My wife & I and another couple are trying to fing the perfect place to stay on St John. We are considering either Gallows Point on Cruz Bay, or Rainbow Beach Villa in Coral Bay. <BR>We have heard good things about Gallows Points as far as being close to restaurants, etc. Can someone tell us whats out near Coral Bay? Are there plenty of restaurants close by?...We wish to be somewhat close to amenities such as food, etc. Is Coral bay too far out in the boonies?? Any info is much appreciated.

You can walk to Cruz Bay in about three minutes from Gallows Point and there are at least ten restaurants in a variery of price ranges that you can go to- including one at Gallows itself. Coral Bay is much more remote. <BR>Although there are a few restaurants, the choices are much more limited and you will almost cetainly have to drive to all of them. If this villa is in the hills of Coral Bay it could be a very scary drive out and back at night. We love some of the restaurants in Coral Bay-( especially Shipwreck Landing) but for lunch.From the tone of your post I really think that you will love Cruz Bay. By the way we have never stayed at gallows but have stayed across the street- friends loved Gallows but some people on this and other boards have complained of noise in the units that face the harbor. Have fun Patrick.

We've been to St. John many times, Coral Bay for the first time this year. Yes, it is in the boonies. Other than having the best breakfast joint on the island (Sputniks), we felt like "town" was too far for dinner. Check out Caribehavens.com Our favorite house is Great Escape. Nancy is very helpful! Tell her the Johnson sent you!

Just returned last night from St. John. Cruz Bay is the place for you. Most of the shopping, rest., etc are there. The Gallow looked OK but there was NO BEACH. Also cemetary (above ground) is right next store and a little creepy in my opinion. Westin and Canneel pricy and typical resort type. We had a villa with a separate master for privacy. Also a great bedroom with full bath in the villa for second couple. We remarked that if we ever returned we would bring our friends since the layout was so perfect for companionship and for some privacy. Check out the website. I thin ite caribeana.com. If not e-mail me and I will get it for you. <BR>Rent a 4 wheel...you will need it and they are a lot of fun. Have a ball-I envy you.

Gallows Point is a fabulous place to stay on St. John. Yes, there is a graveyard not far from some of the harbor view suites. So what? If you believe in ghosts then don't stay in a harbor view suite. You don't even see the cemetary except walking down the street to town. There is a beach at Gallows Point Resort. But the sand that is there was brought in from somewhere else. The entrance into the water is rocky, but that is fine with me. I recommend rubber sole canvas top aqua shoes there to protect your feet. Snorkeling off shore is very good. You can walk to town in 5 minutes and reach several of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean within just a few minutes via safari taxi or rental vehicle. The people who run the small store at Gallows can help you with anything you want to know about St. John or make reservations for anything on the island from restaurants to activities. You can read my comments about our stay there last year in my trip report which is posted at http://virginislandsnow.homestead.co...0vacation.html. We have stayed at Caneel Bay, at the Westin when it was a Hyatt, and in nice villas with good views, but overall we like Gallows Point Resort better than any place on St John.<BR>

Correction to website: http://virginislandsnow.homestead.co...0vacation.html

just for clarification, if I were told that there was a beach at Gallows and when arriving there, I would be soooo disappointed. There is a spit of sand that gives you access to the water. But, it in no way, is a lovely white powdery beach that one might expect hearing that there is a beach! It is a good place to rest and relax but you will be commuting to the beaches as you will from most villas.

For our 1st visit to St. John we wanted to be walking distance to a beach, now we've been back 2 more times and there is no reason to be close to a beach. Why? there are so many great beaches on St. John you'll want to explore all of them. We prefer to be up the mountain for great views. Have stayed in 2 dynamite places with www.caribbeanvillas.com. Good Luck<BR>

Just for farther clarification, based on what I said in my earlier post on this thread, I don't think anyone should be disappointed when they arrive at Gallows Point Resort and find that there is no lovely powdery sandy beach. I never indicated that there was such a beach there. My description of its beach is exactly the way it is. Just because a beach isn't exactly like someone's preconceived notion of what a beach should be does NOT mean that there is no beach. As I indicated earlier, the best beaches which certainly fit Karen's idea of a beach are within a few minutes drive of Gallows Point. The only resort on the island which has lovely powdery sandy beaches on site is Caneel Bay. But as lovely as Caneel Bay is, it costs about twice as much as Gallows Point costs, is not conveniently located within walking distance of town, does not offer the spacious accomodations with a full kitchen/dining room that Gallows Point does, has only marginally better service than Gallows Point, and most importantly of all does not have Charlie the Barracuda in residence under the swim platform just off shore as Gallows Point does.