer, and decent speakers (KEF). Eventually, the Living room TV audio will be Dolby 5.1.

The locks have been removed from all closet doors, except for one-half of one closet.. We do our best to keep 'starter supplies' of non-perishable essentials in the unit, so you won't have to begin your stay buying things like coffee filters and dish detergent.

Please note: Because we keep improving B~11 faster then we can take new photographs, most of the photographs are somewhat obsolete. The only change that may be the slightest bit controversial is that we have removed the dining table by the front window which served primarily as a workbench for Steve when we were in B~11—the round dining table accommodates five without any problems.. This enabled us to move futon-like couch from the bedroom to under the front window. There were two reasons for this. First sometimes, it will allow more rational sleeping arrangements when there are three or four occupants. Secondly, It freed up space in the bedroom which Steve used to construct a “storage wall unit”. I am sure that you will agree that all other changes that we have made are a functional and/or aesthetic improvement.

To ensure continued enjoyment by all occupants, smoking (anything) , vaping, and pets are not permitted.

SHORT STAYS: Condominium regulations require that rentals be for a minimum of a three nights,

LONG STAYS: Except for 'prime times' and "low season" stays long stays will be discounted on an individual basis.

Email about extended stays, corporate rental, and corporate housing.

When we made B~11 available for rental in 2008, we prepared a long document ("The B~11 BIBLE")to acquaint our guests with the island, the condominium and B~11 and sent it to them by ordinary email, shortly after they made a reservation. Of course, over the years not only has that document grown, but we have added six additional documents. These include "Condo Rules", condominium rules to which we and our guests are subject, "QUIRKS"--despite the name, it is a general instruction manual for enjoying B~11, QR (or Quick Reference)--a single page intended to be printed, which consists of information which a guest may want to (or need to get at in a hurry*), SANDI'S GUIDE--a summary of the BIBLE, ARRIVAL INSTRUCTIONS and DEPARTURE INSTRUCTIONS.

In 2024 October, VRBO established a "HOST COMMUNICATION POLICY" which (among other things) required hosts to provide guests with certain information at certain times via the VRBO platform. In examining the requirements two things became apparent.
First, with one exception**, all the information required by VRBO was in the documents which I had already prepared. Second, for several reasons, it would be necessary to mangle and seriously degrade the documents that I had prepared to make them compatible with the VRBO platform. Therefore, I will continue to send our guests the documents which we prepared over many years soon after a reservation is made, by ordinary email.

* Examples include, important phone numbers, codes, combinations and passwords.
** The one thing that I did not cover was "weapons". The only restrictions are Virgin Islands Law concerning firearms. They are extremely strict and the penalties for illegal possession of a firearm are draconian. With very few exceptions, civilians are not allowed to posses a firearm. After you deplane and approach the airport terminal, there is a sign with instructions for complying with VI Law. If you must bring a firearm into the USVI, please be extremely careful to comply with all VI regulations, or you may become a non-paying "guest" of the government for an extended vacation in one of their "hotels".

CAVE: VRBO often modifies listings on this VRBO website, rarely even notifying the property-owner of the change(s). Although the changes vary from trivial to enormously significant, most have one commonality: they are made by computers or humans which/who do not have first-hand knowledge of the property! Naturally, this sometimes results in errors. (For example, as I write, on this listing, there is a small photograph labeled "Common area 1". The photograph, however, is of the same (and only) bedroom as the photograph labeled "Bedroom 1").

Although this seems to be very rare VRBO has also been known to change rates without authorization from the property owner! Therefore, if there is any aspect of this listing which is particular concern to you, please DM me for verification.

CAVE: For a very long time, VRBO has had massive computer problems, and it has now gotten out of control. The latest problem, which happens about half the time that I click on "accept reservation", the VRBO server does not acknowledge, and I receive a screen with a handful of blue dots eternally parading from left to right across the screen. Until now (2026 March 5) I then contact customer service and in a little less than an hour they can accept the reservation on my behalf. Now, when I try to contact customer service, I am connected to a very poorly conceived AI* agent that either directs me to impertinent web pages, or sends me into an endless loop! It can take several hours to have your reservation accepted. If this happens, I will DM you on VRBO's system (which is still operating) and ask you to be patient while I work on getting the problem resolved. Again, it may take me several hours before your reservation is accepted, so just hold on.
*Artificial Idiocy

CAVE, CAVE, CAVE: VRBO creates things without any understanding of the situation. The thing I just noticed is the statement on the listing " A short walk leads to Red Hook's restaurants, shopping, and ferry access.". PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO WALK FROM SBCW TO RED HOOK. You will be walking on a curvy, hilly, road that was never intended for pedestrians. There are no sidewalks, and there is no illumination at night!

Look for more reviews at that very popular site that provides advice for trips under 'Crystal Cove Beach Resort on Sapphire Bay', and 'Crystal Cove Villas'. Also visit our FaceBook Page. On FaceBook search for 'Sapphire Bargain' and it will pop right up.
Our family has been enjoying Sapphire for over half a century, and we are sure that you will as well!