ST. THOMAS - Virgin Islands - page 62

home he was raised in as a genuinely historical but somewhat battered mansion.
There's a stateliness to this elegant antique building with its treasure trove of West
Indian relics, including tray ceilings, hardwood floors, hand-painted tiles, and
wrought-iron gates. Views from the covered balconies sweep out over the city and the
harbor. Furnishings include a mixture of the modern, prosaic, and serviceable and the
genuinely antique, scattered rather formally amid souvenirs from the Lockhart family
of long ago. Only two of the building's five accommodations contain private bath-
rooms—the others are shared facilities in the corridors.
12 Crystal Gade, Synagogue Hill, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 00802. www.crystalpalaceusvi.com. & 866/502-
2277 or 340/777-2277. 4 units, 2 with bathrooms. Winter $119 double without bathroom, $149 double
with bathroom; off season $99 double without bathroom, $119 double with bathroom. Rates include
breakfast. AE, DISC, MC, V. In room: A/C, TV, no phone, Wi-Fi (free).
Galleon House At the east end of Main Street, about a block from the main shop-
ping area, Galleon House is accessible via a difficult climb, especially in sweltering
heat. Nevertheless, its rates are among the most competitive in town. Although it may
not be for everyone, there is a laid-back, casual atmosphere and friendly welcome here
that pleases many visitors on a budget. The small rooms, located in scattered hillside
buildings, each have a ceiling fan and so-so air-conditioning, plus a cramped bath-
room. If you want character, check into the older rooms in the main building. More
spacious units with better views lie up the hill in a pair of dull apartment buildings.
Breakfast is served on a veranda overlooking the harbor, and Magens Bay Beach is 15
minutes by car or taxi from the hotel. If you check in, say hi to the iguanas for us.
Government Hill (P.O. Box 6577), Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 00804. www.galleonhouse.com.
& 800/524-2052 or 340/774-6952. Fax [phone] units, 11 with bathrooms. Winter $85 double
without bathroom, $109-$159 double with bathroom; off season $75 double without bathroom, $89-
$125 double with bathroom. Rates include full breakfast. AE, MC, V. Amenities: Pool (outdoor); snorkel-
ing equipment. In room: A/C, ceiling fan, TV, Wi-Fi ($5 per hr.).
Hotel 1829 Stylish, yet affordable, this national historic site is one of the
leading small hotels in the Caribbean. It was designed in a Spanish motif, with
French grillwork, Danish bricks, and sturdy Dutch doors. Danish and African labor
completed the structure in 1829 (hence the name), and since then it has entertained
the likes of Edna St. Vincent Millay and Mikhail Baryshnikov. The place stands right
in the heart of town, on a hillside 3 minutes from Government House. Magens Bay
Beach is about a 10-minute drive. It's a bit of a climb to the top of this multitiered
structure—there are many steps, but no elevator. Amid a cascade of flowering bou-
gainvillea are the upper rooms, which overlook a central courtyard with a miniature
pool. The rooms in the main house are well designed and attractive, and most face
the water. All have wood beams and stone walls. The smallest units, in the former
slave quarters, are the least comfortable. Children 11 and under aren't really encour-
aged here.
Kongens Gade (P.O. Box 1567), Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 00804. www.hotel1829.com.
& 800/524-2002 or 340/776-1829. Fax [phone] units. Winter $105-$155 double, from $190
suite; off season $80-$125 double, from $145 suite. Rates include continental breakfast. DISC, MC, V.
Amenities: Bar; small outdoor pool. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, hair dryer, no phone, Wi-Fi (free).
West of Charlotte Amalie
EXPENSIVE
Best Western Emerald Beach Resort Its big draw? This miniresort is on
a white-sand beach that is one of the best in St. Thomas. Its major drawback? It lies

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