Bungalows on the Bay

Customer ratings & reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

529 reviews

• 

  Unforgettable Island Vibes at Bungalows on the Bay

  We just spent a week at Bungalows on the Bay and it was one of the most memorable Caribbean trips we’ve had. This is not a cookie-cutter resort — it’s a place with real character, amazing people, and a vibe that makes you feel like you’re part of the island. The setting is incredible: quiet beachfront with plenty of space to relax, swim, and snorkel. We loved using the paddle boards and kayaks, and every evening brought a new sunset ritual that made the whole stay feel magical. Live music most nights set the perfect island tone, and the on-site food truck served up surprisingly great meals at fair prices. Our room was clean, spacious, and had everything we needed — a kitchenette, TV, and WiFi (though honestly, we hardly touched it — this is the place to unplug and enjoy rum by the beach). Driving around the island was a fun adventure in itself, with local rules that took a moment to adjust to but made it all part of the experience. Renting a car and having it delivered was seamless and gave us easy access to nearby resorts, restaurants, and downtown Christiansted. Take the snorkel tour to Buck Island and hike to the top! Well worth the adventure. Local tips: Go to the local Costco equivalent and stock up on some groceries and keep your small fridge stocked with bevs and snacks. Tour the island and see what it has to offer. Visit the restaurants downtown and walk the dock. Check out the rum distilleries and Mutiny spirits too! Beer drinking pigs in the rainforest and walk the beaches... If you come expecting a perfectly polished luxury resort, this isn’t it — and that’s the beauty of it. Bungalows on the Bay is laid-back, authentic, and unforgettable. Come with an open mind, soak up the vibe, and you’ll leave feeling like you’ve discovered one of St. Croix’s true hidden gems.

  Sep 03, 2025
• 

  Kind of sketchy bungalows

  The Bungalows on the Bay has a beautiful setting. Standing at the bottom of the property by the parking lot, look up the hill to the charming colorful bungalows dotting the hillside. The scene is cute and quaint. The nearby beach is sandy and stretches up around the cove. The water is calm and warm, and the sea grasses attract starfish and turtles. The Bungalows does offer water toys: stand-up paddleboards, ocean kayaks, sunfishes and we did see a trampoline bouncy thing in the water for the kids to jump on and off. The bar is what you should expect in the islands. Quite laid back with a handful of island regulars, an overworked bartender and live music every night. Generally speaking, the music would end at a reasonable hour, so that was fun and some of the talent was quite good. Unfortunately, there really isn’t a restaurant on premises. There is a food truck with a teenage cook who can make three things. Philly steak tacos. Philly steak quesadillas. Or Philly steak nachos. They were actually pretty tasty, but it was an extremely limited menu. There was no breakfast and no coffee. We arrived late on a Saturday and we all had received messages regarding which bungalow we all belonged to and that the keys were inside. There were ten of us in six bungalows. Management had left for the evening. There was an emergency number posted on the office door, but calling or texting the number did not always result in a response. All the bungalows are different. Some have two beds, some have one bed, some have kitchenettes, some have bathtubs, some have showers. Some bungalows had bug problems with wasps or roaches or centipedes. Our bungalow was a single king bed with a shower. The location was right outside the pool and then out to the ocean. Nice. Inside the room was small with furniture that did not fit the space. There were two nightstands, but only one working lamp with a dim bulb. No way to read at night. The TV did not work. The kitchen consisted of a refrigerator, a coffee pot, a toaster and a microwave. There was a whole drawer of pots and pans, but no way to use them. We discovered a lack of what I would consider essential items. No dish soap or sponge or kitchen towels. One small roll of paper towels. We had butter knives, steak knives and a set of salad forks, but no spoons or forks. There was one juice glass and one tall glass. The bathroom did not come with soap either. A previous guest left some shampoo behind. There was only one set of bath towels and no beach towels. There was a half roll of toilet tissue and no refill. There was no one on property to address this and so we went shopping and stocked our own room. The lack of consistency with the on-property staff continued throughout the week but to be fair, sometimes problems were dealt with quickly. One more thing about the Bungalows is the pool. It is a nice pool with some loungers, but the water itself is scary. It is so cloudy you cannot see your feet when standing in the water. I lost a bracelet and dove down several times to feel along the bottom of the pool trying to locate it. I didn’t find it, but I did bring up two plastic cups from the bottom. If what you are looking for is an inexpensive, bare bones kind of place to stay, this could be your ticket. But, if you are more used to hotels with amenities and service, pass The Bungalows on the Bay by.

