My partner and I spent a week at Sweet Wind at the end of May, and it was absolutely wonderful. The place has, if possible, even more sweeping views of Hurricane Hole and the east side of St. John than the photos are able to capture, and the bougainvillea and other tropical plants that Nina grows on the property are lovely as well. We visited St. John primarily for snorkeling, and Coral Bay is a terrific location for anyone interested in snorkeling such sites as Waterlemon Cay and Maho Bay in the north, Haulover Bay and Hansen Bay to the west and Salt Pond/Tektite/Yawzi Point to the south. It is a short (though sometimes adventurous! definitely rent a high clearance vehicle if you want to go to Great Lameshur and Little Lameshur bays!) drive to any of these beaches, and there is also mangrove snorkeling in the some of the bays right in front of the house. We enjoyed exploring the island during the day, then returning to Sweet Wind in the late afternoon to enjoy the refreshing trade winds, which blow across the deck and cool the house every evening (and help keep the bugs away).

Sweet Wind itself is a beautiful villa that Nina herself designed and decorated, and we loved the woodwork and the thoughtful details such as the nautically themed door and cabinet handles, original paintings, stained-glass lamps, and stonework in the outdoor shower (nothing is more wonderful than taking an outdoor shower in a stone grotto after swimming and snorkeling all day!) The kitchen is well-stocked with all the dishes and cookware you could want, as well as some general condiments, sugar, salt, etc., and we ended up eating at Sweet Wind most of the time we were there just because we loved the views so much.

We also had the chance to spend an evening with the owner of the property, Nina Hahler, who is a talented artist, musician and architect with a fascinating history. We really enjoyed playing music with her and talking out on the beautiful deck she built for her own house (shaped like a ship's prow), and meeting the dogs and baby fawn she was caring for after a recent flood. Overall, we had an absolutely wonderful stay, and definitely hope to return someday, perhaps with friends (Sweet Wind also has three separate guest rooms with en suite bathrooms, each of which has access to a deck and the same breathtaking views, and it would be a great place for 2 or 3 couples to stay together).

Thanks, Nina, for your hospitality and generosity! We'll be in touch!