I have to say that we stayed in two of the rooms, because the bed in the basement room was unsleepable. Did I mention that it was in the basement? And the floors contained small, slippery steps ( too small for anything but your toes) between the living area and the bedroom. Ditto into the kitchen, which boasted its own step right in the middle of the room. I spent the entire time trying not to trip and fall. We were able to move to a smaller room upstairs on the third night, which fortunately had no internal steps, and a somewhat better bed. That room had an air conditioner that roared. For the high price we paid, we could have had an excellent condo at several locations. Staying in town is great, but not at Hillcrest House. Contact one of the rental agencies and get a condo or villa rental. Some are available for single nights.

Hillcrest Guest House and Phyllis are a fantastic way to become acquainted with St John. My wife and I have stayed here twice, in '08 and '10 and plan to again. St John is a special place. It is very laid back and relaxed. You have to arrive by boat - and Phyllis will meet you at the dock and drive you the >5 minutes to the house. Yes, the Guest House is up a very steep hill from town. That said, I hiked my 1/8 of a ton up and down that hill every day - you probably can too! There is excellent dining and drinking within a very short walk. Actually, all of Cruz Bay is within a very short walk of the inn. Hillcrest is more like a B&B than anything else. One fabulous feature is that Phyllis stocks each room with fresh fruit and drinks (yes, free alcohol!) and mixers. Upon arrival you can mix up a batch of Painkillers, no worries! No mini-bar charges here! When we leave, we always leave a new bottle of rum for the next guests! That said, this is not a hotel, this is not a resort. The rooms are simple, but basic - but you are in paradise! The rooms are an excellent value. Also, the Guest House has excellent views from the balcony. The Cruz bay and hummingbird photos were taken by me from the balcony - Trunk bay is from the road. Go to St John - swim, snorkel, and sun bathe every day - eat at the excellent local restaurants every night - take lots of photos - you will have memories for life.

We vacationed in St. John the first week of August. Hillcrest Guest House was perfect for my family. We don't like big, pre-packaged resorts, preferring to do a bit of research online in advance, and look around on our own, for things to do, places to eat, etc.

Phyllis, the owner and innkeeper, is gracious and accommodating. She picked us up at the dock, and brought us back to the inn. She told us where we could buy groceries and recommended restaurants.

We like to have at least a refrigerator, when on vacation, and, even better, some cooking facilities, so we don't have to eat at restaurants all the time [and can bring home leftovers when we do]. However, this is the only place we have ever stayed where the refrigerator and pantry were fully stocked when we arrived! Our supplies included eggs, bacon, milk, juice, bread, and much more. Even a bottle of rum!

Our room opened onto a covered patio/breezeway, where we ate breakfast and relaxed. Phyllis provides many little extras, including towels, a corkscrew . . . If you need something, ask her. It may be tucked away somewhere in your room.

Phyllis grew up in St. John, in this house, which her family had built. She lived and worked in the Washington DC area [which is where we live] for many years, before returning to run the inn.

St. John is not party central, like St. Thomas. It is quiet, and beautiful, with 2/3 of the island within a national park, perfect for families. The unspoiled beaches and reefs provide great snorkeling and many beautiful places to relax and enjoy nature.

We spent our honeymoon on St. John, 20 years ago, and came back with our teen-aged daughter. We had stayed at Maho Bay, in a tent/cabin, on our honeymoon. We wanted more space, and a private bathroom, this time.

As some have noted, the Hillcrest is at the top of a hill. I wouldn't recommend it for frail seniors or the disabled, unless they have a car. I can't believe the fuss some apparently able-bodied reviewers made about walking up a hill. That's why the view is so beautiful!

We stayed at the Hillcrest Guest House during the last weekend of July of 2010, and we had a wonderful time. Our room was very clean and spacious, and the view was spectacular. Phyllis, the owner gave us a warm welcome and made us feel like we were home, she is a lovely lady. Definitely will recommend the place to our family and friends, and we will return.
Hope to see you soon Phyllis,
John and Sadi
Texas