Here's what others have had to say about Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort.
"My wife and I really enjoyed the tennis center at Caneel Bay. We are 4.5 players from Atlanta and the pro on site, Donald Becker, ran great drill sessions and scheduled us doubles matches with great competition. The courts and staff are great and the beaches are even more amazing."—B.S., Adv., July 2010
"My wife & I have been to many 4 & 5 star resorts that feature tennis. The lessons, clinics and tennis facility at Caneel Bay were hands down #1. Donald Becker, the tennis director and head instructor was excellent. Don can correct a flaw without making you feel the least bit self-conscious."—K.C., Int., June 2010
"I visited Caneel Bay for the first time this May and I am already planning my next trip back. The overall staff was so accommodating and friendly that you never wanted to leave the resort.
I love to play tennis, so it was great that the pro shop was able to set me up with matches, as well as, had other tennis activities that I could participate in. The view from the top courts are amazing, so on your water breaks don’t forget to take a moment to admire it. I was able to spend some time with the head tennis pro, Donald Becker, who was always very warm and friendly and did a great job giving me some pointer that definitely helped to improve my game.
Caneel Bay was exactly what I needed and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves tennis and what to spend the rest of the day relaxing at one of their 7 beaches."—J.Z., Low Int., May 2010
"I loved the facilities at Caneel Bay! I most certainly liked the instructors. They were so helpful, they would drill and also have time left over to play matches. I really enjoyed the programs and from what I experienced there were no weaknesses what so ever. THANK YOU!!!"—L.B., Adv. Int., April 2010
"I have been a Caneel guest for 20 years at Christmas, when tennis is especially important to returning guests. Generations of families return to play at these outstanding courts, largely becauses of the outstanding professional staff and the special comaraderie between guests and the staff. Celebrities, staff, guests, and local residents enjoy and learn a lot from the excellent clinics, private lessons, and matching of players in singles, doubles and round robins. I've traveled to many resorts, but Caneel Bay Resort is my favorite place on earth, and the tennis program is a large part of that!"—N.B., Int., April 2010
"Caneel Bay was a fantastic resort for tennis. The facilities were beautiful, including upper courst with ocean views. The staff was completely helpful and accomodating. My wife and I played daily, sometimes twice a day, and were always able to walk onto a court (and the resort was fully booked at the time). They had equipment if we needed it, allowed us to stay past closing if we wanted to and set me up with someone with similar skills so I could play complete matches. We cannot wait to return. The lessons looked great too- when our kids are old enough, we will bring them along."—P.H., Adv. Int., April 2010
""—A.N., Adv., April 2010
"Had a great vacation with my three kids at Caneel. wonderful pros that were good with all three children at different levels. Can't say enough good things.. Highly recommend."—F.O., Adv. Int., April 2010
"Wonderful resort with exceptional tennis staff and plenty of opportunities to engage in match play, lessons, or clinics. I have been playing tennis at Caneel Bay for several years and have seen the turnover of instructors several times. Every pro far surpasses those I have had the opportunity to take with anywhere else both in teaching ability and enthusiasm. I unfailingly return after a week there with a newfound confidence in my game. Truly excellent."—S.T., Adv. Int., April 2010
"This place is really beautiful,restful & in the middle of a National Forest. The tennis facilities are oustanding. The pro Don Becker was exceptional.He gave great lessons,ran fun positive drill clinics and matched me up with some very good competetive local players. The resort & the tennis experience
were exceptional. I highly recommend Caneel Bay."—R.M., Int., April 2010
"Hot time of year, so lessons or clinic early morning. They arranged a good doubles match for Sunday morning. The resort is top-notch, with the tennis program a great add-on. For us, it is what led us to choose this resort."—T.S., Adv. Int., April 2010
"I just returned from a fantastic vacation to St. John. I can truly say that playing tennis at Caneel Bay was a huge highlight. Early on in the trip I was playing their as an outside guest. At the end of the trip I was playing there as a hotel guest. The staff treated me exactly the same either way. I think that really speaks loads of them.
