Grand Beach Palace, Charlotte Amalie

I just returned from the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort two weeks ago and I had a fabulous time! The Renaissance is tucked into a small cove so it separates you from the hustle and bustle of the south side of the island. This resort offers everything its larger counterparts would offer, but on a smaller scale. The majority of water sports are included there is a spa, and a couple of restaurants. The beach at the hotel was well kept but very bustling with minimal privacy. The main pool was fairly basic but the layout allowed for more peace and quiet as you could find a corner and mark it to yourself whereas the beach was more a free for all. I highly suggest paying the extra fee for a ?poolside? room and request that it has a patio or balcony there are poolside rooms that are mini-suites that do not have balconies or windows that you can open. Many of the rooms at this resort are a long walk from the beach and pool and would be inconvenient especially with small children. The restaurants were good for basic American fare. Breakfast was fabulous with a fresh buffet and open air dining which was conveniently included in our package. I highly suggest planning on dining out for dinner to open your eyes up to the rest of the island and expand your pallet a bit (not to mention that escaping the tortures of karaoke night are a must)! The staff was very pleasant, laid back but pleasant none the less. The rooms were basic and very clean. I would recommend this resort but I would also note that one could go stir-crazy here for a lengthy stay and non-resort outings would only add to the experience! A truly enjoyable weekend getaway!