Our hostess Marcia and her family were a delight to get to know and we had a couple of sunset parties which included decorating the Christmas tree. They were very helpful and so friendly and forthcoming with tips on where to hike and snorkel. The accommodations are not luxurious but very nice open-air with everything youâll need to cook your meals and be comfortable. Highly recommended.
Loved being in the Coral Bay end of the island, but still very close to St. Johnâs best beaches. The Island Glo apartment is bright and airy, all that we needed, with a wrap around porch and an extraordinary view of Coral Nay.
Marcia has cultivated a friendly community of renters. Weâll be back!
My husband and I stayed at Island Gardens for two weeks in Coral Bay. We loved the seclusion and privacy that we had while on the property. Whitni and Marcia are very gracious hosts with lots of knowledge about St. John. Squirrel the kitty was so loving and greeted us every morning. We rented a car (4 wheel drive recommended) for one week to explore more beaches and Cruz Bay. The second week we were still able to discover many places in Coral Bay. Take advantage of the path on the property to cut out the steep driveway and some of the road traffic. We walked to a couple beaches close by and visited the local restaurants and enjoyed the island hospitality and cuisine. Two of our faves were Ekaete Pink Corner for Roti and Love City Cafe for veggie pate. There are also two grocery stores within walking distance. Also, use the Vitran which is the public bus to get to different places in Coral Bay and Cruz Bay. Overall we hated to leave St John and were sad to have to come back to the states with its hustle and bustle lifestyle. Everyone on the island was friendly and kind and laidback (on island time)
I spent 2 weeks in St John in Island Garden Cottage. You will not find a better host anywhere in St John, Marcia is very welcoming, knowledgeable about the island and will go above and beyond to make your stay enjoyable and was very easy to communicate with. The cottage was everything I was looking for and so much more. The cottage is very spacious and has everything you need! Perfect for a solo adventurer or a couple. The property is beautiful and well kept and has total privacy. loved grilling out in the evenings on the wrap around balcony overlooking the mountains and harbor. The trade winds and ceiling fans kept me cool and comfortable all day and night! Loved staying in Coral Bay on the quiet side of the island, the Locals are so friendly and welcoming only noises you may here at night is the wild life, birds, tree frogs and the occasional rooster but slept like a baby every night after a long day of beach hopping and hiking! Dolphin Market and Love City grocery stores are an easy 5 minute drive. Resturants: Skinny Legs and Rhum Lines are a quick 5 minute walk and Surf Club Cantina and Jonny Lime are a quick 5 minute drive, Miss Lucys is 15 minute drive, ( Dont miss Open Mic night on Thursday s) Very close to the beautiful North Shore beaches, Annaberg Sugermill Ruins , Waterlemon Cay, Jonny Horn Trail, Salt Pond Bay and Ram Head Trail. Rent a Jeep!!! All in all Perfect Island Escape will be back!10/10
Marcia is a wonderful host. The studio has everything you need to stay for a week or months. The bed was comfortable. Although there is no A/C there are screens all around and the nights cooled off for great sleeping. The road in was pretty rough but Marcia gave us the back way in which was easier. You will want 4wd for the roads on St. John. There are 3 restaurants within walking distance via the back trail providing non driving dining. When we go back we will try to stay here again.
This property is perfect for an extended stay, having everything needed to cook, grill and relax, in addition to a small library about the island. The studio was clean, well kept, in a perfect location very close to Coral Bay restaurants, but what made my stay absolutely special was the host, Marcia. She is truly a wonderful woman, her intimate knowledge of the island (and passion for it!) made my stay an unforgettable experience and the reason I will be returning to stay at the property. I would speak with her almost on a daily basis about where to snorkel , eat and just to learn about the island itself. This property and host combines to make for a truly relaxing and special rental.
An amazing getaway on the quieter side of the island near Coral Bay. Marcia was extremely accommodating and checked in to make sure everything was well! We couldn't have picked a better place to stay!
