Book NOW for April - September
About this cottage rental
Located in St. John, this lovely cottage for $285 per night is a great choice for your next trip. Catch and Keep is just what so many budget-minded travelers dream of finding. For less than the price of a condominium or trendy eco-tent you can experience living in a real island home. The cottage is comfortable, tastefully decorated, and best of all, authentic. The affordable pricing may let you stay longer, or treat yourself to a day sail or massage. With today's emphasis on 'eco-tourism' you can experience how a 'traditional' island-style home fits into its environment in ways that appreciate the culture and architecture of the island and respects it unique environment. In scenic Coral Bay, 'Catch 'n' Keep' is a charming, West Indies-style home. Just ten to 15 minutes from nearby white sand beaches, the cottage sits on a half acre of wooded hillside, with a panoramic view of the Carolina valley and its stone sugar mill ruins. Plants and trees native to the environment have been encouraged and a large variety of native birds feel at home in the neighborhood. Catch 'n' Keep is nestled in a quiet cul de sac off a secondary road with only neighbors passing by, and there is shaded parking right next to the entrance. Two small markets nearby make life easier, as do a choice of eateries for those who really want to relax! Well-sited to catch the Tradewinds, the cottage is fully screened and has Hunter ceiling fans. Six large double doors open onto two covered decks where you can grill out with a Weber gas grill and dine in the fresh air. Or lounge in the hammocks and enjoy the country view, tropical breezes, and beautiful evening sky. The full kitchen is charmingly decorated with folk art and hand-painted ceramics collected by the owner in her travels. The bathroom features native stonework in the shower and full amenities. A comfortable queen-size bed with four pillows and lovely cotton linens awaits you. The cottage is thoughtfully appointed for your comfort, and includes guidebooks, WiFI,Cable,DVD and a CD collection, lots of vacation reading, and games. You will also find beach chairs, beach towels, and coolers for your beach days. A variety of restaurants, eclectic shopping, kayaking, hiking, and live music are conveniently nearby in the Coral Bay area. Not as developed as the Cruz Bay side of island, you will find Coral Bay less trafficked, more relaxing and exactly your dream of what an island get-away should be like! Keywords: Eco-tourism, environmentally friendly, cottage, island style, romantic,honeymoon, quiet, BREEZY, authentic, panoramic view, affordable, moderately priced, budget conscious,local flavor,West Indian architecture, parking, St. John house rental, Coral Bay vacation rental, last minute sales,great reviews, Pet friendly, kids welcome, 55+, ,
Amenities
Air conditioner
Pets allowed
Kitchen / Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Parking
Laundry
Balcony / Patio
Hot Tub / Spa
TV
Gym / Fitness Center
Garden
Family friendly
Map of St. John
Reviews
5.0/5.0
Outstanding(68 Reviews)
10.0
We absolutely loved this little cottage, tucked away on the hillside near Coral Bay. Indoors and out, such a great place just to "be". Overlooking the trees and valley, and with the charm of bright colors, screen doors/windows, sounds of roosters, goats and donkey's, it felt like a tree house, but a very comfortable one at that. Judy is a fantastic hostess who takes her role seriously, providing lots of helpful info in advance, and careful not to be intrusive even though she lives in the lower level of the building (completely separate from the cottage level). The ONLY, ONLY drawback for us was the bumpy road up the hillside, about a five minute drive (we drove very slowly to reduce the bumping), hence the 4 star for location/neighborhood. We had a Jeep rental, which works well for clearance and horsepower, but maybe an SUV would provide a smoother ride. Thank you Judy for a beautiful stay at your lovely cottage!!!
5.0
This was our 6th visit to St. John. The cottage was just what we needed. This is the first time we stayed on a property where the owner was actually onsite. Judy was a wonderful host! We were so grateful to have her staying in her apartment below us for our visit.
Our trip was unusual as my husband had an accident and needed medical care. Judy was a tremendous support and resource for us! She even offered to drive us into the clinic.
The porch on the cottage was a lovely spot to relax. And we made good use of it as my husband needed a day or two at homebase because of his injuries.
Fergus, her little dog was so sweet! He would come up quietly when we would get back from the beach, greeting us, and welcoming us “home.” Once we said hello he toddled off. He’d just come up to say hello!
Judy was there when we needed her but mostly busy with what she had going on, so it wasn’t intrusive at all having her below us.
Despite my husband’s accident, we were able to relax and enjoy the rest of our stay.
We loved that the home was self sufficient with energy and true to the concept of ecotourism, but still had the modern necessities. We cook in every night and we had everything we needed. I know that the constant fresh air that came through the cottage with those wonderful tropical breezes helped my husbands skin wounds to heal so much faster than if we had come back stateside right after his accident.
