Luxury Accommodations at The Pink Fancy Hotel, St. Croix

It’s been a while since we last stayed at the Pink Fancy Hotel on Prince Street in Christiansted. Even so, we have to tell you that there’s not a small hotel anywhere that we would rather recommend. The unique charms of this one-of-a-kind, legendary Caribbean inn just took us by the heart. Charming, with an utterly relaxed atmosphere, this historic guesthouse, built in 1780, was once used by gentlemen who rode into town from sugar plantations to discuss the price of rum. Today the Pink Fancy’s courtyard pool is the congenial gathering place for a select group of travelers looking for an experience not found elsewhere on St. Croix—and one rarely to be found in the West Indies. We love this place. On a sunny morning, the cool breeze is a tonic like no other.

In today’s world of the “grand resort” and impersonal chain hotels, the innkeepers at Pink Fancy are the antithesis of what you’d expect to find almost anywhere in the Caribbean these days. They welcome each guest individually to their small, upscale bed & breakfast inn, an establishment distinguished by its listing on the National Register of Historic Places and by the exceptional service offered by its owners.

Each of the 11 rooms is named for a different sugar plantation, like “Mon Bijou” (my exquisite trinket) or Lower Love, and all are comfortable, luxurious, airy, with an old-world atmosphere the likes of which cannot be simply manufactured; it comes only with time, deep abiding love, and a sense of place that dates back to Danish times.

Beyond the inn lies the colonial town of Christiansted, another source of fond memories for me. Known for its National Historic Site—a seven-acre park centered on the town wharf with five historic structures to explore—Christiansted’s shady, 18th-century arcades offer a portal to a more genteel time, a time when the lore of the sea ruled over these three tiny islands. Today, rollicking days are part of history, and the arcades, once filled with alehouses and other not-so-alluring establishments, are studded with tiny shops filled with artwork, handcrafted jewelry, and tropical treasures. Small cafes and restaurants offer dining choices from the St. Croix version of fast food to world-class cuisines.

Outside the city limits of Christiansted, St. Croix, the largest of the United States Virgin Islands—some 28 miles long and seven miles wide—the wild world of great outdoor adventure awaits: world-class water sports, golf courses, white powder beaches, and remarkable plantation ruins to explore. Those little sugar mills are so photogenic; they even managed to get some of them working again.

Where Else to Stay

There are, of course, quite a few other fine resorts in St. Croix. Here are a few of our favorites:

• King Christian Hotel
• Carambola Beach Resort
• The Buccaneer
• Caravelle Hotel
• Chenay Bay Beach Resort

How to Get There

No passport is required for US citizens, and the dollar is the local currency. The Henry E. Rohlsen Airport is the only airport in St. Croix, but it handles both international traffic and flights coming in from elsewhere in the Caribbean. The best service to this St. Croix airport is offered by American Airlines, which has connections through San Juan, Puerto Rico, from both New York City and Newark, New Jersey. The airport is just 13 miles from Christiansted, the island’s capital, which is easily reached by taxi or rental car.