Vacation Rentals by Owner

Wonderful View

Guest: Peter (Nashua, NH)
Date of Stay: 04/23/12 Review Submitted: 05/04/12

Highly recommended. Enjoyed our 3rd trip to St Thomas and 1st to Sapphire Beach! Position of this unit is such that you wake to the sun rising over nearby St John. Owner was extremely helpful and responsive both before and during our stay. Excellent snorkeling right off shore! Great reataurants in nearby Red Hook.

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

What a view!

Guest: Marcel (Charles Town, WV)
Date of Stay: 04/15/12 Review Submitted: 05/15/12

My exceptional experience with renting this property begin with my initial inquiry regarding availability. Peter, the owner, was very responsive and really made me feel like he wanted to ensure my experience with his unit would be as good as it could be. Peter goes out of his way to make sure you are comfortable not only during your actual stay, but through the booking process by providing a guidebook, discounts that he has worked out with local businesses, and periodically checking in to offer up any advice and answer any questions that you may have. Once my wife and I arrived at the unit, we were pleasantly surprised. Often the pictures on websites can be a bit misleading, but not for this unit. The view was amazing and the location of the condo is perfect being on the second floor overlooking the private beach at the resort. The elevation of the unit and proximity to the water sets up the unit such that no matter where you are, you just see the beautiful blue water out the sliding doors to the balcony. We really enjoyed that this unit overlooked the quiet private beach so that we could enjoy the balcony in a more relaxing setting in the evenings while still walking just the short distance to the main beach during the day for snorkeling. This turned out to be a great trip and I would recommend renting this unit with Peter to anyone interested in staying in St. Thomas.

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

Great place, great view!

Guest: Ashley B.
Date of Stay: 04/01/12 Review Submitted: 04/09/12

Two of my friends and I stayed at the Hammock in Heaven and we loved it. The condo was very nice and well kept, and the view was unmatched! The resort itself is also excellent. The beach is beautiful and the amenities were great as well. We enjoyed drinks and mahi sandwiches at the Banana Cabana (they even deliver to your chair on the beach!), the pool, and the dive shack where we rented snorkel gear for free. The proximity to Red Hook and the ferry to St. John also came in handy. We went to dinner in Red Hook a few nights and we took the ferry to St. John as well. The housekeeping services were nice too. We received fresh towels I think twice during the week and they took out our trash. When we had to take a break from the sun, the cable TV and DVD player were excellent to have. I would highly recommend a stay in the Hammock in Heaven!

Recommended for:

Truly a Hammock in Heaven

Guest: Sue Sue (Tennessee)
Date of Stay: 03/04/12 Review Submitted: 03/24/12

My husband and another couple just spent 7 wonderful days at Hammock in Heaven.. The condo was on one of the prettiest beaches and view overlooking St. John. The location was perfect for us bvecause we visited St. John on 2 occasions and it was so convient to have the ferry right down the hill from us. The snorkeling at Sapphire Beach was wonderful ( we got to see the turtles!). We ate at Fishtails on 2 occasions and the food was delicious. If you get in the mood for pizza, go to Island Time Pub. There pizzas are wonderful. We tried to find the best Bushwacker on the island but we decided that every one we tried was good! We did go to the grocery but the food is expensive. So we ate out mostly. The only thing cheap is liquor!. Also if you walk to the top of the hill you can catch the Safari taxi and it is $1. They only run fromabout 6am to 6pm. Also one day we took a day sail on the Kekoa. The boat sails out of St. John. The catamaran took us to Tortola, and Jost Van Dyke. Jamison and his crew made for a wonderful day of sailing. We highly recommend this day sail. We are already talking about our next trip to St. Thomas and Hammock in Heaven!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Hammock

Guest: hulagirl (Oak Park, Il)
Date of Stay: 01/24/12 Review Submitted: 02/19/12

While the property was in a beautiful setting. The bed and pull out couch for sleep where very poor. Sleeping was very uncomfortable! One guest endend up just sleeping on the couch. The internet conections NEVER worked.

Owner response:All suites at Sapphire Beach Resort & Marina are equipped with king-size beds and a pull-out sofa. In this owner's unit, guests are routinely informed that the owner will provide fully automatic aerobeds (2 if necessary) at no charge if guests request them either prior to arrival or during their stay. No such requests were received from this guest. Nor was any complaint made during the term of the stay. The bed is a new king-size pillow-top mattress, as specified in the listing for the the unit. There have been no prior complaints. Nor was any complaint made during the stay. The Internet connection provided by owner and described in the owner's guide is a DSL line which connects to the VI phone company. It is highly reliable and performs at a high level. It is possible that these guests attempted to use the WiFi network that is offered commercially by ADM Wireless Services and can be picked up by some units at Sapphire. Service from ADM is very "spotty" in this owner's unit and he can understand a guest stating that it did not work. But the DSL line, which is promoted in the listing and described in detail in the Owner's Guide to the unit is highly reliable. The unit has a property manager who tests the DSL between reservations. He is unaware of any service malfunction. These guests might have had better luck with Internet service had they called the property manager or called the owner to report the problem. Unfortunately, they called neither and thus gave no opportunity to address any problem they may have had.

Recommended for:

Fantastic vacation spot!

Guest: Rhonda (Oshkosh, WI)
Date of Stay: 12/22/11 Review Submitted: 01/03/12

We just returned from a week-long stay at Peter's Hammock in Heaven home and had a perfect stay. The condo was just as advertised--very clean, well set-up in the kitchen, and with great accomodations. Our group included two sons, my husband and me, and there was plenty of room for the four of us. The owner's listing information truly tells it as it is--gorgeous, spacious, neat and clean and well kept up. Sam and his cleaning crew kept us in clean towels for the week, and were able to answer questions on the spot--great service. Sapphire Beach is a well-kept secret--it is quiet (without being boring), well-located near Red Hook for groceries and restaurants, and has a friendly dive shack and tiki bar/grill right on site. Snorkeling abounds on the island's many beaches. The ferry in Red Hook can take you to nearby islands quickly and cheaply. This is our second stay in Sapphire--Peter's Hammock in Heaven far surpasses the accomodations we found at our first stay a few years ago. Peter was always easy to contact, quick to respond to inquiries, and provided great customer service. We're already looking at flights for next year and would love to stay at Hammock again!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Bonnie & Edward Nolan

Guest: Bonnie & Edward (Richmond Hill, GA)
Date of Stay: 09/18/11 Review Submitted: 09/27/11

We had a wonderful time here, celebrating our 48th wedding anniversary! We are retired & travel "low budget". Everything was as stated, except the kitchen stove (which we never used-just the microwave) is a bit outdated & counter was very small. Also no light in the kitchen, if I may recommend! The view was fantastic & balcony was where we spent most of our time & under the sea grape trees down the beach. I must say that Peter's amenities are worth a lot! The beach chairs are normally rented for $7/day per person, plus the pick up & return to the airport are a great savings! Plus the initial grocery store stop were so very helpful, as we did not rent a car. The only disadvantage we can think of, is the isolation of not being able to pick up soft drinks or snacks after the Dive shop closes. It might be helpful if the property had a soft drink dispensing machine for after hrs. Of course, this is not the owner, Peter's fault. Sam Charles, our local Mgr., was super! He was so calm, helpful, & informative! Since we brought our own food, checked in our suitcase, we only spent $51 on breads, beer, water & soft drinks. We do this often & travel a lot, so it does take planning. We did not take a taxi nor eat out at a restaurant. Oh, taxis are very pricey! It would have cost us $24 round trip to Red Hook which is only about 1 mi.or 2. They charge $6 per person one way. I guess the only drawback we encountered were the cruise ship folks who made the beach crowded on Tues/Wed while we were there. Thurs. the beach was practically empty, which was great! Not for the local businesses though. We highly recommend Hammock Heaven with all the amenities - that is if you can rent a car or just like a laid back, atmosphere! The property landscaping is very pretty also! The beach server, Thor, was a "trip" - he made us laugh with his good natured demeanor! We are glad we found this condo on VRBO! Many thanks to Peter & Sam!

