COUPLES RETREAT W/ 180 DEGREE VIEWS & GLASS BOTTOM KAYAK INCLUDED!
About the property
- Villa850 sqft
- Bedrooms1
- Sleeps4
- Bathrooms1
- Half Baths0
- Minimum Stay5 - 7 nights
Beautiful Couples Retreat, 180-degree ocean view, indoor AND outdoor shower
Joy of Life Villa will make you realize how good life is here, overlooking the US and British Virgin Islands, coral reefs and turquoise seas with 180 degree views. This new, solid stone and masonry home is fully equipped and surrounded by verdant forest and unsurpassed views. This villa has a premium memory foam king bed, 1200 sq. foot deck accessible from all rooms, full kitchen, large luxury bathroom with local stone and hardwood features, indoor AND outdoor showers, air conditioning in bedroom, free WiFi, two TV's with Netflix access, beach chairs/towels/snorkel gear, a large gas grill and glass bottom kayaks & paddle boards waiting for you at the nearby beach! Perfect for couples or honeymooners, and also has a sofa bed. Located in Coral Bay, 2 minutes to restaurants and 15 minutes to major beaches on North Shore. Call the owner, Karen Vahling, with any special questions: 340-227-1110 or follow us at Joy of Life Villa for more photos, reviews and specials. Concierge service always complimentary; we help you find excursions and recommend dining and activity customized for YOU.
A standard rental Jeep with 4WD is required for our hill in case of rain, and for the mountainous terrain of St. John (all local rentals are Jeeps). We advise renting Jeeps on St. John due to unreliable car ferry schedules.
This rental and all amenities are on the entire main level of Joy of Life Villa and your privacy is paramount. We rent to mature couples seeking a tranquil, comfortable and romantic getaway. SEE OUR MANY 5-STAR REVIEWS!
Please note: Island utilities may experience interruptions (power, cell, Wi-Fi). We have a whole-house generator in case of extended outages.
Owner
Karen Vahling
- Response rate:
- 100%
- Response time:
- within one hour
- Speaks:
- english
- Calendar last updated:
- May 13, 2018
About Karen Vahling
Karen purchased the land in 2000 and saved for 10 years before starting to build. We moved here because of the incredible natural beauty, simple life and friendly community. My partner, Jeff, helped me build the house, is very handy to have around and a great resource for island info. The photo was taken in our driveway.
Karen Vahling purchased this Villa in 2000
Why Karen Vahling chose Estate Freemans Ground
I fell in love with St. John 20 years ago and always wanted to live here. It is the best island because it is 2/3 National Park and US territory. Coral Bay is unique and unspoiled, full of natural beauty.
What makes this Villa unique
This property is unique because it is on a large parcel of land (over 1 acre) and has an expansive view from its large deck and all windows, overlooking the USVI and BVI with development-free Coral Reef National Monument in the center of view. Stargaze at the milky way with no light pollution, fall asleep to distant waves breaking on the reef at Johnson's Bay and tree frogs peeping. Wake to doves cooing, amazing sunrises over the islands and great gourmet coffee! Then hit the beaches or go kayaking in pristine waters - kayaks are provided for you at no extra charge! If you have more than two people, there is a sofa bed. An additional king bed unit is available, with it's own separate parking and entrance, based on availability. One unit up, one down. Completely private and quiet, with solid masonry floors, walls and decks. Over sized wooded lot on a knoll overlooking the sea.
Amenities
- Air Conditioning
- Internet
- No Smoking
- Parking
- Pets Welcome
- TV
- Washer & Dryer
Bedrooms
- 1 Bedrooms, Sleeps 4
- Bedroom 11 king, King bed with view and sliding doors to deck.
- King bedroom with sliding doors to 1,200 foot deck and views to ocean. Additional sofa bed in living room. Large closet, desk and chair. 32' flat screen TV, DVD player with remotes. Air conditioning and ceiling fan. Room-darkening curtains and blinds. Indoor & outdoor showers. Additional unit available on property, separate entrance.
Bathrooms
- 1 Bathroom
- Bathroom 1toilet, shower, Large bathroom with stone and mahogany features.
- Large, luxury bathroom with stone shower big enough for two. Bench seating, view to ocean from shower window. Large mahogany vanity, luxury towels, plenty of shelves and counter space. Travertine tile floors, two mirrors, vessel sink, hair dryer, magnifying mirror. Additional stone shower outdoors.
Location Type
- Beach ViewOverlooking famed beaches on East End and pristine Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument.
- Near The Ocean550' above sea level, you can hear the waves from the bay below.
- Ocean View180-degree views over the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, inviting you to bask in the changing sights of the day.
