Hi everyone, I am working on planning a trip to St. John in July. This will be our first trip- but from all the reviews I have read on here it sounds like it is amazing!
I found 2 cottages that I like on VRBO- 1 is in Coral Bay and the other is in Great Cruz Bay- as we have never been before I don't know if there is a better area to stay in. Also, if anyone else has any good recomendations on places to stay that would be great- I am trying to stay below $1200 for the week. Thanks so much for the help!

Hi katie. Coral Bay is the "quiet side" of the island while Great Cruz Bay is more congested as it is the Westin area. Both definitely have their pluses and minuses. Great Cruz Bay is closer to more bars and restaurants as well as the ferry dock but Coral Bay does have a few really good bars and restaurants.

We like staying just North of Cruz Bay for access to town as well as the North Shore Beaches. I think you should make sure that wherever you stay has air conditioning since you're going in July!

I would absolutely stay in Cruz Bay. There is a lot more going on - Coral Bay is much more "out of the way" and quiet. Cruz Bay is still charming, but you have your choice of restaurants, bars, etc all within an easy walking distance. There is a pharmacy, grocery store, liquor store all in close proximity to make shopping for your rental easy. There are nice places to sit and have a drink and watch the boats right on the water in the afternoon.

But of course it depends on your personality - if you like having a lot going on (Cruz Bay), or if you like the very quiet, rural atmosphere (Coral).

While in St John we have stayed at the Estate Lindholm - a small hotel up the hill within walking distance from Downtown Cruz Bay. We found the accommodations there very nice and the view from our room of the harbor, stunning. They provided a decent breakfast and lent out coolers, towels, beach chairs and floats for the beach. It was a very nice place to stay. In the summer their rates are quite reasonable (170 a night for garden room and 200 a night for a harbor view). They also have a ticker on their website advertising "special summer rates for 2009". Maybe they are having a hard time with the economy -- worth a call!!

Of course it depends on what YOU like to do, Katie. I personally prefer Coral Bay--it feels newer,fresher, more connected to the sea, more "rustic", not as commercialized, but has its fair share of good restaurants, and shops, though not as many as in Cruz Bay. I like to stay near Coral Bay, then go into Cruz Bay for a few hours. Remember, it's a small island, and the two towns, even with the winding roads, are less than an hour apart, if that.

For some cottage suggestions, see the thread started earlier this month by gecko123.

I agree with CaliNurse. We also prefer to be out of the congestion of Cruz Bay, so we stay in Coral Bay. The beaches out that way are really nice and there are restaurants, bars with music, hiking, ruins etc for you to explore in that area.

Keep in mind, driving from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay is not a long trip, so you could go into Cruz Bay when you wanted a change of pace. It takes way under an hour, just know that you will need a rental [4 wd is best] and that the roads are narrow, curvy, steep, and they drive on the left. Can be a bit "daunting".

We stay with friends that have a beautiful cottage. They rent it out, but I don't know if they will be renting it out in July.

http://www.vrbo.com/162906

My pictures -

http://picasaweb.google.com/DebitNM/PalmCottage

Deb

Deb

For us, we like it more on the quiet side.

I have always stayed near Cruz Bay, because we usually like to have dinner in town. We have stayed in Chocolate hole or Rendevous.

BUT, it would be fun to provision up and just hibernate out in Coral bay. For your first trip. i would stick near Cruz Bay.
I wouldn't want to "commute" on vacation.

Coral Bay is starting to get more developed. There are a couple of small grocery stores and many places to eat. It takes less than 1/2 hour to get from Curz Bay to Coral Bay, even on the twisty, mountainous roads.

I stayed at Cruz Views unit 4 condo for 2 nights in April to extend my Westin timeshare week. It was $125/night special low season rates during high season. It has everything you need including AC in bedroom, small pool, BBQ grill, nice views of Cruz Bay from the deck. Grande Bay is a new condo complex in Cruz Bay which I heard was renting units for $195/night. Call Kim Morris at 340-998-1978.

We just stayed in Coral Bay and loved it. Given a drive through Cruz Bay to access the North Shore Beaches, you may actually be as close (time-wise) to those beaches from Coral Bay. Maho was about 12 min from our villa.

We found Cruz Bay to be heavily congested with traffic and parking next to impossible. Be sure that your jeep rental company allows on-site parking while in Cruz Bay.

We were greatly relieved when we got home to Coral Bay after a junket into Cruz Bay. There are great bars & restaurants there and really no reason to go to Cruz Bay except for the ferry.

How does Chocolate Hole fit into this Cruz Bay vs Coral bay talk? Is it part of Cruz Bay/just as crowded/crazy or more residential?

Chocolate Hole is a bit out of it. Once you head away from either Cruz Bay or Coral Bay, you get further remote. We stayed 2 nights near Fish Bay /Rendezvous Bay. No breezes, and a dark, long drive at night with no restaurants etc around so you had to drive back to town to eat.
Deb

Chocolate Hole and Great Cruz Bay are out of the congestion of town but close enough to not have a long difficult drive in the evening. I think it a great area for first timers to the island. Definitely more "residential".