Bluebeard's Castle Resort

The resort and its setting

Bluebeard's Castle Resort occupies a hillside position at Estate Taarneberg, overlooking the harbour of Charlotte Amalie on St Thomas. The property is built around a 17th-century structure, and Google's editorial summary describes colourful rooms with kitchenettes and private balconies, many with harbour views. It currently holds a 4.2 out of 5 rating from 835 Google reviews, suggesting a resort that's well established with both returning guests and owners. It operates as an independent resort affiliated with the RCI exchange network, which matters for owners who like the option of trading their week for a stay elsewhere.

Charlotte Amalie and things to do

Charlotte Amalie is the capital of the US Virgin Islands and one of the Caribbean's longest-running cruise ports, which means the harbour below the resort is often busy with ships, yachts and local traffic. The town itself is known for duty-free shopping along its old Danish-era streets, historic forts, and a walkable waterfront lined with restaurants and bars. St Thomas as a whole is a base for beach days, sailing trips and day excursions to neighbouring islands such as St John and the British Virgin Islands, all reachable by short ferry or boat rides. Owners renting out a week here can point guests to the harbour views from the resort itself as one of the main draws of staying on this hillside rather than down in the flatter parts of town.

Selling or renting a week here

If you own a week at Bluebeard's Castle and are ready to sell it on, BidMyTimeshare.com works as a private, owner-to-owner marketplace: you list the week yourself, you set your own asking price, and interested buyers or renters contact you directly through the platform. There's no commission taken from the sale — sellers only pay a one-time listing fee to post the ad.

Because Bluebeard's Castle is an independent resort, any resale transfer goes through the resort's own owners' association or management rather than a branded resale desk. Before agreeing on a price with a buyer, it's worth contacting the resort directly to confirm the current transfer fee and the latest annual maintenance fee, since these aren't published figures and can change from year to year. Ask as well whether the association holds a right of first refusal on resales, as many independent resorts do — this can affect how quickly (or whether) a private sale goes through. Once a sale is agreed, get written confirmation from the resort of what the fee covers and how long the transfer is expected to take, before finalising anything with the buyer.

For renters, the appeal of this resort is straightforward: a central Charlotte Amalie base with harbour views and the practicality of a kitchenette, useful for anyone wanting to self-cater between days out on the water or in town. Owners renting out unused weeks should be clear in their listing about the view, the kitchenette, and proximity to the cruise port and shopping streets, since that's what most renters are weighing up against hotel stays on the island.

Practical notes

St Thomas is served by its own airport, and the resort's hillside position above Charlotte Amalie means most of the harbour, shops and restaurants are a short drive or taxi ride away rather than a walk, given the terrain. Owners should check with the resort directly for details on unit layouts, check-in procedures and any resort fees that apply on top of the annual maintenance charge, as these aren't always listed publicly and can vary by week or season.