Buddha Garden Cool Breezes, Beautiful Views, Walk to Beach

• Incredible stay on St.John at Buddha Garden

  Incredible stay on St.John at Buddha Garden

  • Guest CaribbeaVisitors
  • Date of stay 07/22/09
  • Review Submitted 08/09/09
  First, I want to say how wonderful the island of St.John is for a relaxing vacation. Now the only way to improve on this was to find a place as special as St.John and we did! Buddha Garden is decorated in exotic Asian decor that was purchased by the owners on their many trips abroad. It is better than the pictures and at the end of the road so it is very private. There are two large bedrooms with attached bathrooms with walk-in showers, a great kitchen with a koi pond outside, a living room area, many neat dining areas and places to read including the roof deck. Good for yoga too. The views are something truly special. You look out on several of the British Virgin Islands, the east end of St.John and a beautiful bay below where you can hear the waves. There is always a great breeze too. We rented a jeep to travel to the numerous beaches and could not believe all the sea life we saw. No jet skiing so very relaxing. The owners Lolita and Ric were extremely helpful and answered any questions we had. We wish we had had a chance to talk to them about all their travels. Lolita provided us with a list of less known places to snorkel, their favorite places to eat and where to grocery shop. There is a market a few miles away (Lily's Gourmet Market) that had all we needed, we did shop once in town (Starfish) too. When we ate out the food was wonderful (Shipwreck, Skinny Legs...) and the servings were large so we made two meals from most places. Before coming we read about it being expensive to buy food and eat out but when you consider there is no sales tax or resort tax it worked out about the same as other island trips we have made. I saw on another review were some people stayed with out a jeep and you could do that but for us it was much easier to have transportation. My husband went into town twice to go out scuba diving (Low Key- which he said was the best group he has ever dove with) and we could go places when ever we wanted. We spent a great day on the "Baddy Kitty" that took us to several BVI (you need your passport) to swim, eat and have a drink. It could not have been a better trip. Like islands in the Caribbean in St.John you should be conscious about saving water and there is a water collection system at this home. I wish I could upload some of my pictures to better show Buddha Garden and it's views. We are hopeful to return again to say at this beautiful home.

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

  Owner response: I am glad that you mentioned Low Key and Bad Kitty as that helps everyone else when they want to go diving or the 'BVI's. I think you can explore the island more with a jeep especially if you want to dine out in some of our great restaurants.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 11/11

• serene, spectacular view

  serene, spectacular view

  • Guest John Q.
  • Date of stay 01/30/13
  • Review Submitted 03/31/13
  I came across Buddha Garden when searching for an escape from Minnesota winter. Idyllic would be how i would describe this secluded retreat with a gorgeous view. The house is spacious, comfortable and furnished with treasures from the East. Everything you might need is furnished whether you want to eat in or drop into Coral Bay to eat. Take advantage of the great snorkeling at a wide selection of beaches, they even provide all the gear. Being the early riser, i enjoyed my coffee watching the sun rise with the BVI in the background.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Buddha Garden - A Spectacular Retreat

  Buddha Garden - A Spectacular Retreat

  • Guest Tessa M.
  • Date of stay 12/22/12
  • Review Submitted 01/09/13
  This property was absolutely fantastic. Beautifully furnished, very private, truly spectacular views. The house has everything one needs for a very comfortable stay. Off the beaten track (which suited us perfectly) and yet close to beaches, hiking, restaurants, etc. The owners were gracious and helpful whenever we needed information. I would highly recommend this property to anyone looking for a unique and memorable escape.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Paradise

  Paradise

  • Guest Prue M.
  • Date of stay 12/22/12
  • Review Submitted 01/07/13
  Buddha Garden was more than I ever expected. While it is certainly off the beaten track, once you arrive you will know you have found something special. The house provides wonderful panoramic views of the British Virgin Islands and many wonderful areas to enjoy the views, not least of which is the rooftop pagoda. The interior is filled with art and treasures from the Far East that Rick and Lolita have collected over the years and have decorated their house with. It is truly a special place but also very functional and extremely well equipped. It was truly a wonderful stay and I would highly recommend it for those looking for a magical, relaxing stay away from it all.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Most Relaxing Vacation We Ever Had

  Most Relaxing Vacation We Ever Had

  • Guest Gwydhar G.
  • Date of stay 11/26/11
  • Review Submitted 12/12/11
  We'd never been to the Virgin Islands before but after the stress of Thanksgiving and a busy personal and professional year we were burnt out and looking for a place to recharge. We absolutely found it in the tranquil, gallery-like setting of Buddha Garden. Our week at Buddha Garden was a wonderful balance of reading, napping, watching the stars and the sunrise along with visiting St John's beautiful beaches and taking a few exhilarating and unexpected car rides. (Everyone assures you that you can't get lost because there's only one road: to this we say: "you can" and "we did.") The home is welcoming and well appointed with the perks of a well equipped kitchen and wireless internet. We had the pleasure of dining at several wonderful restaurants: La Tapa was excellent food (but don't sit on the curbside if you can) and Aqua Bistro had some of the best burgers we ever had. We also had great fun visiting the owners' shop(s) Now and Zen. The owners, Ric and Lolita, are very gracious and accommodating and, if you are interested, have wonderful adventure stories from their travels around the world. I would absolutely recommend this place to any friend or family member looking for quiet and relaxation, and I would go back in a heartbeat!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• paradise at the end of the road

