Serendip Condominiums - St. John, USVI

Serendip Condominiums is a modest complex with reasonable rates as such things go in St. John. Intrepid vacationers could walk up a very long hill to reach this spot, but a taxi or rental car may leave you a little bit more energy left over for other things St. John has to offer. If you're heading home at night, it's best to drive regardless of where you're staying on St. Thomas.

The two-story concrete complex sits in the middle of a busy residential neighborhood called Bethany about a five-minute drive from the main town of Cruz Bay. Since this is the tropics, you'll always hear the sounds of tree frogs chirping along with the usual neighborhood noises. A stay here will give you a bit of insight into how residents live rather than the experience found at large hotels or rental houses in upscale neighborhoods.

The eight one-bedroom and two studio units sport gorgeous sunset views. The grounds are lush with plants. Use the barbecue grill on your outside deck for alfresco dinners. The condominiums feature vinyl floors, rattan furniture and tropical accents. You'll find bedroom air-conditioning only in the one-bedroom units. Ceiling fans and tropical breezes cool the rest.

If you want to hit the beach, you'll have to either walk to Cruz Bay to catch a taxi or drive yourself. The lovely North Shore beaches sit about a 15-minute drive away.

Folks who like to get out and about shouldn't hesitate to stroll around the area. The neighbors are nice and the views exceptional at each turn in the hilly road. Remember, you don't have to visit the V.I. National Park to go hiking.

While you'll probably cook some of your meals at home on the adequate kitchen equipment, the island has lots of interesting restaurants in all price ranges. The best bargain is at Uncle Joe's
Barbecue in the heart of Cruz Bay, where you can eat in or take out ribs and chicken.

If you do need to stock up on supplies, Cruz Bay has several small grocery stores with everything from sundried tomatoes to Cheerios. The prices aren't cheap however, so you may want to tuck your morning coffee supplies into your suitcase. Tropicale market in Palm Plaza sits close by, but you'll find better prices in the stores along the route out of Cruz Bay.