Vacation Rentals by Owner

Perfect Honeymoon!

Guest: Megan Moore (Denver)
Date of Stay: 04/28/12 Review Submitted: 05/07/12

My husband and I honeymooned here for a week. This was our 4th time returning to St. John, so we have become pretty particular about the houses we rent. This house was PERFECT. The kitchen had everything we needed for the many meals we ate in, there were beach towels and chairs, a couple of different sized cooler options, lots of DVDs, and Seng even provided us with a beach bag when we checked in. The cottage was clean and very well decorated. We were provided with an AT&T cell phone that we could use during the week to send/receive texts and phone calls. This was a huge help as we did not have a cell phone that worked on the island (AT&T is pretty much the only carrier with service down there). The pool is up the hill and basically attached to the main house, but we never saw Seng or Michael during our stay, so I would consider it private. We spent many hours on the balcony watching surfers and star gazing. We hiked th beach to the Reef Bay Trail from the house and up to the petroglyphs, which gave us a chance to see Genti and Reef Bays from the beach which we'd never done before. Seng was a wonderful hostess and even let us stop by early on the day of check in to drop our bags and refrigerated food items, as we wanted to hit the beach but had a soft top Jeep with no back windows. She also had a bottle of champagne waiting for us in the refrigerator, which we opened on our one week anniversary at Jumbie Beach. The second bedroom downstairs that can be rented is just as nice as the rest of the house, so we will absolutely be back and might even bring friends with us next time! We truly had a perfect honeymoon and have this wonderful cottage to thank for that!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

Perfect little cottage in paradise

Guest: Anne (New Jersey)
Date of Stay: 03/03/12 Review Submitted: 03/21/12

My husband and I stayed in Reef Bay Cottage for a week, and enjoyed every moment. This was one of the best and most relaxing vacations we've ever had. Echoing the other glowing reviews, I have to say that this cottage is a gem. Gorgeous design, with several rooms stretched out across the hillside, each with a magnificent view of Reef Bay. Natural materials were used throughout, including stone walls of the style used in the old plantation buildings. Very comfortable bed and sofa. Lovely deck overlooking the view. Every amenity is provided, and the cottage was meticulously clean. Our hostess, Seng, was extremely helpful with suggestions of restaurants, beaches, and activities.We are very happy to be returning next winter.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Reef Bay Cottage

Guest: kmf4107 (Long Island NY)
Date of Stay: 01/20/12 Review Submitted: 02/11/12

Let me preface this review with the thought that I am a little reluctant to do so as I selfishly would rather this great cottage remain a secret! We stayed at Reef Bay cottage for 8 days in the end of Jan '12. Upon our arrival at the cottage we met Seng (our "hostess") who immediately made us feel at home and familiarized us with the cottage and amenities of the property. The cottage is set up perfectly for a couple with room for family or other guests with the optional downstairs suite. The cottage appears to be new and very clean, all the furnishings and decor are done very tastefully and in keeping with the caribbean theme. Another pleasant surprise upon our arrival was that a new deck had been built off the front of the cottage affording plenty of room to sit outside and take in the great views of Reef Bay (we had fun watching the surfers in the water of Reef Bay) and Rams Head. This was undoubtedly the most well equipped rental we have seen in our many times renting in St John, no detail was missed from the toiletries in the bathroom (great outdoor shower) and coffee and seasonings in the kitchen (all high end new appliances) to all the necessities to use the new duet washer/dryer in the laundry provided on the lower level of the cottage. We were a little concerned when booking about the proximity of the cottage and pool to the main house, upon arrival the cottage is totally separate from the main residence and you enter the driveway to the cottage from a different road than the main house, you really are unaware of the main residence from the cottage thanks to the great landscaping and layout. Pool area (beautiful) is close to the main house up a stairway from the cottage, but privacy was never an issue as guests have exclusive use of the pool. Other than checking in we never saw our hosts, other than a small issue with the water that was fixed immediately. I would absolutely recommend this cottage for a couple or more if renting the additional downstairs suite. The cottage is about 10 mins to Cruz Bay on paved roads, also great path to Reef Bay is a 5 min walk away. We have already re booked for winter 2013!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

PERFECTION!

