Vacation Rentals by Owner

Most relaxing and perfect vacation ever!

Guest: Lindsey (Cranston, RI)
Date of Stay: 04/02/12 Review Submitted: 04/11/12

By the time we arrived in St. John it was 9:30pm. Jay was so nice to have met us at the ferry to pick us up and bring us to our car rental and then let us follow him back. Thank god he did because driving on those roads for the first time would have been a nightmare! He was so thoughtful and even made a stop so we could grab some food at the local store. Since we arrived so late, we had no idea of what our view was like until we woke up. That has to be one of my greatest memories of our trip. The view was breathtaking! We ended up sitting on the porch many of nights, just taking in the islands natural beauty. The cottage was just as pictured online, but better. It was very clean and had all the perfect amenties, beach chairs, towels, cooler and our favorite an ice maker! Mary and Jay really take pride in the island and in making every guest's trip perfect. Since we were there for our honeymoon, we already are thinking of returning someday for our anniversary!

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

Most relaxing and beautiful vacation ever!!!

Guest: Lindsey (Cranston, RI)
Date of Stay: 04/02/12 Review Submitted: 04/11/12

By the time we arrived in St. John it was 9:30pm. Jay was so nice to have met us at the ferry to pick us up and bring us to our car rental and then let us follow him back. Thank god he did because driving on those roads for the first time would have been a nightmare! He was so thoughtful and even made a stop so we could grab some food at the local store. Since we arrived so late, we had no idea of what our view was like until we woke up. That has to be one of my greatest memories of our trip. The view was breathtaking! We ended up sitting on the porch many of nights, just taking in the islands natural beauty. The cottage was just as pictured online, but better. It was very clean and had all the perfect amenties, beach chairs, towels, cooler and our favorite an ice maker! Mary and Jay really take pride in the island and in making every guest's trip perfect. Since we were there for our honeymoon, we already are thinking of returning someday for our anniversary!

Recommended for:

A Small Dream Home,Comfortable, Affordable, and Breathtaking

Guest: Steve (Manasquan, New Jersey)
Date of Stay: 03/02/12 Review Submitted: 03/13/12

This is my 4th time renting this home. My fiance and I feel this is our home. The owners take pride in this rental. Always sparkling clean when we arrive. The grounds are exceptional. The owners are very informative of what to do around the island. Yet they give you all the privacy! The views are out of this world. Everything you need in a home is there! A short drive to the most beautiful beaches in the world. Great bars and eateries are minutes away. If there is ever a problem the owners are always there ready to help!! I would recommend this cottage to my friends, relatives, or anyone I would meet that would want to vacation on the island of St. John. I will be back again and again.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful time in St. John

Guest: Becky (Phoenixville, PA)
Date of Stay: 02/18/12 Review Submitted: 02/26/12

The cottage is exactly as pictured and has spectacular views! You can tell the owners take great pride in their island and Romance Cottage. The kitchen is well equipped and has everything you would need to cook. The owners are very nice and helpful with suggestions on where to dine, snorkel, etc. Great dinner at Aqua Bistro and Skinny Legs. Had a wonderful time and cannot wait to return!!

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

A true paradise

Guest: Dawn M.
Date of Stay: 01/07/12 Review Submitted: 01/29/12

The romance cottage is a beautifully appointed space with majestic views. The atmosphere and surroundings are a perfect way to escape to paradise. Mary and Jay pay close attention to all the little details right down to their music selection for the i-home, lighting, quilt work and the beautiful grounds with hummingbirds. It truly is a special place they have created; lots of privacy, but also the opportunity to know they are right there if you need them. My partner, Jo Ann and I feel very fortunate to have found Mary and Jay's spot and plan on making our trek to St. John's an annual event and we wouldn't dream of staying anywhere else than Mary and Jay's romance cottage.

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We can't wait to return!

Guest: Melissa (Arlington, VA)
Date of Stay: 12/11/11 Review Submitted: 12/23/11

Romance Cottage is a great place to stay during a trip to St. John. Located in quiet and beautiful Coral Bay, it is an extremely well-planned cottage with a great view. Mary and Jay were so hospitable and gave us great restaurant and beach recommendations. The kitchen was well equipped and beach towels, chairs and cooler were provided.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Beautiful, Relaxing and Perfect!

