I stayed at Golden Era during a few days of diving in July.

As far as Statia hotels go, Golden Era Hotel fills the role of the affordable hotel at the lower end of the market. The Caribbean must be filled with many hotels and motels like this one -- locally owned and operated, but falling mostly under the tourist radar for one reason or another. Apparently I am the very first person to review this hotel on TripAdvisor.com.

The location of the hotel cannot be faulted. (Indeed, it is right beside one of the island's top-rated hotels.) A few rooms face the sea. The restaurant is located on the waterfront, making it a pleasant place to dine. The beaches, snorkelling and dive shops are metres away.

The hotel has a bar, a salt-water pool, and a lush garden setting. Lizards, chickens and cats run around. At the waterfront, there is an old beat-up unused pier. To the left of the pool, just metres away, are the ruins of an old 17th or 18th century Dutch warehouse... more