This is the best lodging experience I have ever had. If that first sentence is not enough to convince you to stay at Tree Tops, I’ll elaborate. The principal attraction of Tree Tops is its owners, Hank & Karen. They are thoroughly good, salt-of-the earth people. They made me feel more than welcome. They shared their knowledge of St. John’s hidden jewels (Francis Bay, Vie’s Beach) with me. They made restaurant recommendations that were spot-on. The fruit, muffins and coffee put out for breakfast were fresh and delicious.

Apart from Hank & Karen, the accommodations were great. My room (First Mate’s Quarters) is designed so that you feel like you’re outdoors, even when you’re indoors. It was clean, tastefully decorated and contained some great extras (cookies, beer, rum and other goodies). It was wonderful to wake up to the sun coming over the mountains, and to sit out on the deck at night and plot what I must do to make St. John my home one day. If you like your ego pampered, you can stay at Caneel or the Westin. If you appreciate St. John and its inhabitants for what they are intrinsically, with or without Caneel or the Westin, then stay with Hank & Karen. With the money you save, rent a jeep, go to Vie’s, share that beach with three other souls, have a conch fritter, and thank God for Tree Tops.