Property
A group of studio, 1, 2, and 3-bedroom villas just slightly up the hill from the Westin St. John Resort. The villas are either hillside or poolside, and include air conditioning, in-unit laundry facilities, DVD players, flat screen televisions, wifi, Jacuzzi bathtubs, barbecues, and full kitchens. The resort is small (just 282 rooms and 67 villas), and from here it’s an easy seven-minute walk to the beach.

Location
The Westin St. John Resort is located in gorgeous and secluded Great Cruz Bay (sugar sand beaches, lushly planted gardens, and turquoise waters). To get there you fly to St. Thomas, and then take a 30-minute private ferry ride to St. John. Two-thirds of the island’s 21 square miles is an unspoiled national park (at the behest of the Rockefellers who deeded the property to the U.S. Park Service in 1956). That means no high rises, no overcrowding, and very little development. For a little more action, take the ferry to St. Thomas or a day trip to the British Virgin Islands.

Sleeps
2-10.

Highlights
The flexibility of a villa, but with luxury hotel privileges. Especially cool are the twice-weekly “Dive In” movies where you and your kids can enjoy first run movies on a huge screen poolside while floating in the pool under the stars, chomping on free popcorn. Kids will also love the water trampoline. The island’s best beach is Trunk Bay-rent a car or pop for the 20-minute cab ride.

Good to know
Booking villas directly through the resort costs much more than renting directly from an owner. Try www.vrbo.com. Shhhhh.

Contact
www.westinresortstjohn.com

Written by Jamie Pearson