Reasons to Visit:
Caution: with no all-inclusive pricing, food costs might bite. |
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| The Bottom Line: stay in style at the Westin while you explore this pretty island that's more Park than not. | |
- the Westin St. John is on St. John in the US Virgin Islands: 3/4 of St. John is a National Park (land and marine.)
- the resort has 282 rooms and suites and 67 villas, on 47 acres.
- guests fly to St. Thomas airport. Luggage is handled while guests proceed to a Westin boat and onward to the resort.
- most guests take outings, either by signing up for tours or snorkeling trips, or by exploring on their own by rental jeep.
Guide Review: Westin St. John
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St. John: What, Where, Why? St. John --same size as Manhattan, but with 4000 people-- is one of the three US Virgin Islands a three hour-flight from Miami. St. John is the most unspoiled, thanks to the Virgin Islands National Park. if you want duty-free shopping in colonial towns, try St. Thomas or St. Croix instead. A stay on St. John should include snorkeling over coral, and poking around Cruz Bay to get some local flavor. The Westin St. John...is popular! During our visit off-season in mid-August, the place was full. Arrival is by boat from St. Thomas: after 45 minutes on blue seas, you'll reach Great Cruz Bay where the Westin sits below green hills. (See photos.) Step onto the dock, and sip your welcome drink.
Grounds, Pool, Rooms
Kids Zone The regular itinerary includes fun for families, too: a typical day might offer croquet, horseshoes, Iguana Feeding, Steel Pan Lessons, and kids' and teens' "floating cinema"-- movies at the pool.
Meanwhile, the Kids Club for ages 3 to 12 has its own activities: arts and crafts, sailing lessons, seashell hunts, field trips. Full-day and half-day programs; night camp, too. Register in advance.
Watersports One water-toy that's fun and free for all is the set of giant water trampolines just off-shore. The more adventurous can book jet-skis, parasailing, snorkel tours, etc.
Out'n'About The big feature on St. John is, of course, the National Park, so it's no surprise that nearly all Westin guests go on outings there. Both snorkel trips and land tours can be booked on site. Or rent a jeep: the island is safe for solo exploring, and traffic's light. Virgin Islands National Park: one of the best ways to explore the Park (created by Laurance Rockefeller) is via that great American institution, park ranger programs. Check the Visitors' Center in Cruz Bay for activities such as the Reef Bay Trail hike with a ranger: do a free hike, or pay for lunch and boat ride. Other park activities include snorkel trips and history talks. (Though small, St. John has history: such as a briefly-successful slave revolt.) Snorkel boat trips on St. John are superb. Try the Sadie Sea (340- 776-6922) for full-day tours with three snorkel stops. Guide/owner Sandy West spins great island tales.
Trunk Bay Beach: this much-photographed white-sand beach is part of the Virgin Islands National Park. (Modest admission charge; it may be cheaper to buy a family annual pass). Pull on your flippers and hit the snorkel trail to see coral and colorful fish along a route with underwater signs. You can also try Snuba: no substitute for scuba, but a novelty underwater experience where you can descend twenty feet and breathe through an air hose. (Read more.) After enjoying the clear blue sea, eat at the snack bar where mongooses sneak out of the bushes to munch.
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more Virgin Islands: *photos copyright Teresa Plowright. Always check web site for updated information. |







