Gallows Point Resort is one of the best places to stay on St. John

St. John holds an extremely special place in my heart. The first time I visited, I was just 3 years old, and since then, I’ve visited over 20 times with my family and friends. We’ve seen the island grow and change but one thing that hasn’t changed is the beautiful Gallows Point Resort my grandparents used to stay in. Of course, they’ve changed with the times and have been updated since my grandparents stayed there in the 80’s and 90’s but what hasn’t changed is the hospitality and warmth of the locals. My family and I always stayed in villas while visiting the island, so finally, being able to stay at Gallows Point Resort was a treat, and let me tell you, the amenities and proximity to so much make it worth it.

As you arrive on St. John on the ferry, you’ll see Gallows Point Resort ready to greet you on your right. We always snag a spot on the top of the ferry so we can see everything as we come into Cruz Bay.

How to get to Gallows Point Resort

Gallows Point Resort is located on the island of St. John in the US Virgin Islands. St. John doesn’t have an airport, so the only way to get to the island is by flying into St. Thomas, one of the other US Virgin Islands, and then taking a ferry from St. Thomas to St. John. There are 3 public ferries visitors can take 1. Red Hook, 2. Crown Bay, and 3. Charlotte Amalie. You can find those ferry schedules here.

What do the rooms at Gallows Point Resort look like?

We had an ocean-view lower suite, which you can read all about here. It was fabulous, and we truly felt like we were staying in our own little home away from home. Each suite has central A/C, coffee & condiments, a fully-equipped kitchen: refrigerator, stove, microwave, toaster, blender, coffee maker and dishwasher, wireless Internet, pull-out queen sleeper sofa in the living room, and more you can check out here. We loved making a cup of coffee in the mornings and then heading out to the porch to watch the sunrise and listen to the ocean. Another thing Andrew and I couldn’t get enough of was the sunroom connected to our bedroom and shower. It was such a nice little space to relax and when it rained, it was the perfect spot to sit and watch it come down.

GALLOWS POINT GIFT & GOURMET

Gallows Point Gift & Gourmet has pretty much everything you could possibly want while on the property! Pop over for a light breakfast, grab freshly baked items, and even a coffee or two! Andrew and I had a vanilla latte and an iced chai latte and they were both great. Gallows Point Resort Gift & Gourmet is a small grocery store as well that also provides in-room provisioning – juices, wine, beer, welcome baskets, snacks, and breakfast items, so you can relax and enjoy even more your paradise home. After Andrew proposed, he had them make up an adorable basket with wine, crackers, brie, and gouda! It was so special to come back to our room as a newly engaged couple and have a basket of delicious food and wine waiting for us, as well as a sweet handwritten card! We gathered everything up and went to enjoy it by the pool as the sun set over the ocean.

IS THERE PRIVATE BEACH ACCESS AT GALLOWS POINT RESORT?

Something really special about Gallows Point Resort is the private beach access. The day we checked into the resort, Andrew and I immediately headed down to the water to snorkel. They even have a platform you can swim out to and sit on for a bit to enjoy the views and calming rocking of the waves. Snorkel gear is available to rent with the concierge at the Gift & Gourmet Shop, which I highly recommend because the sea life you can see in the Caribbean is amazing. We saw beautiful tropical fish and crabs all along the rocks. Speaking of rocks, it’s pretty rocky, which is great for sealife but not great for feet, so I definitely wouldn’t go barefoot. I wore my Chacos, which worked great because they’re lighter for floating and swimming and protect the bottom of your feet! I tried not to walk too much on the rocks, though, and solely float around just in case there were any sea urchins or coral growing around them. Overall, though, it was very convenient being just steps to the ocean from your suite.

DOES GALLOWS POINT RESORT HAVE A POOL & HOT TUB?

If the ocean isn’t for you or you want a change of scenery, the pool and hot tub are the perfect places to relax. Andrew and I loved spending time by the pool and ended up there for most evenings to watch the sunset! There were numerous lounge chairs with umbrellas and actual tables to sit and read or eat a snack. It was super easy to access the pool because of its central location on the resort property, and with it being right above the ocean, you had an absolutely stunning view. Something we really utilized a lot at the pool was the outdoor shower to wash the sand off our bodies and feet before getting in the pool or going back to the room.

OCEAN 362 RESTAURANT

The Ocean 362 restaurant is the only sit-down dining on the property at Gallows Point Resort. It has the most amazing view of the sunset over the ocean and is an experience my grandma always told us about growing up! I’m not sure why we never went here growing up but I sure am glad it’s on my radar now. They even have a rooftop view as well, just ask for a table on the roof when you call to make reservations. Both the main and rooftop floors have incredible views so wherever you end up will be amazing. Be sure to ask about their specials and if you’re a blue cheese fan, get the blue cheesecake appetizer if it’s still there. It was so heavenly, Andrew and I ordered it every time we ate at Ocean 362!

WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE CLOSE TO GALLOWS POINT RESORT?

Wharfside Village

Wharfside Village is about a 3-5 minute walk down the hill from Gallows Point and well worth the walk. There are numerous dining opportunities and shopping right on the beach!

Some of our favorite places to go there are:

BEACH BAR - Beach Bar is, as its’ name says, right off the beach. I’ve been going to Beach Bar for as long as I can remember with my family on shopping days in Cruz Bay. Andrew and I walked to Beach Bar a couple of times to enjoy food and drinks (Pain Killers during happy hour) with a view of the ocean. Some of my favorites to get at Beach Bar are their tacos

ST. JOHN SPICE COMPANY - My family and I have been going to this shop for years for fresh coffee, loose-leaf tea, jams, rubs, candy, gifts, you name it. From the moment you walk in, you’re hit with the most delicious smell, which I can only assume is everything swirling together in the air. A visit here is something I guarantee you won’t regret.

HIGH TIDE - High Tide is likely the first restaurant everyone notices when they step off the ferry dock. It’s the ideal spot to grab a drink upon arrival, or my personal favorite is coming here for breakfast. They offer fantastic breakfast items, with my personal pick being the fluffy pancakes and a mimosa.

FREEBIRD CREATIONS - If you’re looking for unique jewelry (my brother found an incredible Kraken ring here) or even the famous island hook bracelet, you can find great options here. Islanders in the Caribbean have worn the hook bracelet for centuries. Some folklore states that with the hook's open end pointed toward your heart, your love is taken. Conversely, with the open end of the hook worn down, away from your heart, your love is free, or it serves as a subtle sign that you are single. My family has been wearing hook bracelets since I first came to the island in 1996.

Mongoose Junction

Mongoose Junction is about a 10-15 minute walk to Gallows Point Resort but through the town, so a perfect walk to see more of what Cruz Bay has to offer. This shopping center has amazing dining, treats, shopping, bars, and more! Some of our favorite places to go there are:

BIG PLANET - Big Planet has been around forever and was a staple stop for my family growing up. We love their selection of T-shirts, bathing suits, rash guards, flip-flops, and other clothing.

ST. JOHN SCOOPS - is the place to go if you’re in the mood for ice cream. We loved pretty much every flavor we tried, and they even have boozy ice cream.

CARAVAN GALLERY - Caravan Gallery is a beautiful family-owned boutique with affordable and fine jewelry, gifts in all price ranges, and authentic artifacts from around the world. My family and I have been going here for years! My mom bought me my first bracelet there when I was 6, so it was really special to go back and buy hook bracelets with Andrew.

THE TAP ROOM - The Tap Room is St. John Brewers' brewery and brewpub and I highly recommend it. Andrew and I had two flights to try numerous drinks, and holy moly. I didn’t think I would like every single one, and I 100% did. We also grabbed some pizza to go along with our flights and it was delicious too. Once we filled up on drinks and food we headed downstairs to the St. John Brewers' Brewtique to purchase souvenir pint glasses and t-shirts. They also have seltzers, beer, and root beer to buy there. We love supporting local businesses as much as possible while on the island and that includes alcohol for beach days or pool days.

Salomon & Honeymoon Beach

Salomon and Honeymoon Beach were absolutely incredible and the best part is you can walk from Gallows Point Resort to either of these secluded beaches away from town. All you have to do is walk to the Virgin Islands National Park Visitors Center and head to the Lind Point trailhead right behind the building. There are some stairs you’re going to head up, and then you’ll be on the trail headed to the beach. I definitely think this is a beginner trail and wasn’t an intense hike by any means. The scenic hike is about 1 mile each way and takes about 20-30 minutes. There’s a trail that pops up to the left about 3/4 of the way in, and that’s the one to Salomon Beach, but if you keep going straight, you’ll eventually pop out of the forest and end up on Honeymoon Beach.

Honeymoon Beach offers an awesome day pass, which includes kayaking, lounge chairs, floats, lockers, snorkel gear, and access to changing rooms and bathrooms for $49! It was well worth it and the staff was extremely helpful and kind. Hopefully, this is still currently available, I know there have been many changes to Honeymoon Beach. In addition, there was a food truck with drinks and all sorts of delicious goodies.

FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL PARK STORE - On your way back from the beach, be sure to stop by the Friends of the National Park Store. They sell unique gifts for a sustainable environment that will inspire and educate. Andrew and I purchased many beautiful postcards, books, and even a cute T-shirt.

Overall, Gallows Point Resort was not only an amazing resort but also a complete experience. We will always cherish the special memories we made on St. John and our incredible time at Gallows Point Resort.

The next time you’re considering a Caribbean vacation, look no further—book your stay at Gallows Point Resort! If you have any questions about the resort, feel free to leave them in the comments below.

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WHY GALLOWS POINT RESORT IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS SHOULD BE ON YOUR BUCKET LIST