Hotel on the Cay

The balcony looked like it hadn't been cleaned or attended to in weeks or months, judging by all the spiders and webs. My room had a cracked toilet tank someone had tried to seal, leaving the bathroom floor soaked. There were ants, the bathroom door was broken, and the TV didn't work. The hotel looks and feels abandoned. Don't trust its photos. To me, this is a roach motel, not just island living. It feels like the owner has given up while people keep paying, so there's no urgency to fix the many problems. Do yourself a favor and stay somewhere else. The somewhat cheap price isn't worth ruining your trip.

We'd been going to the cay for a few years without complaints, but this visit was horrible and turned a vacation we look forward to all year into hell. The beach was nice and the weather was great, but we'll never go back. I called in September of 25' to reserve a 1 bedroom with a living room, paid right away, and got a confirmation email with my dates. At check-in, the computer showed different dates and they said my confirmation was wrong. They said there was no room for us and a refund would take 5-7 days. We couldn't afford a second hotel, so I got angry. They finally gave us a studio, with no refund for the downgrade. It was me, my wife, and our 19 yr old son sharing one room for our anniversary and Valentine's Day. We were on the 2nd floor. At 7am, construction workers in nearby rooms threw concrete onto the metal roof on the first floor and yelled to each other. We couldn't sleep in for the whole 2 weeks. The balcony concrete was cracked, the inside wall and floor were separating from the building, and concrete and tile outside our door began cracking as we walked on it. Don't tell me this is just renovations. If I'd gotten the room I booked, it wouldn't have been an issue. Most hotel staff were extremely rude and unfriendly. Of the ferry guys, one was friendly and the rest weren't. When I asked where things in town were, they'd point and say “over there”; if I tried to clarify, they ignored us.

Service and location both get 5 stars from me, while the grounds get 3. Management is updating the outside of The Hotel and the rooms, and there was some construction. I can't wait to see the finished work. The Hotel on The Cay is on Protestant Cay, just off Christansted. A free taxi boat runs to the island every 10 minutes, 24/7. There's a BBQ restaurant and bar on the beach by the hotel, plus plenty of other bars and restaurants a short walk from the dock. We'll definitely stay here next time we're in St. Croix. FYI, a cab from the airport cost $40 for a couple with 4 bags.

You gotta stay on the Cay at least once for the experience of having your own private island for vacation. It's under renovation, but things are moving along nicely. The beach bar is very nice, with good BBQ right on the beach, plus chairs, umbrellas, volleyball, and smooth sand to walk on. Not a bad price either, about 150 a night during off season. Gotta try it!