Guest: KingChelzie (Charlotte, NC)
Date of Stay: 07/14/11 Review Submitted: 08/23/11

My boyfriend and I stayed with Mary and Jay at their Romance Cottage and were blown away by the beauty of the St. John! Mary and Jay were very nice and both did an excellent job not only building the cottage but stocking it will all the essentials you might need. We fell in love with St. John and can't wait to return. If you are looking for a place that is semi-secluded and not in the hustle-bustle then this is your place! The view is spectacular and even though you have to drive to the beaches, it's well worth it. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!

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

Fantastic Carribean vacation spot

Guest: Janet (Boston, MA)
Date of Stay: 04/22/11 Review Submitted: 05/01/11

My husband and I just returned from a week at Romance Cottage. It is more beautiful than in the pictures. The ocean view is wonderful. An added bonus was the wild goats that roamed the area. The babies were adorabe to see and hear. Mary and Jay, the owners were welcoming and very helful. Fantastic!

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

Romance Cottage

Guest: Patrice (Walton Hills, OH 44126 USA)
Date of Stay: 03/27/11 Review Submitted: 04/16/11

Phenomenal vacation spot for adults. Coral Bay is the jewel of St. John. Beaches available in ten minute drive. Amenities at the cottage are comprehensive. Restaurants and taverns within minutes. Mary and Jay are perfect hosts, there when you need them and most pleasant to be with. If you are packing a suitcase, unpack half after you finish. All downright casual. Aqua Bistro at the bay has breezes blowing across the open air bar all the night through. Don't set an alarm, don't bring one, because the wildlife will wake you at dawn. We are going back because we have not taken vacation at a better geography than the VI's.

Recommended for:Age 55+

This is your place, look no further!

Guest: laura (Boston, MA)
Date of Stay: 01/06/11 Review Submitted: 01/30/11

This was the perfect place for my partner and I. Mary and Jay had designed and built this cottage with attention to all the details, top of the line materials, dimmers on the lights, overhead fans in every room, beautiful quilts (made by Mary) on the bed and walls. They have thought of everything you need in the kitchen too! The location is great - on the quiet end of the island with access to beaches. What sealed the deal for us was a tandem, inflatable kayak which we strapped to out rental car and we paddled to secluded coves to kayak, snorkel and swim. When we were not kayaking, we were on the beach with the chair, umbrella, and cooler they provided. Mary and Jay were very helpful, hospitable, and respectful of privacy. Lucky for us they are gay friendly and warmly welcomed us. This is a great place and Mary and Jay are wonderful people.

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

A Caribbean Delight!

Guest: Enjoyed the Visit (Lake Pleasant, NY)
Date of Stay: 04/21/10 Review Submitted: 04/25/10

Coral Bay is located on the more peaceful side of St John. If you are lucky, you will have the pleasure of staying at Romance Cottage. Romance Cottage is located just about two mile from the center of town and is a wonderfully appointed studio cottage on the grounds of Jay and Mary's property. No detail is ignored in this adorable cottage, and cleanliness seems to be their motto. The views from two sides of the cottage are breathtaking and both interior and exterior are cheery with decorator accents that say "island tranquility". Even though the year-round owners are just a stone's throw away the property stiuation allows for complete privacy. With daily visits snorkeling at gorgeous beaches and evening dinners at local restaurants our stay was a vacationers delight.

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

Our fabulous time at the

Guest: Powie-g (Huntington, NY)
Date of Stay: 01/22/10 Review Submitted: 02/03/10

My husband and I just returned from spending a fabulous week on St. John and at the "Romance Cottage". From the moment I saw the listing on Homeaway.com, I knew that this would be the perfect place to stay at while there. The cottage was clean, neat, bright, and had every ammenity that we needed. The deck is perfect for enjoying a cocktail or bbq-ing, all the while looking at the beautiful Caribbean waters. Waking up each day to the beautiful skies, comfortable breeze, roosters, goats, donkeys, geccos, frogs, iguanas, and sheep, made each day another day away from the office and hectic schedules. Jay and Mary (who live right next door) were the perfect people to rent from. They are friendly, hospitable, and knowledgeable. Mary baked us delicious muffins, and shared bananas from the trees. The cottage is suitable for 2 people. There is tv w/ satellite, ISymphony, great sized bathroom, good sized kitchen, and full fridge w freezer. Mary and Jay provided us w/ a cooler, beach chairs, and beach towels for our days in the sun. The cottage is located on the opposite side of the island from the port. It is away from it ALL! If you want seclusion, peace and quiet, and a very laid back atmosphere, the cottage is the place to stay. We were very happy with our stay at the cottage and would highly recommend it! If it is available for rent when we return to St. John, we would love to stay there again! Thank you Mary and Jay! Good luck with the installation of the solar panels! Hope to see you soon! Be well!

