Windwardside Main House

1 Bedroom, 2 Bath, Hot Tub
Sleeps 2
(Guest cottage available as additional bedroom)
$2065 Low Season (Apr 16-Dec 14)
$2835 High Season (Dec 15-Apr 15)

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If you should encounter either of these please contact us directly to avoid fraud.

Windwardside Main House Deck, Hot Tub and View

Welcome to Windwardside, an elegant retreat with lovely furnishings, a beautiful view and lush tropical gardens. It is the most intimate and traditional of all of our homes In Coral Bay. The design is reminiscent of a bygone era in the caribbean but the amenities are modern and designed for comfort. My husband (a retired builder on the island) and I designed this home. We have years of experience of offering visitors to the island an unusual experience that brings them outside of their day to day life but is a comfortable and welcoming home away from home. Recent renovations to the house have added much to its beauty and charm.

Windwardside Main House Deck, Hot Tub and Bedroom

This traditional West Indian style home consists of multiple buildings with a large central courtyard. The mainhouse consists of two buildings: the first is a detached bedroom / bathroom with a veranda that looks over the courtyard, gardens and sea; the second is the “great house”. The great house is entered though a roomy screened-in porch which holds a beautifully furnished dining room and a cushioned window seating area. There is a full kitchen and living room, an adjoining bath, plus an inviting covered porch overlooking the sea. Larger groups can rent Windwardside guest cottage as an additional bedroom. You will find a floor plan further below for reference.

View from covered porch at Windwardside

Living and Dining Area

Our guests love the separation of the bedroom from the living area. It is a uniquely caribbean experience that allows you to end your day by admiring the night sky. Our skies are devoid of light pollution so we have a brilliant display of stars during the dark of the moon. During the days when the moon is full view from the hot tub is unbelievably romantic.

Living Room

Our kitchen is small but extremely well appointed. Windwardside (in conjunction with the neighboring Guest Cottage) has always been my choice when we have had family visiting so it is well set up for any meals you wish to enjoy in the comfort of the villa. You will find all the equipment you need to prepare your meals at home including a high quality gas grill. For those who prefer to take a break from cooking on their vacations there are numerous restaurant within a few miles from the villa. Our staff will be happy to tell you about the offerings both in Coral Bay and Cruz Bay.

Kitchen

Deck and view

Deck and chairs

Bedroom

The charming detached bedroom has a four poster bed and opens onto a relaxing verandah. Fill the coffee pot the night before and surprise your partner with coffee on the verandah as a romantic way to start the day. The master bedroom has a full bath with a shower located in an enclosed shower garden that is open to the sky but totally private. If the weather doesn’t allow for that (a rarity on St. John) there is also an indoor shower and full bath located off the living room.

Covered porch

Brick courtyard

Windwardside shares the property with the neighboring Guest Cottage. They share no amenities except the parking area and are visually obscured from one another by thick tropical foliage. Please be sure to read our reviews from former guests who can assure you that your vacation will be a private one.

Read Reviews

View from villa

Windwardside makes every attempt to protect the beautiful environment that makes it such a special place. The majority of our power is from discretely placed solar panels. Gray water from our showers is recycled to water our beautiful tropical gardens. Whenever possible we use natural cleaning products including laundry soap. As more options open we will continue to add to our green environment efforts.

Courtyard and chairs

Our staff are long time members of the Calabash Cottages team and will do their best to help you plan your perfect vacation from start to finish. We hope to see you soon!

Location: Coral Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Windwardside is located in quiet seclusion with mesmerizing views of Coral Bay, nearby islands and the Caribbean Sea. The house is situated two thirds of a mile up a little used road in Coral Bay. Surrounded by tropical plantings and marvelous vistas, you are still just a short drive to a cool splash in Salt Pond Bay or other equally inviting white sand beaches. Restaurants, shops and watersports are all available within two miles in Coral Bay. The main town on the island, Cruz Bay, is located 8 miles away. The airport is in St. Thomas which is reached via a twenty minute ferry ride. (Ferries leave every hour on the hour and cost $7 each way).

