Waterfront Beach Cottage in Protected National Park Waters - Estate Zootenvaal
This one bedroom/one bath postcard perfect cottage sits on a gentle grade across the calm, protected waters of the US Virgin Islands National Park. Estate Zootenvaal was well known for 4 cottages that share a private sandy beach. The 2017 hurricanes destroyed these cottages and but now they are back, better than every. Everything about this cottage is all brand new, including Solar Panels and Tesla Batteries for backup in case of power outages. The house is elegantly furnished and well equipped with everything you'll need for a perfect vacation. Enjoy the cooling trade winds and panoramic views while you relax on the porch or explore Hurricane Hole in the provided 2 man kayak. The gated private beach with lounge chairs and tables are perfect for reading a book or taking a swim or snorkel in this beautiful bay.
We had the best trip ever staying at Dorothy and Fernandoâs amazing cottage. The house had everything you could possibly need and more! Waking up to the sounds of the waves from the beach across the street was magic. We are already looking at dates to come back to this wonderful place!
My wife and I had our elopement on St. John and it was everything we had hoped for. We had a lovely private ceremony on the private beach shared by the property.The property itself is located just outside of coral bay and this is hands down the best rental we have ever stayed at. It's close enough to the ocean where you can hear the relaxing sound of the ocean waves day and night. This cozy cottage makes you feel at home from the moment you walk i.
We absolutely loved our stay at the Beach Cottage after our recent elopement on St. John. A peaceful, beautiful escape, we loved sitting on the porch listening to the waves. Dorothy and Fernando are lovely hosts! The cottage is very well stocked with everything you'd need, and impeccably clean. Being located just outside Coral Bay, the cottage was a wonderful home base for exploring St. John. Would love to stay at the Beach Cottage on our next visit to St. John!
We loved our week at Estate Zootenvaal Beach Cottage! The location is close to the restaurants in Coral Bay yet quiet and peaceful. Itâs on East End road with very little traffic and an easy drive to get to all of the beaches. The cottage is absolutely beautiful, inside and out! The kitchen has everything you will need, there are two kayaks, beach chairs, beach towels, noodles, and a cooler. The bathroom has lots of space for toiletries and as someone who wears contacts, I was so happy to see a makeup mirror! (If you know, you know.)The air conditioning in the bedroom and bathroom makes sleeping comfortable. We enjoyed every afternoon sitting on the chaise lounges on the covered porch reading, watching the boats coming in and out of the bay, and having cocktails. The private beach just a very short walk down the road was a highlight! We took a swim every day before dinner.And lastly, Dorothy and Fernando are gracious and welcoming! We really enjoyed chatting with them. They checked in with us in the middle of the week and answered any questions we had immediately. Thankyou, Dorothy and Fernando!
We immensely enjoyed our five night stay at the Beach Cottage Zootenvaal. Our visit followed a pleasant, but active week at another location with a larger family group. So, the tranquility of the Beach Cottage came as welcome change of pace. It was breezy on St John and there was no need for air conditioning. The sound of waves breaking was a constant backdrop, perfect for sleep. The house is located a convenient mile from the restaurants and shops of Coral Bay. The Brown Bay trailhead is a short walk from the house. We cooked each night and found the kitchen to have everything we needed. Lastly, but certainly not least in importance Dorothy and Fernando were excellent hosts. We look forward to a return visit in the not too distant future.
We were celebrating our 33 anniversary and third time at STJ. Very peaceful, quiet location on very comfortable, clean and well-stocked house! Can easily hear the waves from the comfort of the porch. Also worth the short walk to the private beach because there is shade as well as sun and a gazebo there for comfort no matter the preference of the person (I am a sun lover and my husband prefers shade!). Very much worth the stay!
Our stay at Fernando and Dorothyâs beach home was absolutely perfect. The house is perfectly maintained. The view from the deck is phenomenal. The location on the east end is perfect because it is so quiet, yet it is an easy drive to the beautiful beaches of St. John. They had everything anyone could possibly need while there. Fernando and Dorothy are very friendly and helpful and were always willing to answer any questions about the island. One of the best pieces of advice we received from Dorothy came before we even arrived. She said to travel light using just a carryon. She was so correct. We brought only a carryon and still didnât use half of the clothing we brought. Everyone seems to live in swimwear by day and a simple sundress or shorts and a shirt for dining out. Fernando was able to answer any questions we had. He knows island well including the best places for snorkeling, buying produce, dining out etc. He even told me exactly where to go to buy a license plate to add to my collection.
