Family owned and operated since it opened as an 11-room inn in 1948, The Buccaneer is situated on 340 hilly acres between a large lagoon and the Caribbean Sea. Many guests come year after year, passing down loyalty to succeeding generations. Long-time staff members greet repeat visitors like family. Peace and quiet prevail.

Established by Laurence Rockefeller in 1986, this St. Croix Resort reflects the environmentalist/philanthropist’s vision: relaxation and fresh air in a secluded, natural setting. Buildings with pitched corrugated red-steel roofs, inspired by West Indies fishing villages, are nearly concealed by trees and profusely flowering gardens. The Carambola Beach Resort has had a series of owners over the years, but remains a tranquil destination primarily for adults—although children are welcome.

Under a white-wood dome ceiling, the circular open-air lobby is furnished with natural rattan chairs around a translucent dolphin sculpture. The ambience is casual and contemporary. Families arrive during school holidays. Adults come year-round for sun, aquatic adventures, casino action, and peace-and-quiet.

Overseen by a Canadian owner who lives on the property, the Chenay Bay Beach Resort occupies the site of a former plantation and includes a 19th-century stone windmill tower and lime kiln. Dense flowering gardens and shade trees surround the cottages. Families come for casual peace-and-quiet vacations. Staff members are warm and friendly.

This casual waterfront hotel on St. Croix dates from the 1960s. Business travelers stay here because of in-town convenience. Sports-minded vacationers appreciate the Hotel Caravelle’s proximity to boat trips to Buck Island Reef National Monument, where a famed snorkeling trail and pristine beach await.

Spacious lawns, flowering gardens, and a secluded beach ensure families and couples enjoy peaceful vacations in a residential setting away from resort-hotel bustle but near stroller-friendly, pastel-colored downtown Christiansted.

Colony Cove Beach Resort is part of a strip of condominium resorts. It has no lobby or public spaces but consists entirely of lodging buildings, tennis courts, a pool, and a lunch/dinner restaurant. Guests check in at a counter in front of a small office structure and take their own luggage to suites. Families favor the resort for tranquility, beach access, and cooking convenience.