Arthur's Blog: Concordia Eco Resort on St. John is Already Up and Running as a Permanent Replacement for Maho Bay

I should certainly have studied the new and expanded website for Concordia Eco Resort before writing yesterday's blog about the imminent closing of the famous Maho Bay on the island of St. John, U.S.V.I., and its replacement at that time by the Concordia Eco Resort. It's obvious from photos of that site that Concordia has been greatly expanded and developed (in the number and variety of units, in the foliage on the resort's hillside grounds, and in numerous other respects) since my own visit to it eight years ago, as I should have realized.
In essence, the major expansion of Concordia Eco Resort has provided the Caribbean with a fairly large and non-standard, unpretentious, and tremendously affordable resort for non-standard Caribbean vacationers.
Concordia, currently open for business, and operated by the same Stanley Selengut (he should receive medals) who created Maho Bay, has been developed into a sprawling hillside facility overlooking the Caribbean; and its facilities now fall into two categories: studios (with hard walls and standard electric power) and tents (with canvas walls and solar panel electricity).
The tents will appeal most to adventuresome travelers. They can accommodate up to five persons per tent, and yet rent for only $110 a night per tent in off-season and a peak of $165 in high season -- surely a remarkably low rate for the Caribbean. While tents are not air conditioned, they are cooled by trade winds and by the fans found in each tent. Guests take their meals in an attractive outdoor cafe.
A good introduction to Concordia -- which should now become the world's leading eco resort -- is provided by a work program in September, October and early November of this year at both Concordia and Maho Bay. Essentially, participants volunteer their services for minimum periods of a month, and then receive one night's lodging for each four hours of work. (They work six hours a day for five days and have the next two days off). They also receive a 25% discount off the cost of meals at the cafe. Their labors consist of all the standard hotel activities -- ranging from light housekeeping to light office work or assistance in the cafe.
Go to www.concordiaeco-resort.com, click on "availability," and then on a reference to the work program.
Whether or not you're interested in a work program, you might consult the website anyway. It will suggest a pleasant, totally unpretentious, and very rewarding tropical vacation for all the years ahead.