Another plus was the solar and Tesela power wall installed on this house. The power on St. John was out approximately a third of the time we were there, but did not affect us. Groceries on the island are very pricey and it would have been disappointing to loose our refrigerated items due to a power outage. I highly recommend this property to anyone looking to stay on the island. We booked totally based on the reviews and they were definitely spot on. Thanks Fernando and Dorothy!
We had a great stay at this beautiful cottage overlooking Hurricane Hole. Our favorite part was the porch with the fantastic view. The cottage was stocked with everything we needed for the week and was very clean and comfortable. Thanks for the great vacation!
Stayed at the property for our honeymoon and had a great experience⊠great location, beautiful house looking over Hurricane Hole near Coral Bay. Would definitely come and stay there again in the future!
Estate Zootenvaal is a fantastic place! Comfortable, well appointed and the location can not be beaten. It was exactly as described. Dorothy and Fernando were very accommodating and couldn't have been better hosts.
We wanted the quieter East End with easy access to the restaurants and shops of Coral Bay. This location was perfect for that. The private beach and the balcony overlooking Hurricane Hole made for a most relaxing stay. We will definitely return.
Zootenvaal cottage is beyond spectacular. We were carried away by so much beauty; the jewel box interior, mesmerizing view, gentle breeze, lighting on the bay, colorful sunrises, lush green hills and star lit nights. The location is ideal, close to activity but far enough to enjoy a peaceful rural setting. We saw wild donkeys and a few deer in the hill in back of the house. Thereâs much to do for the adventurous, but we kept it simple. The 3 grocery stores in Coral Bay were close and had what we needed. Enjoyed early morning trips to Francis or Maho Bay. The rugged landscape of the private beach was lovely and a contrast to the popular beaches. No crowds. Needed water shoes but the water was clear and refreshing. Good snorkeling as well. Dorothy and Fernando were warm and gracious, and it was a pleasure to get to know them! So grateful that they created such an exceptional masterpiece!!
A perfect place for the wife and I to just relax. Everything from Fernando picking us up in Cruz Bay to the beach house being more than we expected....(the pictures don't do it justice)...we throughly enjoyed ourselves. Fernando and Dorothy are the perfect hosts. If your looking for a quiet getaway with a 5 star beach house this is the place!
Upon arrival, Dorothy was there to greet me. I was blown away by how beautiful this home was.
The pictures do it justice.
I was traveling solo and so enjoyed the privacy and quiet. Itâs all about location at this house.
Waking in the morning to the sunrise on the pillow.
Just down the road from Coral Bay and 10 minutes to Hansen Beach. if youâre looking for quiet, this is the place to be. I ventured to the North Shore beaches just because I had to see how beautiful they are again. But was happy to get back to the quiet at hurricane hole.
Excellent equipped kitchen. Beautiful bathroom with fresh tile and an extremely comfortable bed with wonderful sheets. The deck overlooking the Water view was my go to every morning.
I look forward to returning next year. Do not hesitate to book this house, because it is very popular. Thank you Dorothy for creating a wonderful place to share with us.âïžđŠâïž
We absolutely loved our stay! Fernando was very helpful, the villa literally had everything you could need, and the views were amazing. It was extremely clean and comfortable, and we loved the location. We would definitely love to come back. Thanks so much for everything!
We had a lovely time! Dorothy and Fernando were excellent hosts, supplying a beautiful cottage with all the necessary amenities. Their suggestions were helpful and the location was perfect! We hope to visit again in the future.
This is a beautiful, well built cottage in a gorgeous, serene location. We were so happy we decided to stay on the Coral Bay side of the island. This cottage is located a little over a mile outside of town.
This rental offers the perk of a double kayak. We rented snorkel gear at Crabby's for a mere $40 a week each, and then we had total freedom to explore Hurricane Hole throughout the week.
The cottage is equipped with a grill and very nice kitchen. The water is delicious out of the tap, but you'll want to keep some chilling in the refrigerator because it doesn't get really cold. They provide a pitcher. We bought a gallon of water before we knew the water was drinkable which we refilled repeatedly and left it in the fridge.
We were glad we brought a soft cooler from home that we could strap to the kayak, and we had a few extra ziplock bags that we filled with ice. There is a nice cooler for you to use on the beach, but it doesn't work with the kayak.
