US Virgin St John Resorts- Caneel Bay Hotel

Caneel Bay Hotel St John *****

Caneel Bay Hotel St John: This renowned resort on its own peninsula in St. John offers seven beaches of distinctive characteristics.

Instead of televisions, radios, telephones, or clocks, rooms provide tranquil views of nature from balconies and terraces.

Paths wend through 170 acres of lawns and flowering gardens and around an 18th-century sugar-mill ruin. Tree frogs sing nightly.

Set on its own peninsula and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, this hotel is part of the Virgin Islands National Park, thanks to hotel founder Laurance Rockefeller (grandson of John D.), who donated 5,000 acres to establish the park. Although Rockefeller sold the resort in 1986, this hotel stays true to his vision of providing rest and rejuvenation in harmony with nature and remains the Virgin Islands' signature resort long after it first brought attention to St. John's potential as a Set on its own peninsula and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, this hotel is part of the Virgin Islands National Park, thanks to hotel founder Laurance Rockefeller (grandson of John D.), who donated 5,000 acres to establish the park. Although Rockefeller sold the resort in 1986, this hotel stays true to his vision of providing rest and rejuvenation in harmony with nature and remains the Virgin Islands' signature resort long after it first brought attention to St. John's potential as a vacation destination. destination.

Known as a retreat for celebrities and others seeking relief from stress, the resort emphasizes the natural environment, privacy, and tranquility. A degree of gentility prevails, with men asked to wear long pants (or at least long dress shorts), collared shirts, and closed-toe shoes (no athletic shoes) after dark. Loyal guests return year after year. They're greeted by long-time staff members, some of whom go back more than half a century

Seven beaches fringe the resort's peninsula. All provide snorkeling opportunities in the turquoise Atlantic Ocean. At least five supply calm water on any given day. This hotel lies in front of the main building and includes water sports. Hawksnest Beach catches easterly tradewinds and provides afternoon shade. Honeymoon is the most isolated and features a snorkeling reef at each end. Little Caneel supplies peace and quiet near the resort's pier. Turtle Bay offers views of marine traffic between islands. Paradise is tiny and tranquil. Scott features sea turtles. (Paradise and Scott are adults-only.) For freshwater swimming, the resort provides a good-size pool surrounded by lawns.

For a fee, Equator Restaurant sets a table in the sugar-mill ruins, dresses it with white linen, lights tiki torches nearby, and serves a private dinner under the stars.

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Rooms

This hotel offers 166 air-conditioned guestrooms without television, telephone, radio, or clock in one- and two-story widely scattered buildings. (Telephones are available in the main building and sprinkled around the property, and guests can borrow cellular telephones.) Made of concrete or stone and wood, lodging buildings are designed to blend into the landscape. Colored in soft earth tones, they have flat roofs for a low profile, and are flanked by dense gardens

Tennis Garden One king or two twin beds. Close to tennis courts. Garden-view ground-floor terrace with cushioned, wrought iron furniture. Upholstered and cushioned rattan and bamboo furniture in separate sitting area. Terrazzo or tile floor with straw-mat area rug. Dressing bench. Tile walk-in shower. (No tub.) Tile vanity in tile-floor bathroom. Wood louvers and ceiling fan for tradewind-breeze cooling in addition to air conditioning. Bathrobes. Souvenir straw slippers. No television, telephone, radio, clock. Complimentary bottle of rum. From $375

Ocean-view room One king or two twin beds. Close to swimming beach. Ocean-view second-floor balcony or ground-floor terrace with cushioned, wrought iron furniture. Upholstered and cushioned rattan and bamboo furniture in separate sitting area. Terrazzo or tile floor with straw-mat area rug. Dressing bench. Tile walk-in shower with no tub or tub/shower combination. Tile vanity in tile-floor bathroom. Wood louvers and ceiling fan for tradewind-breeze cooling in addition to air conditioning. Bathrobes. Souvenir straw slippers. No television, telephone, radio, clock. Complimentary bottle of rum. From $425

Courtside One king or two double beds. Views of tropical foliage. Room located near the tennis courts and fitness center. Short walk to the beach. Decor includes wood and native stone, hand-crafted furniture, plantation shutters, and natural, woven fabrics. No TV or telephone. Windows open; air conditioning; ceiling fan. Minibar. In-room safe. Coffeemaker and complimentary bottled water. Bathrobes and Lady Primrose bath products. Beach towels provided. From $300

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Dining

All guests have the option of a complimentary Continental breakfast served every morning in the main building's Breezeway. Complimentary afternoon tea is served in the open-air Reading Room at Turtle Bay Estate House.

Caneel Beach Terrace - Breakfast and lunch. Dinner during winter high season. Sunday brunch. Monday night "grand buffet" (prime rib, grilled lobster, mahi mahi, roasted chicken, braised short ribs, pasta, pizza, salads, fruits, desserts) following complimentary cocktail party. Dress code: long pants or dress shorts and collared shirts for men.

Equator Restaurant - Located atop 18th-century stone sugar-mill ruins on hillside. Open-air, with curved front providing views of Caneel and St. Thomas beyond. Stone floor, wood-shingle ceiling, and awning-covered terrace. Oil lamps. Gentle steel-band music, with tree-frog orchestra as background. Steaks and Caribbean-flavored choices include crab-saltfish cake with mango vinaigrette, lobster bisque with coconut milk, jerk-marinated swordfish. Dinner only. Dress code: long pants or dress shorts and collared shirts for men.

The Wine Room - Private dining room at Turtle Estate House. Minimum four diners, maximum 12. Set menu of six wine courses, five food courses. Menu might include skillet-roasted prawns with goat-cheese butter sauce, baby mozzarella and roasted tomato salad, quail stuffed with Parma ham and figs, "beef and onion three ways," and dessert soufflé. Dress code: long pants, collared shirts, closed-toe shoes (no athletic shoes) for gentlemen. Jackets required in winter.

LOCATION:

Address:St. John, ST 00830 Virgin Islands, U.S.

Nearby attractions:

Virgin Islands National Park Visitors Center - 1.5 miles
Elaine Ione Sprauve Library and Museum - 1.5 miles
Annaberg Sugar Mill (historical site) - 5 miles
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas (shopping, dining) - 45 minutes by ferry

Cyril E. King/St. Thomas International Airport (STT): Caneel Bay Hotel maintains an air-conditioned reception lounge in the airport's baggage-claim area. Guests are offered drinks, checked in to their rooms, and transported to the resort's boat for the 45-minute run from St. Thomas to St. John. A fee is charged for the trip.

PRICES: from $300 doubles/twins

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