The True West Indies at a Bargain

• PARADISE FOUND is an understatement !

  PARADISE FOUND is an understatement !

  • Guest DenverDoctorMom
  • Date of stay 03/23/13
  • Review Submitted 04/17/13
  This is our 12th or 13th stay at Callaloo House and it truly feels like home. There is no better place on earth as best we can tell. The owners are gracious and so thougthful. The space is the epitome of relaxing, calm, and spacious. Guests can choose how much privacy or group involvement they want based on the cottages chosen or the common space in the main house. The pool, complete with delightful hand-painted tiles is a touch of heaven at the end of a hot beach day. The open air, gardens, and porches are pure heaven. The views are spectacular, and the breezes are ever-present. Well-appointed and comfortable, one could never leave and be happy, or simply enjoy the luxury of coming "home" at the end of a busy day. On the quieter side of St. John, your best noise risk will be tree frogs, donkeys, and birds. Access to Coral Bay is easy. People with mobility troubles can stay in the main level without difficulty. Would highly recommend a 4 wheel drive vehicle to get up the front entrance, but the back road (closer to Coral Bay) can be managed with a standard car.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

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• Paradise! Infused with tropical romanticism but with every amenity!

  Paradise! Infused with tropical romanticism but with every amenity!

  • Guest Jeanne K
  • Date of stay 06/15/12
  • Review Submitted 06/30/12
  We just celebrated our 30th anniversary by returning to St. John with our 3 grown children and soon-to-be daughter-in-law. Our stay at Callaloo far exceeded our expectations and was truly a memory we will always treasure. The house is a dream and filled with whimsical antiques at every turn but sturdy and comfortable. The main house is perfect for entertaining- everything is there - just bring in some local fish, plantains, and the rum (which will be the least expensive item on your list). Each bedroom is a separate cottage - a delightful oasis in the open air, fans, romantic mosquito nets, private balconies and postcard views of Coral Bay, Bordeaux Mt. and the almost zero edge salt-water pool. We loved just talking, drinking, eating in the open air dining area and balcony - cozy chairs with warm lighting and gentle fans with warm breezes off the ocean. Each day was spent swimming, snorkeling (a must!) and resting under the mangroves at six different beaches. All unique but beautiful. Try the owners intinarary - and do not be afraid to explore. A four-wheel vehicle rental is almost required - you will be glad you did. Spend the day at one of the beaches, stop for a "pain killer" at Shipwreck in Coral Bay or the Beach Bar in Cruz Bay - eat at Sweet Plantains, Shipwreck or Aqua Bistro - all located in Coral Bay. Go to Rhumblines (or wherever T-bird is playing next) and hear T-bird sing - she is the "greeter" for Callaloo and is absolutely wonderful and extremely friendly. Don't pet the donkeys that dot the roads...do go to Jumbie Bay all the way to the right and find the path to an old ruin by a private beach. Go to Miss Vie's private beach and have a great lunch prepared at her stand. Go to Francis Bay (less crowded) and Little Lameshur Bay (same). Most of all - enjoy this most beautiful island home - it is truly a treasure and will be hard to compare anything to after staying here.....

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Incredibly comfortable

  Incredibly comfortable

  • Guest vball23
  • Date of stay 05/31/12
  • Review Submitted 06/09/12
  We had an absolutely wonderful time staying at Callaloo. So many wonderful design details, incredible views, and the islands at their best! Honestly, it is one of those places I would prefer to keep our own little secret, as I know we will return! St. John is one of our favorite places on earth, and Callaloo is now our favorite place to stay while we are there! The house is stocked with everything you need (toiletries, staples, towels, beach chairs, games, etc.), is very comfortable and has great views. Tbird (the greeter) was very nice, and we all felt perfectly at home immediately. We were a multi-generation group aged 7 - 67, and there was something for everyone. There are a lot of steps down to the lowest bedroom (but it also has the most privacy), but there is one bedroom on the same level as parking if you have members of your party unable to do the stairs. Great internet access as well, so my husband and I were able to stay caught up on work e-mails and post pictures of our adventures. The house is perfectly situated in the middle of the island making it convenient to the best north shore beaches as well as the south shore beaches and even the east end. It is about a 20 minute drive into Cruz Bay along the scenic north shore.

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

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

• A Breath of Fresh Air!!

  A Breath of Fresh Air!!

  • Guest Eileen
  • Date of stay 04/16/12
  • Review Submitted 05/24/12
  Could not wait to return to Calalloo. We have stayed at many rental villas on St. John over the years, but this is truly one of our favorite spots. This was our second visit, and it was like we never left. Still completely charming! We love, love, love, the open air design! The views are unbelieveable. The accomodations extremely comfortable. Location is perfect as it is sort of midway between Coral Bay and Cruz Bay. We spend a lot of time in Coral Bay "socializing" but enjoy the North Shore beaches and like to have lunch and shop in Cruz Bay. We would (and have) highly recommend(ed) Calalloo to St. John lovers, as it perfectly captures that St. John vibe! Eileen and Tom

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• A Scene From A Movie...

  A Scene From A Movie...

