Vacation Rentals by Owner

Had a great trip!

Guest: Brian (St. Louis, MO)
Date of Stay: 11/13/11 Review Submitted: 11/24/11

We had a great vacation on St. John and the Windwardside Guest Cottage was a big part of it. The cottage was exactly as described. The view of Coral Bay was wonderful. We loved the hot tub under the stars. We enjoyed the outdoor shower under the watchful eye of the lizards and geckos. We grilled on the BBQ and ate outside on the porch. We made good use of the snorkling equipment, beach chairs and beach towels that were provided. My wife really enjoyed our breakfast visitors, the bananaquits; they really love that sugar. One bird also had a fondness for OJ with a touch of Cruzan Pineapple Rum in it! The road up to the cottage is memorable but we had no problems with it, very bumpy though! Susan and her staff (Diane and Adam) were absolulely amazing. They helped arrange our transportation from the airport to the ferry as well as our Jeep rental. They were helpful when we had any questions about the island and were very responsive when the heater on the hot tub stopped working. Island recommendations: Solomon Bay Beach - worth the hike on the Lind Point Trail; gorgeous beach; there were never more than 14 other people with us while we were there Jumbie Bay Beach - if arrive late afternoon maybe you will have the entire beach to yourselves (like we did) - AWESOME! Hike to Rams Head. What a view! The Ranger led Reef Bay Trail Hike was fun and informative. Had dinner at Skinny Legs and Shipwreck Landing and breakfast at Donkey Diner. All were good.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

Wonderful- Simply Wonderful!

Guest: tony & cindy (Northern Illinois)
Date of Stay: 04/25/11 Review Submitted: 05/07/11

All your worries melt away walking in the door. A beautifully maintained villa, all the comforts of home- with a view that's purely AMAZING. A romantic retreat from the stressors of everyday life. Clean as a whistle. Don't forget to read the journal books on the shelf as they contain years of similar testimony. Dont hesitate on this decision book it!! Money well spent! Best vacation weve ever had.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect trip!

Guest: Amy (Massachusettes)
Date of Stay: 04/17/11 Review Submitted: 04/27/11

We loved the cottage! It is clean and perfectly located close to Coral Bay but still feels secluded. The view was stunning. We loved the outdoor shower and hot tub. The owners were so helpful and easy to work with. We would definately stay here again!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A Little Piece of Heaven

Guest: Rob & Claudia (Largo, FL USA)
Date of Stay: 03/27/11 Review Submitted: 04/13/11

Windwardside Guest Cottage is the perfect getaway for two people. The accomodations are well maintained, clean and comfortable. The view and location are fantastic. Bring groceries and your favorite adult beverages and enjoy wonderful meals on the porch. Great way to shed the stresses and strains of modern life.

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great week at Windwardside Guest Cottage

Guest: Lydia (Hampton NH)
Date of Stay: 02/27/11 Review Submitted: 03/07/11

My husband and I had stayed in Coral Bay St John three years ago with a big family trip and decided that we wanted to return but to a smaller villa just the two of us. We were so excited to find Windwardside Guest cottage and the minute we contacted Susan at Calabash Cottages we knew we had made the right decision. Susan made our transportation and Jeep reservations which made for a much easier arrival than our previous trip. The staff member met us at the ferry and helped us pick up our jeep,brought us to the grocery store, and led us out to the gorgeous villa. The one drawback to the villa is that it is located up a very steep hill on a dirt road and the driving can be a little stressfull the first few trips. If you've never been to St John be aware that the driving can be somewhat difficult as only some of the streets are paved and almost all are narrow and steep. After a day or two its easy to adjust and the beautiful views make it all worth while! Before arriving we wondered what it would be like to stay at a guest cottage and whether it would offer enough privacy. Don't worry about this! The trees and foliage offer plenty of privacy and we never even caught a glimpse of the other cottage. By chance we saw the couple that stayed in the other cottage on our ferry ride at the end of the week and we all marveled at how we didnt see or hear eachother all week. Windwardside Guest Cottage definitly makes you feel like you are in your own private paradise. The cottage is small but has a great open feel with tall ceilings and big airy doors that bring in calm breezes all night. The kitchen has a sink and small efficiency fridge (tiny freezer), and two burner stove. There is also a grill outside -off the porch. We ate a few meals at the house and found everything we needed to prepare simple food and cocktails. The cottage also provides plently of towels,robes, and a hairdryer. We were happy to find beach chairs, coolers in all sizes, and snorkel gear.The best thing about the cottage is the view. We can see the ocean while lying in bed. We woke up every morning excited to get outside and head for the beach. I couldnt stop taking pictures from the front steps of the villa! Coral Bay offers everything you need for groceries,food, and cocktails, while still providing that "off the grid" feel. For any couple looking for a great romantic getaway you cant go wrong with Windwardside Guest Cottage!

