Spectacular resort. The best accommodations on the most beautiful island in the Caribbean. We've been owners at Westin St. John for nearly 20 years, but have been vacationing at the resort for over 30 years... We first laid eyes on it when on a day trip while staying in St. Thomas. From that point, we knew the Westin was THE resort we would want to return to over and over again.
Our kids learned to swim in the quarter-acre pool and they've been fortunate enough to come back most every winter of their lives. The Weston St. John is home away from home and there's no other place like it. We've been fortunate to travel to over 50 countries and dozens of Caribbean islands large and small. St. John is truly the jewel of the Caribbean.
The resort has improved so many times over the years. If you're looking at older posts, then quite frankly: ignore them.
There have been $30 million in renovations and improvements taking place 2014 to 2016 plus another $40+ million after Hurricane Irma.
(Be sure to visit the resort Jan - May for the best weather and to avoid hurricane risk.)
You can't go wrong with any of the Westin timeshare phases (Virgin Grand Villas, Bay Vista, and Coral Vista) but having figured this out over the course of a couple of decades, my preference is the Virgin Grand Villas.
They are newly renovated with granite/marble/etc. All of them have private balconies. The views are spectacular from Buildings 33 and 34 (be sure to get those buildings).
There's a private pool steps from the Building 33 and 34 units. (See the cameo picture of the pool in the Redweek photo. That's the pool between Buildings 33 and 34). The lower buildings (31 and 32) have minimal or no water views. Also the 3-bedroom "pool villas" have no ocean views... which is the whole reason to come to St. John.
And there is parking at your door right out in front of Buildings 33 and 34. The reason this is important: if you come to St. John, you should get out and experience St. John.
It's a "tiny" island, but we make it a point to discover something new every time we come back. There are spectacular and famous beaches on the North Shore, and then there are other spectacular beaches and snorkeling spots that are off the beaten path.
And there are the trails and restaurants, and other things to do around the island.
We always rent a car on St. Thomas and bring it over on the car ferry. The cost of the car rental and the car ferry round trip is often not much more than it would be for 4 passengers on the Westin passenger ferry, and then we have a car available to use 100% of the trip.
We also love also just lounging around the villa pool, or main pool, or Westin beach, but it's great to get out and explore, and then come back to heavenly showers, air-conditioning and cold drinks on the Building 33 and 34 balconies with beautiful sunsets overlooking Great Cruise Bay and Little St. James.
Everything about the resort is top notch. The employees are genuinely friendly, the service is great, the beds are heavenly, and the experience is out of this world -- something for the privileged few indeed.
