Great Vacation Spot

Guest: kim (Somerville, MA)
Date of Stay: 12/10/11 Review Submitted: 12/29/11

We stayed at Egret's Rest for 1 week early in December. To start, both the owners and their management company were very responsive to our inquiries prior to arrival. The condo's location was fantastic, we could watch the boats in the harbor in the morning and walk to Cruz Bay for dinner at night (we could be at Beach Bar in 3 minutes!). We rented a jeep half the week only, and the location was a great starting point for hikes on days we didn't have a jeep. The pictures of the unit are extremely accurate. Despite being so close to town, the condo was quiet, especially with the bedroom in the back. The kitchen was fully stocked with every appliance we could need and more. The condo was extremely clean as well. The little touches were very nice - St John books and magazines in the living room, zip lock bags in the kitchen. My only issue was that we didn't have enough beach towels - when you're going to the beach twice a day, plus the lovely pool, 2 towels are not enough for a couple. But this is my only complaint, so not bad at all. Thanks for a great vaca, Egret's Rest!

Owner response:We must apologize for our management company not following our instructions for our guests--they have been instructed to place two complete sets of bath and beach towels in Egrets Rest for each guest. For any future guests who stay at Egrets Rest, we ask that you contact our managemet company for ANY issues you might have and we promise that your requests will be handled promptly and professionally. We are glad that, except for this problem, you had a great week at Egrets Rest.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE!

Guest: Liz (Beaver, PA)
Date of Stay: 11/12/11 Review Submitted: 12/06/11

In our 14 years of coming to the gorgeous island of St. John, this has to be one of the best! Egret's Rest has the best of everything - the proximity to the shops and restaurants eliminates the parking problem we face when we stay out of town. While we still had a Jeep, knowing it was safely parked in the garage while we were out at night was a relief. The amenities at Egret's Rest are truly amazing! It was so comfortable we never wanted to leave! This is a real gem that we hope to come back to again and again.

Owner response:Being long time visitors to St. John, you have hit upon one of the real advantages of our location close to everything in town--Secure Parking! Parking places in Cruz Bay are at a real minimum so being able to walk to shops and restaurants is so much easier than hunting for that elusive parking place in town. And we love being able to include the cost of your reserved parking place in our garage in the rate for your stay at Egrets Rest. We look forward to your return as a guests at Egrets Rest anytime!

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, age 55+, romantic getaway.

OUR WEDDING one amazing week thanks to EGRETS REST!!!!

Guest: Birkster (washington,il)
Date of Stay: 06/25/11 Review Submitted: 11/28/11

WOW that is all i can say about this place!!! when looking at it on this website it really doesnt do justice as to what you get in person when you arive. for starters its very very clean the properity mangment does a great job. had only two problems (locked the safe and couldnt open it user error but they came out within 20 min and had rest the code and the other was the phone no big deal they had that fixed in 20 min also) the place has an amazing view with everything you could need for your stay kitchen was fully equiped (goodie bag was awesome too). the BED was AMAZING best sleep i have ever gotten (even with wedding gitters i slept through the night) bathroom huge. really a great place in the heart of downtown takes 5 min to walk to restuarnts and bars or to open air taxis that travel the whole island. NOT like any other island i have been too I FELT SAFE WALKING AT NIGHT with my wife people are very very friendly. they welcome you to their island PLEASE PLEASE DONT PASS THIS PLACE UP GREAT VALUE FOR A TROPICAL PLACE THE OWNERS ARE VERY PLEASENT AS WELL!!!!!!!

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

There's a reason for all the 5 star reviews

Guest: Steve (Oklahoma)
Date of Stay: 09/04/11 Review Submitted: 09/23/11

I'm rarely compelled to write a review for anything, but I'm making an exception in this case. Bob and Colleen's condo was everything we expected and MORE. The location couldn't have been better, the view second to none, and the condo itself was perfect. Clean? I've stayed in several privately owned condos in my travels, none came close to what we experienced in this one. It was obvious from the first step inside the condo the owners took pride in their property. Bob and Colleen were very responsive to any and all questions prior to leaving for St. John, which put our minds at ease. The information provided at booking was extremely helpful when planning our days. We can't wait to come back!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Ultimate Island Getaway!!!