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway.

Hammock in the heavens

Guest: Richard M.
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

Lovely condo in a very nice resort. Beach is fantastic , good food and drinks on the beach. Lots of food & fun in nearby Red Hook.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Man Of Integrity

Guest: betty u. (marysville, ks)
Date of Stay: 03/20/11 Review Submitted: 04/18/11

Hammock In Heaven ~~Certainly rates at the top of our vacation spots! From the very beginning of my research (which is to numerous to mention)~~from air flight fluctuation prices to sleeping accommodations (family of 4 – 2 teenagers)~~Peter was patient and responded to my ever need and questions know matter how trivial! All of the recommendations that Peter suggested were phenomenal! Before, I left I actually had everyday planned strategically to fit 2 weeks worth of site seeing into 4 days. From the car rental suggestions to restaurant & beaches~~Peter was right on! We did find a few treasurers of our own the restaurant Mims (all you can shrimp on Thursday) and Room With A View and Coca Blue’s. Eating good food on vacations is a must for us living in the middle of Kansas there is not many good restaurants. Through it all there were a few bumps along the way, but Peter being a man of integrity made them right for us. We will certainly do St. Thomas again.

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

Definitely heaven!

Guest: Lindsay (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 02/12/11 Review Submitted: 02/24/11

My boyfriend and I got back from the Hammock in Heaven one week ago yesterday, and miss it greatly already! It really is as pretty as the pictures! The porch is right out over the sand and the beautiful water is maybe 25 feet in front of you. We were hoping to find a place where we could relax and just walk right out onto the beach, and this certainly fit the bill! The condo itself is pretty simple - very clean and well-maintained, with a nice bed, nice sitting area, bathroom with two sinks, clean shower, and a small kitchen/kitchenette. The wonderful Sam picked us up from the airport and took us to the Marina Market where we stocked up on some essentials, and lots of fruit and rum! Having the kitchen in the condo was great because we made our own breakfast and lunch most days, which saved us plenty of money! There was a coffee maker, blender, toaster, microwave and a small stove top/oven, so you could make anything you wanted. We walked over to the Banana Cabana one day for the Mahi sandwiches, which were very good but pricey, so we were glad we had our own food too. We took a cab into Red Hook for dinner most nights; there was always one waiting at the lobby area and it was $4 a person. We also ordered pizza one night (it came in like 15 minutes!) and walked over to the Sapphire Grill one night. The grill is a very short walk over past the marina and we had some delicious burgers sitting outside next to the pool, so I recommend it. But back to the beaches, which are the best part! The beach right outside the condo is a little rocky, but very quiet and perfect for laying in the sun and reading, which we did a lot of. Then if you just walk maybe 100 yards down to the other side of the beach, it is white sand and gorgeous for swimming! One day it was a little crowded down there (apparently the world's largest cruise ship was in town?) but the others days it was all pretty quiet. We went snorkeling straight out from the dive shop and I saw a sea turtle! I have done quite a bit of diving and snorkeling but this was my first turtle, so I was thrilled. All in all, we had a wonderful vacation and this condo was the perfect place to stay! If you are looking to relax and be right on the beach, I highly recommend it!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Two weeks in Heaven

Guest: J&J (Long Island, NY)
Date of Stay: 01/29/11 Review Submitted: 02/13/11

Hammock in Heaven We just returned from a two week stay at Sapphire Beach and Hammock in Heaven. When we arrived we were met at the airport and off we went to pick up supplies prior to our arrival to Hammock in Heaven. Upon our arrival we find our unit clean and welcoming including a Welcome Home bottle of Rum. The reason JoAnn and I return to Hammock in Heaven year after year is because there are no unwelcome surprises. Each year this unit receives improvements. It is always very clean, and everything is in perfect working order. Towels are plentiful, air conditioning is cool, and the views are breathtaking. On the balcony you will find a table that sits four comfortably. Four new reclining chairs, two chase lounges, six additional chairs, and a new, very inviting hammock to relax the day away.  Our number one concern when renting a Condo in the Caribbean is cleanliness. We want it clean, bug free, and very well maintained. Peter's Hammock in Heaven has never been anything less. Peter takes pride in his unit and it shows! If you are looking for a great place to stay, Hammock in Heaven is your number one choice!  Thank you Peter and we will be back same time next year! Jeff & JoAnn 02/11

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing.

Our Winter Vacation

Guest: Michael (Detroit, MI)
Date of Stay: 11/30/10 Review Submitted: 12/14/10

My girlfriend and I recently stayed at Peter's property on Sapphire beach. Everything was absolutely perfect about the location. It's about half a mile or so to Red Hook which is very convenient as it is a place where you can catch a ferry anywhere. Another great convenience is having budget rent a car right at Sapphire beach, you can walk over there and get your car rental. Me and my girlfriend saved a little money by staying for 9 nights and only getting a rental for 7 days. The last two nights we had dinner aboard New Horizons (for which Peter provides coupons, just be sure to print off more than 1! we ended up sailing with New Horizons a few times over the trip, definitely worth it, book online for a larger discount in conjunction with the coupon), and pretty much just snorkeled around Sapphire. That allowed us to drive around and check out the island and other islands at our leisure. After touring the majority of beaches in St Thomas and some of St John, Sapphire is definitely one of our favorites, having one of the nicest beaches within 30 ft is a great starting point. Sam is a very polite and friendly man, who has a wealth of knowledge about the island. Both Peter and Sam are good people from what I can tell, which is heavily influencing me to book again. By the time we arrived at the airport for the return flight home we were already sure that within a few weeks back at home we were going to book again for pretty much same time period and everything. It was really just that great of a vacation. I've already recommended the property to all my family and friends, and some are probably going to end up booking it... Thanks again to Peter and Sam, the one on one help and service is great. Take care!

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

Unbelievable Week!

Guest: Brian M. (Virginia)
Date of Stay: 11/20/10 Review Submitted: 11/27/10

My wife and I (sadly) returned last night from the Hammock in Heaven and I have nothing but amazing things to say about the place and our experience in St. Thomas. Peter was extremely helpful in answering questions as we were planning our trip (normally minutes after I emailed him) and Sam was amazing once we were in St. Thomas helping us get to and from the airport, lining up a rental car for the week, day trip ideas, etc.. We highly recommend the Hammock in Heaven and will be sure to spread the word to all our friends and will be sure to stay here again our return trip to St. Thomas!

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

Best trip ever!!!

Guest: Jason,Angela,Chris,and Carrisa (Pendleton, IN)
Date of Stay: 10/23/10 Review Submitted: 11/18/10

First off, I have to say this was by far the best vacation my wife and I have ever taken. With that being said Peter is great and completely thorough in every detail of the word. Sam is extremely helpful and is very good at what he does. I even asked him if he ever gets a day off. The room is beautiful and the minute you walk in you worries and cares don't follow. I have been to some very nice places but, nothing topped this. The locals are friendly and everytime I we went into town I never felt nervous whatsoever. We had invited another couple and after speaking with Peter it was not an issue. Peter and Sam both know that everyone that comes there is on vacation and by no means do they want you to worry about anything. For example, when you lose your key in the ocean and spend the whole morning trying to find it. I definitely plan on returning to the Hammock in Heaven. If your looking for a place that is tucked away with lots to do and not alot of people then this is it. Thank you Peter and Sam! I hope to see you next year!!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

How soon can I return?