Thank you, Judy for a restful vacation!
5.0
Lovely quiet cottage. Judy was a wonderful host. We will be back!
5.0
We so enjoyed our stay at Catch and Keep. The cottage is adorable and immaculate with great attention to detail and comfort. It is completely private and conveniently located in Coral Bay near many beautiful beaches with great snorkeling.
Judy was a fantastic hostess. She took great care to provide us with all of the information to make our arrival, departure and stay seemless. We would return in a heartbeat. Thank you Judy and Ferguss!
5.0
Judy was wonderful host. It was quite and relaxing just like we were expecting. One of the most peaceful and relaxing vacation that was much need for my husband and I.
5.0
This cottage is exactly as pictured and more. I love to stay in unique places and this little cottage is a gem. You feel at home from the start. The wide covered deck seamlessly connects to the interior through multiple screened doorways. You wake to island breezes gently stirring the light curtains that you certainly don't draw because there is nobody to look in from anywhere and no light pollution. The very high ceiling adds a spaciousness even though it is a fairly small cabin. It feels airy and light and takes your emotions there too. The shower includes hanging plants and shells embedded in the stones. The temperature is always pleasant. The thought of AC is just ridiculous because then you would have to shut yourself in and by the way there is no glass over the screens which was a surprise and my absolutely favorite part. In most places this would be impossible but here, you have arrived in the perfect climate of the Caribbean. That is what you came for! If there were a storm, you could close the shutters but we never needed to. We had zero bugs but if you want birds, just set out a handful of seed or sugar and they come from everywhere. I could sit on that wide deck and watch birds and read books forever. We intentionally came to the quiet side of the island and are very happy we did. We hiked and ran trails to beaches that often had not another person there. Snorkeling was amazing! And then there is Judy. Oh my goodness, we didn't even meet her because she was away, but what a character and so helpful! She gave us tons of excellent advice and very detailed directions on how to get there. You can just tell that she has put a lot of thought and care into this cabin and really wants her guests to have a lovely experience. There are clearly some struggles associated with living on a small remote island. The roads are dreadful (rent a 4x4) and power is unreliable. She has solar power with a Tesla battery for storage. We did not realize that the power was out our first two days. It just switched over to solar power without a single hitch. Her water is filtered multiple times so perfect right out of the tap. Hidden sophistication so you can enjoy your rustic island experience.
4.0
All went smoothly
8.0
All went smoothly
5.0
Exactly as advertised, and, due to Judy's personality and thoughtful provision of amenities in the kitchen and bath, beach towels, cooler, umbrellas, etc., everything you need to enjoy St. John. Perfect size for a couple. Great veranda. Excellent shower. We stayed three weeks and cooked a lot, and it has everything you need. We loved the location, close as it was to our favorite snorkel spots, and away from Cruz Bay. Her dog, Fergus, is a sweetie, but doesn't bother you, either. All in all, exactly what we had hoped for.
5.0
Judith’s cottage was the perfect place to stay in St. John’s. She was so accommodating and easily accessible when we had questions about the island and her spot. We enjoyed the cottage so much and would absolutely stay again!
10.0
Judith’s cottage was the perfect place to stay in St. John’s. She was so accommodating and easily accessible when we had questions about the island and her spot. We enjoyed the cottage so much and would absolutely stay again!
5.0
Cottage was super clean and very quaint. Had everything we could ever need. Beautiful interior. Refreshing breeze floated through the screen doors and windows day and night making it very comfortable. Refrigerator cooled drinks super cool. Was so chill just sitting on the deck that it was hard to go away to the beach (we managed).
A few small bugs and small lizards could sneak in under the doorways etc from outside but they did not bother at all and were no problem - I assume this is common in most all properties on the island. That said, we had no problems with mosquitos or any other flying or biting insects while in the cottage. Sand flies at the beaches at dusk, but no other bug problems.
Renting a jeep was helpful to reach the cottage without worry as this and most other residential roads on the far side of the island are dirt and rocky. We loved the slower, quieter pace of the coral bay side (yes, even slower that cruz bay).
We felt absolutely safe the entire time at the cottage and really everywhere. The walks, drive, and decks were all very well lit at night. The screen doors have no locks but the owner lives on bottom level and assured us the neighborhood was safe (she's lived there for 20 years). We considered the lack of locks as a bonus as it made is so much easier to come and go. We had no problem leaving any of our things (money, passports, laptops) at the cottage during the day while we were at the beaches.
Many incredible beaches are within easy short driving distance (10-20 minutes) around hwy 107 to the south and also up to the north shore road. We used two markets short distance away with good selection of basics and tons of drinks. Best market we saw was at the midway gas station - and the only gas station we saw - but this is further away closer to cruz bay.