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

The Perfect Spot

Guest: Marcy B (Connecticut)
Date of Stay: 01/10/10 Review Submitted: 03/26/10

From the minute we arrived everything was perfect. Perfectly clean. Perfectly close to restaurants and a variety of beaches. Perfect view, perfect quilts. And even the banana bread in the fridge was perfect. We couldn't have had a better time. We liked the civilized touches - internet access, news program every morning and evening, the air conditioning. Breakfast and cocktails every day overlooking the harbor. Owners helpful. We have recommended this spot to friends. Just one question. When can we go back?

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway.

Relaxing Vacation on St. John Dec. '09

Guest: clgett (Michigan, USA)
Date of Stay: 12/26/09 Review Submitted: 03/01/10

My husband and I stayed at Romance Cottage 12/26/2009 through 01/03/2010. It was our first time vacationing on the island of St. John. We loved the location of Romance Cottage near Coral Bay. We loved the ocean views and the way the cottage sits at the end of a dead end road quite high on the mountainside. The cottage although small was sufficient and it was nicely decorated and clean. We did not use the A/C but instead enjoyed the tropical fresh air and the sounds of the tree frogs and insects at night. There are 3 ceiling fans and they worked great. The kitchen was nice but we never cooked in it. We really appreciated the fact that their rainwater is filtered and treated with UV light. This was a bonus because all of the rentals I checked into use rainwater for showers, etc. but most were unfiltered let alone UV treated. My husband drank the tap water with no problems while I still opted for bottled water. The only negative I can say about this cottage is that the hot water runs out very quickly and I was forced to take cool showers every day. I think the hot water tank is extremely small! On the plus side, there are two windows in the shower that have great views looking out on the ocean! The only other thing that could have made our stay better would have been if the towels would have been replaced during the stay or if the sheets would have been changed midway through our stay. I am sure that the owners would have provided more towels if I would have asked because they were very nice but I never asked them because we just did not want to hassle with it. Two sets of bath towels for 2 people showering twice a day for 8 days just is not sufficient eventhough we reuse our towels. Beach towels, beach chairs, and a small cooler are provided for your use and we thought that was nice.Staying at this cottage was so relaxing and we drove to all of the islands famed beaches (all are to die for) each day. Our personal favorites were Hawksnest Beach and Vie's Beach. You really need a Jeep and we rented one. We LOVE the food at Shipwreck Landing and we ate dinner there 6 out of our 8 nights. Miss Lucy's is terrible and Sweet Plaintains is very good but Shipwreck is awesome! Every morning about 7am we enjoyed the sounds of the wild goats that came to eat in front of the cottage. It was fun to watch them and added to the ambiance of the island. I highly recommend this cottage and the Coral Bay area. We will return to St. John for sure!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect!

Guest: Jeanette&Karl (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 04/05/09 Review Submitted: 04/18/09

Romance Cottage is exactly what we were looking for: it was romantic, quiet, clean, well equipped, very nicely furnished, and had the most amazing view. We couldn't have picked a better place on the island to stay. Mary & Jay were fantastic as well. We look forward to returning soon!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/15/09 Review Submitted: 02/15/09

We had a great stay at the cottage.Jay and Mary are hospitable and gracious without being intrusive. If you get a chance to have dinner or a drink with them, don't hesitate. They are a wonderful couple. The cottage is well built,clean, and equipped with everything you might need. The view is outstanding and the grounds are lovely. We will stay here for sure the next time we visit St. John. Carl and Kris Seattle Wa

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We loved it!

Guest: Carl&Kris (Seattle WA)
Date of Stay: 02/01/09 Review Submitted: 03/02/09

Just a few words about our stay at the romance cottage in Coral bay. It is clean,well built and equipped with everything we needed.It's at the end of a quiet street,very peaceful with a killer view of Coral bay. Jay and Mary are excellent hosts and great company as well. We had a wonderful stay and will stay there again next time we're on St John.

