Beautiful Home

Guest: DJ (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 08/07/11 Review Submitted: 10/01/11

We loved our stay at this beauty of a home. Four of us stayed and slept very comfortably for five days. We'd heard the insect were a problem at the time of year we stayed, but we didn't really notice too much. We kept the screen doors closed at night and that seemed to do the trick. Nothing like sleeping with that beautiful sea breeze and the sounds of birds and insects! We went on several huge hikes (the owners left a detailed booklet on favorite spots) and drove to several beaches they recommended. Absolutely beautiful. We also hung out a few times at Skinny Legs and Donkey Diner just down the hill. Great food and drinks (Skinny Legs is a bar/restaurant). You definitely need a four-whell drive auto to get the house. Horseback riding tours go by the house a few times a day which was fun to see and hear. The home itself was perfectand clean--loved the outdoor shower and the beautiful kitchen! So simple and so easy to use. We felt very safe sleeping with the windows open and doors unlocked and when we left, we put our valuables in the safe. Handy. Played games (there are some there) at night and listened to the i-Pod/Phone-ready stereo. We couldn't recommend this place more strongly. It was a haul from the west coast (Seattle) and from the mid-west (St. Paul, MN), but it was so worth it!

Owner response:Thank you so much for your review - we really want our guests to enjoy thier visit!

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

Fabulous escape with a boutique hotel feel

Guest: lizastarr (Vermont)
Date of Stay: 04/23/11 Review Submitted: 09/15/11

We visited St. John in April and had a wonderful time at this property. It is just remote enough to have the feel of a real escape, yet you can walk down to a great breakfast place if you feel like it. We loved the modern colorful touches, the luxurious outdoor sofa and the outdoor shower. The view was beautiful and worth the rough road leading to the house. Yes you need a 4-wheel drive to get there, but you need one anyway if you plan on seeing any of the island, and most rental places only offer 4-wheel drives, so it's not a big deal. The bugs were not bad at all when we were there and the screens seemed to be doing their job. Very comfortable and highly recommended!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

Lovely Modern Eco House

Guest: Ann (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 04/17/11 Review Submitted: 09/15/11

We've been coming to St. John for years and this is our favorite so far. We loved this breezy, tropical, modern house. We spent much time on the deck, coffee in the morning or rum in the evening looking at the ever changing views of Coral Harbor. We had great weather and the extras in the house were a nice surprise for the price. Good coolers, towels and beach chairs, the kitchen was well stocked. Cathy the property manager was very helpful. Nice high ceilings and fans everywhere. We agree, the road is rough, but only for a short distance. We loved the hike to private Waterlemon Beach for snorkeling. And coming home to the outdoor shower after our adventures was a family favorite! Walking down to the Donkey Diner was the best. A wonderful holiday. We can't wait to return and definitely will try to book this house again -- a great value!

Owner response:Thank you! We appreciate your feedback and would love to have you back for a visit again!

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

charming tropical retreat in the woods

Guest: mxair23 (GR, MI)
Date of Stay: 06/20/11 Review Submitted: 06/26/11

The design of this tropical retreat is a wonderful open air concept. We loved the layout and the breeze that comes with the open air concept. The kitchen is spacious and great for cooking. The concrete countertops are a nice touch.The outdoor deck is large and a great place to relax, however, you are on top of a hill so expect BUGS & BEES. You cannot enjoy the evening because of the mosquitos and gnats. The doors and windows are screens which offer no secruity. We didn't have any issues but anyone could have robbed us blind while we were at the beach or sleeping. Tips: This place is perfect for a couple or group of four people that are outdoor lovers and seek adventure. Adding anymore than 4 people would be a tight fit. The table outside only seats 4 people. You will need 4X4 to reach this villa and it is a steep climb up rocks. There is no washer or dryer accessible so it makes a long stay tricky. Suggestions for improvement: Buy NEW knives and non stick pans. We are big cookers and had issues with these items. Put latches on the screen doors so that they create a tight seal against the bugs coming inside. Add internet and TV because if it rains or you want a quiet evening at the villa there isn't anything to do if the bugs are too bad to be outside. Praises: The property managers Clark and Kathy are the best!!! We had a bee infestation (I am allergic) and they moved us to another property with a different owner. They moved us with no hassle and smiles on their faces. They are the reason we are enjoying our last few days! Next time we come back to STJ we will book one of their properties!

