The Cliffside Retreat was completely rebuilt in 2019 after Hurricanes Irma and Maria destroyed the original structure. The owner loving rebuilt her childhood home for her family to enjoy for generations to come. From the pink Saltillo tiles and dark mahogany furniture to the conch shells and the local artwork, as much of what Irma and Maria left behind was salvaged to be used in the rebuild. This home tells the story of generational love that you can feel from the moment you step inside the front door.
Arriving at The Cliffside Retreat will remind you of pulling into port, and this port is in the ideal location to enjoy the best of St. Thomas island life. You truly can’t get any closer to the water without being in it or on it. Located on the beautiful Northside of St. Thomas, The Studio is also in a central location to explore everything St. Thomas has to offer!
The ocean views of the home include Hull Bay Beach, Inner & Outer Brass Cays, and the west end of St. Thomas. On clear days you can see Puerto Rico in the distance. At night it is one of the quietest places on the island, like being at anchor at the tip of the point. The stars are unreal.
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The Space:
The home is spread across two levels. The Loft is the top floor, ground level. The Studio is the lower level accessible via a set of outside stairs, as is common in the USVI.
• First floor - this is the ground floor. You will walk into the open living space with a full kitchen, living room, and incredible covered balcony with views of Hull Bay, Inner & Outer Brass, and the west end of St. Thomas. A blow up mattress is provided for the living room area. Walk through the living room and to the left, just before the bedroom, is the updated bathroom with walk in shower.
Step out of the bathroom and on the left is the partially enclosed bedroom with a comfortable queen bed. There is AC in the bedroom but it is not fully enclosed. So if you need a really cool sleeping environment, this home might not be right for you. Just off the primary bedroom you will find a patio with a small outdoor dining table.
• Second floor - walk down the outdoor stairs and find yourself sitting mere feet above the ocean. Your arrival is met with the outdoor screened-in private porch. As you walk into the studio, find yourself in the cozy kitchen, living room, and bathroom. Walk upstairs to your spacious studio bedroom with the most incredible views and a comfortable queen-size bed.
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Squarely in the middle of Northside St. Thomas, The Studio at Cliffside overlooks the old fishing hamlet of Hull Bay. This is the quiet part of St. Thomas, a place where locals live, a place to drop anchor and rest and recover. You are close to:
Beaches
• Hull Bay Beach - a three-minute drive or a twenty-minute adventurous walk from the Loft. Find snorkeling in the summer and surf in the winter. It stays fairly empty even on cruise ship days.
• Famous Magen’s Bay - less than fifteen minutes by car
• There is a secret bay nearby with the ruins of an old sugar mill. Look hard and you might find it.
Restaurants
• The Shack at Hull Bay – 3 minute drive for fish tacos, burgers, and margaritas. They host cash BINGO on Tuesdays, live music on Thursdays, and kid-friendly movie nights on Fridays. Check their socials for the monthly schedule.
• Fish Bar – 5-minute drive, fresh seafood and cocktails in a modern setting.
• Sib’s on the Mountain – 8-minute drive, casual local favorite with hearty portions and island charm.
• Brook's Bar - 13 minutes away, cash only, very casual and great for trying delicious local food.
• Northside Grind - 13 minutes
Groceries
• Moe’s Northside Market – 8 minutes away, great for last-minute items (a bit pricier for full hauls).
• Cost U Less – 16 minutes away, larger grocery trips are best here
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Important things to note...
● There is only AC in the bedroom, which isn't completely closed off from the main living space. The AC can help cool the lower living area of the home but it won’t get really cold.
● The peninsula road to reach the loft is a little rough and narrow. Drive slow, live slow, and we recommend renting an all-wheel drive vehicle. Taxis will not drive to this location, and they are not permitted on this property at any time, so a rental vehicle is a must when you stay at this home. This is also the best way to explore St. Thomas!
● Facing the sunset means that this location can get warm in the evenings. We encourage spending afternoons at the beach. If you’re sensitive to heat, avoid booking the months of July through October.
● Large ocean swells are common from November until March but can happen anytime. Many report they’ve never slept better than to the roar of the waves crashing on the rocks, but those who need silence, please beware.
● There is nothing standard about the layout of this house, it feels more like a ship. Please be aware that there are stairs inside and outside of this home that you will use daily when staying here. We allow kids and infants but please understand this property does have quite a few stairs on the interior and exterior. Your kids will need to be comfortable navigating them safely.
● There is ongoing construction in this neighborhood and directly adjacent to Cliffside Retreat. There is the potential to hear construction noise during business hours.
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Island Life...
● Tropical critters, like lizards and crabs, have a way of finding themselves indoors. They don’t bite or sting, so make friends and usher them back outside
● Power outages are a fact of life. Solar energy charges batteries that help, but they sometimes run out. While it rarely happens, this means we can not guarantee power or Wi-Fi at any time during your stay. It also means that turning off the AC before leaving for the day is crucial to extend battery life in case an outage occurs while you’re gone.
The Cliffside Retreat is for those who feel inspired by the elements. It is for the type of people who might charter a sailboat, go backpacking, or rent a treehouse for a vacation. If this sounds like you, pull into port and drop anchor!
