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. Patrick Alle heads the operation. Born in California, Alle played college tennis in Cleveland and then satellite tournaments in the U.S. before opting for a career on Wall Street and in finance. He joined PBI late in 2003 and was made director at Caneel just five months after his arrival. 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.

Your Call

Here's what others have had to say about Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort.

• "Caneel's tennis program was personal and professional. The facilities are first rate and beautifully integreted with landscaping and resort layout. Tuesday and Thursday round robins from 4 to 6pm brought out 20 to 24 guests and local players from St. John in matchups paired to ability. Very fun. I also took several lessons from Patrick and found him to be thoughtful and professional and fun in his comments on my 4.0 game...
  Great spot, highly recommended."—C.D., Adv. Int., May 2008

• "If you are going for a "healty" vacation style, this is the place for you. Hiking, tennis, swimming, etc... Can't say much for all activities as I participated mainly in the tennis category- which was awesome. Plenty of courts, excellent pro's, great clinics.....I've just recently gotten into the sport and this was definitly a great place to help improve my skills. (Pro's aren't bad to look at either!)
  The other people in my party are much more advanced players than I, and they raved about the tennis (amount of courts, matching up players, private lessons, etc). As for the resort itself - very beautiful. Be prepared to do lots of walking (shuttles available if you don't mind waiting). Biggest downfall I could see was the food. Restaurants look nice - but lack in service and quality. Go into town - you'll thank yourself."—L.T., Int., May 2008

• ""—J.K., Low Int., April 2008

• "I had an amzing time at Caneel Bay. The program that PBI pro Patrick Alle runs is the most personalized I have ever seen. I visited the resort 4 years ago and Patrick remembered my name when he greeted me with a smile> Aside from that I thought the varriety of clinics,drills and social was very nice. Without a doubt, the best tennis experience I have had."—E.L., Int., April 2008

• "Fabulous location, well-maintained tennis center, exceptional staff, run by PBI's Patrick Alle. All in all, had a wonderful experience on the court and off. I visited in November 2007, and at that time they were beginning to update and move some of the spa facilities, giving more room to the tennis pro shop area. Patrick Alle had plans to revamp the tennis building, adding a rooftop deck and other amenities. There is a wonderful group of locals who join guests for tennis programs and social and competitive play, which makes things great for visitors."—P.F., Int., April 2008

• "Caneel Bay is the best tennis facility in the US Virgin Islands. The teaching staff is personable and of high caliber and has helped to raise my game level a notch. I particularly like that they take local talent and develop it in a manner unexpected for this locale. It would not surprise me if it became a top-flight training academy for aspiring tennis players of the area. They periodically showcase pro exhibitions with former and current top 10 players and grand slam champions. When they do, I've found the current and former pros down-to-earth and fun to be around and to play with. Wil Pannell"—W.P., Adv. Int., April 2008

• "I am a 13 year old junior player who has been to Caneel Bay with my family quite a few times. This last vacation I took a lesson with Patrick Alle every day and have to say he has helped my game a lot! I love Caneel Bay's beaches and watersports too, but the tennis is the best!"—L.T., Adv., April 2008

• "Great tennis, beach, snorkeling etc. Another terrific vacation at Caneel Bay for myself and my family. Patrick Alle always does a super job. Game matching is suberb, as well as instruction and just fun social tennis."—L.T., Adv., April 2008

• "I loved Caneel Bay! Beautiful beaches and great tennis too! Patrick Alle, the head pro was a lot of fun and really helped me inprove my game. I liked the round robin mixers he does as well as the drill sessions. I would definately come back!"—D.Y., Adv. Int., April 2008

• "Caneel Bay is the perfect tennis resort vacation for those looking to "get away from it all". In my tennis business travels I have been fortunate to visit many of the great tennis resorts in the US and the Caribbean and Caneel Bay sets the standard.
  If you are looking for a quiet place with lots privacy this is the place for you. There are so many beaches you can often have one all to yourself. If you are looking for a party atmoshere nightlife this is not the place for you.
  The resort is well maintained, the rooms are comfortable (many right on the water) with no TV's (which I love) and the dining is lovely. From a tennis perspective the staff is fabulous, the courts are in great condition and you will get a great tennis experince whatever your needs might be. I have been all over the Caribbean and Caneel Bay is the most beautiful resort with great snorkeling right off the beach."—M.K., Pro, April 2008

• "Caneel Bay has a wonderful tennis program. We've been going there for the past 6 Christmases, and Patrick Allee and his staff do a wonderful job. The teaching is exceptional and the staff is courteous and friendly.They do exhibitions, round robins ans clinics and try to accomodate players at all levels.The tennis courts are very well maintained. We look forward to coming back every Christmas."—M.A., Adv. Int., April 2008

• "I would recommend anyone who has any level of interest to visit Caneel Bay. Their onsite Tennis Pro Patrick is amazing. He is able to manufacture a tennis plan that is effective for every level of player from the casual "I just want to have fun" player to the ultra competive pro. Patrick works well with players of all ages from the youngest of kids to older adults. I would go back to Caneel Bay again especially if Patrick is still the Tennis Pro there."—A.S., Low Int., April 2008

Other Recreation

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.

Lodging

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).

See Also

If you're contemplating a Caribbean tennis vacation, you also ought to look at:

• The Buccaneer, St. Croix, USVI
• Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic
• Curtain Bluff, Antigua
• Four Seasons Resort Nevis, Nevis
• Little Dix Bay, BVI
• The Tryall Club, Jamaica

Travel Essentials

Seasons. Year-round.

Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort
P.O. Box 720
Cruz Bay, St. John, 00831-0720 U.S. Virgin Islands
340-776-6111
Toll-free: 888-767-3966
Fax: 340-693-8280
Web Link: Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort

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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.

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