Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel owners David Guidi and Denise Walker are living their dream. Or at least Guidi’s dream, Walker said, laughing.
“I always dreamed of having a hotel in the Caribbean,” Guidi said.
The fact that he liked to sail made moving to St. John all the sweeter.
Warm weather aficionados, the two were no strangers to St. John. They’d camped twice at Cinnamon Bay Campground, stayed at small condos in Cruz Bay and twice visited Estate Lindholm, a bed and breakfast just outside Cruz Bay.
Guidi’s dream began to take shape during those stays at Estate Lindholm. It grew even further when the couple couldn’t find reasonably-priced places for their wedding guests to stay. They were married at Caneel Bay Resort in February 2009.
During a trip last year, they learned that the building that’s home to Da Livio Restaurant was for sale. In its last incarnation, the space was intended for high-end office space, but the economic downturn put the kibosh on that.
While Guidi initially wanted to do a hostel with bathrooms down the hall, Walker nixed that idea.
The Chicago-born Guidi, 32, owned a home construction company in Toronto, but had worked for the Hyatt chain for five years. Walker, 31, managed one of the Restoration Hardware’s chain of stores in her native Toronto, so she knew plenty about decor.
Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel opened officially on Dec. 22, and they’ve been booked solid nearly every night since then. In fact, almost every day they turn away people looking for lovely yet moderately priced lodging. And they’re already filling rooms for the traditionally slow fall season.
“The main issue is we don’t have enough rooms,” Guidi said.
The six rooms they do have are on the smallish side, but attractive in white, cream and green colors. Some have balconies. The hotel also has a one-bedroom penthouse apartment that sleeps additional people on a futon, rollaway bed and a couch. Rates for the rooms run $175 a night in the winter season, $125 in the summer and $105 in the fall. The penthouse is $250 a night in the winter, $225 a night in the summer and $200 in the fall. All include a continental breakfast.
Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel is often suggested on Internet travel forums as a good place to stay for people needing just one night because there is no minimum-night stay.
“It’s a lot of work,” Walker said of the constant turnover.
Except for occasional cleaning help and some assistance from Guidi’s mother, Kathy Guidi, who recently moved to St. John, Walker and Guidi do it all themselves. That includes being on duty from 6 a.m. till whenever the last guest checks in. The jobs also include cleaning toilets.
“I find it rewarding because I’m a stickler for cleanliness,” Walker said.
The two don’t have much free time, but when she has a spare moment, Walker volunteers at the Animal Care Center of St. John’s shelter. And they just adopted a dog, a pit bull mix that needed a home.
“Blackie. That’s the name she came with,” Walker said.
Those interested can visit the hotel’s website at www.cruzbayhotel.com or call 642-1702.
