ST. CROIX - Virgin Islands - page 146

WHERE TO STAY
St. Croix's deluxe resorts lie along the North Shore; its charming old waterfront inns
are mostly in Christiansted. You may also choose to stay at a former plantation or in a
condo complex, which offers privacy and the chance to save money by preparing your
own meals. The choice is yours: a location in Christiansted or Frederiksted close to
shops and nightlife, but away from the beach; or an isolated resort where, chances are,
your accommodations will be either on the beach or a short walk from it. From such
resorts, you'll have to drive into town for a shopping binge or for restaurants and clubs.
In general, rates are steep, but in summer, hotels slash prices by about 25% to 50%.
All rooms are subject to an 8% hotel tax, not included in the rates given below.
Note: If you need a hair dryer, pack your own. Apparently, a lot of visitors have
packed up hotel hair dryers upon departure, and some innkeepers are reluctant to
provide them.
North Shore
VERY EXPENSIVE
The Buccaneer Family run for generations, this gracious, elegant, leg-
endary resort is St. Croix's pocket of posh. Both historic and modern, it is the longest-
running resort in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In the Caribbean, it would certainly rank
among the top 20 platinum resorts. This large, luxurious resort has three of the
island's best beaches, and the best sports program on St. Croix. The property was
once a cattle ranch and a sugar plantation; its first estate house, which dates from the
mid-17th century, stands near a freshwater pool. Accommodations are either in the
main building or in one of the beachside properties. The baronial-arched main build-
ing has a lobby opening onto landscaped terraces, with a sea vista on two sides and
Christiansted to the west. The rooms are fresh and comfortable, though some of the
standard units are a bit small. All have wicker or mahogany furnishings and full bath-
rooms. The best bathrooms are in the Beachside Doubloons, and come complete
with whirlpool tubs. The free Kid's Camp is available year-round.
P.O. Box 25200, Gallows Bay (2 miles east of Christiansted on Rte. 82), Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S.V.I.
00824. www.thebuccaneer.com. & 800/255-3881 in the U.S., or 340/712-2100. Fax [phone]
units. Winter $288-$560 double, $430-$990 suite; off season $260-$360 double, $370-$730 suite.
Children 17 and under stay free in parent's room. Rates include American breakfast. AE, DISC, MC, V.
Amenities: 4 restaurants, including The Terrace (p. 160); bar; babysitting; children's program; health
club and spa; 2 pools (outdoor); room service; 8 tennis courts (2 lit); watersports equipment/rentals.
In room: A/C, TV, fridge, hair dryer, Wi-Fi (free).
Carambola Beach Resort This hotel clustered within 26 buildings is set on 28
acres above Davis Bay, about a 30-minute drive from Christiansted. It's one of the
largest hotels on St. Croix, and it lies adjacent to an outstanding golf course, in a lovely,
lush setting on a white-sand beach whose turquoise waters provide fine snorkeling.
The property is surrounded by rolling hills, palm trees, and rocky cliffs. Despite its
spectacular physical location, this resort doesn't match the Buccaneer's class and style.
Guests are housed in red-roofed, two-story buildings, each of which contains six units.
The accommodations, each a suite, are furnished in mahogany, with Danish design;
each has a balcony partially concealed from outside view, overlooking either the garden
or the sea. Rooms have an upscale flair, with louvered doors, tile floors, mahogany trim,
and sometimes extras like screened-in porches with rocking chairs.
Estate Davis Bay (P.O. Box 3031), Kingshill, St. Croix, U.S.V.I. 00851. www.carambolabeach.com.
& 888/503-8760 in the U.S., or 340/778-3800. Fax [phone] units. Winter $350-$530 suite;

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