Well, that's a kind of wide open question...do you mean what are the tents like? They're really just wooden framed structures with screens and roll down plastic for walls. Wood floors. Battery powered lights. Gas stove. You have to walk thru the bush on elevated walkways to get to them. Pretty cool, actually. Or do you mean what is the whole compound like? Very ecologically friendly. Elevated walkways throughout most of it. Spread out pretty well. Neat 'lobby' area (for lack of a better term). There's a little 'store' (if ya wanna call it that). There's a restaurant. There's even a little place for people to leave stuff when they are checking out so others checking in can take what they need from it. Very friendly people there. You kinda feel like you are part of the family by the end of the week, ya know? I really like it. The walk to the beach is a bit of a work out (well, the walk BACK, anyway! haha!), but it's worth it. Their sister property, Concordia Eco-tents, is even cooler, IMHO. You'll have a great time!

We just checked out Maho Bay Camps last week because we hadn't been there before and were considering it. Marty's description is right-on, of course. My recommendation would just be sure you have comfortable shoes for walking back up the stairs from the beach -- man, there are a lot of stairs there! Have a super time and enjoy the view from the restaurant! =)

Just one woman's opinion. I am someone who camps out in tents (in Maine, NH, VT) each year and I really enjoy it...but I didn't enjoy Maho.

Many people like/love the camps. I don't - I had to check myself out early. Couldn't stand the humidity, intense heat and bugs....and the smell from the bath house that drifted down to my cottage. I felt like I was living in a closed-up toilet without any air and in 100 degree heat. I was staying on STT, but decided to "try" Maho for a couple of nights just to test it out in hopes of planning a future stay.

Grated, I was there during a very hot spell and in early July--- and I, unfortunately, got assigned to a tent cottage just under the bath house. But, this can happen to others, so I am just offering my perspective of the experience as I found it.

I didn't find anything appealing or inviting about the tent cottages. Sitting in mine, I had no view of anything. I had imagined that they were built into the hillside and I would have some kind of view - bay, distant islands, anything...but where I was, mine was set back into the bush - as were many of them. The whole set-up was nothing like I had imagined.

Also, there is less privacy than I had imagined. People have to walk by your cottage to get to their destination, in many cases. Cottages are set along a narrow boardwalk kind of walkway. You wind you way along this boardwalk to get from place to place....or to the beach, restaurant, etc. I am a private person who likes my space (why I prefer villas to hotels)....but Maho offered no privacy, IMO. I could see what everyone was doing in their cottage as I walked by....and hear...and smell. I didn't like that. It was all too close for my comfort.

I found the store to be well stocked and it was easy to get snacks/food, etc for cooking in your cottage. The food at the restaurant was decent.....a little expensive...but that's STJ.

Nighttime was "interesting" because it really gets pitch black and the overgrowth doesn't allow for much, if any, moonlight to come down. The bugs also came out, and so did the huge frogs. I love hearing them sing, but I am not fond of finding a huge 6 inch wide warted frog with suction cupped feet clinging to the wall as I reach to open a door. Nor was I fond of the constant sound of bugs buzzing in my tent all night - and in my ears. At one point, I woke up gasping for air....feeling like there was absolutely no air - it was unbelievably still....and hot.....and then the bath house stench came by every so often. At one point, I just pulled the sheet over my head and decided to ignore the insect party that was going on around me.

In the middle of the night I had to use the bathroom....so I grabbed a flashlight and walked the too-short distance to the bath house. There were some huge spiders on the door...but the inside was relatively bug-free - Thank goodness. I thought the bathroom was clean and nicer than I had expected.

At breakfast that morning, guests and staff were comparing their scorpion experiences from the night before and sharing how to ensure that you aren't stung. It seemed to be a highlight for them - trying to see who had found the biggest one in their tent.

