St. Thomas holiday condo

My sister and I just returned from staying at Sunset Serenade for about 10 days. Our sunburns have finally stopped itching but our memories are burning brightly.

The condo is beautifully situated overlooking the water. We spent many hours on the patio reading and watching the clouds, rainbows pelicans and frigate birds. We took so many pictures from that view that it got to be a joke -- cloud picture #98, coming up.

The beds are both very comfortable and the bedrooms rooms are nice and large, with a balcony off each bedroom. The air conditioners kept the humidity under control and temperatures comfortable in the bedrooms, although the living room unit had a hard time cooling the larger space sometimes.

We did have a problem with the sound on the living room TV (there's also a small TV in one bedroom) so we called the realtor and he was there in minutes.

The kitchen is exceptionally well stocked. We enjoyed grilling pork chops and steaks on the big grill on the patio. The "sports closet" is loaded with snorkel gear, beach towels, beach chairs and other items we happily put to good use.

Mahogany Run is a beautiful property and I enjoyed the pool there. The Grill, a restaurant in the club house, is excellent. We stopped by and asked for root beer floats after a hot day. It wasn't on the menu but they made them anyway -- delicious! We also had two evening meals there as well -- great steaks and seafood as well as imaginative appetizers.

Our favorite beach was Secret Harbour -- not easy to find but well worth the search. Snorkeling was gorgeous.

Driving on St. Thomas is an adventure. It was fairly easy to adjust to driving on the left because the cars have left-sided steering wheels (like in the States) but the roads are twisty, turny, hilly, narrow and rough, and the road signs are few and far between. Top speed is 35 mph and I doubt if we ever reached it. People give directions by land marks. Expect to get lost and just enjoy the view.

If you're brave enough, try the fish and chips Friday night at the Toad and the Tart. It looks like a dive but the food is great. We also liked the East End Bistro and the Blue Moon at Secret Harbour -- great french fries!

Thank you to Bonnie for the great home away from home! Everyone we met was helpful, welcoming and proud of their home in paradise.

This condo is spectacular! The pictures do not do it justice. The view, even from the shower, is breathtaking. The condo itself is beautifully decorated, and the beds are fantastic. The owners claimed that air conditioning would most likely not be needed, and I just thought they were trying to hold down their electric bill. We only used the air the first night and after that we opened the doors and louvers and enjoyed the refreashing trade winds. You really do not need the a/c! The owners provide a lot of neat amenities such as beach towels, cooler, shampoo, etc. We had a few issues during our stay, but the broker, Susan, her husband and the owners went out of their way to make things right. Their concern and actions were greatly appreciated. The condo is a very short drive to Megans Bay and to the St. John ferry dock. I would recommend renting a car. The driving is not really bad at all, just remember to stay on the left. If you are planning a trip to St. Thomas this is the place to stay, hands down. I know my wife and I are planning our next stay.

This condo is lovely. I would agree with everything
the other posters have said. The owners provided
toiletries, and wonderful fluffy towels. The gated
complex also contains Mahogany Grill, an excellent
restaurant with a nice bar and wonderful specials
each night (excepting Monday). We dined their four
times! Thank you, owners, for attending to all the
little details. We had a fabulous time. If you are
considering Mahogany Run, this is the unit!