  Jul 26, 2025
• 

  Know before you go! Not a lot to recommend …

  Run down property with minimal amenities. Nice pool but the water was murky and deep with no warnings and unlocked gate. Restaurant advertised on website was apparently torn down months ago but still waiting for a permit to rebuild. Food truck offers tacos at night, no breakfast or lunch. On-site bar caters to locals who come for live music. No housekeeping during your stay so you have to beg for clean towels via text or pilfer from empty bungalows). Cooktop in room but no pots /pans. Microwave sitting on top of cooktop (dangerous). Coffee pot but no coffee or filters. Sink was stopped up (we removed some debris but there was more we couldn’t get to.) Never found anyone in the office during the week. Hair dryer plug had melted from fire (a replacement left outside our room 2 days after requesting). Hair products & body wash appeared to be left by previous guests. Beds were fairly comfortable but a centipede crawled into mine and stung me on day 5. You are expected to empty your own trash and wash any dishes before you leave, or pay a surcharge. Thankfully the ceiling fan, AC and fridge worked. Owner appears to be refurbing slowly (a rotted deck on one of the empty bungalows was replaced while we were there) but it’s going to take a while.

  Jul 23, 2025
• 

  Depressing

  My husband and I have stayed here multiple times since 2001 and while we love the location due to the great snorkeling opportunities, sadly, the property has deteriorated to the point we would not stay here again. Apparently the new owners have decided to sell the existing lots while also trying to generate revenue through rentals and the outcome just isn’t working. It is time for the Bungalows on the Bay to close for much needed maintenance before continuing to operate the way they are. The air conditioning unit didn’t work in our first bungalow so we were moved. The deck in our second bungalow was rotted and a true safety hazard in addition to the railing no longer being attached due to rot. The refrigerator was rusted, the kitchen sink leaked all over the floor, and the bathroom shower head barely was usable. Wasps had made nests all around the outside of the unit. The cleanliness of the unit was depressing, as we ended up washing the dishes already there and looking at dusty window blinds that have been neglected for some time. Check-in was rather unpleasant as it seemed we were bothering the staff for checking in. Nothing was provided regarding directions to our bungalow, information about activity rentals, or information on the bar and food amenities. The only reason we give this a one star is due to the snorkeling location. Sadly, these need a drastic refresh before continuing operation. Regrettably we will no longer be staying here.

  Jun 09, 2025
• 

  Perfect for us, does need some updates

  We just left yesterday after a 7 night stay. We absolutely loved it! It does need some updating, which they are working on. So as long as you are not looking for perfect, luxurious rooms, this is a great place. We stayed in Bungalow 49, had the most gorgeous, oceanfront view. The staff was very very friendly. The bar was well stocked and had live entertainment and karaoke several nights. The beach is very clean. We did not use the pool but it was cleaned every morning. The small kitchen was so great to have. We did cook breakfast several times, all cooking necessities are included. And it was nice to have a fridge for drinks and food. We did not try the food truck food available, but saw several people enjoying it. We left everyday to explore so we did not spend much time there. The location was perfect for this too, very easy to get to Christiansted and only 35ish minutes to Frederiksted. Overall the bungalow was very clean, the grounds were beautifully kept, and exactly what we needed. Our only complaint is the shared bungalows are not sound proof at all. Hopefully that will be considered when upgrading the rooms. There were 2 girls that were next door to us, they woke us up once very late at night and twice very early morning screaming at each other. We ended up telling the staff and were asked if we wanted to change rooms, which we did not because of our view(and the hassle of packing everything up). When we arrived back that evening, they had made the girls move rooms. We were very thankful they had taken care of the issue! We definitely recommend staying here if you are not looking for luxury, but something that will meet all your needs, and only anticipate things getting even better as the upgrades are completed. Thank you for helping make our first trip to St. Croix a wonderful one!

  Apr 15, 2025