Owner response:Dear Lydia, Thanks for such a thoughtful and thorough review. Hearing from guests who have actually stayed with us is so much more helpful to potential guests than anything we can tell them. I'm happy that you chose to stay with us and even happier that you are glad you did. We hope to see you again! Susan

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Had a great time at Windwardside Guest Cottage!

Guest: Suzanne (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 02/13/11 Review Submitted: 02/22/11

This was truly the prefect vacation rental for our much needed tropical escape! We wanted a true "get-away" and to avoid the typical resort-style vacation. This was the ideal spot for a quiet week on a beautiful sunny island with amazing beaches. The cottage was cozy, and had everything we needed. It was tastefully decorated and very clean and well-kept. I miss the garden shower and the stunning views of coral bay. The porch was our favorite spot to relax, grill and sip coffee at sunrise. The snorkel gear, coolers and beach chairs gave us everything we needed for fun beach days. First night home was hard to fall asleep without the lull of the water and rustling palms. Can't wait to come back!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

Excellent Stay at Windwardside

Guest: D & L (Greenfield, MA)
Date of Stay: 01/30/11 Review Submitted: 02/17/11

My wife and I stayed at the Windwardside Guest Cottage and can't wait to return. It was cozy, intimate and the view from the deck caused us to spend quite some time doing nothing but sitting there and sighing in delight. Susan and Diane were very gracious and helpful. Overall, we consider being there one of our better experiences over our ten years of vacationing at St. John.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Amazing!

Guest: Matt & Katie (Philadelphia, PA)
Date of Stay: 10/31/10 Review Submitted: 11/16/10

The Windwardside Guest Cottage exceeded our expectations on every level. It had absolutely everything we needed and nothing we didn't (the latter is especially important on a vacation when you're trying to get away from it all). Susan and her team were very helpful, and made the planning incredibly easy and enjoyable. The location was perfect nestled up on the hillside offering beautiful views, privacy, and peace & quiet. You will fall asleep after exhausting beach days to the sound of the wind blowing through palms and the singing island wildlife. I am a veteran outdoor shower enthusiast, and the 'shower garden' under the stars was a blissful experience in itself. Staying here was a wonderful blend of comfort and adventure, and truly was unlike anything we have experienced before. If you're on the fence, get off it and stay here!

Owner response:Hi Matt and Katie, Thanks for staying at Windwardside Guest Cottage. I appreciate your taking the time to let us know that you enjoyed your visit. Hope to see you again! Susan

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

Our stay in St. John

Guest: MLVD (Boston, MA)
Date of Stay: 05/09/10 Review Submitted: 05/17/10

We stayed at the Windwardside guest cottage for a week and it was amazing. We loved the cottage and Susan, Diane and Matt were so helpful and informative. It was like having our own private travel agents. They steered us in the right direction on every count. The cottage, beaches, and snorkeling were all amazing. I would say this is the perfect trip for people with a sense of adventure. The view from the cottage and the feel of the surroundings are so calming and beautiful. It's a very private place and if you want to get away from it all and enjoy a relaxing and likely somewhat active vacation this would be the place. The cottage has everything you would need or want; snorkel gear, coolers, a gas grill, refridgerator, stove, a hot tub and an outdoor eating area. We want to get back next year! We stopped a resort closer to the main town in St. John and after an hour we had to leave. This place and the area, top any resort I have stayed in. It's the perfect place for people who want privacy, romance and a little adventure! I hope you enjoy your stay as much as we did. Michele and Dawn, Boston, MA

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

Perfect Getaway!

