Best for families, couples, and villa-style groups who want a private hillside base above Cruz Bay with spacious condominium-style villas, concierge support, and panoramic St. John views.
Choosing between The Hills, St John and Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove? This in-depth comparison breaks down location, vibe, rooms, food, nightlife, price & more so you can decide which resort is the best fit for your next getaway.
Best for families, couples, and villa-style groups who want a private hillside base above Cruz Bay with spacious condominium-style villas, concierge support, and panoramic St. John views.
Better for travelers who want a more traditional resort-style villa stay on St. Thomas with Marriott familiarity, beach-and-pool convenience, and easy access to a larger island hub.
If you want a gated luxury villa community with more residential privacy, larger multi-bedroom accommodations, and a Cruz Bay hillside setting, The Hills, St John is the stronger fit.
If your priority is a familiar Marriott vacation-ownership style resort with a beachfront setting, villa comforts, and a more classic resort feel on St. Thomas, Marriott's Frenchman's Cove will make more sense.
Bottom line: choose The Hills, St John for private villa living, concierge-arranged experiences, and a St. John base; choose Marriott's Frenchman's Cove for a more conventional beach resort villa stay on St. Thomas.
| Category | The Hills, St John | Marriott's Frenchman's Cove |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Vibe | Gated luxury condominium-style villa community perched above Cruz Bay, with a private, residential feel and panoramic harbor views. | Resort-style villa property on St. Thomas with Marriott familiarity, a livelier beach-vacation feel, and more traditional shared resort amenities. |
| Location | On a hillside above Cruz Bay, St. John, close to town and well positioned for exploring beaches and Virgin Islands National Park. | On St. Thomas, better for travelers who want to stay on the island with the airport, shopping, dining, and resort infrastructure nearby. |
| Rooms & Villas | Individually styled multi-bedroom villas with full residential comfort, ideal for families and groups who want space, kitchens, and privacy. | Villa-style accommodations with the consistency of a branded resort, well suited to travelers who want room to spread out without leaving a resort setting. |
| Dining | Private Clubhouse restaurant and bar for guests, plus villa kitchens, pre-arrival provisioning, and concierge help arranging private chefs. | Better for guests who prefer a resort base on St. Thomas with easy access to on-property and nearby dining rather than a secluded villa-community setup. |
| Pools & Beach | Shared community pool with sweeping Cruz Bay views, with some villas offering private pools; beach days are typically reached by driving or taxi. | More beach-resort oriented, with pool and shoreline time built into the property experience on St. Thomas. |
| Kids & Family | All-ages, family-oriented villa community with space for multi-bedroom stays and concierge assistance for childcare arrangements. | Family-friendly villa resort atmosphere with the convenience of a larger branded property and easygoing beach-and-pool vacation rhythm. |
| Price & Value | Best value for groups who will use the villa space, kitchens, concierge planning, and private St. John setting. | Best value for travelers who want a familiar resort-villa experience with beach access and St. Thomas convenience. |
Accommodations at The Hills, St John feel more like private island homes than standard hotel rooms, with condominium-style villas set within a gated hillside community above Cruz Bay.
The Hills is the better pick if you want privacy, space, and a more independent St. John stay with concierge support in the background.
Marriott's Frenchman's Cove offers a more familiar resort-villa experience, with the comfort of apartment-style accommodations paired with shared resort amenities on St. Thomas.
If you want Marriott familiarity, easier resort routines, and a St. Thomas base, Marriott's Frenchman's Cove is the simpler choice.
Dining at The Hills centers on The Clubhouse, a private full-service restaurant and bar for guests, with indoor seating and outdoor pool-deck seating overlooking Cruz Bay.
Expect:
Marriott's Frenchman's Cove is better for travelers who want a resort base on St. Thomas, where dining can be part on-property convenience and part nearby island exploration.
If you want villa kitchens, provisioning, and private-chef flexibility, The Hills has the edge; if you want a straightforward resort base with St. Thomas dining nearby, Frenchman's Cove is easier.
The Hills, St John is not a toes-in-the-sand resort; its standout water feature is the shared community pool overlooking Cruz Bay, with some individual villas adding their own private pools.
Marriott's Frenchman's Cove is the stronger choice if you want your vacation to revolve around a more immediate beach-and-pool resort setting on St. Thomas.
If you want dramatic hillside views and St. John beach-hopping, choose The Hills; if you want the easier beach-resort setup, choose Marriott's Frenchman's Cove.
The Hills, St John is an all-ages, family-oriented villa community rather than a kids-club-driven resort, so its family appeal comes from space, privacy, and concierge help.
Marriott's Frenchman's Cove is a comfortable fit for families who want villa-style accommodations inside a more conventional resort environment.
If your group values privacy and multi-bedroom villa living, The Hills is stronger; if you want a more effortless resort rhythm with kids, Frenchman's Cove may be the easier fit.
The Hills, St John offers the most value when you will use the extra villa space, the Cruz Bay location, the concierge services, and the flexibility of a private residential-style stay.
Marriott's Frenchman's Cove is the better value if you want a branded villa resort on St. Thomas with beach-and-pool convenience built into the stay.
Choose The Hills if you want a private, gated St. John villa community with panoramic Cruz Bay views, spacious multi-bedroom accommodations, and concierge-arranged island experiences.
Marriott's Frenchman's Cove is the better pick for travelers who want a more traditional St. Thomas resort-villa stay with beach-and-pool convenience and Marriott familiarity.
For families, couples, and groups who want privacy, villa kitchens, room to spread out, and easy access to Cruz Bay, The Hills feels more distinctive and residential.
If you want a simpler resort routine, a St. Thomas base, and fewer logistics between your villa, pool, and beach time, Marriott's Frenchman's Cove is the easier choice.
Questions? Contact Us!
Explore more helpful planning guides and insider articles for The Hills, St John:
Questions? Contact Us!