We visited this property in March 2023. Two families (4 adults, 3 teenagers). The pictures on VRBO don't do it justice, simply because the blackout blinds are drawn in may of the interior photos. The house is very clean, modern and up-to-date. The kitchen is very well-appointed, with all of appliances and utensils you'll need to cook and even store leftovers. There are plenty of A/C units in the bedrooms and living areas. If you close the blinds during the day the house will stay nice and cool and there was a great breeze when we opened the windows. We only used the A/C right before bed each night. The beds were very comfortable, there were plenty of towels, etc. We had our own snorkel gear, but there was plenty of brand new gear in the house for guests to use. There were also several nice beach chairs and a nice cooler for our use when headed to the beaches.
If you are a newcomer to St. John, you should be sure to understand the difference between staying in Coral Bay versus Cruz Bay. It's much less busy and quiet in Coral Bay, but also a little more limited on restaurants and bars (i.e., the day does not revolve around Happy Hour). This was our third visit to Coral Bay, so we knew what to expect and we loved it. The house was an easy drive up the hill 2 minutes from Skinny Legs and very convenient for frequent trips to the Dolphin Market or nearby restaurants. There is plenty of wildlife to sit and enjoy on the back porch, including donkeys, deer, goats, birds, and we could see fish and turtles in Hurricane Hole down below. Best of all, there were no neighboring roosters or peacocks that wake you up at the crack of dawn. During the week we were there, there was a bit of a north swell that impacted snorkeling visibility, so we enjoyed being a little more central on the island and could pick and choose north shore, salt pond, or Hansen beaches based on the wind and waves each day, and we were rewarded with great beaches and snorkeling every day of our trip.
The property manager, Audrianna, and our local hostess, Joice, were super helpful and really made our trip a joy. They went so far as to call ahead and hold the ferry for our family when our flight was running late into STT and also helped us find an extra rental vehicle. Joice was very flexible and met us at Skinny Legs and guided us up the property and took the extra time to make sure we were very comfortable.
I will look forward to renting this property again soon!!