Windwardside was created to meet the desire to travel in groups with friends and loved ones yet still maintain a sense of privacy while doing so. This focus on privacy also makes it a wonderful retreat for couples. The whole complex – the Great House (master bedroom, two baths) and the guesthouse (one bedroom, one bath) can be rented as one by larger groups. Smaller groups or couples can choose from either the main house or the guest house. When rented individually privacy is assured by the orientation of the buildings and the heavy plantings screening them from one another.

Garden

Garden area

Lush garden

Additional Images

Nearby Beaches & Sights

Amenities

  • Hot Tub
  • Snorkel Gear
  • Beach Chairs
  • Cooler
  • Beach Umbrella
  • BBQ
  • CD & VCR Player
  • Phone
  • Fresh Flowers
  • Robes, All Linens & Towels
  • Safe for Valuables
  • Wi-Fi Internet

Activities

We are happy to make suggestions for activities that suit your interests.  When you arrive at your cottage we will go over a map of the island and point out the best beaches, hiking trails, snorkel spots, etc.  Most activities can be arranged once you are on island but if you are planning a day on the water you may want to arrange that in advance.

Arrival

Windwardside is managed by on island owners. We will meet you in Coral Bay on arrival, arrange for discounted car rentals and provide the personal attention you need to make your stay with us as pleasant and relaxing as possible. We can also arrange for a driver to meet your flight for the 50 minute ride to the Red Hook ferry dock.

For details about our our policies, reservations and travel suggestions please read our FAQ.

Availability Calendar for Windwardside Main House

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Guest Reviews for Windwardside Main House

Everything we could have dreamed!
Jen
02-06-2015

My husband and I just spent a week at Windwardside Cottage for our honeymoon. We decided on this villa because of the wonderful reviews, the detailed description and the wonderful things we had heard about the island of St. John. Additionally, we decided that the quiet Coral Bay side of the island would fit us better than Cruz Bay.

Well, I can say that it is absolutely a gem. The villa is everything you see in the pictures! The lush landscaping, the privacy, the lovely hot tub, all of the balcony and deck options. We started every day by having a cup of coffee on the balcony off the kitchen which has amazing views in the morning, and all day! Then, we would make our plan for the day.

We so enjoyed Salt Pond Bay that we spent 3 of our 7 days there. The Ram Head Trail hike that starts at the end of that beach has such beautiful views and is just long to feel like we got a little work out in and earned our beach time. We loved using all the of the supplies that the house had-- beach chairs, cooler, etc. We would then make our way back home, shower and either cook at the house and soak in the hot tub or meander to one of the restaurants around Coral Bay.

The food on that side of the island is VERY casual. Aqua Bistro has some nice fish options. But in order to get a fancier meal, you will need to make you way to Cruz Bay, which is not a big deal at all. We loved Morgan's Mango.

Besides Salt Pond Bay, the other beach we really loved was Cinnamon Bay. It has everything you could want to spend the day. We went for the little walk around the ruins before we went to the beach. You can rent kayaks or any other water equipment. There is also a small store and a restaurant with sandwiches burgers etc. It wasn't crowded, and the beach was spectacular.

There is nothing bad to say about Windwardside or St. John in general. We did have one maintenance issue, but it was addressed and fixed within the hour.

The only challenge is the drive up to the house. And it really is a challenge. Other reviews have described it as steep or bumpy. And that is an understatement. It is super bumpy! It is completely worth it, but I wish someone had described it more because we were kind of shocked the first time we did it.

Batting 1000 for three years running
Deb & Dave
12-15-2014

We have stayed at Windwardside Cottage for a week every year for three years now. We just got back home and are already planning our next week there. Each year, the cottage has provided a comfortable and convenient home base from which to explore the wonderful island of St. John. We travel with another couple and there is plenty of privacy for everyone as well as delightful common space for meals and relaxing in the hot tub or on the porch. The views of Coral Bay are great! If you've never been, you can't imagine how delightful it is to wake up and see such beautiful ocean, sky and flowers right from your bed! We prefer to cook at home and enjoy quiet meals -- the kitchen has everything we need. The whole facility is every bit as lovely and well-appointed as it looks in the online photos. Everything is clean and good working condition when we arrive. If anything breaks or needs attention, the staff is quick to respond.

