SAPPHIRE BEACH · ST. THOMAS
Six hundred condos, endless services and one person right here to answer your questions.
Everything people email me about Sapphire Beach, answered with the real number.
Sapphire Beach Questions, Answered
These are the questions that I get every day. Sapphire Beach is more than a bit confusing when it says, "Resort"...it is not a typical vacation resort. It is near impossible to understand the properties here, the varying prices of condos, what excursions there are and so on.
This is your resource to answer all of those unclear concerns you may have.
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Nothing here is guessed...I live here and can help you navigate this vacation! That is the entire point.
PICK YOUR TOPIC
01 WHERE YOU SLEEP
Staying at Sapphire Beach
Three properties, over six hundred units and no way to tell the difference on VRBO & AirBnB.
Are there vacation rentals available at Sapphire Beach?
Yes. Roughly 600 condos across three separate properties and most of them rent short term.
Sapphire Beach Resort and Marina, Sapphire Village up the hill and Crystal Cove on the east end. There are three different condo associations sharing one beach, which is why the listings look so inconsistent online.
Are there Airbnbs at Sapphire Beach?
Yes. The same units often appear on Vrbo, Airbnb and Booking.com at different prices.
They are individually owned condos, so each owner picks their own platforms. Worth checking two sites before you book, because the same unit is regularly listed twice. Or again, just send us an email: info@sbrmbookings.com
Are there houses for rent at Sapphire Beach?
No. Sapphire Beach is condos only, on all three properties. And most are studios or one bedrooms.
For a standalone house you are looking at the surrounding hillsides in Smith Bay or Red Hook, which means a car. On the beach itself it is condominiums.
What do the unit numbers at Sapphire Village mean?
The first digits tell you which building and each building is named after an island.
Seven buildings. This decode does not exist anywhere else online, see our Sapphire Village notes for a map.
What do the letters mean at Sapphire Beach Resort?
Buildings A through F. The letter matters more than the floor.
A - C have the best sand. The rest trade sand access for elevation and view. A listing that gives you a letter is telling you more than one that gives you a photo of the water, because almost every unit has that view. See Sapphire Resort notes.
What is Sapphire Bay Condominiums West?
It is Crystal Cove. Same property, two names and it sits on the EAST end.
The name is a play on the search term, "Sapphire" and it confuses everybody including search engines. Fifty steps down to the sand, a pond as the signature feature, plus tennis and pickleball. See Crystal Cove notes.
Can I book direct with the owner instead of through a link?
I am not the owner, so I can not give out owner info without their permission.
Booking through the platform costs you exactly what the platform charges and it keeps your payment protection. Wiring a deposit to a stranger for a Caribbean condo is how people end up in the parking lot with luggage and nowhere to sleep.
Ask me the question you were going to ask the owner instead. That part I am good at.
Which building should I pick?
Tell me your situation and I will tell you, because it depends on stairs, noise and how close you want the water.
That is not a dodge. It is the one question where a generic answer is worthless. It is also the reason this site exists at all.
02 THE WATER
Sapphire Beach, itself
Including the thing about sargassum that nobody wants to put in writing.
Is Sapphire Beach public?
Yes. Every beach in the US Virgin Islands is public by statute.
Virgin Islands Code Title 12 section 402 says the public "has and shall continue to have the right to use and enjoy the shorelines." It defines that shoreline as fifty feet inland from the low tide line or to the natural vegetation line, whichever is shorter.
So anybody can be on the sand. What is NOT public is the pool, the parking and the amenities, which belong to the condo associations.
Is the snorkeling good at Sapphire Beach?
Yes. Three separate entry points depending on what you want to see.
I have photographed eight species off this beach myself including a green turtle, a nurse shark, a green moray and an octopus. It's different every time I get in.
The full field guide is here, with the gear and where to get in.
When does sargassum or seaweed show up at Sapphire Beach?
It varies year to year, but typically from late April through October.
The homepage conditions band is updated Mondays with wind, swell, water conditions and whether there are ships in.
Is Sapphire Beach the best beach on St. Thomas?
It is the best one you can also sleep on, which is a different question.
Magens Bay is more famous and Lindquist is prettier at the water line. Neither has 600 condos, six restaurants and a marina attached. If you want to walk out your door onto reef, this is the beach.
03 AIRPORT TO SAND
Getting to Sapphire Beach
The car question is the one I get most and it's the easiest part about staying here.
Do you need a car at Sapphire Beach?
Not to eat and play but yes to see the island.
Six restaurants, a marina, a boutique and a beach bar are all inside a walk. Everything else on St. Thomas is not. The roads here have no sidewalks and the locals drive fast. If you need a ride to town or want to explore, we have a taxi stand at the beach bar.
How far is Sapphire Beach from the airport?
About 25 to 30 minutes by road from Cyril E. King, traffic depending.
Private transfers can be booked ahead so somebody is holding a sign rather than you negotiating at the curb with four suitcases. There is also a water taxi if the road route would eat an hour of your day. See our transport services.
How do you get to St. John from Sapphire Beach?
Red Hook to Cruz Bay is a 20 minute ferry and you do not need a passport.
Red Hook is the nearest ferry terminal and it is minutes away. This is the single easiest day trip from this beach, which is a real argument for staying on the east end rather than in town.
Is there parking at Sapphire Beach?
Yes, both public for the island and private if you are staying here.
Security at the guard gate will tell you which lot and whether a pass is needed. Worth asking before you arrive rather than circling at 4pm on a Sunday.
04 SIX DINING OPTIONS
Eating at Sapphire Beach
Real hours, checked in person, because you know...island time.
What restaurants are at Sapphire Beach?