Guest: Snorkelers Paradise (WESTFIELD)
Date of Stay: 09/16/10 Review Submitted: 09/26/10

It has taken a week to write this review...I'm too busy planning my return trip! Honestly, as we wound around the narrow roads in Red Hook, I was nervous. I have done enough vrbo vacations to know that often the photos on websites don't always represent what you get. As we came upon the Sapphire resorts, I thought that isn't ours, its too nice...then we turned in!!! The interior of our unit was extremely clean (better than any condo in FLA) and as described. Sam was, as promised, so helpful! BUT...the truly amazing part of Hammock in Heaven was 20 feet from our balcony...the beach and snorkeling! Sapphire Beach boasts some of the best snorkeling on St. Thomas, I would argue that they have the BEST snorkeling to be had without a passport! Even in the height of hurricane season, we saw a variety of sea-life. The complimentary equipment from the resort saved us $. Banana Cabana provided excellent Bushwhackers. While we were less than a mile from Red Hook and numerous restaurants, shopping, and the Ferry to St John, taxi services were WAY overpriced. We rented a car (from the front desk of the resort, so convenient, but also overcharged us SIGNIFICANTLY) after the first day. The resort staff was not helpful, or even accessible, but we received our fresh towels each day, as promised. We would definitely stay here again (and have already recommended it to our friends).

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

Dreaming of a return visit!

Guest: Raegan (Indiana)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 07/26/10

My mom and I went for a "girls getaway" the first week in July and selecting Hammock in Heaven was the best choice we could have made. From the moment we booked Peter responded to every question. Our flight ended up late but Natalie (who was filling in for Sam Charles) picked us up and made sure we made it to get groceries before the store closed at 11. I really appreciated having someone there waiting for us and not having to find our way after a long travel day. Once at the condo, we crawled into our beds (how nice to have two separate areas) and in the morning we were greeted by the most spectacular view ever! I have traveled a lot and this view took my breath away. It was wonderful to be able to sit on the deck and just listen to the waves crash. We took Peter's advice and did the trip to Virgin Gorda - so worth it! We also got fish food and snorkeled off the beach. While we were there someone spotted a turtle but mom wanted to stay where she could touch the bottom- even there we had schools of beautiful fish swimming around us. Oh and the best part - watching Fourth of July fireworks exploding over the harbour in St Johns...from.our.deck....Unbelievable. I can not say enough about our experience and hope that I will be lucky enough to arrange for a return visit. Raegan and Julie

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

A Great Vacation from a Great Location

Guest: MIck and Karen (Monroe, NC, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/26/10 Review Submitted: 05/15/11

We stayed at Hammock in Heaven for 5 days at the end of April 2011. The condo was everything Peter Rosenbaum says in his VRBO listing. The condo was very comfortable and very clean. We found it to be a great place to relax, and a good location from which to start our adventures every day. The restaurants in Red Hook were excellent. We recommend Coco Blue and Molly Malones as well as the Island Time Pub for pizza and a party. Taking the bus to Charlotte Amelie and back worked out fine and saved us some money compared to a taxi. Sam was very helpful and incredibly friendly. All in all a great vacation and a quality destination. If you can get a reservation on the Yacht Nightwind and also spend a day on St. John, your vacation will be complete.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Truly a Hammock in Heaven

Guest: D&C MI (Clarkston, MI)
Date of Stay: 04/18/10 Review Submitted: 04/27/10

My wife and I stayed at Peter's Hammock in Heaven condo for 4 days in late April. I can't remember the last time we had such a relaxing vacation. The condo is as Peter described and the view is even more spectacular. Watching the sunrise, from the patio, over St John is just breath taking. We debated about vacationing in Florida vs the Caribbean. I'm glad we chose St Thomas and so thankful that we discovered Hammock in Heaven. The reservation process could not have been easier and Peter was always there to answer any questions. I would highly recommend Hammock in Heaven and will definitely plan on visting again.

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

The hammock and Peter - 10 on all aspects

Guest: hgadot1 (NYC)
Date of Stay: 12/20/09 Review Submitted: 04/13/10

Let’s start with the not so obvious – the day before our trip a snow storm was about to hold us in NYC and potentially miss the first couple of days. And there is a mail from Peter – proactively offering us another complementary stay day should we miss the flight due to the weather! So leaving the snow we got to what exactly looks as in the photos. Clean, well maintained condo with all the utilities we needed. The beach and location were excellent, and to top all of this we had Sam – what a treat! Everything and anything, from the minute you get there, he is all over it. Great location – right next to the Red Hook harbor, taking wonderful day trips to the nearby islands. Before we even got there, a package helping us plan the trip came from Peter, with recommendations that only locals have the chance to know/see. So don’t miss the soggy dollar recommendation – every word about this place is true. Not just a place, not just a condo – it is all about feeling welcome and taken care of, from the minute you send Peter the mail showing interest in his condo all the way to a follow up post your vacation to ensure you were satisfied. The place and the man – what a combination! We will see you both again…soon! Lauren & Harel

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

WOW !

Guest: katsavo (las vegas)
Date of Stay: 12/11/09 Review Submitted: 01/09/10

My words could not explain how great our vacation was to the Hammock in heaven. The location was perfect, the view was outstanding and the weather was beautiful. My husband and I brought along our 20 months old daughter and she had so much fun. We found calm and safe bays for her to float around, she had a blast swimming in the ocean and playing in the sand. We took the best nap ever in the hammock and spend our evenings on the balcony. It was the perfect, relaxing vacation. We've travelled the world but this is a place where we totally see ourselves going back. The service from Sam and Peter that we have received was by far more then we could expect. Peter will answer all the questions that you have and Sam was available to us on the phone for last minute questions. I recommend this place to all my friends and I recommend it to you too. It's the first time I was leaving a vacation with happy tears because I didn't want to forget anything and because it was simply magical. Enjoy your stay !!!

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

Hammock in Hades

Guest: Michelle, Carol & lil' Emmy (Fairhaven, MA)
Date of Stay: 11/21/09 Review Submitted: 02/18/10

We booked a 2 week stay at Hammock In Heaven but vacated the premises half way through our stay due to the amount of roaches in the unit. I advise potential vacationers to stay elsewhere. We found the place was not as described by owner. We vacated but did not receive the 2nd half of our rental fee due to the contract we signed. The owner is not liable for anything once you sign a contract but readily admits to roach problems in the unit. We found roaches in the bathroom, kitchen & the bed. We found the unit to be shabby & not as described in the write up. Bathroom is in disrepair & not clean. There is sewage removal every day right outside the room. The room is not secure. Portions of the Sapphire Beach resort are boarded up -the actual beach is nice but the property itself is well passed it's prime & in need of repair and better security. As for the roaches -we believe they were coming from the patio slider which had a 4 inch gap that did not close. We discovered the broken slider was open & unsecure to the outside – with one push anyone could easily gain access to the unit from the outside. We requested that it be repaired the first day. Sam (on-site Manager) assured us it would be fixed the next day – after several days of no action we vacated the premises due to the amount of cockroaches in the room, lack of security & overall un-cleanliness. During our stay we killed a roach in the hall day 1, I spotted 2 in the bathroom day 2 , we killed one in the bathroom day 4 (the one and only cleaning day), spotted one in a kitchen cabinet & slept with the lights on at night in hopes that the roaches would stay away from us while we slept. On the 6th night I awoke to discover a cockroach in the bed – we decided we had had enough. My travel companion and I were both trying to make the best of this vacation but roaches in the bed were the breaking point. When we phoned owner to see if he would do the honorable thing and refund us the 2nd half of our rental fees due to the deplorable state of the accommodations, he flatly refused and stated the following: “We should've ‘stayed on top’ of the situation with Sam” and that “If Sam had been aware of the severity of the roach problem he could have ‘bombed’ the unit which would have only inconvenienced us for only 5 hours”- clearly he's dealt with this problem before as he has cockroach bombs at the ready. I have photos with proof and have posted them on other web sites - do your research before you book

