3 Best Hotels in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Glamping is a good way to describe the vibe here, especially if you book an eco-tent, complete with bunks, basic cooking gear, and electricity, or a cottage, sturdily built on concrete pads with beds, ceiling fans, kitchen utensils, electricity, and outdoor picnic tables. There are bare spots too for those who want to bring their own tent or rent one. Restrooms and showers, a small store, a restaurant, and water-sports rental right on the beach make for a complete campground resort.

This off-the-beaten-path resort on the remote Salt Pond peninsula has a back-to-nature bent and a decent level of comfort. The casual, spacious villas have queen-size beds, kitchenettes, air-conditioning, and balconies with lovely sea views. Ecocabanas have a tree-house feel and are more modestly equipped with mini-refrigerators, kitchen utensils, and filtered rainwater showers; still, they have a bird's-eye view of Salt Pond Bay and the Caribbean Sea to the south. There's a pool, small gift shop, and a yoga pavilion on the premises.

Good for travelers on a budget, the Inn at Tamarind Court has rooms with rather pedestrian décor, but they're clean, and you can't beat the location, a five-minute walk from the heart of Cruz Bay's action. If you're up for a bit of a hike, you can even walk to the beach at Salomon Bay. Ask at the national park visitor center for directions. Single rooms share a bath, but the rest have private baths. The hotel's courtyard restaurant, filled with umbrella-covered tables, is popular with locals.