Guest: Blair (Redding, Connecticut )
Date of Stay: 01/09/12 Review Submitted: 01/22/12

Just returned home from an amazing week at Reef Bay! The cottage was perfect, exactly what we wanted and expected. Not only was it beautiful inside and out, but perfectly clean and welcoming with every tool and gadget you could ever need. The pool was beautiful and clean, the perfect place to end the day. Views of Reef Bay and privacy on the hillside were spot on. Seng and Michael were excellent hosts, they knew exactly where to send us for the best food, shopping and special beach spots for sunning, snorkeling, hiking and shelling. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for the perfect comfortable island getaway away from the big crowded resorts. Can't wait to go back!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Loved Our Week at Reef Bay Cottage

Guest: Faryn R.
Date of Stay: 06/19/11 Review Submitted: 08/15/11

We stayed at Reef Bay Cottage for one week in June 2011. We were visiting the island for the first time and held our small wedding ceremony on Hawksnest Beach while we were there. Reef Bay Cottage was everything we'd hoped it would be. Seng was very helpful in communicating with us prior to our stay, and assisting us as necessary during our stay. She even surprised us with a bottle of champagne on our wedding day! The cottage itself is huge for two people. When you consider the rates at the Westin for a tiny outdated room, Reef Bay Cottage is a bargain! The decor was straight out of a Pottery Barn catalog. We loved the outdoor shower under the stars, the princess balcony, and the freedom of eating breakfast in our kitchen and preparing a lunch to pack on our many day excursions. The cooler and beach chairs made it easy for us to plan beach trips. We did the hike down to Reef Bay Beach and the continuing hike to some ruins that were a mile or so away. It definitely takes some getting used to driving the harrowing roads to and from Cruz Bay, but by the last few days we felt comfortable enough! I would definitely recommend Reef Bay Cottage and we'd certainly consider staying there again on future trips.

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

Amazing!!

Guest: Becky (Springfield, MO)
Date of Stay: 06/02/11 Review Submitted: 06/20/11

We just returned from our first trip to St. John. It was the best vacation ever! We reserved Reef Bay Cottage 9-10 months in advance and found it on this site. Not knowing anying about the island or the cottage, we reserved it after reading the reviews. As soon as we reserved it and talked to the owner, I knew this would be the right place. The owners, Michael and Seng, are amazing people! They are the perfect hostesses. They went above and beyond to make it a wonderful stay for us. We were there for our daughter's wedding on the beach, but due to the weather we had to change locations of the wedding. Seng offered their home to us, and we had the wedding on their balcony overlooking the ocean. It was more beautiful than a beach wedding would have been. They worked all day organizing this for us so it would be perfect for our daughter, and perfect it was. They were so good about telling us where to eat, where not to eat, where to shop for groceries, what to do, etc. As for the island, being our first time we didn't know what to expect. It was very primitive which appealed to us. No commercialization on this island which is perfect. The roads are a challenge but you just have to be patient and drive slowly. The restaurants were all outstanding. We never ate a bad meal. All in all, we can't wait to go back, and when we do we will definitely stay at Reef Bay Cottage!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Amazing!!

Guest: Becky (Springfield, MO)
Date of Stay: 06/02/11 Review Submitted: 06/20/11

We just returned from our first trip to St. John. It was the best vacation ever! We reserved Reef Bay Cottage 9-10 months in advance and found it on this site. Not knowing anying about the island or the cottage, we reserved it after reading the reviews. As soon as we reserved it and talked to the owner, I knew this would be the right place. The owners, Michael and Seng, are amazing people! They are the perfect hostesses. They went above and beyond to make it a wonderful stay for us. We were there for our daughter's wedding on the beach, but due to the weather we had to change locations of the wedding. Seng offered their home to us, and we had the wedding on their balcony overlooking the ocean. It was more beautiful than a beach wedding would have been. They worked all day organizing this for us so it would be perfect for our daughter, and perfect it was. They were so good about telling us where to eat, where not to eat, where to shop for groceries, what to do, etc. As for the island, being our first time we didn't know what to expect. It was very primitive which appealed to us. No commercialization on this island which is perfect. The roads are a challenge but you just have to be patient and drive slowly. The restaurants were all outstanding. We never ate a bad meal. All in all, we can't wait to go back, and when we do we will definitely stay at Reef Bay Cottage!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Has potential, but needs work...