Owner response:I am responding to this review out of a sense of responsibility to the 40+ guests who have been guests at my condo, who have provided reviews rated 5/5 and who will find the current review to be incredible, inconceivable and false. 1. There were no roaches. I contacted the guests who occupied the unit just prior to current reviewers and they reported no roaches. My resident my property manager slept in the unit after the current reviewers left for two straight nights and found no bugs of any kind. Why didn’t 40+ guests find roaches? Because there weren’t any. 2. The condo itself is spotless and is maintained in spotless condition. The guests immediately preceding the current reviewers reported the unit to be in perfect condition as did those who immediately followed. 3. There is no sewage removal at the site as reported by the current reviewers. This is pure fantasy. There is a sewage treatment plant to which pipes run underground. 4. The chief engineer at the condo complex examined and reported no problems with either of the condo’s sliders. Nor did the previous guests report a problem. 5. This condominium may very well have the best security on the island, contrary to current review. There is 24-hour video surveillance on all buildings as well as 24/7 foot patrols. 6. My condo is exactly as described on HomeAway. I routinely ask guests whether the condo lived up to their expectations and I have never had an answer other than “yes,” not even a “yes, but”, except from the current reviewers. I have been renting out my condo roughly 30 weeks a year for 5 years. I suppose that at least one guest during this period will see imaginary roaches, dirt when there isn’t any, and sewage when it is 8 feet underground and a burglar in every night shadow. What especially saddened me was the threat made by the current reviewers to “drag my name all over the Internet” if I didn’t pay them money, which is exactly what they did. How do you respond to someone who asks you “When did you stop beating your wife?” My answer: Please read the other reviews and ask yourself whether 40 guests who wrote stellar reviews on my condo could all be delusional?"

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/11/09 Review Submitted: 10/11/09

Wow, what a week. We came to St. Thomas from October 3-10, 2009, and we stayed in Unit E201. It was everything that Peter promised and more. The location of the condo to the beach is amazing, and we really enjoyed having the fresh water pool right next to the beach. It was also great being so close to Red Hook, as well as the marina. Plus, going on vacation during hurrican season sure does have its benefits - all of the beaches on the Island were empty, and some days we literally were the only people on some of the beaches we went to. What I would really like to comment on is how EASY it was to rent the condo from Peter. He was so helpful, and answered all of our questions. I am always a bit nervous about anything you book over the internet, as you cannot be sure what you are going to get. But Peter lived up to his promises - and honestly, this was the easiest vacation of my entire life! Stay in this unit - rent from Peter. You will not be sorry, and you will have a great vacation!

Recommended for:

How soon can we go back???

Guest: Cindy G (Timonium, MD)
Date of Stay: 07/23/09 Review Submitted: 08/06/09

My 2 teenage daughters, my husband & i spent 10 days in STT, leaving on August 1st. Everything was wonderful! For the snorkelers in your group, we swam with turtles right off of Sapphire Beach! The snorkeling is great there! The cruise ships drop some cruisers off at the beach, but the beach was never crowded and you didn't even realize they were there. I loved being close to Red Hook, as it was close to a grocery store, laundry and the ferry dock. Having fresh beach & bathroom towels delivered daily was such a nice perk, as were the beach chairs and having someone else take out the trash! Everything in the condo was in working order. We used 1 Euro bed and the pull out sofa and my girls found them to be quite comfy, as was the roomy king sized bed. There are 2 TV's, but we didn't turn them on. The internet service was wonderful to have, as well. We grilled out on the deck several nights and thoroughly enjoyed the breeze and the view. We went to several other beaches - Cowpet, Magens & Secret Harbor and enjoyed Sapphire the most! We didn't use the dive shop, concierges or eat/drink at the Banana Cabana, so I can't comment on them. The pool was very clean, and well maintained. There is a Budget rental in the lobby, which would make renting a car very easy (much easier than driving on the left side of the road!). Sam was on-time picking us up and gave us some tips and history of the island. My only suggestion is to bring straws because it's hard to drink a 'Pain Killer' while laying in the hammock, without one. We are hoping to return again next year.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Guest: Jo Ann Randerson (-)
Date of Stay: 07/09/09 Review Submitted: 07/09/09

We, (myself, 17 year-old son, 20 year-old daughter & her 21 year-old friend), stayed at Hammock in Heaven for 7 days in June 2009. How wonderful. We had been looking forward to Sapphire Beach for months. Peter's Condo did not disappoint. All was just as Peter had advertised and more. Beautiful beach, lots to do, everyone was so accommodating and we loved every minute we were there. From the beach and the pool, to Jost and St. John's Carnival, we tried to do it all. From the tarpon in the Marina to the iquana in the pool, we were captivated. We took advantage of the free snorkeling equipment and the $1 Safari (taxi service). We did not plan on watching much TV while at Hammock in Heaven, but thank goodness for 2 TV's in the unit. With the U.S. making it to the Federation Cup Soccer Finals, and deaths of Michael Jackson & Farrah Fawcett, we did watch a little TV. Sam Charles was a gem and we knew after first speaking with him on the phone when our flight came in earlier as planned, that Sam was the go to guy. Thanks Peter, we'll be back!

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Hammock in Heaven

Guest: Bubbles08 (Northport, AL)
Date of Stay: 07/04/09 Review Submitted: 07/22/09

I can't not say enough about the wonderful vacation we had in the Hammock in Heaven. The unit was beautiful and the view was outstanding!! From the moment Sam picked us up at the airport we were in Heaven. We had a wonderful trip on the Breakaway which is located just a few steps from the condo door. The crew on this vessel were outstanding. The trip the the British Virgin Islands was I think the highlight of our trip. I can not say enough about Peter and Ilene !! They were wonderful people as we had the pleasure of meeting them on our trip also. The Relaxation Guide that Peter emailed me was perfect for this trip!!! The information was VERY helpful !!!! Any question you could possibly need to know was covered in this email. I have to say that the unit was very clean and well decorated . The Hammock was a wonderful extra to this condo. It was very relaxing and you could easily fall asleep in it. Having the extra TV in the bedroom was great because we loved laying in the bed watching a movie late at night because we were so tired from a long day of sight seeing or just swimming. I think anyone who wants to relax and not worry about your condo then this is the unit for you !!!!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Kim Geveden (Paducah,KY)
Date of Stay: 06/04/09 Review Submitted: 06/04/09

BEFORE TRIP Peter's hospitality ranks above any other VRBO vacation we have ever used. His hopitality begins before you land in St. Thomas. As a mom of 2 teenagers, I had several questions about traveling to St. Thomas, but he would promptly e-mail me backwith everything I needed to know. Peter's web page paints a wonderful description of St. Thomas & his condo, but beware, you'll have to pinch yourself serveral times to make sure you are not dreaming once you arrive. ARRIVAL & DURING TRIP *My family fell in love with Sam Charles and his family. His assistance while at Saphhire was above & beyond! *Roomy condo *Loved the balcony in the daytime & at night *Perfect location to small fishing community of RED HOOK w/grocery store, ferry to St. John, Neptune Bait Shop, Post Office, quaint shops. EATING OUT/EATING IN *Took advantage of "Grocery Goddesses" delivery service. LOVED IT! *Molly Malones-ate breakfast there 3X -great! *Robert's - OH MY GOSH! Yummy to the bone! *Banana Cabana-Located on the premises of Sapphire Resort was convenient and delicious-drinks & all! SAPPHIRE BEACH RESORT *Had everything you needed at your fingertips (see Peter's listing) *Beach had calm waters so I felt comfortable letting my son kayak by himself. We usually go to Destin, Florida during spring break but loved the calm waters, beach, fauna, iguanas, & marine life that we found in St. Thomas. MUST DO ACTIVITIES *Shopping in Red Hook *Taxi tours of St. Thomas & St. John *Double Header Fising Charters - An unforgettable & lifetime experience for me & my son. **In fact, the whole spring break trip to Peter's HAMMOCK IN HEAVEN was a life time experience that my family & I will never forget! Thanks & God Bless You, Peter!!! Tell Sam "hello" from us! P.S. We shall return!!!!

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Close to Heaven!!!!!