In order to check out - you have to follow this instruction card about how to leave everything and where. Cleaning up was, of course, a pain since you had to go get your water to wash the dishes, etc. You have to leave your cottage in a very specific condition, take your linens to a certain area on the grounds where they wash them, etc. It was a lot of work (like summer camp) and they are clear that they'll not refund your deposit if your area is not left as they specify in their instructions. We spent about an hour or a little more getting our tent ready for us to check out - one day after we checked in. And we were hot, sweaty and exhausted when we finished.

You are only allowed to shower at certain times of the day. I think you have to get up early to get a morning shower. Coming out from the shower I was so happy to be clean and cool for the first time in 24 hours. It had been raining and I slipped on the stairs going back to my tent cottage (they warn you that the wooden stairs are slippery when wet) and went down several steps on my butt- hard, while my beautiful, black satin overnight kit went flying into the woods and landed in the mud....shattering the mirror. I had to crawl under the railing of the boardwalk and go retrieve it - and I was now bruised and muddy - and beginning to sweat - again!

So, I checked out. My then 18 yr old son and a friend of his had been with us and had their own cottage. They were also ready to go. While I was typing this, my son was here (he's in college, but cam home to pick up a new cell phone) and I asked "what did you think of Maho". His response "That place is hard core jungle - maybe we're just not the type to like that - maybe I would like something a little less intense".

On the bright side, the people who work at Maho were all very kind to us. I think we had paid some kind of mandatory deposit that was not supposed to be refunded if we left early....but they refunded that right away. They didn't make a big deal about us leaving early....even when the power went out as they were checking us out an they had to write a check.

I can imagine that if you are into nature, this place would be heaven. If you go when it isn't 100 degrees with 100% humidity, that can only help. If you get a good tent, that seems to be a key point.

I won't return, but am glad that I've tried it. I encourage others to try it. But, unless you KNOW that you'll love it, try to book it for only one or two nights for your first visit. I can't imagine what might have happened if I had booked a week there.

Again, many, many people rave about this place and return year after year. I thought I would like it. I wish I had.

thanks blue I've all ways thought I'd like to try it. I guess I'll keep staying at Vilas don't want to waste a hard worked for vac. and not lokeit

We stayed at Maho the first couple of times that we went to STJ in the mid-80s. We continued going to STJ, but began staying at other places. Last year, after 20 years, we decided to stay at Maho again. We'd learned that Maho's lease won't be renewed when it expires and we wanted to stay there one last time. We really enjoyed it. It's certainly not for everyone. There are a few cabins that are probably pretty undesirable---too near a bathhouse or the pavilion. A lot of people would find it pretty rough. But for some people, it's just the kind of experience of the tropics that they're looking for. What I'd really love to do is spend a week or so camping at Vie's, but that would have been for when I was younger and needed fewer comforts.

waterguy - maybe you should try it once. i felt good that we tried it on that trip - we had many nights on STT staying in a friend's guest house, so spending one at Maho didn't feel like a waste at all. I was glad to have tried it and come up with such a firm opinion in one direction. Now I know:)

It made me appreciate the rest of my vacation so much more. When I got back to STT that evening, my friend was waiting with an icy cold bottle of pinot grigio and a cushy spot on his gallery overlooking Magens Bay - complete with exterior ceiling fans and a beautiful breeze....

If my Maho tent cottage had been perched on a hillside overlooking the water and there had been a breeze, I probably would have enjoyed it much more. I felt closed in too much back in those woods. When I camp up North, I have a large campsite in which to move around - picnic table here, fire ring there, big open area, tent area, etc. Maho gave me a claustrophobbic feeling - which was the last thing I had expected.

Try it for a night! At least you can then say you did. Unfortunately, I don't think Maho is going to be around much longer.

Blu-

Concordia would've suited you to a T! Great views, always a breeze, more privacy, your own shower/bathroom, no 'rules' on how to leave it...check it out next time and let us know whatcha think...

And if you want a little more in terms of creature comforts, try the studios at Concordia - same view, breeze, and privacy, with the added benefit of a full kitchen (dishwasher even), ceramic tile bathroom & shower (2 in the loft units). I'd call describe it as a happy medium between an eco-tent and a villa.