ST. THOMAS - Virgin Islands - page 64

Islands. The little inn lies only a 5-minute walk from the town's shops, restaurants,
and bars; and Magens Beach is a 10-minute drive over the hill. Bedrooms are midsize
and done in a tropical motif with wicker.
37-B Blackbeard's Hill, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 00802. www.thegreeniguana.com.
& 800/484-8634 or 340/776-7654. Fax [phone] units. Winter $140-$170 double; off season
$125 double. AE, MC, V. In room: A/C, ceiling fan, hair dryer, kitchenette, Wi-Fi (free).
Mafolie Hotel A unique gem among many bland cookie-cutter hotels, this
top value guesthouse is perched 800 feet above Charlotte Amalie's harbor. Its propri-
etor, Michael Sigler, and his wife, Helga, provide very friendly service at the hotel,
while their daughter Natasha and son-in-law AJ take care of the superb restaurant,
where you can feast on tender Angus steaks, succulent pastas, and freshly caught
seafood dishes. Each room is unique and decorated with personal touches. There is
a free shuttle to the beach.
7091 Estate Mafolie, Mafolie Hill, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 00802. www.mafolie.com.
& 800/225-7035 or 340/774-2790. Fax [phone] units. Winter $134-$154 double, $164 junior
suite; off season $108-$124 double, $144 junior suite. Rates include continental breakfast. Up to 2 chil-
dren 12 and under stay free in parent's room. Extra person $15. AE, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar;
concierge. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, Wi-Fi (free).
Villa Blanca This hotel, located on a lush hilltop 1 1 ⁄ 2 miles east of Charlotte
Amalie, offers the most panoramic views on the island, looking out over the harbor
and the green rolling hills. The grounds are beautifully landscaped, with such flower-
ing plants and shrubs as oleander, firecracker, hibiscus, spider lily, yellow trumpet,
and more. Once the home of owner Blanca Terrasa Smith, today, a homey and caring
ambience prevails. Each room has air-conditioning, a well-equipped kitchenette, a
good bed with a firm mattress, and a private balcony or terrace with sweeping views
either eastward to St. John or westward to the harbor of Charlotte Amalie and Puerto
Rico. While there's no restaurant, the rates include a light continental breakfast, and
each room has a kitchenette, so you can easily prepare modest meals. On the prem-
ises are a freshwater pool and a large covered patio where you can enjoy the sunset.
The closest beach is Morningstar Bay, about 4 miles away.
4 Raphune Hill, Rte. 38, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 00801. www.villablancahotel.com.
& 800/231-0034 or 340/776-0749. Fax [phone] units. Winter $135-$155 double; off sea-
son $95-$105 double. Rates include continental breakfast. Children 9 and under stay free in parent's
room. AE, DISC, MC, V. Amenities: Pool (outdoor); Wi-Fi (free in lobby). In room: A/C, ceiling fan, TV,
kitchenette.
The South Coast
VERY EXPENSIVE
Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort If you
like a grand hotel, with lots of facilities, entertainment, and dining choices, this resort
is for you. Guests have compared its nonstop activities to sailing the Caribbean on a
mammoth cruise ship. Lying 3 miles east of Charlotte Amalie on the south shore, this
is the largest hotel in the U.S. Virgin Islands; but since the opening of the Ritz-
Carlton, it is no longer the most plush or most glamorous. In 2005, the two separate
parts of this hotel, Frenchman's Reef and Morning Star, were officially conglomerated
into one mega-resort with an excellent location on a bluff overlooking both the harbor
and the Caribbean.
This is a full-service, American-style resort. Facilities devoted to the good life are
everywhere: To reach the secluded beach, for example, you take a glass-enclosed

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