  paradise at the end of the road

  • Guest julibet
  • Date of stay 03/10/11
  • Review Submitted 03/24/11
  The pictures don't do this house justice. There are so many stunning outdoor places--sun and shade--to hang out, savor the views and catch the amazing breezes. The rooftop was our evening entertainment, watching the sunset, listening to the water, looking at the stars. I loved the bathrooms, too--lovely, natural all-tile and stone wet rooms with view portals. Chock full of art, books, and DVDs--not that we ever got around to turning on the TV. And, within walking distance, the restaurant at Concordia which is open-air, excellent, and reasonably priced. What a vacation find!

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Good Vibes

  Good Vibes

  • Guest boomernation
  • Date of stay 01/30/11
  • Review Submitted 02/14/11
  The good vibes at the Buddha Garden started as soon as we walked into the villa. There was peaceful music playing and the gentle breeze was blowing through the house. The far eastern decor was wonderful. The villa was clean and well equipped with anything you might need for a great stay. The roof top terrace had the most spectacular views I have ever seen. There is total privacy. The location is perfect. We had a car rental and went to Waterlemon Cay (in 10 minutes) for great snorkeling. We swam at the uncrowded Little Lameshur Bay. Had wonderful Sunday Brunch at Miss Lucy's. Got groceries at Lily's and spirits at Love City Markey all within a 5 minute drive. Ready to go back.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• Cloud Watching Retreat

  Cloud Watching Retreat

  • Guest Laura & Bill
  • Date of stay 12/24/10
  • Review Submitted 01/10/11
  We stayed at Buddha Garden in November 2010 for an unbelievable week. If you want to really retreat & get away from the "cookie cutter" offerings, this lovely & interesting home is for you. The pictures were accurate as was the description in the listing & more. Music was playing when we arrived along with a lovely cheese & fruit plate. This was our first time in St. John & we fell in love with the island, the people, the beaches & the beautiful scenery & this home. We loved the location, which over looks the Virgin Islands & Torotola & has magnificent views of the islands, the sea & the clouds. Early morning & late afternoon brings astonishing water colors to the sky & sea. Time for "cloud watching"! The breezes are constant, so air conditioning is not needed. The house itself is comfortable & very different in decor. We found this charming & we were constantly seeing something new hidden somewhere in the Koi Pond & in the gardens. The furnishings, from the pictures are from the Far East & really give the home a unique personality. Rick & Emily, the Owners, put a lot of thought& work into their house. If you want a romantic & adventure like "get away", this is the place for you! There are plenty of beaches & good restaurants in the Coral Bay vicinity & the beaches on the north end of the island are also close in proximity. Rick & Emily are also very helpful with any questions that you may have about St. John; whether it be snorkeling, beaches, restaurants, points of interest, history etc. We plan on returning next year as we truly enjoyed our stay at Buddha Garden & came away fully rested & felt that we had been in a very magical place. Don't forget to count the Buddhas!

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

• Buddha Garden Paradise

  Buddha Garden Paradise

  • Guest ffjfjfjfjllllfl
  • Date of stay 01/29/10
  • Review Submitted 03/26/10
  My husband and I love the East and staying at Buddha Garden was just like being there; in the most beautiful and breathtaking location one can imagine. There are many comfortable and unique spaces at Buddha Garden to just sit and drink in the beauty of the surroundings. The collection of art in this house is amazing. We saw new things each day that we hadn't noticed in previous days. Ric and Lolita have done a great job creating a very tranquil , serene and fun atmosphere. A place to just relax, read a good book, do yoga or do nothing. It's conveniently located, so it's easy to venture out when feeling like exploring. I liked being able to walk to Salt Pond to go for a swim and a snorkel, and not needing to always use our jeep to get around. We enjoyed cooking a lot of our own meals and eating them out on the porch overlooking the BVIs. The rooftop space and view is spectacular, day and night. We definately hope to return in the future.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Buddha Garden Delight

  Buddha Garden Delight

  • Guest Zimo
  • Date of stay 03/05/10
  • Review Submitted 03/12/10
  If you like spectacular views, panoramic that is; a unique getaway that is filled with art and objects from Asia and Indonesia, on a cliff overlooking island after Island , then I highly recommend this rental. There are all these different environments to relax and hang out in. ie a gorgeous outside porch overlooking the sea, an adorable outdoor dining nook and the rooftop is simply breathtaking. We hung out in this Buddha like temple structure relaxing, reading and meditating. I experienced sitting and lying in different places in the house and everywhere I looked it was a visual treat to my eyes and my soul. This house is like nothing I have ever been in. We grew to love it in such a short time. It is fully equipped with a stereo and Cd's,Internet and T.V and is the perfect getaway retreat. We're in.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

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