Hillary Bonner

Hi! I’m Hillary Bonner. I’ve been on St. John for 8 years and have worn A LOT of hats in my time on island. Most of us do tho…A lot of times island life calls for ingenuity, flexibility and resiliency. And those things are what I kind of LOVE about the people in our Love City Community. Between boat days and day hikes and happy hours with so many happy faces, you may have seen me behind the bar at Asolare, Zozo’s, The Terrace or Drink (once upon a time, Motu) over the years. But after Hurricane Irma, I jumped from behind the bar into non-profit work. That desk job made me remember that, way back when, I DID go to college and I might have been letting some of those skill sets get a BIT rusty. My degree is in Journalism and Public Relations. When asked if I ever used it, my programmed response was, “Bar tending IS relating to the public.” But, back to the desk job…I was doing everything. Which is, again, what you do in a small office on an island. Events, marketing, handling in-kind donations, unloading containers, attempting to figure out logistics I didn’t even know how to spell, community meetings, board meetings, FEMA meetings. All of the meetings. One day, I decided that there were aspects I loved. And aspects…Well, not so much. So I started my own thing, supporting local small businesses and non-profits in the realm of design, marketing and events (specifically music related events…you’ll hear a lot about music from me). I have a bleeding heart for the small yet ambitious non-profits on St. John. And an overwhelming amount of respect for the small business owners who made their ideas take flight in a place where it’s very difficult to do so! I love life here on St. John. The highs are the highest and the lows are not so low as they can be in other places. The accessibility to Mother Nature on this little slice of perfection is unparalleled. She’s all around us all of the time. You can watch the phases of the moon, the rotation of the planets, the shifting of the sunset and the tides. Every damn day. Mother Nature’s restless spirit reflects the transient nature of the people here as well. That was hard for me at first. The coming and the going. But now, I like the fact that I will rarely visit a place that I don’t have a place to stay and a friend to catch up with from St. John. So, now, here I am (using my degree, Ma!). Contributing to a long standing super positive blog. Here I feel like I’m in a position to use my voice to entertain and inform you about the community and island that I love so much. I’m grateful for this opportunity and am ALWAYS open to story ideas! Let me know what, where or who you want to hear about!

Win the Emerald Ticket! Enter to Win a Trip for TEN to St. John!!!

November 15, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning! You probably already know this if you have been following along on News of St. John, but I LOVE the good work that our local non-profits accomplish here in Love City. And I very much enjoy shining a light on their progress. So, I tend to share a lot of different opportunities for all who love this island to get involved. And sometimes that involvement includes the opportunity to win a trip to your happy place (that’s St. John 😉 ). But this particular raffle is not a trip for two. No, it is a trip for up to TEN people and includes a stay at one of St. John’s most gorgeous villas as well as shopping, dining and activity vouchers.

Where to Stay Spotlight: Direct Booking For Two Beautiful Villas in One Incredible Location

November 14, 2022November 14, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Today, we are revisiting two amazing villas, perched high above Great Cruz Bay. Between the two homes there are two pools, six bedrooms, seven and a half bathrooms, two beautifully equipped kitchens and a wide variety of exquisite indoor and outdoor lounging and dining areas from which you can enjoy that beautiful view of the Caribbean Sea. These villas can be rented separately with total privacy. Or you can rent them both and open a privacy door to a long walkway that connects the expansive verandas. Oh, and the new website allows you to BOOK DIRECT, avoiding the high fees of a third-party service! Let’s take a closer look at The Other World and Villa L’Autre Monde….

BVI Loosens Restrictions This Week: Foreign Charter Vessels Welcome Once Again!

November 13, 2022November 13, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

If you read that headline, you know that I have some GREAT news to share with you all today! Yup, that’s right, for the first time since March 17, 2020, USVI charter boats will freely visit the British Virgin Islands once again!

On Saturday, November 12, BVI Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. Natalio D. Wheatly announced the joint decision of the USVI and the BVI to allow vessels to move more freely between the territories.