Guest: Family of 4 (Tampa Area, FL)
Date of Stay: 08/05/11 Review Submitted: 09/07/11

I just wanted to take a moment and thank you for sharing your beautiful condo with us during for a week in August 2011. We have stayed at Grande Bay before in other condos but we enjoyed Egrets Rest the most. I really like the lower building much more having now stayed in it with the view of the harbors shore and the sound of the waves. Grande Bay for us is the BEST location on the island b/c of the ability to walk to town and the ferries for day excursions (the taxi bills get quite expensive going in and out of town sometimes twice a day for a family of 4 if you are not staying at Grande Bay). It's also a great plus having a parking garage since we always rent a car for the full time we are on island to head to the beaches and the Coral Bay area. Ergrets Rest is very well appointed with everything you will ever need during you stay from coolers & beach chairs to blow dryers & room safe. The Heavenly bed was awesome, and we slept like our kids after long days at the beaches. We have been to St.John many times and stayed many places but, we look forward to enjoying Egrets Rest again sometime soon.

Owner response:We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay at Egrets Rest! We often hear from our guests that they also prefer our location within the resort; staying at Egrets Rest means being just 35 feet from the water where you can easily hear the sounds of the waves right below our front terrace. It is our goal to have Egrets Rest be the best furnished, most convenient and comfortable condo on St. John, and also continue to be the best value for your money on the island.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, girls getaway, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Senior retired couple

Guest: Gene (San Antonio, TX)
Date of Stay: 05/08/11 Review Submitted: 06/13/11

We had a most delightful time in St John and Egrets Rest provided a magnificent base and finishing touch to our visit. I could (and did) spend a lot of time just sitting on the balcony looking out at the water, the boating activity, the near and far islands, and the entire ambiance of the view and location. We utilized the house library, sailed, snorkeled, and sunned a lot and enjoyed every aspect of the island and beach life. Egrets Rest is delightful and just as advertised. We were very pleased and it was a pleasure to loll around enjoying the unit, idly observing the bay and boating, and access to everything needed or desired. Facilities are comfortable, complete in every way, and every need has been met. We are both almost 80 and remembrances of walking up and down that hill past Gallows Point each day on our last visit remain stowed away in that dark place-where we will not go again. Egrets Rest was perfect for us; just a minimum stroll to the shops and restaurants and all the delightful nooks and crannies in the area. I cannot think of a better or more convenient place, nor consider how you could make it any better. It is superb! Thanks for letting us share your home... Highly recommend it to those who may be considering an island visit.

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

Location is Everything!

Guest: Karen Weldon (Colorado Springs,CO)
Date of Stay: 02/05/11 Review Submitted: 02/14/11

We had never visited St. John in the past and I did extensive research before selecting this particular unit and location. It is one of the few places located on the water that won't cost you an arm and a leg. The location is perfect because you can walk to all of the ferries, restaurants, bars, shops, boat docks for charters and several hiking trails. Parking is a HUGE problem in Cruz Bay and this unit comes with parking space in a garage.....a rare find. The unit is very spacious and feels brand new......Granite, stainless steel, large tiled shower, very comfy bed, plush towels, well equipped kitchen, great air conditioning, etc.... Although we went to various beaches daily, we still came back to use the hot tub and pool at the end of the day. The owners were very responsive to every phone call and email that I sent. Another great thing is that you can wheel your suitcases right to the unit from the ferry.....no cab, no rental car. We did rent a car for one day, took a taxi another day, rented a dingy to explore the island on our own and did a boat charter. I really didn't see the necessity of renting a car for a whole week as most of the action is within walking distance. Egrets Rest is probably one of the newest places you can find on Cruz Bay. We also appreciated the free wifi that was accessible in the unit or sitting on the balcony overlooking the water. For those who need a tv, there is a very nice flat screen in the living area and a small tv in the bedroom. This place really had it all. You won't regret renting this unit from the very helpful owners.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, romantic getaway.

