St. John US Virgin Islands Resorts

It wasn’t hard to leave all my troubles behind as soon as I arrived on the earthly paradise of St. John. The balmy tropical air, the turquoise water, the lush green foliage—beauty as far as the eye could see. The Gallows Point Suite Resorts

where we stayed was clean, beautiful, and well equipped with a full kitchen, a balcony, coolers (3 different sizes), beach chairs, the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in, hammocks, exceptional maid service, and a very pleasant and helpful staff. The main town of Cruz Bay is a very short walk away from Gallows Point, and some of the best snorkeling on the island is right out front.

We stayed in 9C, which was perfect because our balcony not only looked out over the ocean, but also overlooked the pool and hot tub, so we could keep an eye on our daughters. At 16 and 19 they are definitely old enough to be down there on their own, but it gave me some small comfort to know I could keep an eye on them.

The suite had a loft where we slept on our dream bed and the loft had a small bathroom. It was the perfect size for a family of four. It was much more comfortable and private than the Westin, where we had stayed on our last trip to St. John, and had far more amenities. Every morning, very early, doves would dance and coo on our skylight, before it got too hot for their little feet. We never had a problem finding a parking spot in the small lot for our rental jeep, but if we had there was another small parking area just up the hill. The little store at the resort even had all the ingredients for one of our favorite tropical drinks, painkillers, so we could blend up a batch as soon as we arrived.

Painkiller

• 2 oz Rum
• 2 oz Pineapple Juice
• 1/2 oz Coconut Cream
• 1/2 oz Fresh Orange Juice

Shake with ice, and then strain into an ice-filled tall glass. Garnish with a sprinkling of ground nutmeg.