Six, all on site or a very short walk through.
Beach Buzz for coffee and breakfast, Sudi's at Village for all day menu, Sapphire Beach Bar and Paradise Pie for mid day and dinner. SeaSalt does a great Saturday Brunch and upscale dinner and lastly, Pangea terra Table next door for fresh acatch and dinner. See all options and menus here.
What is open on Mondays at Sapphire Beach?
Everything except Sudi's, which is closed every Monday.
That matters more than it sounds, because Sudi's is the only kitchen here doing all three meals. Paradise Pie and the Beach Bar both run 10 to 8 seven days a week, so Monday is a pizza and fish taco day...unless of course, you want fancy, then SeaSalt till 10.
Do they ever show sports or football at Sapphire Beach?
Yes, Paradise Pie has tvs and so does Sudi's at Village.
If it's a big event: soccer, football, baseball, olympics, basketball, etc....these guys will have it on. Only one or two tvs exist at both, so whatever the biggest game is is what will be showing.
Where can you get breakfast at Sapphire Beach?
Beach Buzz from 7am on the sand. Sudi's from 8am for a twelve dollar breakfast.
SeaSalt does brunch on Saturdays only, 10 to 2. That one is worth booking before you fly down.
Where can you eat late at Sapphire Beach?
SeaSalt until 10pm. It is the only kitchen on this beach still open after nine.
The Beach Bar and Paradise Pie both shut at 8. Sudi's kitchen goes down at 8 or 9, depending on season. If you land on the evening flight, that is your one option. SeaSalt does have a nice bar/app menu that's not too expensive.
Can you book or reserve any space at Sapphire for private events or weddings?
Yes and it's one of the easiest ways to plan your entire event.
STRG owns almost every restaurant at Sapphire as well as the pool area. I've seen many weddings, receptions and special ocassions booked out and they always turn out great. Contact STRG direct for planning.
05 ON AND OFF THE WATER
Things to do at Sapphire Beach
You could fill every vacation day just from our marina or beach.
How much is a cabana at Sapphire Beach?
$275 for a full day, 9am to 5pm. $50 an hour with a two hour minimum. Full moon nights are a separate $500 evening rate from 7pm.
Booked through Naia Boutique at the Beach Club, in person or by email. There is no online cart, which is half the reason people think it is complicated. The move nobody works out: Sapphire Sunday music runs 3 to 6 and the day cabana ends at 5. Two hours at $50 covers the best of the set for $100 instead of $275.
What else can you rent on the beach?
Chaise lounge $15 a day. Snorkel and mask set $15 a day. Snorkel board $15 for two hours.
All of these rentals are in person through Naia Boutique.
What activities are available at Sapphire Beach?
Everything from BVI days to jeep tours, sailing & sunsets...you name it.
Sapphire Beach Marina is often referred to as the "fun zone." Parasail, jet skis, boat rentals, day sails and so much more can be found here or you could browse and book ahead of time on our excursions page.
When is the Full Moon Party at Sapphire Beach?
On the calendar full moon each month, at the Sapphire Beach Bar, free to walk into.
DJ Cypha, moko jumbies and fire dancers on the sand. Remaining 2026 dates: Sat, Sept. 26, Mon, Oct 26, Tues, Nov 24, Wed, Dec 23.
What is Sapphire Sunday?
Live music on the sand every Sunday, 3pm to 6pm, free to attend. Hosted by STRG.
Happy hour runs 4 to 6 alongside it. This is the one afternoon a week the beach turns into a party without anybody planning it. You do not need a ticket or a table.
Is there pickleball at Sapphire Beach?
Yes, but only at Crystal Cove.
Worth knowing which property you are booking if courts matter to you, because they are not shared across all three. You would need to be staying there or a guest of someone who is to use them.
Can you rent a boat slip at Sapphire Beach?
Yes. Sapphire Beach Marina does both slip rentals and slip sales.
It is a bigger part of this beach than visitors expect. It is how a fair number of people end up here in the first place. Contact Scotty at 340.344.1190 or email: cayesports@gmail.com for availability.
06 THE FINE PRINT
About this site.
Who is writing this and what they get out of it?
Who runs Sapphire Beach Bookings?
April. I live at Sapphire Beach and along with my husband, we own and operate two charter businesses here.
Most of the photos are mine; including the marine life, my favorite. The hours are checked in person. When something changes, I am the one who notices and tries to keep everything updated here and in the FB group.
Do businesses or owners pay to be listed here?
Nope. Nobody pays to be on this site.
One provisioning service pays me a commission when you book through my link. It is labeled as such on its own card. That is the whole disclosure. Everything else is here because it operates at Sapphire Beach.
How current is this page?
I update the site every Monday or if something major changes.
Off season hours, pool closures, major weather events...anything that may affect guests or residents staying at Sapphire, I will update as soon as I can.
NOT ON THIS PAGE
Ask me the actual question.
Most of what ends up here started as an email from somebody who could not find a straight answer.
SERIOUSLY JUST ASK
Whether building D really has St. John views. Whether the hill to Sudi's is bad with a stroller. Whether the pool is open. Which week is quietest for the money.
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Those are the questions I answer best and they are the ones no listing will touch. Every good answer ends up on this page eventually, so you are helping the next person too.
WHERE THIS GOES FROM HERE
Once you've decided Sapphire is the place for you...
The field guide to the beach
How the bay is laid out, where the three snorkeling spots are and when the sargassum turns up.
Things to do
Most of the good trips on the island leave from the marina at the end of this beach.
Plan your week
Tell us when you are coming and get lodging, excursions and tons of other helpful advice before you land. Sorted.