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St. John Hotels All Inclusive
(All meals, beverages and more included)
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St. John Hotels European Plan
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Introduction to St. John
Today, St. John (unlike the other U.S.
islands) remains pristine, its preservation enforced by the National
Park Service. Thanks to the efforts of Laurance Rockefeller, who
purchased many acres of land and donated them to the United States,
the island's shoreline waters, as well as more than half of its
surface area, make up the Virgin Islands National Park. The hundreds
of coral gardens that surround St. John are protected rigorously --
any attempt to damage or remove coral is punishable with large and
strictly enforced fines.
Despite the unspoiled beauty of much of St. John, the
island manages to provide visitors with modern amenities and travel services,
including a sampling of restaurants, car-rental kiosks, yacht-supply facilities,
hotels, and campgrounds. Cinnamon Bay, founded by the National Park Service in
1964, is the most famous campsite in the Caribbean. In addition, the roads are
well maintained; there's even a small commercial center, Cruz Bay, on the
island's western tip. Don't come here for nightlife: St. John is definitely
sleepy, and that's why people love it.
One of the most exciting ways to see St. John is by
four-wheel-drive vehicle, which you can rent in town (in winter it's best to
reserve in advance). The steep roadside panoramas are richly tinted with tones
of forest green and turquoise and liberally accented with flashes of silver and
gold from the strong Caribbean sun.
St. John is the friendliest of the U.S. Virgin
Islands, although it lies only a short ferry ride from the more commercialized
St. Thomas. There isn't even an airport here, and life is more laid-back than in
the other U.S. Virgins. The people actually have time to talk to you and perhaps
provide you with directions. Whereas you'll never meet the managers of most East
End properties on St. Thomas, you may end up sitting up, drinking, and talking
with a St. John innkeeper until late into the night. If you show up for a visit
same time next year, you might even be welcomed as one of the family; you'll
certainly be considered a "regular".
Additional Information about travel to St. John
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