Owner response:Dear Ryan, Thanks for the review but in all fairness you only mentioned the problem and NOT that the bee solution was dealt with immediately. Bee infestation was island wide and several of my other homes had the same problem and it was dealt with immediatly. Mosquitoes are EVERY where on this island and at times they are worse especially when it rains. We are fully screened it and we have ample fans on the porch to make your stay very comfortable. We have all new knives! Thanks again, Cathy and Clark

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

Not What I Expected

Guest: Lady (Brooklyn, NY, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/04/11 Review Submitted: 06/14/11

We arrived during an unusually rainy period of the year. The pictures & reviews were lovely online & we expected a romantic get-away far from tourists. Unfortunately, this villa turned out to be more of a camp in the midst of a rain forest, which was not at all what we expected. The road to get to the house is almost impassable, but fortunately we had a 4 wheel drive to get there. Due to the design, the house is "open air" which means that it is damp inside, including all our clothing, the bed & towels. At night, the bugs find there way in & attack- dreadful while you try to sleep. It was unbearable, we were getting eaten alive by the mosquitoes. (I counted over 50 bites by day 5.) We forgoed the last 2 nights there & rented a room in Cruz Bay which was by far the best nights of our vacation. If we could do it again, I would have added more budget to our lodging & stayed somewhere nicer from the start. Check out nearby campsites if you are looking for a true eco adventure.

Owner response:Sorry to hear this visit coincided with a wet, buggy time. It's not often like that! (see other reviews.) But the house is not open-air, it is fully-screened -- screened windows, screened doors. Bed nets are also available if you like. It is designed to let in the Caribbean breezes but not its bugs. For the eco traveler: we hope you are not dissuaded by this review. We designed for you!

Recommended for:

Beautiful Eco Home Vacation

Guest: Andrea (Gorham, Maine)
Date of Stay: 04/30/11 Review Submitted: 05/10/11

My husband and I stayed at the relaxing and open concept Johnny Horn Trail House last week. We fell in love with the deck. Every morning and evening we relaxed on the couch or in the hammock enjoying the view and reading. It was nice to have the kitchen and grill, so we could eat in for breakfast and some dinners. This saved up a lot of money. Each day we packed the cooler with our lunches and went to the beautiful beaches (Cinnamon Bay, Salt Pond Bay, Waterlemon Bay, Maho Bay, Hawksnest Bay). Salt Pond Bay and Cinnamon Bay the the best snorkeling. We saw sea turtles at Maho Bay, many colorful fish, and a huge sting ray. St. John has the best beaches for snorkeling. There also did some nice hikes (Cinnamon Bay Trail and Reef Bay Trail). The home was nice and cool with the fans and french doors along the porch. However, at night it got buggy in the house with lots of gnats. The mosquito nets helped keep most of the bugs out of the bed. We had a wonderful time staying at this eco house in St. John. It was nice that it was new and had a huge deck. The dirt road up is very bumpy, but the stress of drive up and down the hill melt away once you are in the house or at the beach. Coral Bay was is a beautiful view. The restaurant Aqua Bistro in town has great food, wait staff, and music on Wednesday night. Lucy's dinner also had great food and beautiful views. We definitely would recommend this home to others. If you go in May, bring your bug spray. Our only major recommendation is a privacy screen on the outdoor shower and covers for the window in the bathroom. We had several trucks and horseback riders who past by and received a little show. Thanks for a wonderful vacations.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing.

A great retreat

Guest: John (Vancouver, WA)
Date of Stay: 03/31/11 Review Submitted: 04/18/11

My family stayed at the property the first week in April and had a wonderful time. The villa was just what we expected and even better. It was so comfortable and a perfect location to the great beaches. We had been on day trips to St John several times but by staying on the island, we could see so much more. Yes, the road up is a bit bumpy but you quickly get used to it. Each day, we would fill the cooler and hit a couple of beaches then return around 4:00 to shower outside (neat!), maybe use the grill or watch a movie at Skinny Legs. (Yes, Monday is movie night!) It was just great and highly recommend it.

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

Loved this Tropical Treehouse!