  • Guest Meryl
  • Date of stay 03/01/12
  • Review Submitted 04/11/12
  I can only describe Callaloo as a movie scene for the sequel to "Out of Africa". Our trip to St John was more than a vacation, it was a wonderful experience. Each and every day we looked forward to waking up, sitting on the porch with our coffee, to watch the sun and the Sugar Birds (Bananaquit) devour their daily bowl of sugar and we looked forward to returning to Callaloo after snorkeling and exploring to once again sit on the porch with a drink, admiring the fabulous view and listening to all the beautiful sounds of the wildlife. You feel so secluded that it's as if the rest of the world cease to exist. A dream like vacation. Had the owners provided Denys (aka Robert Redford) I would have given them a sixth star. The owners recommended a hike to Drunk Bay. It's a 15 minute hike. It's not a beach to swim or sunbath, but an art gallery. Climb up on the rocks, look down and you will see hundreds of sculptures made from rocks and debris on shore by other visitors. Be sure to climb down and create one of your own. Another place the owners recommended was Vie's on the East End. It's a great place for lunch. It's a bit of a drive, but remember you're there to experience the island and the cuisine. So make it a must and order the Chicken and Johnny Cakes. Our trip was like one of the wonderful safaris in "Out of Africa" Caribbean style.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• We thought we had been everywhere, but this place showed us something new.

  We thought we had been everywhere, but this place showed us something new.

  • Guest Traveling Grandma
  • Date of stay 12/01/11
  • Review Submitted 01/02/12
  We had a wonderful time at this comfortable, eclectic vacation home. Amazing art, well equipped kitchen, dining table facing Coral Bay and Bordeau mountain. Our daughter and son in law were thrilled to stay in very private Pineapple Cottage, our 2 grandkids chose the loft, above the main living space. We enjoyed Moonlight cottage, and recommend it for "older visitors" as it is very convenient to the living/dining area and washer and dryer. The grandkids would jump in the pool while the adults made breakfast, and then we would explore the island, discovering different beaches and lunch spots. The villa was so comfortable for all of us, that we usually had dinner in, taking a leisurely swim before. This was the most unique place we have ever stayed at, and look forward to returning for a longer stay.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Missing Calalloo Already!

  Missing Calalloo Already!

  • Guest H
  • Date of stay 08/01/11
  • Review Submitted 08/08/11
  My family just completed a fabulous week on St. John in this AMAZING home! We found Calalloo to be everything the site claimed it to be, and then some. A charming series of structures in paradise on top of a gorgeous mountain looking straight down on Coral Bay. Calalloo had something for everyone in our family: Mesmerizing views and breezes for my wife and I, and mysterious paths meandering around the jungle-like property straight to the private pool for my two young boys. The pool was AWESOME for beginner swimmers as it's tiered, allowing even little ones to be totally comfortable in the pool. The three separate cottages each possess their own unique charm. Our family primarily stayed in the "Moonlight" Cottage, though the other two are both lovely in their own right. We came away wishing that we had been accompanied by another family of friends as the space would easily accomodate many other people. Next time, hopefully, we'll be able to bring others to experience this calming paradise. The beaches are mere minutes away, and we had a great time exporing different beaches on an almost daily basis. Our favorite became St. Francis, where we were virtually alone on the white-sand with awesome opportunities for sand castles and snorkling alike. I do recommend renting a jeep, not only for the steep driveways, but for the steep roads that are St. John. During our visit the pool needed attention, and the owner, Georgia, had her service-man, Max, on the scene within the hour to fix the problem. Also, a severe weather pattern was developing in the area, making for anxiety on our part. Georgia helped us throughout the entire episode, giving us twice-daily phone calls, keeping us abreast of the developing situation and what we should do under different circumstances. Fortunately the storm passed with little effect on our trip, but still we felt assured by the caring nature of Georgia regarding our safety. We DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE! Callaloo left many beautiful snap-shots and memories in the minds' of every member in my family. The boys' are already asking when we can go back, and we're plotting... 2 years, 3 maybe... Regardless, we WILL return to this amazing estate. It's beyond obvious that Georgia has poured her soul and much of her life into this home, and it takes a week, easily, to simply get acquainted with all the different special charms that hide everywhere you are when at Callaloo.