We have always wanted to visit St John so after our usual two weeks in Florida were cancelled due to the awful hurricane, we came here instead. Marcia and her property manager Whitni took great care of us, down to the last detail of how to get to the property, which was super helpful as we arrived after dark. Island life is a unique experience and we felt well prepared. The property is private, but right 'in town' at Coral Bay. The unit has everything you need to be comfortable. We went to many beaches, snorkeled almost every day of the 12 days we were there and had a great fishing experience with a charter. We rented our Jeep on St Thomas, they picked us up at the airport, we drove to the car ferry and we were off on a great adventure! KEEP LEFT! Looking forward to a return trip. Thank you for everything, especially to Whitni the property manager. Exceptional service.
Lived like a local here. Really enjoyed it. Pretty detached from any nightlife as everything closes by 8:00pm, except the life saving Love City Market, open until 10:30pm 7 days with anything you may need. Rent a car and STAY LEFT!
Gets noisy at night, not with night life but with wildlife, donkeys, goats, ROOSTERS, DOGS ... Bring ear plugs. Cool, safe neighborhood, no need to lock your doors!
Host and property manager were awesome to deal with!!
We loved this property. Everything we needed was there right down to a little ice chest for our day use. The view of the harbor, the breezes, the humingbirds, ... all just great. Marcia, stayed in touch and was very helpful as was her onsite assistant, Whitney. We look forward to our return.
We had a great week staying here. Cottage was excellent, loved sitting outside on the deck. Marcia was a great host, she answered all of our questions & provided lots of good local tips. Great location, very convenient to the whole island. Easy parking. We hope to return someday..
My boyfriend and I stayed for a week in April and it was the most amazing experience! We chose st. John and coral bay specifically to be in a quiet area, and this was the perfect place to do so! Marcia is the absolute sweetest, kindest, and informative host and we are beyond thankful to her for going out of her way to make sure we had everything we need and that we were having a great time. (We did instantly regret not renting a car and ended up getting one on our second day, which allowed us to really explore the island) the views were unbelievable, I've never seen water so blue! We will absolutely be back to see even more of the island and of course to visit our new friend Marcia! -Lindsey & Oliver
I cannot say enough good things about our stay in Lower Carolina, Coral Bay. It was our 30th wedding anniversary and we were looking for something quiet and that is exactly what we got except for maybe the sounds of the local sheep, goats, donkeys, & roosters (which I loved as I grew up on a farm in North Dakota). Marcia, the property owner, could not have been more helpful. She helped us find many amazing snorkeling spots and she is delightful to have a conversation with and has much knowledge of the area and many things. The house we stayed in was wonderful as well and we enjoyed spending time on the wrap-around porch with a coffee or cocktail. I always miss my pets when travelling and her cat, Squirrel, was happy to get some love while we hung out on the deck (he is not allowed inside). The location is great as it is not far from the town of Coral Bay and the view of the bay was beautiful and the breeze cooling. We hope to return someday..
We love staying at Marcia's place in Coral Bay on the quiet side of St John. Living space is wonderful with 2 sided balcony with views of the bay. Marcia is kind, fun and gives us all the information we need about St John. Walking distance to groceries and restaurants. We never want to go home!
Marcia is as good as hosts come, maybe even better. We loved our stay at her place. It was exactly what we were looking for and had everything we needed. We were very satisfied with the accommodations. We particularly enjoyed the many tips we received from Marcia. Each and every one of them turned out to be the right move. Highly recommend!
Wonderful house, wonderful view, wonderful host, great location. We couldn't have asked for more. And our host, Marcia, was as hospitable, helpful, and thoughtful as she could possibly be. We're going back!
Marcia was absolutely spot on incredible! If you're thinking about booking at Island Gardens, just go for it. You will be so pleasantly surprised. The place is very private, safe, and clean with all of the comforts of home! Marcia goes above and beyond to ensure that you reach her home efficiently and you have what you need when you're there. She'll also check in to ensure you have means back to the ferry.
The appliances and amenties were all perfect, she left us a gallon of water and the WiFi worked for communicating back home. The deck is gorgeous with incredible views of the mountains and bay. The neighbors are nice and the driveway was perfect for our little one to use the toys Marcia let us borrow. The fans kept us cool at night and the bug net was perfect for limiting bites.
Enjoy your time!