Guest: Somewhat Disappointed (DC)
Date of Stay: 03/12/11 Review Submitted: 03/20/11

The cottage is indeed cute and very well appointed. It was extremely clean. Seng, the owner, seemed very hospitable and helpful. However, there are several important areas which should be disclosed. Although the cottage sits on the side of the mountain with a lovely view, the windows have been clouded over which precludes viewing the panorama. Also, the windows and doors either don't open or don't have screens---and in a place with many mosquitoes and no-see-ums, these issues needs to be resolved. Since the patio is at the back of the house, it doesn't take advantage of the beautiful panorama. Rather there are two small balconies which face the bay but are too small for comfortable lounging. Although the listing lists that the cottage has WiFi, it doesn't. WiFi access is only at the pool Also, the pool is approximately 50 feet away from the cottage and sits right under the owner's window which limits one's privacy.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

will return

Guest: kitty (kingston, ri)
Date of Stay: 02/26/11 Review Submitted: 05/15/11

I stayed at the lovely reef bay cottage during my children's Feb. vacation. We loved the cottage and will return again. This was our 3rd time to the island and was the nicest villa we have stayed in. As one reviewer said, it has everything you need, towels, chairs, toiletries, well stocked kitchen, etc...It was also very clean. My husband and I were upstairs in the main house and my two boys had their own private bedroom/bathroom with a tv, laundry, downstairs. If they wanted to get away from us, as teenagers often do, they were able to. The only thing missing was a deck facing the ocean views but, they are about to install one. That will make reef bay cottage perfect.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, romantic getaway.

Better than expected!

Guest: Katherine and Shuan (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 10/03/10 Review Submitted: 10/29/10

The first thought I had when we got to Reef Bay Cottage was that the pictures did not do the cottage justice! The gourmet kitchen has every utensil that you could need and has a full stove and oven and microwave. The cottage is just down hill from the main house but there is ample landscaping so when we were in the cottage, we could barely even see the main house. The cottage is private and the only sounds we heard were the ocean and nature. The cottage is just up hill from the pathway to get down to the beach, which does require some agility, but would be doable for most people in reasonable shape and was pretty short. There was a torrential downpour for three out of the seven days we were in St John and we really did not mind taking that time to relax at the cottage, read and watch some of the new DVDs that are provided (a good selection). We were very happy with our stay at Reef Bay Cottage and Seng was a great host! We hope to come back in the future.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful Visit to Reef Bay Cottage

Guest: Dale and Jan (Houston, Texas)
Date of Stay: 09/24/10 Review Submitted: 10/30/10

Reef Bay Cottage was definitely more than we hoped for! Owner/manager Seng does an outstanding job of taking care of her guests. The cottage is every bit as nice as the pictures. Seng has such a nice decorating style, and the thoughtful way she stocks the house is amazing! There was simply nothing we needed that wasn't already there - including snorkel gear. We went to celebrate my wife's 60th birthday and to snorkel - I don't know how you could find a better locale for snorkeling. There are 10 or more named beaches, most of which are protected, easy to get to and as pretty as the pictures! We had a ball and it was always a pleasure to come home to the cottage. It was a great week for us and I highly recommend this cottage!