Guest: Mary Patwar (Pascagoula, Mississippi)
Date of Stay: 05/30/09 Review Submitted: 06/07/09

Peter, We spent our entire trip home trying to decide when we could return again!!! Everything you had sent before we went was right on target. We went to Jost Van Dyke one day aboard the Daydreamer - the crew was fabulous, and we had a wonderful time at Foxy's, Soggy Dollar and White Beach. We also rented a car for the day and went to St. John's. We dined at Agave, Morgan's Mango, Blue Moon, Lobster Grill, Mollie Malonie's and several other places - great meals each time. I'm sorry to say that Off the Hook has closed down. We also spend many hours at the beach, the pool and on the balcony. The view from each spot is breathtaking, and we never tired of taking in the scenery.We would recommend your condo to anyone who would like to relax and take in everything St. Thomas has to offer. WE WILL RETURN!! Bill and Pat

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/03/09 Review Submitted: 03/03/09

Dear Peter,I want to thank you for the use of your condo last week. We had a terrific time and the accommodations were perfect. We were picked up at the airport and made a quick grocery stop, then off to Sapphire beach for a wonderful week filled with memories to last a lifetime. The beach at Sapphire was great. Although we did not eat from the little beachside grill that was available, their food smelled very good and we saw lots of people enjoying it.The snorkeling was awesome too! I saw turtles each time and also saw a BIG spotted ray. That was pretty cool. Tons of fish and beautiful coral out by the point. I told my husband that it is hard to wipe away tears of joy and thankfulness when you're wearing a snorkel mask.We went to the marina next door and enjoyed watching Tyler from Double Header Fishing clean the fish his passengers had caught and feed the tarpon. He sold us some fillets on two different days and we thoroughly enjoyed grilling them outside on the balcony using your handy little grill. Yummy.We took the your fold-up beach chairs to Lindquist Beach for the morning one day. Another beautiful beach. Took the regular taxi there ($4 each), park admission was $2 each, and then simply walked out to the road and took the $1 taxi back to Sapphire. The gal at the hotel desk told us of an easier way to catch the $1 taxi without having to walk up the steep hill by the tennis courts. We walked past the office and taxi stand and cut through the little field and went through the gate in the fence. This led to the driveway for Sapphire West (Crystal Cove). From there we walked out their driveway to the main road. It is probably the same distance, but a much easier walk. We took the dollar taxi to Red Hook a couple of times this way. We even took it all the way into Havensite one day for shopping. It was $2 per person to go that far but still cheaper than the regular taxi.We also did the ferry to Jost VanDyke as you recommended. That was very nice. Spent time at the Soggy Dollar and beach and then over to Foxy’s for lunch and a stroll back to the ferry. The condo was very clean and well kept and we also noticed that it was very quiet. We rarely heard any of our neighbors in the surrounding units. Of course the hammock on the balcony was truly heavenly! We are already planning to try and make a return trip in a year or two. I would definitely love to stay in E-201 again. Everyone we encountered was very pleasant and always helpful.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/09 Review Submitted: 03/03/09

We have spent the past 4 days in Peter's unit in St. Thomas, and we can without a doubt say that the combination of the perfect apartment and location along with Peter's indispensable advice have made these days truly unforgettable.  The apartment is spacious and comfortable, with daily fresh towels, internet, flat screen tv to be viewed from the bed, and anything else that you can imagine the word 'comfort' would represent.  The direct outside of our balcony's door consisted of a the hammock, a coconut tree and the view and sound of the ocean, truly fulfilling this 'heaven' mentioned in the apartment's description!  Moreover, every piece of advice Peter gave us was spot on!  The New Horizons II boat trip was great (obtained a 20% discount using Peter's coupon), jet skiing around Sapphire was a lot of fun (again, thanks to Peter we had 10% off), the restaurants were very good (we went to Off the Hook and Agave), and renting a jeep to explore St. John for a day was the most scenic experience we have ever had.  I can hardly think of any other place in the world that could fulfill one's need for relaxation, fun, good food, and beautiful views than going to St. Thomas and staying at Peter's unit.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/09 Review Submitted: 03/02/09

Dear Peter, I want to thank you for the use of your condo last week. We had a terrific time and the accommodations were perfect. We were picked up at the airport and made a quick grocery stop, then off to Sapphire beach for a wonderful week filled with memories to last a lifetime. The beach at Sapphire was great. Although we did not eat from the little beachside grill that was available, their food smelled very good and we saw lots of people enjoying it. The snorkeling was awesome too! I saw turtles each time and also saw a BIG spotted ray. That was pretty cool. Tons of fish and beautiful coral out by the point. I told my husband that it is hard to wipe away tears of joy and thankfulness when you're wearing a snorkel mask. We went to the marina next door and enjoyed watching Tyler from Double Header Fishing clean the fish his passengers had caught and feed the tarpon. He sold us some fillets on two different days and we thoroughly enjoyed grilling them outside on the balcony using your handy little grill. Yummy. We took the your fold-up beach chairs to Lindquist Beach for the morning one day. Another beautiful beach. Took the regular taxi there ($4 each), park admission was $2 each, and then simply walked out to the road and took the $1 taxi back to Sapphire. The gal at the hotel desk told us of an easier way to catch the $1 taxi without having to walk up the steep hill by the tennis courts. We walked past the office and taxi stand and cut through the little field and went through the gate in the fence. This led to the driveway for Sapphire West (Crystal Cove). From there we walked out their driveway to the main road. It is probably the same distance, but a much easier walk. We took the dollar taxi to Red Hook a couple of times this way. We even took it all the way into Havensite one day for shopping. It was $2 per person to go that far but still cheaper than the regular taxi. We also did the ferry to Jost VanDyke as you recommended. That was very nice. Spent time at the Soggy Dollar and beach and then over to Foxy’s for lunch and a stroll back to the ferry. The condo was very clean and well kept and we also noticed that it was very quiet. We rarely heard any of our neighbors in the surrounding units. Of course the hammock on the balcony was truly heavenly! We are already planning to try and make a return trip in a year or two. I would definitely love to stay in E-201 again. Everyone we encountered was very pleasant and always helpful.

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Our perfect week at Hammock in Heaven

Guest: E J (Peachtree City, GA)
Date of Stay: 02/14/09 Review Submitted: 03/06/09

Our fantastic experience began with a quick reply from Peter in regarding our dates of inquiry. Peter responded quickly and provided me with all the answers to our families questions about our first Virgin Island vacation. Peter also provided us with his very own "Guide to Relaxation". It contained everything we needed to maximize our family experience. The posted description of this property is accurate and if anything is better than described! Our family spent most of our time enjoying the large balcony in the mornings drinking coffee and watching the water activities. The hammock on the balcony should not be overlooked as a very pleasant way to spend the evenings also. The kitchen was appropriately stocked with the necessary equipment to prepare meals. The sliding plantation Teak shutter dividers make it convenient to be able to seperate the main dining room and T.V. area from the comfortable King sized bed. The sand and water of Sapphire Beach is outstanding. We spent a large amount of our time snorkeling for hours and enjoying the shade of the trees along the shore line. There is an abundant array of sealife within just a few feet of the shore on the reef and also the perfect place right next to the reef for swimming. We went into the nearby town of Red Hook a couple of evenings for dinner and also did our shopping so we could prepare the rest of our meals back at the condo. The Ferry to St. Johns is also in Red Hook just about 5 minutes away but we will have to save that for our next visit to Hammock in Heaven since I couldn't pry the rest of the family away from Sapphire Beach! My son and I also went Fishing on the Double Header Sport Fishing fleet that is right behind the Condo. The fishing was great...we caught 2 Sailfish!! We will definately be going back ASAP. Thanks Peter!