Beautiful View, Roomy and Nice Amentities

Guest: Tom & Julie (New Cumberland, PA, USA)
Date of Stay: 01/13/11 Review Submitted: 01/24/11

We were unable to stay at this condo because of the dates we wanted to vacation, but Bob and Colleen were nice enough to invite us to view it while we were staying at Grande Bay. We stayed in another one bedroom condo and the difference is considerable: a true one bedroom is larger than a one bedroom lock-out unit and the view from this unit is phenomenal, since they are in the front building and it's unobstructed by rooftops. Instead of your bedroom patio being smashed up against the side of a hill and feeling like you're in a cave, this one has a nice garden view from the bedroom. The balcony area facing the water is spacious, which is important, since you spend so much time outdoors. As some of the other guests have commented, this unit is fully equipped, whereas our unit didn't even have a corkscrew. It's the little things that make a vacation and I'm sure that you will lack for nothing in this condo. In general, the Grande Bay location doesn't require car rental, although I recommend it at least for a few days to visit the beautiful beaches of St. John. There is designated parking in the garage, which is a real plus if you've ever been to Cruz Bay, and the pool/hot tub area, as well as the exercise room, are added features, which a lot of accommodations don't offer. You can easily walk to all the restaurants, bars, shops, grocery store, and ferry dock, so it's a perfect location, even without a car. Although it will be more difficult to find availability at this unit because of my comments, I felt since I've used vrbo so extensively and depended on others' comments, it's the right thing to do!

Owner response:Thank you Julie and Tom, we enjoyed our visit with you and appreciate your kind words about Egrets Rest As you said, our condo is exceptionally large and does have a wonderful view both to the front over the beach and the back over the beautiful landscaped hillside behind the building. We have furnished Egrets Rest for comfort and convenience so that our guests have everything they might need during their stay. We look forward to your stay at Egrets Rest when you travel to St. John next time.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, people with disabilities, girls getaway, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Perfect Condo - Perfect Vacation

Guest: Stacie (Kenosha, Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 11/12/10 Review Submitted: 12/05/10

What a great vacation. Egret's Rest was perfect for my last trip. I've been to St. John many times, and have even stayed at Grande Bay before, but I have definitely found my go to place to stay from now on in Egret's Rest. You can't beat the location or the price. I didn't rent a car this trip but would consider it next time, just because of the ease of having the reserved parking. But it's definitely not necessary. The best part was leaving the screen door open and catching the warm breeze and listening to the waves roll up on shore. I spent many hours just sitting out on the balcony watching the world go by. The unit was very spacious for a one bedroom and it had all the amenities you could need. Thanks to Bob and Colleen for sharing their beautiful home with me. Can't wait to return.

Owner response:We so enjoy allowing guests to stay in our second home--it is furnished with all the conveniences of our home in Colorado for comfort and enjoyability. Handling our own rentals thru VRBO allows us to keep our prices reasonable and our management company provides wonderful service to our guests if they should have need of anything during their stay. We fully agree on the beauty and relaxation of our condo, especially the balcony so close to the water. it is our favorite place to read, do watercolors, or just enjoy the boats and views that make Egrets Rest truly special! One of our greatest pleasures is helping guests to have a special respite from the everyday pressures we all live with, and Egrets Rest offers a beautiful setting and accomodations to accomplish just that--and we love it when our guests become friends and plan a return visit!

Recommended for:

The Perfect Retreat

Guest: Matt & Carla (Huntersville, NC)
Date of Stay: 09/24/10 Review Submitted: 09/29/10

My husband and I just returned from our visit to St. John where we experienced our best vacation in many years! Egret's Rest is a beautifully appointed condo with breathtaking views, exquisite ammenities and all the comforts of home. The location is absoutely perfect and the staff was wonderful. The beaches and snorkeling in St. John are amazing, the people are friendly and Egret's Rest is the perfect place to settle in for a relaxing sunset after a full day of island exploring. We were truly able to relax and reconnect! Bob and Colleen were very helpful and responsive as we planned our visit. We will definitely recommend Egret's Rest to our family and friends - and we hope to return again very soon! Thanks, again, for sharing your home in paradise with us!

Owner response:Thank you for your kind comments about Egrets Rest! It was our pleasure to assist you in your vacation plans and we are so pleased that you enjoyed your time together away from all the business of daily life! For us, that is one of our favorite parts of our condo--the peace and quiet overlooking beautiful Cruz Bay Harbor, outer cays and the mountains of the National Park are a peaceful setting for us to read or work on watercolors, or to just enjoy the beauty of St. John.. I think it is the gentle sound of the waves that just makes us feel so relaxed. And of course, the beaches, snorkeling and the wonderful people who are on staff at Grande Bay are priceless, as are the local people, always ready to help with a smile and a kind word! We hope you will come back to Egrets Rest again!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, people with disabilities, girls getaway, families with young children, romantic getaway.