Hope to come back!

Guest: yyy (New York)
Date of Stay: 09/28/11 Review Submitted: 10/15/11

Our family of five (including a baby and my elderly mother-in-law) had a great time at the villa and generally in St. Croix. We couldn't have asked for a better place to stay, and the villa exceeded our expectations in every way. We had lots of space, privacy, and every imaginable convenience. The owner answered all of my questions before we went, and the property caretaker was very helpful with all the local information and advice and even took me along for a great dive. We felt like we visited a tropical paradise - and at this villa we were treated like kings!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Tired Estate

Guest: Jo (wayland ma)
Date of Stay: 03/13/10 Review Submitted: 10/05/11

I can't say I agree with the rest of the reviews this Villa may have been great once but we found it worn down. The pictures must be 15-20 years old with not much upkeep. we were extremley dissapointed. As far as the fruit trees they were about 2ft tall. The only thing not misleading about the discription were the views yes they were wonderful. But for that price you would expect quality.

Owner response:Rest assured, readers, that all these pictures are current and that the live-in caretaker does daily maintenance on the property. I am terribly sorry that this one party had a bad experience in St. Croix and, had she contacted me personally, I would have done everyone in my power to make her happy. Every other guest has had nothing but glowing reviews of my island paradise, and I am very proud of it.

Recommended for:

Loved, loved, loved my stay

Guest: snorkeler (Beverly Hills)
Date of Stay: 05/03/11 Review Submitted: 05/10/11

Larimar is the jewel of the Caribbean. Every view from every angle is picture perfect. The privacy is delicious. No prying eyes. No noisy neighbors. It's just a few minutes drive to one of the best snorkeling and diving beaches in the Virgin Islands. Nearby restaurants are relaxed and the food is excellent, especially the home-made ice cream. It's a great jumping off spot for island adventures and an even better place to relax and do absolutely nothing. Grab a float and a cool drink and lounge in the pool or sit with a good book and a view of the ocean. You'll want to return. I do.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, age 55+, girls getaway, families with young children, romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

A Dream...

Guest: SweeTEA (Sneads Ferry, NC)
Date of Stay: 06/19/10 Review Submitted: 02/02/11

I will sum this villa up in a few words. Fabulous Tranquil Dreamy Beautiful If you can believe this, the pictures do not do justice. You have to see Larimar for yourself to actually take in everything that she has to offer. Larimar is a tranquil piece of heaven that made us feel as if we were a million miles away from everything. The two splendid acres perched atop a bluff overlooking the tranquil blue infinity paved the way to a relaxing and adventurous vacation. Only a 5 minute drive (5 mins if you drive slow to take in the scenery) through the jungle and you are perched on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world..... Cane Bay Beach! My only complaint would have to be that internet and cell phone reception were too good. Next time.....? I will throw my Crackberry over a cliff on the way up to Larimar!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

I Hated to Leave

Guest: Nikki (Los Angeles)
Date of Stay: 03/22/10 Review Submitted: 08/08/10

When I walked through the wrought-iron gate into the pool patio and saw the 300 degree view of the Caribbean, it took my breath away. The warm breeze, the golden sun, the aqua water... I have never been in a place so peaceful. I never heard a car the whole time I was there, unless it was the caretaker bringing back a lobster for dinner. The house is enormous, gracious, elegant - we were four adults and we each felt like we had the place to ourselves. St. Croix itself was a real surprise. It's a tropical paradise that is still undiscovered by tourists. We snorkeled at Cane Bay, took a catamaran to Buck Island, rode jet ski's at the Fredericksted Pier and there was never a crowd or a harsh word. I can't wait to go back, and I can't say enough good things about Villa Larimar.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, families with young children, romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

A Well-Named House: Larimar Is a Gem

Guest: jools (Salem, New York)
Date of Stay: 04/21/08 Review Submitted: 07/06/10

Larimar, the blue stone, is a gem, and so is this place. There's a massive outdoor living room, flanked by a dining area, giant patio and a chlorine-free pool; at the far end, a well-stocked kitchen is housed within a self-contained structure, with a casual eating area of its own overlooking the mountains on one side and gardens (bougainvillea, hibiscus, ixora, citrus trees) on the other. There are four bedrooms, including two masters, both large enough to have sitting areas. You can see a few other houses from the veranda, but it's so quiet that you'd think you were on an estate a mile from the nearest neighbor. Those of us tethered to email and the Internet had wireless broadband, and there is cable TV, but for the most part we ignored all electronic devices, including cell phones—a vacation in and of itself. The villa is perched above a mountain road studded with hairpin turns, overlooking Cane Bay; on a clear day you can see St. Thomas and Vieqes, a charming, sleepy little island off the coast of Puerto Rico, to the northwest. Up this high, there's a constant breeze, but it's still close enough to the sea to hear the breakers. We had the 2-acre tropical grounds to ourselves. The decor is lovely, and the layout works well for families or for groups of friends. At breakfast we planned the day's itinerary. Some days were all about beach and snorkeling, others on exploring. It's an easy drive into Christiansted and Frederiksted, the only two cities on the island, to sightsee, shop, and sample a few museums and galleries. There's championship-level golf, horseback riding, sailing, hikes in the rain forest, fine dining and a casino for those so inclined (we weren't). There was much discussion about going to snorkel at Buck Island Reef, one of only a handful of protected marine areas in the National Park System; it's a little more than a mile from the marina in Christiansted. (We nixed the idea when it started raining.) We did make it to Estate Whim, a restored, early 18th century plantation, and the St. George Botanical Garden, which is lovely. I can't wait to go back.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, adventure seekers.