Stunning views of Bordeaux mountain & water view of Coral Bay from the great wraparound porch, perfect for sunset cocktails & AM coffee. All the basic amenities, well stocked kitchenette with quality pans, containers, glasses, microwave. Nice wood vaulted ceilings make for a spacious living area. Host is very gracious, friendly and will meet you to make sure you find her property. Good location- can walk to markets, restaurants, bus stop, & some hiking if u donât have a car/Jeep. But with a Jeep there are so many off the beaten spots to explore in Coral Bay & the east end. Good area for nature-oriented, ecologically minded tourists who appreciate a quieter vacation with a more local feel, & those who can appreciate & support resource conservation. Coral Bay is more rural so be prepared for bumpy roads, wild roosters, bugs, baby geckos, wild goats & donkeys! Running a tall fan will keep the place cool & drown out any early AM rooster calls. Youâll be pleasantly surprised with the good WiFi & AT&T cell service. Like most homes in this area, water supply is a cistern. The fenced property has about 4-5 rentals which are spaced amongst a few different buildings. It was convenient to have the owner/host in the building next door for questions, assistance. Felt safe staying here. Locals are very nice. Nearby businesses have a lot of island character. A beautiful artistsâ studio & coffee shop < 15 min. walk. Two weeks flew by!
Its hard for any photos or review to do this rental experience justice. The beautiful, clean cottages are nestled in the mountains with a lovely breeze and view of the water. You have all the privacy you need, and are a short distance to all the best snorkeling (the hiddden gems that don't get run down by tourists). The host Marcia is so responsive, helpful, and unintrusive but if you want some good company or reccomendations she knows the ins and outs of the island and has some amazing stories to tell. I came for a week and ended up staying a month :). Will be back!
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay !
This home has wonderful bones and Marcias attention to the property is noticeable & is well cared for.
We love the Coral bay Side of the island
And admit We only went to town in Cruz bay once Because Coral bay is our pace and vibe and Marcias space and home were so wonderful to wake up to . We would wake up from the bed in the early morning hours to
watch the sun coming up over the bay while still in bed , AMazing and lush thmountains surround you
We would Fall back asleep and again wake up later have our long coffee routine on the wrap around deck and read for awhile, plan a little and Think about our day ahead. The deck has a comfortable couch and chairs and side table as well as plenty of space to lay wet clothing and towels without interrupting the views
The home was such a wonderful welcoming space to come home to at night after hiking & We cooked several easy small meals after a long day and being at the house at night is peaceful and tranquil
The house has everything you need to cook long elaborate meals as well and a grill
The space is quiet other than the sounds of nature We could hear the birds singing which was lovely and appreciated
We loved walking to town to get Johnny cakes , smoothies and limeades from Esta on the pink corner . As well as walking to skinny legs and walked to a wonderful meal at Rhumb lines
The corner store is also walking distance
Marcia met us at skinny legs showed us the space and left us on our own unless we needed her for anything she was more than happy to share
We mentioned we left our sons kindle charger at home so Marcia loaned our son several books from her home that she curated just for him and she chose well
He now loves that Author and spent his evenings reading
She also loaned my husband a book on the birds in the carribean as he is a birderShe also let him know of the Christmas bird count that was occurring the week of our stay& shared snorkel spots
My husband thoroughly enjoyed talking to Marcia and sharing. There were also wonderful books to read in the home as well as guidebooks , we enjoyed the coral books very much
The decor of the house was fitting for the space and all very well made
The art in the home was bright and well framed and brought us joy
The internet was really good and we always had service at he home
We hope for a longer stay in the future
A wonderful thoughtful host and perfect space
We loved everything about this property. It was clean, open, cool in the evening, and well-furnished and equipped. Marcia was very responsive and very helpful via e-mail prior to our arrival, and Whitni was wonderful once we finally got there.
If you're looking for an urban environment with easy access to clubs, bars, and activities, this is not the place for you. If you're looking for a quiet, more rural, friendly neighborhood environment, and you have a car or are comfortable hitchhiking to beaches, town, etc. (this is the best way to meet the most wonderful people), then this is definitely the place for you.
We can say nothing but thank you, thank you, and thank you again. We will be back!
Seth & Lauren