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

Our Dream Vacation

Guest: Cathy & Terry (Kentucky)
Date of Stay: 05/15/10 Review Submitted: 06/15/10

My husband and I celebrated our 25th anniversary on St. John, our first time out of the country. It was beyond our wildest dreams. Seng and Michael were the most gracious hosts for providing such a beautiful retreat. There's not a day that goes by since our return that I don't think of St. John and all it's wonderous beauty. We hope to one day return to your piece of paradise. Thanks for the memories!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The Perfect Vacation

Guest: Snow to Sand (Ohio)
Date of Stay: 01/30/10 Review Submitted: 02/14/10

The Reef Bay Cottage was a great place to experience St. John. The cottage had everything we needed and more. The kitchen was well stocked with all the pots, pans, and utensils you can think of as well as beach chairs, umbrellas, and snorkeling gear. The bathroom was stocked as well, with shampoo, soap, lotion, and bug spray. I could have left my entire bathroom bag at home. The photos on the website matched the cottage exactly. The beach was a short walk away and provided the perfect setting for a quiet relaxing afternoon. The cottage is in a very peaceful area with the busy town of Cruz Bay only a short drive away. It was the perfect place for the perfect vacation.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway

Beautiful romantic cottage

Guest: Bernadette (Maryland, USA)
Date of Stay: 11/29/09 Review Submitted: 07/28/10

We stayed at here last December for our wedding. The cottage is beautifully designed and well stocked. The kitchen has all the equipment needed to cook nice meals in case restaurants are not your preference. Seng was a wonderful hostess who will provide as much help as needed. The location is private and takes advantage of its beautiful island location. We would definitely return.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect Romantic Getaway

Guest: Doreen and Mid (Greensboro, NC)
Date of Stay: 10/24/09 Review Submitted: 10/28/10

Oh my. Just what I thought would happen has happened. Folks have found out about beautiful Reef Bay Cottage!!!!! Seng and Michael your amazing cottage has been discovered! This is truly such a lovely place to stay. The view is amazing from every room. I have never stayed at a better appointed vacation home. Everything is top quality and works beautifully. We never had one complaint and were continuously surprised by Seng and Michaels willingness to go the extra mile. They were there if you needed anything but at the same time completely unobtrusive. The cottage is even nicer than the photos can show you. The location was only about 7-9 minutes to town. The property was spotless inside and out. No bugs. The house is sound and very, very clean. This is the perfect place to stay. We will return next year for sure! Thank you Seng and Michael!

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

Spectacular Find on St. John

Guest: Caribbean wanderers (Louisville)
Date of Stay: 05/15/09 Review Submitted: 06/16/09

The Reef Bay Cottage proved to be a beautiful place to spend our week on St. John. The host was incredibly helpful with suggestions and directions before arrival, and we couldn't have asked for a more well-appointed, comfortable home with great views of the ocean from every window. The home was well-stocked with everything from beach chairs to its top-notch kitchen. We highly recommend this cottage that was only a 15-minute drive from Cruz Bay.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway

Guest: Jeremy and Kate
Date of Stay: 10/18/08 Review Submitted: 10/17/08

Spectacular getaway cottage! Designed and built by the best architect in the Virgin Islands. Great views, quiet location, wonderful hosts.

Recommended for:

Guest: Matt and Shannon
Date of Stay: 03/10/08 Review Submitted: 03/09/08

This cottage is top notch!! Shannon and I stayed there for a week in the end of feb 08 and couldn't have been happier. The cottage was beautiful and will only get better with time. It offered views that were second to none, listening to the waves cash on reef bay in the morning and evening just added to the remarkable experience. Dealing with our hostess was a distinct pleasure; she made the process seamless and she was available as much or as little as needed and provided great insight (what to do/see, where to eat) to the island of St. John. We would undoubtedly stay here again.

Recommended for:

Guest: erin + carl
Date of Stay: 02/05/08 Review Submitted: 02/04/08

My wife and I stayed at the cottage, and had an absolutely spectacular time. The cottage is very private, quiet, and relaxing. All rooms have an unobstructed view of the Caribbean, and we were lulled to sleep by the sound of waves on the reef below the cliffs. The cottage is bright and airy, and outfitted with high quality furniture, artwork, and appliances. The grounds are well kept, and include an in-ground pool. Wonderful, friendly hosts, and we are certain to return.

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