The food was great everywhere we went. Groceries are expensive!! Bring a stash of your favorite energy bars / snacks if you plan to do much adventuring!
If this cottage is available for the dates you are looking at, grab it!! You won't regret it. Dorothy was out of town for our visit, but Fernando was a charming and knowledgable host who made many recommendations that we followed.
This cottage was beyond out of this world. Everything made it feel immediately like home. You really should pack light because the amenities from full kitchen equipped for easy cooking and very comfortable bed with bath toiletries . The view is stunning magnificent. Dorothy and Fernando were attentive lovely hosts . She makes a great cappuccino! The use of kayak made snorkeling a breeze ! We would highly recommend this property and Dorothy and Fernando as top notch hosts!
Everything about the stay was exceptional!
The property, the location, the amenities, the owners⊠everything that they had the ability to affect was simply exceptional. The owners were so incredibly attentive and hospitable. We were already planning our next visit before this one was over!
Dorothy and Fernando are fantastic. Thank you both for having such a huge positive impact on our honeymoon!!
We are a couple in our mid-40âs who like to escape the crowds and explore beautiful beaches. Our trip was in mid-July.
Location: private and peaceful, lovely unobstructed view of the entire bay. Loved the town of Coral Bay and it was easy to access the north shore beaches from here.
Liked:
Beautiful place, tastefully decorated, looked brand new
Air conditioning in bedroom worked great
Well stocked
Deck was great for morning coffee
Gets a nice breeze
There were no mosquitoes at all
Water tastes fantastic, no need for bottled water
Wifi worked great
Could have been better:
Beach chairs were broken
Beach was rocky when we were there, but beaches change all the time so it may not be like this year round
Curtains in bedroom arenât room darkening so not ideal if you like to sleep in
No air conditioning in main living area, fine for us, but I would plan to cook any big meals
We loved how peaceful and private this location was, perfect if you donât like to be where all the tourists are but still want to have easy access to the best spots on the island.
Located on a very quiet cove. Had everything you need for your stay. Beach chairs, cooler, Beach towels. Dorothy and Fernando have thought of everything in this beautiful appointed cottage.
We had an amazing time. Have not taken a summer vacation in 20 years. This was perfect and just what we needed. We snorkeled 8+++ hours a day. Hit all the best spots.
The cottage has a beautiful and breezy porch with table and chairs perfect for evening dinner or breakfast which we did both. Plus loungers great for reading and napping.
The bedroom has AC and a big walk in shower. Everything you need is there. Items you would need for cooking like spices, oil, ketchup, etc. Nice dishes and pans.
We had an amazing time at this cottage. The snorkeling was beyond anything we imagined. Lots of fish and corral. Met the most interesting people. Thank you for the best vacation in a very long time.
We celebrated our 25th anniversary with a weeklong trip to this beautiful cottage. It was the perfect place to stay. The location was super quiet in Coral Bay yet close enough to get to any of the beaches relatively quickly. The view from the back porch was amazing (even better than the pictures show) and there was so much wildlife around to watch - donkeys, goats, mongoose, pelicans and deer - that it was hard to leave everyday! We spent every waking hour we were home on that porch, sipping coffee or cocktails and enjoying the ocean breezes. This was the cleanest and most well-appointed rental Iâve ever booked and beautifully decorated. The bedroom was nice and cool at night with the AC and the bed was comfortable as well. We felt at home the moment we walked in and appreciated the wine, cheese and crackers Dorothy and Fernando left for us. They were wonderful hosts. If youâre looking for a rental near Coral Bay this is the one. We hope to be back!
We had a fantastic stay in St. John! The house is exactly as it's presented online; extremely clean, great natural light, stunning views. And the hosts were amazing with tips on where to eat and what to do around the island. The house was well stocked with everything we needed for cooking;
and had chairs and a cooler for going out to the beach. The location is super convenient near Coral Bay and easy to get to! It is very quiet at the house and we spent many mornings and evenings watching the water from the porch. I would highly recommend this property to friends and family!
Fernando is Italian and I come from Colorado. We have lived on St John for over 20 years. Our first home, was La Dolce Vita, also in Coral Bay and also on the water. We used to short term it and do charters on Fernando's beloved "Fernando's Republic", which sadly sank in 2017.
Zootenvaal is a very special property on St John and especially on the East side of the island facing National Park Waters. The property has a gentle slop with grass lawn, very rare for St John!