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

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/01/08 Review Submitted: 11/24/08

Dear Peter, What can I say. Sapphire Beach is the most beautiful place I have ever saw. The view is out of this world. The constant sound of the waves and the continuous breezes made it so relaxing. We woke up every morning just in time to see the beautiful sunrises. We took pictures each day of them. If you are looking for a place to relax, Peters condo unit E 201 is just the place. You won't believe your eyes while sitting out on the balcony or swinging on the hammock. You truely are in paradise. Thank you Peter for sharing this special part of your world with us. Deb and Bill

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/01/08 Review Submitted: 11/15/08

We had the honor to stay at Peter Rosenbaum's condo at Sapphire Beach Resort for four nights from November 8th through the 12th. The condo is absolutely beautiful on the inside and out. The deck is absolutely heavenly with the hammock and hearing the waves. This is the best resort to stay on all of St Thomas. The snorkeling was outstanding off of Sapphire Beach, just swim out to the right, and you are on a magnificient reef. The beach itself is the nicest beach that St Thomas has. We enjoyed the New Horizons excursion to Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke, the boat and crew were outstanding. We loved Sam Charles that will meet you at the airport and take you to the marina to pick up groceries. The only sad part, is coming home to cold rainy new jersey. Thanks again Peter and Sam for a wonderful vacation.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/08 Review Submitted: 10/14/08

My husband and I went to Hammock in Heaven on our Honeymoon. The location is absolutely beautiful! I don't think you can find a better view. We visited several resorts on the island and the Sapphire beach view does not even compare. Also, the weather website said we would have "heavy scattered thunderstorms" every single day - it did not rain even once. It was sunny and beautiful every day. I highly recommend doing at least one excursion that leaves from the marina (which is a one minute walk from the condo.) It was the highlight of the trip. Any of the boat cruises that travel to the BVI's will be a blast. I would have done them every day if I had known to plan for them. When you mention Peter's room number you usually get a discount on the excursions. I even called one and they offered 1/2 off the total price! We did not rent a car however I might consider it on my next trip because everytime you want to go somewhere you have to pay a taxi and they charge for each person. You must check out the jewelry stores downtown. If you are looking for a diamond or diamonds or even a watch you can negotiate with the jewelers a HUGE discount (you could never do that in the US.) The condo is very well maintained and being picked up from the airport by Sam is a great feeling. You receive fresh towels everyday and you will save a lot of money by buying groceries and making your own meals. Another cool thing was being able to walk out of your condo and a couple minutes walk you can grab snorkle gear (at no cost) and hop right into the ocean and see gorgeous fish. Sapphire beach has a reef so you will always see a number of different fish hanging out. You might even see a turtle or two! You can trust this rental and will have no hassle or worries when staying here.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/08 Review Submitted: 10/01/08

We stayed in the Hammock In Heaven (E-201) for 12 nights the end of July/early August, 2008. You certainly have a great condo, and what a beautiful location. We couldn't have asked for a nicer vacation -- the only thing that would have made it better is if we could have stayed longer! We were met at the airport by Sam Charles -- what a super-nice guy. After stopping for a few provisions, we arrived at the condo. What a fantastic place. The condo is very clean and comfortable and had everything we needed, and the view is terrific. The location can't be beat – on a wide, white sand beach, with that beautiful turquoise water for swimming and great snorkeling. It’s only 2-3 minutes to Red Hook for dinner or to catch the ferry to St. John, and a 20 minute ride into Charlotte Amalie. Twice we took the safari bus into town for serious jewelry shopping – great selection of fine jewelry as far as variety, quality, uniqueness, and fair prices. We really enjoyed the snorkeling at Sapphire Beach. Snorkeling with the turtles was awesome. And it was my first time seeing a barracuda up close and personal. I must admit, he looked a little threatening at first, but he didn’t seem very interested in us. He posed for his picture, and then went about his business. We took a day trip to the BVI to visit the Baths and Jost Van Dyke and snorkel the reef; but we didn’t get to stay very long at the Baths, Jost Van Dyke was packed with boats and people, and while the reef had some nice coral, the variety of fish wasn’t great. We took the ferry to St. John two days to snorkel there. Our favorite snorkel spot on St. John was Trunk Bay – absolutely beautiful beach, clear water, healthy coral (considering all the snorkel activity), and decent variety of fish. Our favorite snorkel spots on St. Thomas were Coki Beach, Secret Harbor, and Sapphire Beach. Very nice coral at Coki Beach and lots of fish. Coral World next door to Coki Beach was lots of fun. We swam with the sea lions and huge turtles and got some great pictures. We had lots of nice dinners while there; my favorite was Blue Moon at Secret Harbor. The filet mignon was excellent as was the service. We also enjoyed Molly Malone’s and actually ate there twice. Duffy’s was good as was Fungi’s, and carnival night at Iggie’s was lots of fun with decent food. Burrito Bay Deli at the yacht harbor served excellent burritos, made fresh, at reasonable prices. And one night we ordered Signor Piz

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/08 Review Submitted: 09/30/08

We stayed in the Hammock In Heaven (E-201) for 12 nights the end of July/early August, 2008. You certainly have a great condo, and what a beautiful location. We couldn't have asked for a nicer vacation -- the only thing that would have made it better is if we could have stayed longer! We were met at the airport by Sam Charles -- what a super-nice guy. After stopping for a few provisions, we arrived at the condo. What a fantastic place. The condo is very clean and comfortable and had everything we needed, and the view is terrific. The location can't be beat – on a wide, white sand beach, with that beautiful turquoise water for swimming and great snorkeling. It’s only 2-3 minutes to Red Hook for dinner or to catch the ferry to St. John, and a 20 minute ride into Charlotte Amalie. Twice we took the safari bus into town for serious jewelry shopping – great selection of fine jewelry as far as variety, quality, uniqueness, and fair prices. We really enjoyed the snorkeling at Sapphire Beach. Snorkeling with the turtles was awesome. And it was my first time seeing a barracuda up close and personal. I must admit, he looked a little threatening at first, but he didn’t seem very interested in us. He posed for his picture, and then went about his business. We took a day trip to the BVI to visit the Baths and Jost Van Dyke and snorkel the reef; but we didn’t get to stay very long at the Baths, Jost Van Dyke was packed with boats and people, and while the reef had some nice coral, the variety of fish wasn’t great. We took the ferry to St. John two days to snorkel there. Our favorite snorkel spot on St. John was Trunk Bay – absolutely beautiful beach, clear water, healthy coral (considering all the snorkel activity), and decent variety of fish. Our favorite snorkel spots on St. Thomas were Coki Beach, Secret Harbor, and Sapphire Beach. Very nice coral at Coki Beach and lots of fish. Coral World next door to Coki Beach was lots of fun. We swam with the sea lions and huge turtles and got some great pictures. We had lots of nice dinners while there; my favorite was Blue Moon at Secret Harbor. The filet mignon was excellent as was the service. We also enjoyed Molly Malone’s and actually ate there twice. Duffy’s was good as was Fungi’s, and carnival night at Iggie’s was lots of fun with decent food. Burrito Bay Deli at the yacht harbor served excellent burritos, made fresh, at reasonable prices. And one night we ordered Signor Pizza, which was very good pizza for a reasonable price, and delivered fast and hot. We had a wonderful trip! Thank you for sharing your piece of paradise with us. We will be coming back to St. Thomas; and when we do, we’d love to stay at the Hammock In Heaven again.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/08 Review Submitted: 09/06/08

Two of my girlfriends and I traveled to St. Thomas and stayed at Hammock in Heaven in July 2008 and I simply cannot say enough great things about the trip. Having never traveled to St. Thomas before, we had many questions about the island, where we should visit while we were there, etc. Peter was absolutely phenomenal in responding to our questions promptly and providing great guidance to us. He did not offer one bad suggestion! He made the reservation of the condo extremely simple and we had absolutely no problems while we were there. Sam was an amazing host to us. He picked us at from the airport and gave us a great island tour to start our trip. We were in awe of the view from the unit. The beach was gorgeous and the unit was in a great location. We certainly took advantage of the complimentary snorkel rental and logged many hours right out on Sapphire beach. You will feel right at home in Hammock in Heaven. The condo is clean and comfortable, and I am sure you will enjoy the convenience of being just minutes away from Red Hook and the marina. Peter's discount coupons for excursions and wave runner rentals will come in handy as well; you will want to take advantage of them! As I said, I cannot say enough great things about the unit, Sam, and Peter. They made this trip an absolute delight...well, them in combination with the gorgeous beaches, of course! I would highly recommend renting the Hammock in Heaven unit to anyone. It is sure to make a truly unforgetable vacation!

