Rara Avis-Relax in your lounge chairs to the sounds of the surf! Romantic!

Beach
4 bedrooms, in-room safe, iron/ironing board, free WiFi
TV, books, stereo
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Shower, hair dryer, towels

About this villa rental

Nestled in Cruz Bay, this lovely villa for $696 per night is a fantastic option for your next vacation. Rara Avis is a waterfront villa that is located on an oversized lot in Hart Bay, which is a bay with a small beach on the south coast of St. John. Rara is the last villa on a private drive and it sits in the middle of an oversized lot, so it is blessedly peaceful and quiet without even a whisper of vehicle traffic or other noise. As Rara’s website states, this home is 'located in an unusually quiet and private seaside setting where shimmering moonlight, warm trade winds, mesmerizing views and the background sounds of breaking surf weave a totally relaxing almost magical atmosphere.' Although Rara enjoys an excellent degree of privacy and tranquility, you are less than 3 miles from Cruz Bay. The beautiful 180 degree view takes in the entire south coast of St John, much of which is unspoiled National Park. Rara Avis faces south and the sun hits your decks from early in the morning to late in the afternoon. A short hike down a private path leads to the 83-degree, crystal clear waters of Hart Beach, where on a calm day you’ll enjoy some good snorkeling or swimming. Rara consists of three distinct buildings – a 2-level stone house, plus two bedroom cabanas on both sides of the great house. Courtyards, gardens and walkways connect the three buildings and the pool. The upper level of the great house contains the great room with the living, dining and kitchen areas, plus a half bath, and a laundry room. A 450 sq/ft tiled sun deck with magnificent views runs along the waterfront side of the great house. The two bedrooms and the deck on the lower level are accessed by two sets of exterior stairs on either side of the great house. In addition to the pool’s sun deck there are four other private sun decks including two off the great house, and one off each bedroom cabana. The two bedrooms cabanas are spacious (370 sq/ft) with queen beds, excellent privacy, lovely views and an intimate setting. Each cabana includes a tiled bath and a private deck or patio. The two guest bedrooms (twins that convert to a king) are located on the lower level of the great house and also offer romantic ocean views. The lower level guest bedrooms share a bath, and a fourth half bath is located off the kitchen in the great house The living and dining rooms have been artistically finished to look like the interior of a centuries old Spanish or Italian villa. They are furnished with a combination of antiques and designer furniture that blends comfort with function. From either room screened sliding glass doors open to warm breezes, a spacious deck and sweeping views of the south shore National Park. A cable 32” flat screen TV, stereo and wireless internet are provided. You can dine inside at the stately mahogany table seating 6 - 8, or outside on the sheltered garden patio. The complete kitchen includes a 4-burner stove and oven, refrigerator/freezer, dishwasher, microwave, blender, coffee maker, toaster and a fine selection of dinnerware, cookware, and server ware. There is a gas barbeque grill in the courtyard.

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen / Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Parking
Laundry
Balcony / Patio
Dishwasher
TV

Map of Cruz Bay

Reviews

4.5/5.0
Excellent(18 Reviews)
4.0
star 5 empty
May 2023
We had a great time and moved the lay out of the house. View and breeze was marvelous. I would like to make 2 comments if constructive feedback…the house was dirty. Obvious places had not been dusted and mopped in some time. It would also be nice if there were enough beach towels for all of us. Overall a lovely stay! Thank you
4.0
star 5 empty
Feb 2023
secluded, quiet, just the wave sounds of the ocean bay
5.0
Jan 2023
What a beautiful piece of property! We were skeptical about not having an air conditioner but the trade winds and the open doors/windows made for the perfect sleeping weather. Check in process was a a breeze as well. We had a younger adult flying in on a separate flight and on a routine call from The property manager, she offered to meet my young adult and help her find the way to the property! THAT is going above and beyond. Luckily, all the flights landed around the same planned time and we didn’t have to go to plan b. The ground at Rara Visa are lush, mature and absolutely beautiful. We met 2 iguana friends on property as well. A small hike down the waters edge was nice- rocky but it was a nice adventure. The property was conveniently located close to the grocery store, downtown, and other beaches. If we come back to St John’s - we will stay here again!
4.0
star 5 empty
Aug 2022
Amazing views and a short drive to town. We liked that there were two structures separate from the main house for use as bedrooms. Air conditioning in the bedrooms would be a welcomed addition. The breeze was lovely, but we stayed during an unusually warm week. Highly recommend!
3.0
star 4 emptystar 5 empty
Jul 2022
Rara Avis
Rara Avis
I would not recommend staying here during the rainy season. The rain blew in on us while we were sleeping in the bungalow. Had to reserve another villa for our stay. Property is beautiful and if you are used to not having AC then you would probably be good. I live in the south and I am used to ac so we couldn’t sleep. House has everything you need for the week. If we hadn’t gotten wet while sleeping we may have stayed the whole week. It did rain a lot during the week we were there. Beautiful views.
5.0
Jul 2022
Staying for a friend’s wedding on St John
Staying for a friend’s wedding on St John
Very peaceful and easy to get to from Cruz bay. As advertised and a wonderful place for a group to stay
5.0
Feb 2022
Paradise
Paradise
We loved the layout of this property. The main house with kitchen, dining room, and living room is open and airy. It was perfect even on the one rainy day for hanging out and playing cards. The separate cottages are very close and on level ground with the main house providing privacy and ease. The downstairs bedrooms were equally comfortable for our boys. The path to the beach was a hidden gem, the pool and decks lovely.
5.0
Aug 2021
Our group of 8 loved this location. The views and breezes were incredible. Falling asleep each night to the sounds of the waves was so relaxing. There is no air conditioning, but we were perfectly comfortable. Location very convenient to Cruz Bay, but also very private. Would happily go back again.

FAQs

How much does this villa cost compared to others in Cruz Bay?

The average price for a rental in Cruz Bay is $930 per night. This rental is $234 less expensive than the average.

Is parking included with this villa?

Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Rara Avis-Relax in your lounge chairs to the sounds of the surf! Romantic!. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.

Is there a pool at this villa?

Yes, a swimming pool is available for use at Rara Avis-Relax in your lounge chairs to the sounds of the surf! Romantic!. Enjoy the water!

Is Rara Avis-Relax in your lounge chairs to the sounds of the surf! Romantic! pet friendly?

Unfortunately, this villa is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"

What amenities are available at Rara Avis-Relax in your lounge chairs to the sounds of the surf! Romantic!?

We found 8 amenities for this rental. This includes pool, kitchen / kitchenette, internet / wifi, parking, and laundry.

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