- VillagePerched above the small, island community of Coral Bay with local restaurants, bars and shops.
Theme
- Adventure
- Away From It All
- Budget
- Romantic
- Tourist Attractions
Meals
- Guests provide their own meals
General
- Linens Provided
- Air ConditioningIn bedroom
- Fitness Room / EquipmentElliptical machine for convenient workouts.
- Hair Dryer
- Internet
- Iron & Board
- Clothes DryerAdditional charge for access $100/week High electric rates in USVI, 10 times US rates.
- Living Room
- Parking
- TelephoneThere is cell signal but you will want to use AT&T. No land line phone. You can use internet-based phone (Skype or other).
- Towels ProvidedLuxury bath towels, beach towels
- Washing MachineAdditional charge for access $100/week Water is precious here! Rain water only.
- Free Wifi
Kitchen
- Coffee MakerDrip, French press or espresso maker. Filters provided for drip coffee maker. Keurig is there too.
- Dishes & UtensilsQuality dishes and utinsils.
- KitchenFull kitchen with gourmet appliances, powerful blender, convection oven, Keurig or regular coffee maker, quality knives and pans.
- MicrowaveBuilt-in stainless microwave over stove.
- OvenDual ovens (large and small) plus toaster oven, both with convection.
- Pantry ItemsHelp yourself to spices. Starter supply of paper goods provided (paper towels, TP). There's usually peanut butter, jam, condiments already there.
- RefrigeratorDouble-door stainless fridge, large capacity.
- StoveQuality gas stove, stainless, 4-burner with dual ovens.
- Toaster
Dining
- DiningDine inside or outside, deck has large oval table with sofa and side chairs as well as a gazebo with 6 seat table and chairs.
- Dining Area
- comfy seating for 4 people
Entertainment
- BooksMany local St. John travel guides and nature guides.
- DVD Player
- Gamescards, dice, Scrabble
- StereoBOSE speaker you can connect to by blue tooth.
- TelevisionUnlimited Netflix movies, DVD library.
- ToysTwo kayaks at the nearby beach for your use!
- Video LibraryMany movies on DVD to choose from.
Outside
- BalconyLarge roof top flat area for sunning and view. A great dance floor under the stars too!
- Deck / PatioLARGE 1,200 square foot deck with amazing views.
- Kayak / Canoe2 kayaks at nearby beach for your use!
- Lawn / GardenAdditional 'lounge deck' off to the side, over the flower and palm tree garden.
- Outdoor GrillLarge grill on the deck, with side burner. Infrared cooking to keep juices in vs. direct flame.
- Water Sports GearSome snorkel equipment available at no charge. Beach chairs and coolers too.
Suitability
- not suitable for children
- wheelchair inaccessible
Onsite Services
- Massage
- Private Chef
Attractions
- churches
- duty free shops
- health/beauty spa
- marina
- restaurants
- ruins
Leisure Activities
- horseshoes
- beachcombing
- boating
- eco tourism
- horseback riding
- bird watching
- scenic drives
- shopping
- sight seeing
- walking
- wildlife viewing
Local Services & Businesses
- ATM/bank
- groceries
- laundromat
- massage therapist
- medical services
Sports & Adventure Activities
- scuba diving or snorkeling
- deepsea fishing
- fly fishing
- hiking
- kayaking
- sailing
- fishing
- snorkeling
- snorkeling/diving
- sound/bay fishing
- swimming
- wind-surfing
Notes
- New outdoor shower area just added! FREE use of glass bottom and regular ocean kayaks awaits you at the beach. Sit on tops and standup paddle boards too, with life jackets. Washer & Dryer available (additional fee $100/week due to high energy and water costs). Drinking water is great - triple filtered rain water! Please note that island utilities, cell and wi-fi may experience interruptions out of our control. We have a backup generator in the event of any extended power outages.
House Rules
Check-in: 3:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Cancellation Policy
Canceled bookings will not receive a refund
20 Reviews
Latest reviews
PERFECT location!
We just returned from a 10-day stay at Joy of Life Villa and can't imagine having a better vacation. Joy of Life has the most amazing view, and it's worth rising early to enjoy the sunrise, which is different everyday. The constant sea breeze kept us comfortable at any time of the day or night. There's lots to do on St. John, but we were just as happy to hang out on the deck enjoying the sun, the breeze, and the view. Karen and Jeff were perfect hosts--friendly and fun to talk to, with great suggestions of their favorite things to do and see on the island, but also happy to step back and leave us to design our own vacation. We loved being on the quiet side of the island, but the drive along North Shore Road into Cruz Bay is as pretty as any place we've been in the Caribbean. You have your pick of beaches and lots of hiking trails that were just the right length! Of course there is evident damage from the hurricanes, but the green has come back and the amazing blues of the Caribbean waters never left. We were hesitant to visit St. John so soon after the storms, but we have no regrets!