Island Update: The BVI, Caneel Bay Beach Club & The Longboard

November 11, 2022November 11, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning, Good Morning! And happy Fri-YAY! It has been an absolutely GORGEOUS week on island with scattered showers and light cloud cover blowing through amidst the sunshine. The water is gorgeous, although the clarity is still a little hazy in some spots due to the recent storms. But that didn’t stop us from hanging out with some turtles and sting rays at Maho yesterday or from visiting our little nurse shark friend at Lovango earlier this week on Asante. And St. John is SO green! It’s absolutely glorious! I said ,”Wow, it is so beautiful out today,” a total of about 20 times yesterday. It really never gets old 🙂

Island Update: The BVI, Caneel Bay Beach Club & The Longboard 5 — Isn’t she lovely!!! Maho and Francis from the water.

I have a ton of stories on my desk right now that I am polishing up or awaiting further information on in order to go into more detail for you in the coming weeks. But there have been a lot of questions rolling in about certain topics that I wanted to get to in a little update here today.

Thanksgiving Dining Options and November Events!

November 9, 2022November 9, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning, Good Morning! Tis the season to be thankful! Especially if you are visiting St. John this month 🙂 A few thoughts before we get into the holiday festivities…If you are planning to dine out on Thanksgiving Day, get your reservations now! Many of our fine dining establishments will have their doors closed to celebrate the holiday with family. But there are some neat out of the box dining options listed below! And, as always, we prepare to be busy for the holiday weeks. So, if you are visiting during Thanksgiving week and you see any events or activities below that spark your interest, it is better to sign up earlier rather than later!

St. John Scoops’ Coffee Shop is OPEN!

November 8, 2022November 8, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning World! Wow…It has been a rainy week on St. John! A VERY wet Saturday followed by a semi-drizzly Sunday has this island so green and incredible right now! And yesterday we were able to enjoy it with a beautifully sunny (for the most part) Monday. But this rainy weather brings with it chilly temps in the 70’s (tee-hee). And what better way to warm up than with a deliciously warm coffee drink? Oh, and it’s National Cappuccino Day. So, I thought today might be the perfect time to introduce you all to the newest addition at Mongoose Junction…

Rain, Rain, Rain! What to do on these Rainy Days?

November 5, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Hello friends! I’m writing to you this afternoon from a very soggy St. John 😉 It has been grey and drizzly and sometimes pouring since sometime yesterday. Which is absolutely great for the flora and fauna of the island (and our cisterns!). But not so great if you’re only here for a week and looking for some fun in the sun. Well, the sun may be hiding its beautiful face for the most part this week, but that doesn’t mean there’s no fun to be had.

Low Key Watersports and Love City Businesses Celebrate Our Veterans

November 4, 2022November 4, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning, Good Morning! Here’s a little Fri-YAY feel good stuff for you, straight from Love City. This weekend, Low Key Watersports will welcome a group from Servicemembers Undertaking Disabled Sports (SUDS); Veterans who have suffered degrees of disabilities while serving in the military. And, in the true spirit of community support, many other businesses are contributing to making this vacation for veterans an absolutely memorable!

USVI Taxi Rates Increase

November 4, 2022November 2, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning, Good Morning! Last month when Teddy and I flew to Puerto Rico to bring Asante home for the season, we were a bit surprised when the taxi driver requested $50 as payment upon drop off at the airport. We didn’t say anything about the higher-than-normal requested rate that usually is about $20 per person, but the silent exchange between our glances must have been apparent. The driver explained that if we had got a ride a few days earlier it would have been less. But the rates had just gone up. I recalled seeing a headline about this at some point and thought, “Aha, the rate increase went through…” So, in order to keep all of you from being a bit taken aback on your next trip, I wanted to share the details on these new rates with you!

Real Estate Spotlight: Don’t Miss this Charming “Island Style” Cottage in Coral Bay

October 31, 2022November 1, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning! I write up a lot of crazy beautiful expansive villas on this site. But rarely do I get the opportunity to feature an approachable and affordable opportunity, ideal for a long-time resident or first-time homeowner on St. John. This darling one bedroom, one-bathroom island Caribbean cottage encompasses the essence of authentic island living here on St. John and is absolutely perfect for a young couple wishing to relocate or a St. John resident who is ready to get out of the stressful shuffle of the rental market. Let’s take a look at this charming Coral Bay home…