USVI St. John Hotels, Restaurants, Beaches

There’s a saying at Skinny Legs, a bar and restaurant on the far eastern shore of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, “Same day service promised.” That captures the ambiance and feel of St. John—good natured humor on island time. The smallest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, St. John definitely marches to its own beat. It attracts visitors with its small-town atmosphere, the genuine warmth of its locals and the exquisite natural beauty of the island, which is two-thirds national park with lush green mountains, serene white beaches and a pristine underwater world ripe for exploring. Once you visit St. John on a Virgin Island vacation, you’ll be hooked. I got caught in the island’s spell a long time ago.

But now I’m back to see the newest attractions that the island has to offer. Friends forewarned me of mega-development in the quaint port town of Cruz Bay, the harbor point at which most visitors arrive on St. John. I’m aghast at the huge, five-story condo development that now mars the low-level, pastel-building waterfront. Yes, development happens in the most pristine of places, but for some reason no one thought it would happen here on St. John. But while roaming the streets, I realize that the rest of the town is still the old St. John I know and love. The restaurants haven’t changed much in a decade. It’s still a very special St. John.

Let Them Eat Lobster

St. John was settled in the early 1700s by the Danish, who set up sugar and cotton plantations around the island then imported African slaves to work on the plantations. Legend has it that at one point an ordinance was passed to protect those slaves so they would not be fed lobster for more than six days in a row—the waters of St. John were as fruitful back then as they are today.

When the slaves were emancipated in the mid-1800s, plantation farming plummeted as did the population. Fast forward to 1956, a few decades after the United States purchased the Virgin Islands from the Danish: Laurance S. Rockefeller was so taken by the tranquil beauty of the island that he bought vast expanses of St. John and donated the land to the National Park Service so it could be forever appreciated. Today, those park lands with mountainous peaks featuring stunning vistas remain St. John’s biggest draw.

 

• All St. John visitors must come via ferry to the island’s port in Cruz Bay.

Anne Kazel-Wilcox

Just past the Maho Bay area, many visitors like to tour the Annaberg Sugar Plantation ruins, one of a couple dozen sugar plantations on the island in the late 1700s. Annaberg, which translated means “Anna’s Hill,” once produced molasses and rum. A trail now winds through the what’s left of the estate ruins, which include a windmill and former slave quarters.

Cruz Bay

Visitors to St. John typically arrive via the airport on neighboring St. Thomas and then take a 45-minute taxi ride east to the port of Red Hook. From there, it’s a 15- to 20-minute ferry ride ($3 for adults, $1 for children under 12) to Cruz Bay, St. John’s hub on its western tip. Most St. John hotels and resorts, prime beaches and park areas are within an easy distance of Cruz Bay.

The town of Cruz Bay itself consists of three main areas, all within strolling distance of one another: Wharfside on the waterfront features charming shops, restaurants and bars. Town central includes Woody’s Seafood Saloon (renowned for $1 happy hour drinks) and Quiet Mon Pub, which was made legendary in the Kenny Chesney song “Be as You Are.” (Chesney made the island his home for years.) Farther down the main road is Mongoose Junction, an upscale shopping and dining complex that has its own brand of charm.

 

• An aerial view of Gallows Point Resort.

Courtesy of Gallows Point Resort

My favorite nearby accommodations are at Gallows Point Resort, a resort and condo complex on the point of Cruz Bay that offers gorgeous and spacious suites, including two-story lofts with full kitchens, exquisite views and the convenience of a short walk to town. Staying at Gallows is like having your own private island villa. Rates start at $265 in the off-season and $495 in high season, with a discount to repeat visitors. (And trust me, you’ll want to repeat!)

A short ride away is the Westin St. John Resort & Villas, the most family-friendly of any accommodation on St. John with seemingly more child guests than adults. In addition to a kids’ club, there’s a game room, playground, water trampolines, iguana feeding and much more. The beach resort, situated on 47 acres overlooking beautiful Great Cruz Bay, also has its own ferry that brings visitors from downtown St. Thomas directly to the resort’s dock. The resort also offers a Family Fun Package with room rates starting at $539—it includes a $100 per day resort credit, transfers, discounted and free children’s meals, and much more.

In the opposite direction from Cruz Bay, but also a short distance from town is Caneel Bay, a Rosewood Resort, which is part of the Virgin Islands National Park. The area was “discovered” in 1952 by Laurance S. Rockefeller, who developed its infrastructure while preserving the natural jungle atmosphere. Caneel Bay is an ultra-luxury resort (and the prices reflect it) set on 170 lush acres and with seven lovely beaches and 166 guest rooms, featuring natural woods, native stones and hand-crafted furniture. The resort also offers a 90-minute boat ride to Rosewood’s sister property, Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands (passports necessary). Ocean view rooms start at $550 in the heat of summer, $395 for a courtyard view.  

 

• A view of St. John from the deck of a Maho Bay cabin.

www.maho.org

Back to Nature

To truly experience the natural beauty of St. John, many visitors instead opt for a stay at a luxury camp with eco-cottages.

Just around the bend from Great Maho Bay are the Maho Bay campgrounds, featuring pioneering and eco-camping grounds amidst serene surroundings. Maho offers tented cabins that are among the most affordable lodging options on St. John, at about $80 per night off-season and $135 in the high season.

The campgrounds also have a sister property on the east side of the island, Estate Concordia, with posh “camping” and exquisite Caribbean views. Standard eco-tents start at $155 per night during the high season, $105 in the low season. Concordia also offers premium loft duplexes for larger families starting at $185.

[Read our article on upscale camping in the U.S. Virgin Islands.]