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Guest: Toni (Elkhart, IN)
Date of Stay: 06/19/08 Review Submitted: 06/19/08

Peter,We just returned to Elkhart Indiana after a week on Sapphire Beach. We made the mistake of flying American Airlines who were late with every flight. Even though we were late, Sam picked us up with a smile, and took us to the condo after a short stop for groceries. We saw Sam every day and quizzed him about every aspect of island living. He always had a smile and made sure everything was perfect.The condo and its location are the best. It is more private than others being situated between the pool and marina. It’s on the 2nd floor where it receives the perfect breeze each night and delivers an awe inspiring view of the sun rise each morning. We spent more time on the balcony than inside just because it was so perfect and peaceful. This is not to take away from the condo at all. Inside felt just as you would hope for an island get-away. Ceramic floors, Caribbean decor, efficiency kitchen, and wicker furniture all added to the experience. One unusual plus was the bathroom. Most condos of this type are small and extremely minimal. This one has double sinks, a full size tube with shower, and room for all the "necessities” a wife could possibly want to take on a trip. We wouldn't have changed a thing.We chose not to take a lot of tourist trips and instead swam, snorkeled, and relaxed. There was plenty to keep our very active 10 year old son busy and happy. It was completely safe for him to run around outside and chase lizards or go with friends he made to the marina and hunt crabs. He also met them at the pool when we all swam which allowed us to enjoy the sun a little more. We did go to town a couple days to shop. How can you visit the island without seeing the multitude of jewelry shops and the barkers luring you in with 75% off everything in the store? We enjoyed trying some of Peter's and Sam’s favorites when eating out. Fungi's was good food, low key, and right on the water. It served authentic island food. The Coconut Bar in Charlotte serves the best coconut shrimp ever made. We all agreed that Wikked's was the most fun place we ate. They have a great Cuban and very friendly wait staff. Our last night we went to Mafolie's for Caribbean lobster. If you like lobster, don't leave without trying it. It's not what you get state side. While talking about food, consider the Grocery Goddesses Peter mentions. They seemed pricey to us so we shopped for our own groceries. We found food is not cheap ($6 for cereal, $12 a gallon for milk) and in hin

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Toni (Elkhart, IN)
Date of Stay: 06/01/08 Review Submitted: 06/18/08

Peter, We just returned to Elkhart Indiana after a week on Sapphire Beach. We made the mistake of flying American Airlines who were late with every flight. Even though we were late, Sam picked us up with a smile, and took us to the condo after a short stop for groceries. We saw Sam every day and quizzed him about every aspect of island living. He always had a smile and made sure everything was perfect. The condo and its location are the best. It is more private than others being situated between the pool and marina. It’s on the 2nd floor where it receives the perfect breeze each night and delivers an awe inspiring view of the sun rise each morning. We spent more time on the balcony than inside just because it was so perfect and peaceful. This is not to take away from the condo at all. Inside felt just as you would hope for an island get-away. Ceramic floors, Caribbean decor, efficiency kitchen, and wicker furniture all added to the experience. One unusual plus was the bathroom. Most condos of this type are small and extremely minimal. This one has double sinks, a full size tube with shower, and room for all the "necessities” a wife could possibly want to take on a trip. We wouldn't have changed a thing. We chose not to take a lot of tourist trips and instead swam, snorkeled, and relaxed. There was plenty to keep our very active 10 year old son busy and happy. It was completely safe for him to run around outside and chase lizards or go with friends he made to the marina and hunt crabs. He also met them at the pool when we all swam which allowed us to enjoy the sun a little more. We did go to town a couple days to shop. How can you visit the island without seeing the multitude of jewelry shops and the barkers luring you in with 75% off everything in the store? We enjoyed trying some of Peter's and Sam’s favorites when eating out. Fungi's was good food, low key, and right on the water. It served authentic island food. The Coconut Bar in Charlotte serves the best coconut shrimp ever made. We all agreed that Wikked's was the most fun place we ate. They have a great Cuban and very friendly wait staff. Our last night we went to Mafolie's for Caribbean lobster. If you like lobster, don't leave without trying it. It's not what you get state side. While talking about food, consider the Grocery Goddesses Peter mentions. They seemed pricey to us so we shopped for our own groceries. We found food is not cheap ($6 for cereal, $12 a gallon for milk) and in hind-sight I think the Grocery Goddesses would have been a better choice. In short, the condo was everything it was said to be. Perfect in every way and just what we hoped for. Sam was a perfect host and more helpful than you could possible imagine. You can't find his kind of service with a smile anywhere. Both of these were great on their own but together they have convinced us we will return. We just won't fly American Airlines again...ever. Thanks again,

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Claudia and Arnie (Tulsa,OK)
Date of Stay: 06/01/08 Review Submitted: 06/04/08

The condo and the view were more beautiful than described. The view was the best on the island, shopping in Red Hook was delightful and convenient. The condo and the grounds surrounding it were meticulously cared for and the beach was one of the most beautiful on any of the islands. It was nice to have a more rocky beach immediately in front of this condo, so it was peaceful and quiet in the morning while drinking coffee and watching the ferries leave for St John. We were comfortable and not lacking for anything, even SPF60 sunscreen (Make sure you use it in the morning, drinking coffee.) We didn't have to buy anything but food and we could always call Sam with questions. Everything was perfect, including the occasional iguana in the palm tree.I recommend this condo to anyone going to AVI. Claudia and Arnie in Tulsa

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/08 Review Submitted: 04/06/08

Just a short note to describe what a beautiful place Sapphire beach and E-201 is. Hammock in Heaven is a clean, private condo with a spectacular view. The wrap around balcony in this end unit is definitely a plus. The condo was comfortable and spacious enough for my husband and I, plus our two sons. We spent one week (3/25-4/1) in St Thomas and I must say it was one of our best vacations. It was a pleasure renting from Peter; he is very organized and his suggestions and coupons were very helpful. Finally, the special attention from Sam Charles was greatly appreciated; what a nice man. If you are considering spending time on Sapphire beach, I strongly recommend renting E- 201. Be sure to bring kleenex with you; you will need them to wipe all your tears when you have to leave !

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/08 Review Submitted: 03/17/08

Peter, When we left Indiana to fly to St. Thomas on February 23rd, we were in the middle of an ice storm, and when we arrived in St. Thomas we found paradise. Sam greeted us at the airport and made us feel so welcome. He went above and beyond and took us to the grocery store and had arranged for a rental car to be delivered to the condo that night. Sapphire Beach Resort is by far the prettiest location of all the resorts in St. Thomas. The resort is beautifully landscaped and the beach is breathtaking. It is great for swimming and it is fantastic for snorkling. We loved the location of your condo E-201. Of all the buildings at Sapphire, building E is the most private and has the best views of St. John and the BVI's. We loved the beach parties on Sunday afternoons. The band was very good and everybody was up dancing and having a great time. Everybody we met at the resort was very nice and helpful. Your condo was very clean and had everything we needed to make our stay enjoyable. The view from our balcony was absolutely gorgeous. We loved being so close to Red Hook and the marina. We would eat breakfast at the condo and then go out for dinner. There are so many nice local restaurants in St. Thomas. We took advantage of your discounts and went on the day trip to the BVI's on the Breakaway. That was one of the highlights of our trip. White Bay on Jost Van Dyke is one of the most amazing beaches I have ever seen. I have never seen water that blue and clear. You never want to leave. We also went on the sunset dinner cruise which was very romantic. Peter was an excellent host and we want to thank him for sharing his slice of paradise with us. We will definitely be back soon. Thank you, Randy and Charlene Smith

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/08 Review Submitted: 03/09/08

We stayed at the Hammock in Heaven the week of Feb 17 and it was wonderful. The beach at Sapphire is lovely and the views from the balcony were spectacular. The close proximity to Red Hook makes it very easy to catch the ferry to St. John and explore the beautiful beaches within the National Park. We really enjoyed our stay and we hope to make it back again.

