Description:
St. John is not exactly known as the bargain destination of the Caribbean, but there are ways you can enjoy yourself for less $$ than the average traveler. Whether it involves staying in a no-frills hotel, eating during happy hour when the menus are half-price, or just enjoying the dozens of free beaches, hikes, and historical landmarks, it is quite possible to visit St. John and not go bankrupt.
View Iternary mapDay Note:
If you plan to stay overnight on the island, the Inn at Tamarind Court is a good low-key, no-frills alternative to the posh and pricey resorts like Caneel Bay and the Westin. The Inn has small rooms, no TVs, and some shared bathrooms, but it's clean, cheerful, and centrally located. So if you're not a demanding customer, it'll suit just fine.
The beaches on St. John offer great value for obvious reasons: they are free (or almost free), beautiful, and most...read more
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Inn at Tamarind Court
Contact:
- +1 340 776 6378 / +1 800 221 1637 (Toll Free)
- visit website
Location:
- Route 104
- (Mail) Box 350
- Cruz Bay,St. John00831
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Map
from $150Description:
Right outside Cruz Bay but still within walking distance of the ferryboat dock, this modest place consists of a small hotel and an even simpler West Indian inn. The inn is pretty basic and won't please you if you're too demanding, but it's one of the few low-cost options on St. John. Bedrooms are small, evoking those in a little country motel. Most have twin beds. Shower-only bathrooms in the inn are shared among the single rooms; units in the hotel have small private bathrooms. The social life here revolves around its courtyard bar and the in-house restaurant under the same name. From the hotel, you can walk to shuttles that take you to the beaches.
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Trunk Bay beach
Contact:
- +1 340 776 6201
Location:
- Route 20
- North Shore Road
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Map
Description:
Virgin Islands National Park's Trunk Bay is lovely. Palm trees shade the nether reaches of this sandy strand, providing cover for the hordes of cruise ship passengers who visit here on tour. Go early or late if you want to enjoy the beach's beauty. The underwater snorkeling trail is a bit overrated and is aimed at beginners, but if this is your only chance to snorkel, it is worth getting wet. The beach sports cool showers, flush toilets, a snack bar, small gift shop and snorkel gear rental operation ($5).
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Sun Dog Café
Contact:
- 340/693-8340
Location:
- Mongoose Junction, N. Shore Rd
- ,St. John
Description:
This little eatery is hidden away on the upper floors of the Mongoose Shopping Center. It's known to locals and the occasional visitor who stumbles upon it. The white artichoke pizza is our favorite, while the black-bean quesedilla is a local favorite. You can order sandwiches throughout the day -- including a great marinated mahi mahi concoction. If you're not too hungry, you can just grab a drink at the Gecko Gazebo Bar instead. On weekdays, happy hour drinks are two-for-the-price-of-one (4:20 pm - 5:30pm), and appetizers are half off until 6:30 pm.
Day Note:
If you want to try camping instead of staying in a conventional hotel, St. John has lots of options. Campgrounds such as Cinnamon Bay offer different types of sites, from bare bones tent sites (pitch your own), to pre-fab canvas tents, to small cottages. Prices range from $30 to $155 per night.
The advantage of Cinnamon Bay is that it's literally located right on the beach, so there's no transit time getting to the surf and sun. Swimming, hiking around the...read more
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Cinnamon Bay Campground
Contact:
- +1 340 776 6330
- visit website
Location:
- Cinnamon Bay
- Cruz Bay
- Cruz Bay,St. John00831
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Map
from $110Description:
This National Park Service campground is the most complete in the Caribbean. The site is directly on the beach, surrounded by thousands of acres of tropical vegetation. Life is simple here: You have a choice of a tent, a cottage, or a bare site. At the bare campsites, you get just the site, with no fancy extras. Each canvas tent is 10x14 feet and has a floor as well as a number of extras, including all cooking equipment; your linens are even changed weekly. Each cottage is 15x15 feet, consisting of a room with two concrete walls and two screen walls. Each cottage contains cooking facilities and four twin beds with thin mattresses; one cot can be added. Lavatories and cool-water showers are in separate buildings nearby. In winter, guests can camp for a maximum of 2 weeks; the rest of the year camping is limited to 30 days.
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Reef Bay Trail
Contact:
- visit website
Location:
- Off Route 10 (Centerline Road)
- 4.9 miles east of centerline,
Description:
Hike downhill to Reef Bay to explore old plantation ruins. This is a moderate hike, but for those not up for the uphill return trip, the Virgin Islands National Park runs guided hikes several days a week that end with a boat trip back to Cruz Bay. Call the park for details. Side trails lead to pools with petroglyphs inscribed on their edges. Another trail heads to the partially-restored Reef Bay Great House and on to Lameshur Bay. There is no admission charge.
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Woody's Seafood Saloon
Contact:
- 340 779 4625
- visit website
Location:
- Centerline Road
- Route 10
- St. John,VI00830
Description:
When you see a youthful crowd gathered on the street, you know you have found Woody's Seafood Saloon. This popular bar and restaurant, across the street from Scotia Bank, draws a mix of local fishermen, taxi drivers, tour guides, and aimless island drifters to its daily happy hours and late night socializing. The food is pretty good too. The menu runs to fish, chicken and salad dishes. Try a snack like the shark bites or conch fritters, or go for a whole meal of blackened shark, drunken shellfish, or mussels and clams steamed in beer. Shrimp appears in various styles too. The beer batter shrimp deserves a special mention. Many know this place more for its beers on tap rather than for its cuisine, and if you want to save a few bucks, $1 beers are available during happy hour from 3-6pm.
- Destination(s): St. John
- Type: Budget
- 2 DAYS
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