Guest: Danielle (Sheffield, MA)
Date of Stay: 02/15/11 Review Submitted: 03/30/11

We were lucky enough to stay here for a week in February. We fell in love immediately. Quiet, clean and VERY relaxing. The house is amazing. Very simple, but has all you really need. We spent most of our time outside on the huge deck, enjoying the view over coffee in the morning and cocktails in the evening. The outdoor shower was a big hit for all of us, especially at 5ish when the sun beams in. There was 7 of us, (parents, grandparents and 3 small kids) so it worked well. Kids didn't mind sleeping on the futon in the living room. Perfect for two couples or a family like ours. The road to the house is rough (4 wheel drive a must) but it added to our adventure. ST. John is heaven on earth and this house made it even better. You couldn't ask for more beautiful beaches, awesome snorkeling or fun hiking. Lots of reatuarants to choose from. We cooked at home a few times, (great grill!)but as groceries are pricey, it's often cheaper to eat out. Special thanks to the friendly and helpful property managers Catherine and Clark. They did a Great job from the first inquiry to our last goodbye. Can't wait to return..our kids ask almost daily, "When can we go back to that awesome house on the island?" I'd go back today if I could!

Owner response:Geez Danielle, Thanks sooo much for your wonderful review!! We cannot wait to see you all again in the future. All the best to you and family members, C&C

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with young children.

A Great Getaway

Guest: Chris & Erin (Minnesota)
Date of Stay: 01/15/11 Review Submitted: 02/19/11

We absolutely loved this house! The first two reviews describe the house perfectly. The amenities are exactly as described on the listing. We especially enjoyed the huge deck with its couch and hammock and the refreshing outdoor shower. We visited Waterlemon, Hawksnest, Trunk, and Little Lameshur Bays, and loved all of them. The snorkeling at Waterlemon was the best by far. If you continue up the Johnny Horn Trail to get to Waterlemon, be prepared for a strenuous hike. Bring lots of water. Don't miss breakfast at the Donkey Diner. And go to one of their pizza nights. Great food. We also liked Aqua Bistro, Skinny Legs, and Vie's Snack Shack, which is way out on the East End. You can easily spend a day being lazy in Cruz Bay. Good shopping and lots of bars/restaurants. If you're into craft beer, try the Tap Room in Mongoose Junction, and get a VI Mango Ale. It's a perfect beer for a tropical setting. You will love working with the property managers, Cathy and Clark. They have all the answers and are very friendly. We definitely recommend staying at this house for your St. John vacation.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The place we call paradise.

Guest: Kasia (Long Island, NY)
Date of Stay: 12/31/10 Review Submitted: 01/24/11

If you are ever lucky enough to find yourself in this house, you too will understand. The open floor plan and countless windows never take you too far away from the luscious nature you're surrounded by up on the very private hill, a 4x4 vehicle is a non negotiable must! The enormous porch overlooking the harbor was by far our favorite living space, and taking showers outdoors quickly became indescribably cool especially when it rained. The two bedrooms are separated from the main living area by curtains, so complete privacy may be hard to achieve, however we found that most of our time was spent outside of the home, so it wasn't a big deal. The house comes fully equipped with pots, pans, and a sizable toaster oven. The only thing which could make this house better would be laundry as the humidity made it hard to dry the beach gear, we did use the pretty long clothes line outside. The first thing you should do when you arrive is obtain snorkeling gear (we rented ours from Crabby's), because every beach you'll go to will offer a unique snorkeling experience you don't want to miss. The Johnny Horn trail hike to Waterlemon Bay was challenging, but the views from the ruins were very rewarding, and snorkeling with turtles, stingrays, barracudas and countless other fish at the beach was priceless! We were lucky enough to hitch a ride back to Coral Bay, but in case you're don't we were told that hiking back is much easier, just bring extra water. Besides exploring the numerous beaches the other adventures we embarked on were a kayak&snorkel tour with Arawak, as well as hiking the Reef Bay trail down to see the Petroglyphs and more strenuously back up. On the mornings or nights when you don't feel like cooking, head over to the Donkey Diner for their delicious breakfast or Aqua Bistro for the mouthwatering dinners, highly recommend their grouper and tuna dishes, Skinny Legs was a fun night out with some yummy Painkillers. For the best beach snack go bother Jacob in Lily's Market, he makes amazing whole grain baguettes. It was a remarkably humbling experience to get to spend the time "island living" away from the typical resort confinement. Clark and Cathy, the house managers, were uber helpful and responsive - thanks! Since returning home, we've spend endless hours looking at pictures and videos we took on our 8 days in paradise as to ensure it wasn't just a dream, thank you for allowing us to stay in your beautiful home!

Owner response:WOW!!! thank you, thank you, thank you.!!! All the best to you both, Cathy

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.