Tillett Gardens Guest House

For a hostel, Tillett Gardens is a great pick. The people there are warm, welcoming, and caring. The tacos and coffee shop are a big part of what makes it worth staying.

I almost never leave reviews, but this stay deserves one. I was meant to leave on August 16, after arriving on the 9th, but Hurricane Erin hit from late on the 15th into the morning of the 17th and my flight was canceled. She was completely understanding and told me it was no problem to stay longer. I’d recommend this place 1000% to anyone coming down.

Rock City Tacos was a bright spot during my week at Tillett Gardens Hostel in January 2025. The staff were friendly, and the onsite restaurant served delicious homemade meals. Still, those positives didn’t make up for the condition of the place, and at the price, it was the most expensive hostel I’ve ever stayed in. I can’t recommend it unless you have no other options. The common areas were dim and grimy, with burned-out bulbs, filthy cushions, scattered pamphlets, and floors that would turn your feet black if you walked barefoot. In the kitchen there weren’t even forks, and the refrigerator looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in a long time. The fire extinguisher was out of charge, which was worrying. The shared bathroom was visibly dirty, with hair, dirt, and an unwashed rug on the floor. There was no hand soap by the toilet. My dorm and its bathroom weren’t clean either, though the sheets themselves were. Linens were supposed to include a towel, but I had to ask because only bedding was provided at first. There were also maintenance problems: my room had no working light, while the next dorm only had a broken lamp. Getting in was confusing. I booked on the Hostelworld app, and while communication before arrival was good, especially since I needed flexibility arriving in St. Thomas by sea, there were no clear check-in instructions. I was passed between several people before someone finally let me into the female dorm. A water main broke while I was there, leaving us without drinking water, showers, or working toilets for more than 30 hours. The break wasn’t management’s fault, but they didn’t use the property’s cistern to provide water for basic needs like flushing. There also weren’t clear or enforced quiet hours in the common area. Fixtures were broken, walls were scraped and dirty, and overall upkeep and cleanliness seemed neglected.

The kitchen was clean and had what we needed, so we cooked dinner there about half the nights to save money. Staff were also really helpful when we were planning activities. There aren’t many tourist spots right nearby, but safari buses to most of the island are just a few minutes’ walk away. For the price, it was a pretty good place. Wi-Fi in our room was strong, about 75 Mbps up and down, since the router was in there, though it didn’t reach the kitchen well. The AC worked in our room and, according to another guest, in the women’s shared dorm, but not in the common area. A few bits of material, possibly insulation that had gotten wet, poked up between the floorboards in our room. We were a little disappointed that many amenities listed online, including the restaurant, weren’t available in September because it was hurricane season. To be fair, we were watching Hurricane Lee closely to make sure it wasn’t heading our way. I’d recommend the place if you’re on a budget.