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

• The Treehouse

  The Treehouse

  • Guest Beverly
  • Date of stay 07/14/11
  • Review Submitted 07/19/11
  Our family had such a great time that I felt the need to post my own review! We thought that the open West Indies vibe was so cool. It really put us in the Caribbean spirit and accented the amazing breeze that blows through the islands. One of my daughters calls Callaloo the Treehouse. We really enjoyed the pathways to each cottage, flowers and lush greenery all around. We were happy to discover the lime tree and the banana tree. It definitely added to the island feel to see the fruit growing, especially while making mixed drinks that were meant to taste like the same fruit! The beautiful birds and butterflies were our entertainment each morning with breakfast. The boys were especially fond of the swimming pool; it was a relief after the beach games of the day to jump in our own pool and chill. We made many meals in the house, the kitchen was well stocked with spices and utensils. All of our beach needs were also at the house, beach chairs, towels, toys. We opted for the grandma route after discovering that the car rental company could not provide us with an SUV and it worked out great. We did have some issues during the trip with our car rental (don’t rent a Dodge Caravan, the keys and beach do not go well together!) and ended up feeling unsure of what to do. When we called the owners, they were happy to help us and got us all straightened out in less than an hour. We could not believe that car problems didn’t ruin our day. We had plenty of time at the beach that day. We were so thankful to have them during the trip; they definitely rescued an entire day, which is a lot on vacation. The house was perfect and the island was unbelievable. I am well traveled and have not seen snorkeling like this before. The owners recommended Waterlemon Beach and we were thrilled with it. The starfish were having a party right off Waterlemon Cay and the coral was so beautiful. One of the best parts was the book that the owners sent us a few months before the trip. My daughter used the book to plan almost our entire trip and we had excellent results. This helpful book includes maps and descriptions of each and every beach on St John. Every beach had one attraction or another, whether it was the snorkeling, the pristine white sandy beach, or the best beach combing. We found it very helpful. All in all, it was an amazing trip. We've even talked of relocating to the island! I would highly recommend Callaloo and St. John to anyone looking for some fun!!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, girls getaway, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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

• The Vacation of a Lifetime

  The Vacation of a Lifetime

  • Guest Brittany
  • Date of stay 07/05/11
  • Review Submitted 07/19/11
  There’s nothing more wonderful than a family vacation. This year we chose a trip to St. John. It was very different from other Caribbean trips we have taken. Imagine being perched on a hillside, surrounded by nature. Perhaps it was our amazing view of Coral Bay or the gorgeous greenery and flowers that surrounded us but our stay at Callaloo was the best vacation we’ve ever had! On the island, we visited the multitude of white sandy beaches and snorkeled in crystal turquoise waters with squid, sea turtles, starfish and thousands of brightly colored fish and coral. At the house, we ate delicious meals, put puzzles together, swam and played games in our private pool. It was so neat to walk from cottage to cottage at night with tree frogs all along the paths, Callaloo was stocked with all those little things that you forget; this was essential in making our trip a success. The owners guided us on the best places to go and the best things to do. Their attention to detail helped us to truly live the relaxed Caribbean life that we all needed. We were all living on island time by the end of our stay. Saying goodbye was like leaving a friend behind. We were all so sorry to leave. Thank you for such a wonderful time. The place was great and the owners were fantastic, helpful, flexible, and understanding. They were the perfect people to rent from. Callaloo is a great place to stay and we would highly recommend it!

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

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

• Beware

  Beware

  • Guest K
  • Date of stay 05/28/11
  • Review Submitted 07/14/11
  I stayed here for a week in June and it was far from the description and pictures listed on this site. It was extremely more "rustic" than expected. The "open air" theme is more of a lack of walls and windows, with NO SCREENS. Therefore horrible amounts of mosquitos. The mosquitos on the whole island are pretty bad during this season, but not having any screens or air conditioning does not help the situation. We were eaten alive. The house is extremely difficult to access without an SUV. The pool was not well tended to whatsoever, to the point that I never once swam in it, during the whole week of which I stayed. Once we had reached the point of desperation of taking the hit of losing the money on this rental, just to relocate to another rental, hopefully with screens, when we made multiple calls to the owners, we never received a response. Finally, a man showed up with pool supplies and some "spray" for the mosquitos. He cleaned the pool, which helped, but still didn't have me convinced to take a dip. He sprayed something to help with the mosquitos, which was absolutely no help. The least they could have done was return our phone call. Our trip was enjoyable because St. John is a beautiful island, but this misrepresented property but a big damper on our vacation. I am sure that for a renter who is used to taking camping trips, and staying in rustic environments this would be comfortable. For us, this was extremely dissapointing.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers.

  Owner response: My assistant was repeatedly "hit upon" by the complaining reviewer. After he arrived at the villa, he continued to call her and ask her to come down to St. John to join him. My assistant informed me that she is not for rent along with the property, and she refused to accept anymore phone calls from the renter. He never contacted me. We dispatched the property maintenance person, who alerted us that this renter would not be happy about anything. A second guest was embarassed by the renter's mosquito complaints; as that person did not consider 2 bites a serious problem. The pool was not a problem for the other two guests at the villa. Callaloo is an open, inviting house. One bedroom is screened, but most guests choose the bedroom cottages where they sleep under romantic mosquito nets. I live there 4 months of the year and that is my choice as well. "Enchanting", "fantastic" are the words that most people use to describe the villa. There are two roads that lead to the villa which is an added feature. Any auto will do to access this very privated paradise.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/2

Low season - April 16 to Dec 19  $1,795/wk for 2  add $200/wk per additional guest
High season - Dec 20 to April 15  $3,190/wk for 2 add $200/wk per additional guest
Christmas & New Years  7 to 10 days   $4,850
     RATES ARE ALL INCLUSIVE, NO EXTRA COSTS OF ANY KIND
50% deposit  100%refundalbe 30 days prior.  Full payment 2 weeks prior to arrival.
all charges are included; no additional funds necessary.

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.

Sorry this information is not available. Please contact the owner/manager for more information.