Chenay Bay Beach Resort

With 50 private rooms on the hillsides overlooking a calm inlet of Christiansted, Chenay Bay Beach Resort has a quiet, casual feel to it. The semi-open-air lobby has yellow and white walls decorated with paintings of a sail boat and palm tree. The resort often rents their stand-alone cottages as time-shares, which draws older couples and families who will sometimes stay for a week or more. The picturesque restaurant, Shoreline, overlooks the resort’s semi-private beach, attracting locals who come for the great view and a cold beer. The vibe here is laid-back yet chic—it’s no surprise that the place is often the scene for mellow beach parties and live music shows. 

Chenay Bay is located on the hilly east end of Christiansted in St. Croix, in a calm inlet of the island. The resort is relatively secluded and guests need to rent a car or use a taxi to visit tourist sites or dine out. The property is one of the closest resorts to Point Udall, the easternmost point of the US, as well as Buck Island, a popular snorkeling day trip for tourists. To get to either site guests have to organize a trip that starts at the marina at Tamarind Reef, about a five-minute drive from the resort. 

Downtown Christiansted boutiques and restaurants are about a 10-minute taxi ride away. Cheeseburgers in America’s Paradise, a classic stop, is only a minute away. Green Cay is just across the bay and offers a sandy and secluded beach and snorkeling around the island. It’s only accessible via boat, kayak, or paddleboard from Green Cay Marina or Tamarind Reef Beach. 

The rooms here are 50 private and charming little studio cottages sprinkled throughout the beach-front resort. Each has an individual layout and design, though all come with TVs, coffeemakers, mini- or full-size-fridges and microwaves. Some rooms appear newly renovated, with updated decor, flat-screen TVs, and shiny marble counters, while others look like they haven’t gotten attention in years (particularly in the bathrooms—a few have rickety shower handles and low water pressure). Wi-Fi is free, but the signal is weak in rooms furthest from the lobby. 

Because these stand-alone cottages are often rented as time-shares, they come fully stocked with utensils, dishes, a stovetop, and cooking equipment. The level of privacy is somewhat dependent on where the room is located: a number of studios face the walkway nearest the property's entrance while others are set further back and closer to the ocean. A few cottages feature stunning views of the ocean or pool, and the resort is small enough that both are within a two-minute walk of every room. 

Chenay offers a lovely saltwater pool directly overlooking the beach and surrounded on three sides by cottages. Sometimes a musician will set up in a corner to play the steel drum, following in the popular Caribbean tradition.  

The property is nestled in a bay so the ocean water is calm and clear and stays shallow for almost a mile. The sandy beach curves in a long C-shape and gets narrower as it arcs out. The serene water and proximity to a natural reserve makes it a great place to practice snorkeling, though the sea grass might be a turnoff for some.

Shoreline restaurant is along the beach and offers above average American lunch and dinner options, though the included breakfast is sparse and limited to coffee and English muffins. The bar scene is a mix of hotel guests and locals who live nearby, and it can get quite lively at night when there’s live music.  

A corner of the lobby has a computer and printer for guest use, and it’s where you’re likely to get the best Wi-Fi in the place—the rest of the property has a spotty signal. There are also two on-site tennis courts.