Gorgeous Pamoramic View
My husband and I spent a full nine days at Joy of Life and enjoyed every minute of it. There are many things that make this property special, starting with the view. From the deck relaxing in the very comfortable outdoor furniture, you can see 180 degrees overlooking beautiful Coral Bay, the incredible British Virgin Islands, and then out to sea. My husband and I have traveled to many of the Caribbean Islands and stayed in wonderful accommodations, and we both agreed that this view tops them all.
Karen and Jeff are amazing hosts who cater to your every need. They are also simply wonderful people! The people of Coral Bay are second to none. Everyone is so welcoming and happy that you are there…and you never feel like an outsider.
The house was perfect for our needs. We often find the interior furniture in many rental houses can be uncomfortable and this is not the case at Joy of Life. Whether there was rain, wanting to take a break from the sun, or a quiet evening inside, there is a very comfortable couch and chaise lounge to curl up on. The king size bed is also very comfortable. Finally, the kitchen is also well equipped if you want to skip the restaurants and cook…which we did on a few nights because the view was so gorgeous and they have a great quality new bbq.
Many restaurants are now open after the hurricanes and we enjoyed The Terrace and Extra Virgin Bistro in Cruz Bay as well Margarita Phil’s, a new Mexican restaurant, was fun with very good food and service. In Coral Bay, the new Wok on the Beach was very tasty and has a nice view. Oasis Beach Bar, also great food with a view…and be sure not to miss the banana pudding. Pickles was great for Breakfast and the open mic night with dinner was terrific! Finally, no visit to Coral Bay would be complete if you did not visit Skinny Legs…lots of fun and a real local experience with great local music.
Be sure to take in the hiking...especially Ram's Head Trail which is not far from the house and not to be missed.
As you can tell, we loved our time in St. John discovering all that it has to offer. This was our first visit…and yes you could tell that the island got a haircut from the hurricanes but the beauty remains and the beaches are still incredible.
I would highly recommend Joy of Life and St. John to all of our friends and family…and to you!
Jill and Daryl
Toronto, Canada
Post Irma and Maria- Beautiful!!!
Irma and Maria could not destroy this island paradise's beauty. The water, the flowers, the mountains, the sand, the oceans, are still there and still amaze and awe us. So did Joy of Life Villa. Everything was perfect! The photos on the website are even more beautiful when you are setting on the deck every morning watching the sunrise show. Everything you need is there and if it isn't the owners, Karen and Jeff, will see that you have it. Worth the price and right now there are no crowds. Go Go Go
Wake up to a beautiful view every morning
Accessing the driveway feels like you might be driving off the end of the world, but once the hills become second nature you can kick back and really take in the spectacular view.
If you need to be able to stroll from your bedroom to the beach, this is not the place for you, as getting to the beach takes a little work, but navigating around becomes part of the adventure and the fun. The home is very nicely decorated and very comfortable. At the time of our visit, Coral Bay was transitioning back into modernity after storm recovery, so we were actually on a generator, which was not ideal, and did not have internet for the bulk of our stay (although this was restored ). Going forward, there should be no issues. The hosts are gracious and respectful. Do not hesitate to book.
The Perfect Honeymoon OR Anytime Escape
Karen and Jeff, the owners of this incredible spot, have created the perfect escape off the "beaten path" that is St. Thomas and Cruz Bay, Saint John. We were so glad that we decided to go the "locals" route, and not use the all-inclusive resort option. Joy of Life Villa is the perfect name for this property. It is impossible to have a bad day here. The amenities, views, and overall hospitality created the perfect honeymoon for us. It has only been a few days since we returned to the States, but I wish every second that we could return already. We cannot wait to be back, and will always have Joy of Life at the top of our list.
Just amazing.
Ten thumbs up.
Location
About 2/3 of St. John is Virgin Islands National Park, with world-class white sand beaches, snorkeling, and hiking through lush green forests overlooking the Caribbean and Atlantic seas. Don't miss the best snorkeling at Waterlemon Cay, the tranquil beach at Maho Bay and a hike to the petroglyphs on Reef Bay Trail. Or, just relax on our deck and let the day slide by watching the sailboats and stargazing on clear, tropical nights.
Rates & Availability
Additional information about rental rates
For BEST RATE Call Owner, Karen Vahling at 340-227-1110 Cancellation policy: 50% at booking, 50% 90 days before arrival, no refunds unless rebooked, 20% rebooking fee. Extra person over 2 people: $50/night Laundry usage: $100/stay (optional) VI Lodging Tax is 12.5%