I stayed at Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort in St. Thomas with my husband and our teen. We went in late July, which means heat, bright sun, and short rain bursts that feel like warm shower spray. I like that kind of weather, but it does test your patience. And your hair.
If you’d like an even deeper dive into the experience, my full trip report is published on the resort’s blog in My Stay at Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort: The Good, The Grit, The View.
If you’re curious about current deals or just want to browse more photos, the resort’s official site, Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, is a handy place to start.
Getting there and first feel
The taxi from the airport took about 25 minutes. The road curls along green hills. I saw flashes of blue water as we went. Check-in took 45 minutes. The lobby was busy, and the line moved slow. A bellman handed us rum punch right away, which helped my mood more than I’d like to admit.
The resort sits on a hill. The lobby is at the top, the beach is at the bottom, and lots of life happens in between. There are stairs. Many stairs. They run like a maze. There’s also a shuttle cart, but it didn’t always come fast. Day one, we walked. I learned very fast to wear good sandals.
Our room: view for days, quirks for sure
We had a room with a balcony facing the bay. That view? It’s a postcard. Morning light made the water look like glass. At night, I heard tree frogs and soft waves.
The room itself felt a bit tired. The furniture showed scuffs. The AC worked but hummed loud, like a box fan. The first hour, there was a faint musty smell. Housekeeping brought a dehumidifier and cracked the door while we went to dinner. That helped.
The shower had strong water pressure. Love that. The safe wouldn’t lock at first. A maintenance guy came with a small toolkit and fixed it in five minutes. He also taught me to say “good mawnin” like a local. Little moments like that stick.
One more thing: the blackout curtains didn’t close all the way, so morning light slid in. I used a hair tie to bunch the gap. Not fancy, but it worked.
Pools and beach: pretty, but bring water shoes
The pool area was my happy place. Three pools step down the hill with a small waterfall sound that covers chatter. The swim-up bar crew remembered my name by day two. I had a mango rum thing with too much ice and the right amount of joy.
If you want to see everything the property officially offers—from the spa to the kids’ club—you can skim Oyster’s very clear rundown of the resort’s amenities here.
The beach is small and kind of rocky at the entry. The water is clear, and the left side near the rocks is great for fish. I saw a blue tang and a tiny squid, which made my teen act cool and then not cool at all. We wore water shoes, which I think you need here. Kayaks and snorkel gear were included when we went, but there was a wait in the late morning.
Also, watch for iguanas by the pool. They love sunbathing like tiny, grumpy grandpas. Don’t feed them. The staff will scold you, and they’re right.
Food and drinks: some hits, some meh
Buffet breakfast was the best meal of the day. The omelet station ran hot and quick. The pineapple tasted like actual sunshine. Coffee was strong, a bit bitter, but did the job.
Lunch by the pool gave us burgers, fish tacos, and a slice of pizza that tasted better than it looked. Dinner changed by theme. One night was Caribbean night with jerk chicken, rice and peas, and a steel drum band in the courtyard. That was fun. Another night, the pasta felt soft and plain. Dessert was a win, though—coconut cake with a cold center. I ate two bites more than I should. No regrets.
Drinks were generous. If you like sweet, ask for half syrup. If you like light, say so. They’ll make it your way if you speak up.
Little moments that made it real
- The concierge set up a taxi to Red Hook, and we rode the ferry to St. John one morning. Quick and easy. Trunk Bay was worth it.
- We snorkeled at Coki Beach one afternoon, just a short taxi ride. Bright fish, clear water, and a beach shack that sold cold Ting. The sugar fizz hit the spot.
- A quick rain shower rolled in during a pool volleyball game. No one left. We laughed and played in warm rain. It felt like summer camp for adults.
Have a golfer in the group? The resort’s hilltop course offers breezy views and forgiving fairways—I spent a morning testing it and shared all the highs and duffs in Sugar Bay Golf Course: My Honest Day on the Bay.
Service: warm people, slow systems
The resort has seen management shifts over the years; Wyndham officially added it to its portfolio back in 2010, according to a brief industry update reported here.
The staff was kind. The bar team and the breakfast crew stood out. But the front desk felt short-staffed. We asked for extra towels at 6 pm and got them at 8 pm. Not awful, just slow.
Wi-Fi worked well in the lobby but was shaky in our room. I could check email on the balcony, but a video call cut out twice. If you need steady internet, plan for that.
What bugged me (and what didn’t)
- Stairs, lots of stairs. My calves got a workout. It’s fine, but not great for folks with knee pain.
- The shuttle cart helped, yet sometimes it took 20 minutes.
- The gym was small and a bit stuffy in the afternoon. Mornings were better.
- Mosquitoes came out at dusk after the rain. Bring spray. I learned the itchy way.
But the sunsets? Orange and pink, right over the bay. The sound of waves at night. A quiet balcony coffee while the island woke up. Those parts felt special.
Tips I wish I’d known
- Bring water shoes and reef-safe sunscreen.
- Ask for a higher floor for better views and fewer bugs.
- Keep a small umbrella in your bag. Showers pass fast, but they pass.
- If you need towels at night, call early.
- For Wi-Fi, the lobby is your friend.
Who would like it, who might not
You’ll like this place if you want a hillside view, easy pool days, and simple fun with a tropical beat. Families fit in. Couples too, if you don’t need fancy.
You might not love it if you want a long sandy beach, slick modern rooms, or quick, polished service. This resort has heart, but it also has quirks.
For solo travelers or groups of friends who crave a bit of island nightlife and are open to meeting new people beyond the resort bar, you can explore JustBang—the platform makes it easy to connect with like-minded adults nearby, helping you set up casual hangouts or adventures without wasting vacation time on trial-and-error social scenes.
If your itinerary swings back through Central Florida on the way home—maybe you’re overnighting near Orlando International—consider peeking at local social listings on Backpage Oviedo to uncover last-minute events, live-music spots, and adult-friendly meetups that can turn an otherwise ho-hum layover into a fun mini-escape.
My bottom line
Would I go back? You know what—yes, with the right mindset. I’d come for the view, the pools, the staff smiles, and the island feel. I’d pack bug spray, water shoes, patience, and a hair tie for those curtains. It’s not perfect. It is real, warm, and sometimes clunky. And sometimes, that’s exactly the kind of trip I need.