Only thing we would have changed is to buy several larger plastic water bottles (like half gallon size) and refilled those with water daily instead of buying cases of the smaller water bottles because the empty small bottles build up quickly and seem to be a problem on the small island with limited landfill. Owner was very helpful and very available through phone but at the same time did not bother.
Different sunscreen is recommended by islanders as the traditional ingredients are know to damage the coral and other things in the water there. I'd check that out before travel.
5.0
My husband and I stayed here for a week. The cottage is a guest suite on the second floor of a house nestled into the hillside overlooking the town of Coral Bay. The location was very quiet and peaceful. The cottage was very clean and comfortable, and we could relax in the evening and prepare food in the kitchen.
We enjoyed visiting the beaches and hiking trails. A jeep or similar vehicle is required to access the rural roadways to the cottage. Judith, the owner, is very courteous and helpful. I would recommend this rental for those who are looking for a relaxing stay away from the more crowded resorts and hotels in Cruz Bay.
5.0
We just returned from a two week stay at this cottage. It was wonderful. The owner, Judith, went out of her way to make sure we had everything we needed. The cottage has been decorated with a lot of love and is a happy and comfortable place to spend a vacation. The kitchen had all the essentials and there is a grill on the deck. No AC but breezes that come in the many screened doors and windows are more than adequate for comfortable sleeping. Should the breezes die down there are ceiling fans and table fans that do the job. There are many movies available, as well as Netflix and other types of streaming on the television. The bed has a firm mattress that I found comfortable, even though I usually sleep on a soft mattress. Judith provides a vacuum to be used for cleaning out the sand from your jeep and that is very appreciated. The huge covered deck with comfortable furniture is the best place ever for an outdoor meal or spending some time with a book. Green plants and trees are abundant and lovingly cared for by Judith. The clothesline on the deck is so handy for hanging rinsed bathing suits and wet towels. The driveway up is good, by St John standards, not too steep and rough only in patches. Location is great, conveniently close to a market and Coral Bay restaurants and the beaches. I dont want to forget Margaret, the owners rescued land tortoise. We had the pleasure of feeding her a banana a day when the owner was away. We think she recognized our voices after a few days! Oh and you will love the Bananaquit birds that come each day for the sugar in a feeder on the deck. There is no water view but the views of the green hills and birds and butterflies are special and surround the cottage, a perfect place to completely relax.
3.0
Pros:* Cost effective in that it met my budget requirements* On Coral Bay side providing easy access to all * Shower was made of local rocks, shells and coral.....looked cool!* Cottage very cleanoverall and floors very clean* Wifi, netflix, and roku TV provided* Nice wrap around porch with table and chairs for breakfast with nice views of the mountains* Close to great restaurants in Coral Bay: Caribbean Oasis, Skinny Legs, and Rhumb Line, without worry of parking you find in Cruz BayCons: * Privacy limited by owner on premises, lives just below unit. Owner not intrusive, but you could hear one another move around* Not a full door on bathroom, like a dressing room door, no privacy for bathroom needs....* Kitchen stove burners did not all work correctly* My husband had to clean clogged gas openings on propane grill in order for it to work and us to use it* VRBO listing indicates a washer and dryer to use. After booking, contract indicated availability only for stays of 10 nights or more. We made a deal and were able to use it during our 7 day stay. In addition, owner indicated dryer was not available and we would have to hang our laundry to dry. I was OK with this. During our stay it was very humid with moderate rain storm each day (not usual expected small showers), only after several days did the owner mention laundry would not dry in this weather and offer the dryer for us to use.* Binder of instructions for stay indicates instructions to water plants on deck/porch, change water in indoor vases, etc What? We are on vacation* Water pressure in shower was low* Bed was a mattress on top of a plywood frame......hope you like it firm/hard* Sheets on bed were worn out/thread bear and needed to be replaced* Owner asked us to feed her dog and land tortoise while she was gone for a couple of days off island. Owner said she would reimburse us for one night's stay for doing so....but she did not provide the reimbursement. Not a real big deal as we were glad to help out in a time of need, I just like it when people keep their word.
5.0
Well maintained, just as seen in the photographs. Clean; well lit, charming decor. Quiet & peaceful location, yet quick drive into Coral Bay.
FAQs
How much does this cottage cost compared to others in St. John?
The average price for a rental in St. John is $563 per night. This rental is $278 less expensive than the average.
Is parking included with this cottage?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Book NOW for April - September. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this cottage?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this cottage. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is Book NOW for April - September pet friendly?
Yes! This cottage is pet-friendly. For more information, we recommend contacting the booking provider about animal policies.
What amenities are available at Book NOW for April - September?
We found 12 amenities for this rental. This includes air conditioner, pets allowed, kitchen / kitchenette, internet / wifi, and parking.
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