St. John Inn

There’s something about St. John Inn that really makes you feel like you’re in the Caribbean. Maybe it’s the colorful walls, or the bright pink tropical flowers. Maybe it’s the Jimmy Buffet tunes, or the free rum punch they serve at happy hour. Maybe it’s the casual, laid-back atmosphere, or perhaps it’s the lobby’s stack of beach towels and chairs just waiting to be used. Whatever it is, this place really hits the nail on the head when it comes to that warm, relaxed Caribbean vibe. The lobby is a small, bright green office, where guests check in without much hassle. Charming though it may be, this is not a place where people come to be pampered; instead, guests of St. John Inn come to get a small taste of local life and are eager to explore the island. Like the hotel’s website proclaims, guests are a “delightful mixture of families, backpackers, seniors, and honeymooners” and come from as near as Florida, and as far as Germany and The Netherlands.     

Though it’s not quite in downtown Cruz Bay, St. John Inn is still within a seven-minute walk of all of the shops, restaurants, bars, and ferry port downtown. Although it is possible to walk from the ferry to St. John Inn, anyone traveling with a lot of luggage should definitely take a cab, as the walk is quite hilly. The nearest beach, Honeymoon Beach (part of the Caneel Bay resort), is a good 30-minute hike from the hotel via the Lind Point Trail. While most locals will tell you that walking to nearby beaches is feasible, the hills and winding road conditions can turn an afternoon stroll into quite the trek. Cabs on St. John are inexpensive and local drivers know how to best handle the incredible twists and sharp turns of the roads. Anyone renting a car is advised to rent a Jeep or some other type of rugged, all terrain vehicle. It’s also important to remember that St. John abides by left-side traffic laws.  

Considering the small size of St. John Inn, rooms are surprisingly spacious. Each is individually decorated with bright Caribbean colors and homey touches like patterned quilts and comfortable mattresses. Rooms range from suites with small sitting areas to units with multiple rooms and kitchenettes. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges and microwaves, coffeemakers, iPod docks, and remote controlled air-conditioning units with helpful Celsius to Fahrenheit conversion charts. Bathrooms are pretty dated, with mint green and light pink tiles, and most are quite small and oddly configured. Water pressure throughout the hotel is dismal -- reduced to a mere trickle in both sinks and showers. The hotel asks guests to conserve both water and electricity during their stay, so the faucet, fan, lights and air conditioner should be turned off whenever guests are not in their rooms. There are lots of stairs throughout St. John Inn, and no elevator, so it’s not exactly suited to those with mobility challenges.   

There’s a small pool at St. John Inn, but it’s barely bigger than a bathtub. Since most people are out exploring the island during the day, the pool doesn’t get much use until the early evenings, when guests return to the hotel. Despite its small size, the pool area is a peaceful place to hang out. There are two lounge chairs, a hammock, and an umbrella-covered table surrounding the pool. There’s also a grill available for guests to use. Just off the lobby there is a deck with tiny black cafe tables and red umbrellas. This is where the hotel serves its free continental breakfast each morning and free rum punch each evening. Breakfast consists of all the usual suspects -- cereal, granola, muffins, bagels, coffee, and juice. And the rum punch happy hour draws a lot of guest participation. 

As far as freebies are concerned, the hotel offers free Wi-Fi and there are free beach chairs, towels, coolers, puzzles, and games available for guests to borrow during their stay. Though there isn’t any kind of official parking lot, anyone who rents a car can park on the street for free as well. There’s also an honor bar in the lobby with water, soda, beer, and wine.