Guest: Lifetime Fan (Ruidoso, New Mexico)
Date of Stay: 04/11/10 Review Submitted: 04/27/10

I found this cottage online while looking for a place to go for my honeymoon. When I read a review from a previous guest that said it was away from the main part of the island and close to beaches and hiking trails I said, "This is it!" Boy was that an understatement! The cottage was exactly what it claimed to be and even cuter in person. The view from the deck is amazing and we loved the outdoor shower! It was fun getting used to the lizards and birds that visited us every morning and evening! We loved the fact that the cottage is located in Coral Bay away from the hustle and bustle of Cruz Bay. Very different and quiet. Diana was amazing in setting up accommodations for us and the trip was worry free! My only suggestion to anyone planning a trip is plan for two weeks, not one! One week is NOT enough time! Also, feed the birds brown sugar, not crackers! Enjoy!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, romantic getaway.

The most fabulous place in St.John!

Guest: Karen and Dan (Watermill NY)
Date of Stay: 01/17/10 Review Submitted: 01/26/10

My husband and I came to wedding here a few years ago and stayed here...and fell in love with the island and the cottages! The cottages are on the peaceful side of the island...which we loved....no heavy traffic...plenty of parking...no tourists...but lots of fun things to do...hiking,great snorkeling,kayaking,great restaurants and friendly locals!! The Cottages...which we have stayed in both are so perfect...extremely clean and well kept,stocked with everything you need...towels,snorkeling gear,beach chairs,a kitchen to eat in when ever you want....and the great hot tub that over looks the ocean! The owners are extremely nice and very helpful also! We stayed at the Westin before we knew about this place and it does not even compare!! It is a perfect place to stay...we absolutely loved it and will be back as soon as we can! Karen and Dan Sag Harbor NY

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Windwardside cottage 2009 visit

Guest: jcoorts (kansas)
Date of Stay: 10/26/09 Review Submitted: 04/29/11

went for an anniversary trip. Great service, incredible view from balcony. Fantastic trip and we'd go again to St. John. Cottage was good. Only disappointments were the hot tub was more like a 'barely warm' tub and the bed was just ok for comfortability. The trip was fantastic as a whole.

Owner response:Thanks for your review of Windwardside Guest Cottage. I was puzzled that you did not like the mattress but then I realized that you actually stayed with us over a year and a half ago. We have replaced the mattress in the interim. The one currently in the cottage is very comfortable. In fact, my husband and I as well as two staff members thought it was so comfortable that we ordered the same one for our homes. I'm disappointed that you had a problem with the hot tub. We encourage guests to call us with any maintenance issues and we do repair them as soon as possible. If we are made aware of any problems we do whatever we can to get them resolved and that usually means within an hour or two. We take our guests enjoyment of our amenities very seriously so I am sorry to learn that the hot tub did not work well for you during your visit. Susan

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway.

Our perfect St. John Vacation

Guest: Susan and Brian R. (Agawam, MA)
Date of Stay: 03/29/09 Review Submitted: 03/10/10

We had a wonderful vacation in St. John and a large part of what made it so special was the cottage. Of course the beautiful beaches and friendly people also contributed to our experience. When we first arrived we were thrilled. The cottage exceeded our expectations. The grounds were beautiful and lush and the view was spectacular. The cottage itself was charming, clean and very comfortable. We especially enjoyed sitting on the porch with our coffee in the morning while we planned our day and relaxing in the same spot in the evening while the sun set. There are plently of beautiful beaches close by and the snorkeling is great. It is a short drive to go out for dinner or enjoy the nightlife but many nights we had dinner at the cottage so we could enjoy the peace of our tropical surroundings. The owner of the cottage also made it easy to plan our stay. She was easy to communicate with and had every detail or our arrival planned. She was also available during our stay if we needed anything but never intruded on our privacy. I would definately recommend this cottage. The only thing that was a little challenging was the steep drive to get to the cottage. After a few times, however, we got used to it. It was definately worth it to stay in such a beautiful place. We can't wait to return.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.