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

Guest: Sharon and Kurt McLain (Clarkston MI)
Date of Stay: 11/24/08 Review Submitted: 11/24/08

How can anyone not have a good time in the Virgin Islands? Wow- picture perfect weather and our hosts Mary and Jay went out of their way to make sure we had every thing we needed for a comfortable stay. Because of our late arrival, they even picked up our rental car for us in St. Johns and met us at the dock. We definitely recommend Romance Cottage as a great place to stay. Very comfortable and great sunsets. Can't wait till we can go back for a visit next year! Thanks so much Mary and Jay!?

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Great Stay!

Guest: Steve and Laura (Atlantic, Virginia)
Date of Stay: 10/04/08 Review Submitted: 10/14/08

Romance Cottage is perfect in every way. The view is incredible. Everything in the cottage is top of the line. Mary and Jay are perfect hosts. I highly recommend this cottage to everyone. Two things stood out during our stay. The fragrance from the flowers outside are incredible and the view from the shower is outstanding!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/08 Review Submitted: 09/12/08

Having been to St. John before, we would have to say that staying at Mary & Jay's cottage was one of the most pleasant, relaxing, and yes ROMANTIC vacations we've had. Their cottage is equipped with everything you will need & their taste in design & furnishings is impeccable. Don't hesitate to spend some time and enjoy the beautiful views, perfect location in Coral Bay, the privacy, and the great service provided by your hosts!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/08 Review Submitted: 04/25/08

We had a fabulous time on St. John, and our stay was enhanced by the graciousness and friendliness of Jay and Mary. Romance Cottage is a perfect setting for two people looking for a relaxing vacation. The cottage had every amenity we needed, and was decorated very tastefully and appropriately for its beautiful and quiet setting. After our busy days at the beaches, we were glad to return to a quiet region of the island and found Coral Bay most pleasant. Yet, if we wanted to go out in the evening, we were still close enough to restaurants, stores, and nightlife. We look forward to a return visit.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: MarieLaura (Connecticut)
Date of Stay: 03/01/08 Review Submitted: 03/26/08

We had a wonderful time at Jay & Mary's cottage which is located at the end of a quiet street overlooking Coral Bay. From the porch there are ocean breezes and a wonderful view. The cottage itself is bright and airy with everything you could possibly need for a stay. Although not previously familiar with Coral Bay, it is located on the east end of the island away from the crowds of tourists but still with many wonderful restaurants,a gourmet market, video store, snorkel rental, etc. Mary & Jay were excellent hosts and found everyone we met in Coral Bay extremely friendly and personable. We can't wait to go back!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/08 Review Submitted: 03/16/08

We loved the Romance Cottage and our hosts, Mary and Jay, who went out of their way to make us feel welcome. We spent our days hiking the trails of the National Park and snorkeling at the beautiful beaches, happy to return to our picture perfect cottage perched on a hillside overlooking Coral Bay. It was nice to be at the quieter end of the island but within a few minutes drive of a gourmet grocery store, equipment rentals, a video store and a variety of very nice restaurants. Not only is the cottage great but Mary and Jay have tried to anticipate some of the necessities you might need such as kitchen gadgets, gas grill,a small cooler and beach chairs. This was our first visit to St. John. All this, and the bonus of Mary's exquisite quilt work pieces adorning the cottage walls made for a wonderful two week vacation -- and great memories.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/08 Review Submitted: 03/02/08

We had a lovely stay here. Mary and Jay are excellent hosts and the views from the cottage are beautiful.

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Romance Cottage

Guest: Super (Manasquan, NJ USA)
Date of Stay: 01/01/08 Review Submitted: 01/29/08

This was my 10th time to St John, and my first time in a single rental, all the other times I shared a rental. The cottage was better than I expected. The views were fabulous. Waking up, lifting my head and looking foward and seeing Coral Bay, what a sight!! The cottage was very clean and well maintained. Coral Bay was just a few minutes away. Some of the best places in St John were just minutes from us. Shipwreck my favorite on the island, was just around the corner, The beaches were just a few miles away. Night time was very quiet, we left the windows open, just feeling those trade winds, what a treat!

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway.