Hi Cathy,
Are you wanting to stay right downtown? The Best Western is called the Holger Danske and is on the boardwalk at the water.

I would read the reviews on Trip Advisor. This is a VERY basic hotel. If the price is right and you know what to expect, it might be perfect for you. It would not be my choice.

Paula, that is the hotel that where we are booked to stay. We booked the hotel through Priceline and chose it because it is downtown. We have never been to St. Croix so we were not sure where to stay and the best location. What tourist activities do you recommend?

Thank you for your insight.

Linda, I will check the reviews on Tripvisor, but unfortunately, we are already booked there. Thank you for your advice

I stayed at the Best Western (Hagen Das, my name for it) on my first visit to STX in the spring of '04. It was convenient to downtown C'sted. It wasn't as bad as some of the reviews I've read. But, it is, as described above, basic. I've been back to STX several times but stayed at places with their own beach. Even though the price is relatively low, I've gotten deals at better places for about the same price. If you're already booked, don't worry.

Hi, Cathy. Just got back from STX last month. We stayed in Fredericksted at Cottages by the Sea. Right on the beach. Very private. Great snorkelling. Wonderful people who run the place. It was moderately priced. Best Western is right at the end of the board in downtown Christiansted. No beach. It is more in the heart of lots of activities, shopping and restaurants. It just depends on what you are looking for.

When we went past the Holger Danske last week, it looked like they had cleaned it up or something. It looked better than I remembered it being in the past. Never looked inside but it's not a bad location to use as a base for your visit. You need to rent a car and just explore the island. I love it. Get one of the "pocket maps" at the airport and you'll have no trouble getting around.,once you get used to driving on the left. I would check out the parking privileges at the H.D., since parking space is hard to find downtown. I saw a cop handing out lots of parking tickets one day. Be careful not to park in a handicapped spot. The fines are about $1,000. Also do not park anywhere that has a painted yellow curb.

Cathy,

Since you are already booked at the Best Western, don't worry about it. It has a very good location. As for things to do, I would recommend renting a car (you don't need a jeep in STX). I think the Best Western has parking. A car will will be usefully to get to the beaches and for sightseeing. On the road to Frederickstad (opposite end of the island) there are several things worth seeing, e.g. the Cruzan rum distillery (good buys on their rum plus free and very generous samples), an old sugar cane plantation with restored manor house, botanical gardens, etc. A half day or full sail out to Buck Island is worth while particularly if you snorkel. Your location at the Best Western is convenient to restaurants in C'stad, in fact there are several on the boardwalk close to your hotel. There is also some decent shopping in C'stad. However, the main thing is to kick back and make the acquaintance of a painkiller or three (rum with pineapple and orange juice and some coconut milk).

Enjoy!

Cathy,

If you're already booked then do not worry about it. The Holger Danske is your normal Best Western, nothing wrong with it. And it is right on the boardwalk, right in the middle of shopping and restaurants. A good location! Since you have a car (very smart decision) make sure you get out and really explore the island. Do get a pocket map at the airport (get all the free magazines they have there to let you know what's happening on island, restaurants and their #s, etc. St. Croix This Week is a good one, has maps of Christiansted and the shops and restaurants in it-- you can look at it now at www.stcroixthisweek.com to get a jump on where you'll be.)

From the Holger Danske you can walk over to the little ferry that takes you ($3) to Hotel on the Cay and spend the day there with a beach and restaurant if you don't feel like driving. You'll be right up the boardwalk from Runrunners open air restaurant, which serves all three meals. Great atmosphere with all the boats to look at. Just a few blocks away on Company Street is Deanna's restaurant, set in an old Danish courtyard and has great food. Lots of good places to eat tucked away-- don't let the outside appearance fool you. We looked at Bombay Club (King Street), but didn't like the 'look' so passed on it, then friends told us it was great food and the next year we decided to see what it was all about. It's a restaurant built down in a cellar, very nice and good food. We also passed on Savant because we weren't impressed with it's outside look, but I'm so glad we gave it a second chance! Park in the back and make reservations for the terrace--- nice atmosphere and fabulous food. Take a Buck Island tour. And take a Tan Tan tour to really see the island-- and parts you can't get to in your car. There's a St Croix forum on Trip Advisor that has more information . Have a wonderful trip!

Cathy, I have friends with a timeshare at the Divi that always come a few days early and stay at the Holger Dansk. They are just fine with it and, as has been said, the location is great. Don't worry, just don't expect five star.

I often recommend to first time visitors that they plan a tour with Sweeny's Safari Tours http://www.gotostcroix.com/safaritours/ as his tours take you to all of the historical and cultural landmarks. He is a wonderfully nice man who has a real knowledge of and passion for the island. If you book this for your first full day it will give you a great overview of places you might want to return to - plus you can get used to life in the left lane.

Tan Tan Tours http://www.stxtantantours.com/ is also a WONDERFUL experience - completely different from Sweeny's tour, as it goes off road to natural sites that are not often seen even by locals.

There are several tour operators that go to Buck Island, also highly recommended as a "must do". Several leave directly from the boardwalk where you will be located. If you dive, there is superb diving around the island, and if you're novices you can get your initial certification by SCUBA (that's the business's name) in the pool next door at the Hotel Caravelle. I always stay at the Caravelle, by the way (nearly thirty trips).

As Paula has said, don't be afraid to poke your head into restaurants that may look a little "different" - there are SO many wonderful restaurants within a block or two of your hotel and, as long as you stay in the historic district (it's fairly easy to see where that is) you are safe even after dark. And, as Paula also mentioned, the beach at Hotel on the Cay is open to the public and is only five minutes away by walk and ferry. Finally, be sure to check out the link she provided to the on-line version of St. Croix this week - it will give you lots of information and ideas.

Thank you all so much for the helpful information. We are so looking forward to this trip. We will be there on our anniversary so the tips for the great downtown restaurants is appreciated. The advice of taking a tour before heading out on our own is a good one too, especially since we have never been there.

Also, thanks for reassuring me about safety issues. I have heard horror stories from friends about not going out after dark or going to a deserted beach by ourselves.

Cathy,

Just curious, were any of the horror stories your friends reported from people who had actually been to this particular island? I'm not trying to start any of the too-numerous debates that have taken place on this issue, I'm just wondering whether these people actually were on St. Croix and what things happened to them that gave them such a bad impression. I'm a woman of "a certain age" and I've never had an uncomfortable moment on St. Croix. Just my experience, others may vary. BUT, I don't wear expensive jewelry while there (lost a ring in the water once), I find it much easier to keep track of my expenses if I use mostly "plastic", I'm aware of my surroundings (at home too), and I'm pretty friendly. None of these are special precautions for this place in particular though - it's pretty much the way I go through life. Also, I don't carry a purse in the islands, not because of fear of theft, but because it just doesn't feel right to me. A wallet with a clip for my room key, space for a little cashola, an emery board (LOL-the women will understand), my driver's license and my plastic - that's all unless I'm also packing a camera. Travel like a man, its very liberating!

Since you do mention that you are renting a car, please take the advice I'm sure the rental company will give you and do not leave anything in the car and do not lock it. Sounds silly I know, but if a potential thief can see that you have nothing to steal they're obviously going to move along. I had my locked car broken into once - in upstate NY - because I had a camera on the seat.

Cathy,
The advice Joanne gave you was very good. I've lived on stx for a while now and one of the great advantages of stx our are deserted beaches, but you do have to practice caution. Dont go by yourself and always get the other person within easy shouting distance. There are robberies and drug deal and even boatloads of illegals that land on the deserted beaches from time to time, but chances are very good that you will see none of that. You will probably see lots of fish and gorgeous views.

You should be careful after dark, especially in c'sted, f'sted and the north shore, these are where most of the robberies take place, but if you use common sense you will be fine. When walking back to your hotel after dinner stick to the boardwalk its nice and bright and you can enjoy the ocean view.