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Guest: Sarah McKinney_HAC27940 (Charlotte, NC)
Date of Stay: 02/01/08 Review Submitted: 02/03/08

Hammock in Heaven was wonderful, everything we expected and VERY clean. We really took advantage of the location, it was so nice to have the beach bar, restaurants and store onsite. Everything was just fantastic! We had many friends who choose different locations to stay and ended up very envious of ours. We loved being right on the beach. The view is amazing. Take it in with a Sapphire Lemonade from the beach bar. Just perfect. Peter is a wonderful host. We will rent from himuagain and highly recommend his properties to others.

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Guest: Bob Whitley_HAC121386 (New Bern, NC USA)
Date of Stay: 01/01/08 Review Submitted: 01/17/08

Just a quick report of our stay during Christmas 2007. My wife and two young adult daughters had a great time in this condo. The girls had their own personal Aero Bed, which was easily set up at night and stored away in the morning. The first floor unit was right on the beach, breakfast on the veranda with St John greeting us, the sun rising - it was great. We had a car so we could get to the store (Marina Grocery better that Food Market) for food and drinks as desired. We cooked and ate in most nights - got fresh tuna and salmon at the Marina Market, beer and wine as needed, and even a rotisserie chicken for one meal, and saved a ton in the process. The kitchen has all the basics except no oven - a toster oven would do the trick for small baking needs. We were there Dec 21-26, 2007, went on a sunset dinner sail on Christmas Eve ( saved 20 % with the discount from the owner), took the day sail to BVI - Jost (saved 10 % then), finished one book I had started and read three others while there. The beach activity hut was great for snorkle gear ( get the gear and snorkle in front of the condo - better fish and fewer people) and lounge chairs. If you want a relaxing time with nice accomodations and save by renting from the owner, this is a great place. We saved at least 1/3 by renting from Peter vs renting through the resort company. The communication with Peter was seamless- email contract and PayPal payment option worked like a charm. The unit was clean and basic- not luxury but very satisfactory. We had been to Sapphire Beach about 5 years ago and stayed in the same building on the ground floor (rented through the resort). We had a great time both times and will contact Peter again when we return to St Thomas.

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Guest: Laurie Hagerman_HAC117663 (Tallmadge, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 12/01/07 Review Submitted: 12/21/07

We, my new husband and I, recently stayed at the Hammock In Heaven, E201 unit. We arrived the first of December when the winter snow was hitting Ohio. We couldn't believe our eyes when we arrived at the condo. It was everything that was pictured and more. We were in heaven, or paradise on earth. Peter's communication before we arrived, his guide to relaxation, Sam's helpful advice and tips on restaurants to try, and activities was all so precise and very much appreciated. The view from the unit, the beach, the snorkeling at Sapphire Beach, the pool bar and grill, the Sunday evening music and dancing, the Sunrises ... was absolutely wonderful. We had planned (well in advance) to get married while in St. Thomas at Magens Bay. Our wedding day was picture perfect, and oh so romantic. We had the best vacation and honeymoon a couple could want. We went to Iggies for Carnival Night and Limbo Show and had a fabulous evening - with great food, great people and lots of fun! We have shown all our family and friends photos from our trip and they couldn't believe how beautiful Peter's place was. We believe we will be making a return trip in the near future with friends. After they saw the photos and listened to our stories, they are ready to see for themselves! We took the New Horizons Day Sail and the New Horizons II BVI Excursion and was so glad we did. We had the time of our lives. Thank you Peter for the discount coupons, we almost felt guilty about using them -- the trips were well worth the full price had we not used the discounts. We both have sunrise or beach photos from unit E201 as our new computer wallpaper, so we can daydream! Thanks again Peter and Sam for making our stay so comfortable, fun, beautiful and relaxing. We HIGHLY recommend the Hammock in Heaven to anyone wanting a truly beautiful, relaxing and peaceful vacation. John and Laurie Hagerman, Tallmadge, Ohio.

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Guest: Donna
Date of Stay: 11/16/07 Review Submitted: 11/15/07

The following comments were sent to me as a letter from guests who loved their visit. So many people email me with questions about things to do and adventures to undertake, that I think it is a very good idea to share interesting letters, even when they do not say much about the Hammocks in Heaven, one way or the other. Donna F.'s is such a letter. Hope you find it useful. Peter Rosenbaum "Dear Peter, We had a wonderful stay at Sapphire. Sam was a pleasure to meet and gave us quite a round about tour of St. Thomas on our way from the airport since we were right in rush hour. I am sure you are happy to have him in at your service. We also met his wife and two of the children when they were cleaning up one of your units and we went over and looked at both of the Hammocks in Heaven units for reference for future stays. We couldn't have been more pleased with the location and amenities at Sapphire. We did take the New Horizon trip and it was wonderful. We only had eight people! It was quite personal. We had great calm sunny weather all week. We ate once at the grill and it was adequate and we enjoyed the pool and the Sunday Reggae party at the pavilion. I loved having the Grocery Goddesses shop for us and have the frig full when we arrived. We brought some nonperishable food with us and we didn't need to go to the market all week. We did stop in the Marine Market in Red Hook and look at all the gourmet foods available and bought some rum to bring home. We managed fine with taxis and never even ventured into the shopping and cruise ship area, which seems like another world compared to the east side of the island. We spent one day on St. John and went to the Annanburg (sp) ruins and Waterlemon Cay. But we did receive this one tip from a local helping with a wedding at the ruins. If you are going to post this letter on your website, I can't tell you where this magic spot is, because if everyone knew, the coral would undoubtedly suffer damage from too much observation. The anwer is: Go to Watermelon Cay, find a local, ask. With so many beaches left unexplored I am sure that we will want to return and would definitely hope to find a time to use one of your condominiums. My friend, Jo Anne, was quite impressed with everything and might be contacting you in the future about a stay with her husband next spring. Thank you again for offering us such great service that made our trip perfect in every way. We hope your up

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/07 Review Submitted: 10/03/07

Peter,We spent a week in E-102 in Sept and it was perfect. The unit was very clean,well appointed, and attractive. The view from there is definitely the best in the islands. Mona and Sam are the best! We had a blast on the New Horizons 2. Hope to come back again.

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Guest: Stephanie_HAC105582 (Newport Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/01/07 Review Submitted: 09/07/07

Wow.... 100% satisfied. Peter was very helpful and the Unit was perfect what a view. I could not asked for a better Unit (it is the best unit in the resort) and Sapphire beach is the best resort. Can not wait to visit again. It was a week in paradise.

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Guest: Jackie
Date of Stay: 08/23/07 Review Submitted: 08/22/07

Jackie and her husband just returned from the Hammocks in Heaven. Guests' reactions to a stay with us simply do not get any better than this: "Peter, Just wanted to write and let you know how much we enjoyed this past week in Unit E-201. Words cannot adequately describe the experience. On a very personal note, I think I shared with you that my husband underwent a liver transplant 2 years ago. (very sudden, unexplained illness). This week in Hammock in Heaven was truly a special blessing for us as a family. Spending time together in a place like this was truly a slice of Heaven for us! The views, the "lapping" of the water on the shoreline, the trade wind breezes as well as celebrating my husband's 43rd birthday made for memories to last a lifetime. Your guide to relaxation was so helpful before and during the trip. We took a trip on New Horizons II and it was a highlight of our trip. We also rented jet skiis at the marina and took the ferry over to St. John-fun, fun, fun. We look forward to returning to your special place again in the future. Thank you again for sharing your "paradise" with us! Jackie P.S. Sam and Mona truly are two of the nicest people I have ever met!!"

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