I just returned from a fantastic vacation to St. John. I can truly say that playing tennis at Caneel Bay was a huge highlight. Early on in the trip I was playing their as an outside guest. At the end of the trip I was playing there as a hotel guest. The staff treated me exactly the same either way. I think that really speaks loads of them. We attended each of their morning clinics Mon thru Fri and felt both challenged and well attended too. Donald was able to manage all skill levels combined which I found impressive! At the weekend and end of my trip, I wanted to kick it up a notch by hitting singles with both pros (Donald and Todd). They were more than accommodating. I would HIGHLY reccommend this resort to anyone looking for a tennis vacation. I also look forward to the time when I can return! Charles W. Portland, Maine
We attended each of their morning clinics Mon thru Fri and felt both challenged and well attended too. Donald was able to manage all skill levels combined which I found impressive! At the weekend and end of my trip, I wanted to kick it up a notch by hitting singles with both pros (Donald and Todd). They were more than accommodating.
I just returned from a fantastic vacation to St. John. I can truly say that playing tennis at Caneel Bay was a huge highlight. Early on in the trip I was playing their as an outside guest. At the end of the trip I was playing there as a hotel guest. The staff treated me exactly the same either way. I think that really speaks loads of them. We attended each of their morning clinics Mon thru Fri and felt both challenged and well attended too. Donald was able to manage all skill levels combined which I found impressive! At the weekend and end of my trip, I wanted to kick it up a notch by hitting singles with both pros (Donald and Todd). They were more than accommodating. I would HIGHLY reccommend this resort to anyone looking for a tennis vacation. I also look forward to the time when I can return! Charles W. Portland, Maine
I would HIGHLY reccommend this resort to anyone looking for a tennis vacation. I also look forward to the time when I can return!"—C.W., April 2010
Rate Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort
Originally built by Laurance S. Rockefeller, Caneel Bay trails along seven gorgeous beaches in the 5,000-acre Virgin Islands National Park, which covers much of the island of St. John. The waters offshore are all part of a protected marine park, rich in colorful reef life. Within the resort, footpaths and shuttle routes connect the main hotel building, restaurants, and watersports center with the scattered 166 air-conditioned rooms and a parklike 11-court tennis complex.
The Peter Burwash International (PBI) organization has a long history of managing tennis facility here. Donald Becker takes over on May 1. A native of New York, Becker coached the Division I Niagara University tennis team, ran his own pro shop, and taught professionally before joining PBI, where postings took him to Florida, the Caribbean, and Hawaii and now back to the Caribbean and Caneel Bay. He has both USPTA and PTR certifications and has completed the USTA's High Performance Coaching Program.
Tennis has to share the stage not only with the beach and the lipid waters but also with hiking trails that meander along the shore or up to mountaintop overlooks on the town and harbor at Cruz Bay. Yet its weekly tennis round robins often have a solid turnout and staff does an admirably job of lining up guests with games, drawing on local members when they can't find another guest. As I learn more about Becker's plans for this program, I'll post that information here. Meanwhile, see my On the Road: Caneel Bay story for a more in-depth look at its appeal and amenities based on my visit prior to Becker's arrival.
Pro Shop: 340-776-6111
Beach. Caneel Bay begins along the beach and bay for which it was named but that is, in fact, the third of seven beaches on the property. Variously facing east, north, and west, they all border shallow turquoise waters where as a snorkeler you can see an extraordinary variety of reef life without venturing into water deeper than 6 to 10 feet.
Apart from half-horsehoe of rooms on the hillside behind the tennis courts, most of the resort's lodging can be found along—or not far behind—one of the seven beaches. Clustered together in one- and two-story shingle-roofed buildings of stone, stucco, and weathered wood, the rooms have generous decks and newly renovated interiors in a decor Caneel dubs "1950s beachhouse" (think rattan and teak with jalousie windows for cross-ventilation from the era when the rooms had not air conditioning; now they do).
If you're contemplating a Caribbean tennis vacation, you also ought to look at:
There are multiple categories of lodging at Caneel Bay. The least expensive are those near the tennis complex, the most expensive the beachfront rooms, including the five in Cottage 7, the former home of Laurance S. Rockefeller. Rates are subject to 8% tax and 10% surcharge.
Seasons. Year-round.
Travel Instructions. The nearest airport is on the island of St. Thomas. Caneel Bay has its own greeting area in the airport and arranges transportation to the ferry which takes guests to the dock at the resort itself.
General Tourist Information. For general tourist information, contact the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism at 800-372-USVI or visit its offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, or Washington, DC. Among other things, it publishes a brochure that outlines rates at resorts, hotels, and inns on St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas.