Villa Fairview - St. Thomas, USVI

History buffs will love Villa Fairview, formerly Simmond's House Inn. Tucked away on a back
street away from the hustle and bustle of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, the 10 rooms and two apartments twist and turn with lots of charm.

Construction started on this inn during the 1840s by the Simmonds family. Various other owners added a wing here and a floor there to end up with a rambling bed and breakfast that opened in 1998.

The front rooms have the best views of the city and the harbor, but all are comfortable, spacious and have private baths. They come in various combinations of twin, double, queen and king beds, making it possible for families to share one room or couples to enjoy total privacy.

The rooms feature antique furniture - some have four-poster beds. The largest room has a sitting area. Each room has a ceiling fan. There's no need for air-conditioning in a building with thick concrete walls painted in rich Victorian colors.

The floors are interesting. In some of the rooms, you can see where old walls came down to reconfigure the space. The stone floor tile laid down more than 100 years ago changes pattern within rooms, an indication that walls were removed.

Villa Fairview has a comfortable television room where you can meet other guests. Others with less interest in CNN enjoy the small pool located adjacent to a large patio complete with mango trees.

Breakfast of muffins and the like is served either on a courtyard patio or in the kitchen, which features an open-hearth and other remains left over from the inn's past life. An antique high chair sits near the table.

While this Garden Street neighborhood is as safe as anywhere on St. Thomas, it's not a good idea to walk home at night. Although it's only a 10-minute stroll to town, take a taxi.

Your visit to Villa Fairview puts you close to eclectic duty-free shopping and good restaurants in downtown Charlotte Amalie. Try Zorba's on nearby Government Hill for excellent Greek food.