Inn at Tamarind Court, Cruz Bay

Just minutes away from the U.S. Virgin Islands National Park Visitor Center, and close to the bawdy nightlife of Cruz Bay , the Inn at Tamarind Court is ideally located for those on foot, without a jeep or not camping in the eco- resorts around St. John. Catering to naturalists and budget-minded travellers, the Inn at Tamarind Court may make a better base from which to explore the island more than anything else. Tropical foilage and luscious fronds camouflage the gated entrance to this scene-worthy establishment found slightly off the main road and is quite easy to overlook The inn features a lovely bar and restaurant with a remarkable display of fossils, gardening snakes and iguanas that maybe too close for comfort and serves up an artificially frightful ambience, on par with any older Disney park attraction except for the pirates we've come to love on screen. If you enjoy Disney style accoutrements off season--lizards jumping out of trees or shrunken skull and cross bone props, the open air cafe may be the right spot. Getting the bartender to pour a cold non-alcoholic beverage, however, may require greasing a palm or two, so bring your own supply. The service was laid back. Not only was the management a conspicuous no show for 14 hours after check-in, but we didn't catch a glimpse of any of the other help who began remodeling the room I had reserved in the singles building from the second I arrived-- removing the tile flooring and resanding the woodwork, Needless to say I reluctantly cancelled my stay, and received a refund for two nights due to the inconvenience. Thankfully the chaise lounges outside were super comfy and perfect for catching Zs. Not all was lost, basking in the splendorous tropical moonlight of St. John 's Inn at Tamarind Court, I was pleasantly enveloped in the warm Caribbean air and illuminated flora that surrounded the inn's unforgettable verandah -- a fabulous backdrop on Valentine's day for trick-taking -- hours earlier I came upon a game of midnight dominoes masterfully being played here. Across the road from the inn is St. Ursula's church, a three-mile hike away from the sumptuous St. John Westin that organizes sailing charters, kayak excursions and snorkeling trips for its guests and non-guests. A late night swim with a local escort from Little St. James and poolside cinema at the Westin St. John was welcome relief. Rather than returning to my room, I followed the hotel outfitter's recommendation to hit the beaches the next morning, and hired a driver who raced furiously past Lindholm Estate and Trunk Bay to get to Cinnamon Bay Campgrounds.--it's a rolicking 10 minute jaunt from Tamarind's Cruz Bay in an open air jeep., Cinnamon campgrounds is an idyllic cove for bodyboarding because of the surf that rolls into the bay.

Here's the deal: you can enjoy a resort and stay at Caneele Bay and never leave. Or, you can stay at the Tamarind right in the heart of Cruz Bay and go out and sweat a little enjoying a beautiful and exotic island with great people and wonderful views. We chose the latter. We stayed in one of the larger rooms with private bath... worth it... and it had a queen bed, closet with hangers, dresser, a TV I never turned on, a mini fridge and two end tables. The wall unit AC was surprisingly quick to cool and the bed was good to crash on after a long day of hiking. The customer service was incredible and the restaurant was a great place to meet people. If you are not looking for luxury, but want a cool place to rest from your adventure, this is the place!