The drive up the mountainside from the main road is a bit daunting the first time -- you really do need a 4-wheel drive vehicle -- but you'll quickly acclimate to the roads. It's well-worth the drive! What we learned on this trip is that some rental companies send new guests to their residence with only directions. In contrast, a staff member from Calabash Cottages will meet first-time guests at the ferry, take them to the car rental pick up, then by the grocery if desired and finally lead them directly to the cottage and show them around. What a lovely welcome.

We couldn't recommend a place more highly!!

Our Response
Hi Deborah, Thanks for staying with us again at Windwardside. When we built the Windwardside (Main House and Guest Cottage) we expected them to be used the way you do- by a group that travels together but also wants privacy. To our surprise most weeks the houses are rented by two separate parties. So it’s nice to hear your perspective on the Windwardside shared by the same group- enjoying the shared spaces to get together for a meal but having enough privacy to regroup. Thanks for telling guests about your stay. We look forward to hosting you again next year. Susan
Vacation of a lifetime!
Cassandra J.
05-26-2014

After first arriving in St. John for the first time we were blown away by the scenery. After meeting Brian at the ferry, who kindly greeted us, look us grocery shopping and to pick up our rental car. We followed Brian back to the house which at first we thought the road leading up was never going to get us there. Then, we arrived and it was the most beautiful place! We loved the privacy, the views and of course cooking dinner on the grill almost everynight. We would return to this house 100 times over again. It was not buggy and we loved using the hot tub at night after dinner with a rum punch in hand. The accommodations for daily beach lounging and snorkeling was just icing on the cake. Plenty of towels, snorkel gear options, coolers and chairs. We had the time of our lives visiting all the beaches and swimming with all the fish and sea turtles. We would wake up every morning to a beautiful sunrise shinning in through our bedroom screen doors. Most relaxing and mind soothing vacation we needed after a long winter in Maine. We can't wait to rent this house again. If you don't mind driving a mile or two up the half paved, half dirt road to get to your dream vacation destination, this is the place for you. Our pick up from the airport in St Thomas was arranged for us to and from and we never had to worry about planning our taxi service. Someone was always there to meet us with a welcome sign. I hope the next couple can enjoy this place as much as we did. If your looking for a laid back and relaxing tropical getaway, this is it!!!!

Windward Side
KC
03-24-2014

This villa is absolutely beautiful! The views from every window are outstanding and we especially loved the outdoor shower. The property is very clean and very private...a perfect spot. Susan & Diane are great and make sure everything goes smoothly from the pick up at the airport, car rental and meet and greet. I highly recommend this villa to anyone looking for a luxurious spot to relax. We will definitely rent here again and again.

Our Response
Thank you so much for staying with us and also for taking the time to let potential guests that you enjoyed your stay. It’s a very good feeling to know that we have made you happy enough that you are already planning a future visit. We look forward to hosting you again! Susan
Outstanding Property
Wayne J.
02-21-2014

My wife and I recently returned from a week at Windwardside Main House. Because of the reviews we had read we had very high expectations, but the property actually exceeded those high expectations. For starters, Susan's team was very professional and excellent to deal with. The property itself is private, clean and well maintained and has lovely furnishings and landscaping and wonderful views. In a word - romantic. We spent our days exploring the beautiful island of St. John, but at the end of each day we looked forward to returning to our retreat on the mountainside. I highly recommend this property.

Our Response
Thanks so much for staying at Windwardside. I am happy to hear that we exceeded your expectations. Our whole crew really tries to make sure that we give you the best possible vacation. Also, thank you for your review. Our guests experiences mean so much more than what we can tell potential renters. If you return to St. John we hope to see you again. Susan

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