Inspiring Views, Pool, Privacy at this amazing Eco-Villa - even after the storms

Excellent views and comfortable home. Just minor suggestions need to leave ice for new guests, a new toaster and bedroom shades , and maybe some non breakable dinnerware. Very minor ideas to make it perfect!

Love that this is an eco house. Extremely cool to experience life “off the grid”. Views are breath-taking. I woke up every morning for the sunset.... no words. Location is great. So private, but still just a short drive any where you want to go. Family time by the pool was a favorite. We will definitely be back!

My husband and I, along with our two friends, spent 6 nights at the Satinwood. Our experience was very enjoyable, beginning with the great communication of the owner prior to booking. Jim answered all our questions (we had many) and was very patient. When we stepped off the ferry, Nidia from Cimmaron St. John led us to our Jeep at Cool Breeze, then to our villa overlooking Coral Bay. She explained all the features in great detail, then we settled in.

The Satinwood is certainly designed for its environment; the vaulted ceiling keeps the main area cool, the windows catch the hilltop breezes and we didn't have any issue with the lack of A/C - we wouldn't have used it if it were there.

We didn't have our kiddos with us (the whole point of the trip being a relaxing getaway), so I can't comment on the comfort of the twin beds in each loft, but the lofts themselves were very cute. The king beds in each bedroom were comfortable, though we had did get cold with only the sheets on the beds - we took the sheets from the twin beds to add some more layers and it was fine.

The toilets were somewhat strange at first, but then weren't an issue. The showers could use some updating as they were missing a few tiles, and the shower heads could be replaced, but the towels were very nice, new and comfy. We used the provided beach towels, coolers and beach chairs every day - it was so nice to have these provided at the villa! The kitchen was well stocked with all the necessities, so that was nice. There was a bit of a sugar ant problem, so we had to make sure to keep all food well sealed and off the counters. The balcony was so wonderful for relaxing and taking in the amazing views! We didn't use the pool as much as I thought we would, since we typically snorkeled in the mornings and didn't make it back to the villa until after the sun had gone behind the hills. However, it was very nice for a quick dip to rinse off the salt water.

All in all, we had a wonderful time. If you're looking for luxurious furnishings, this villa is likely not for you, but it does have everything you need to enjoy St. John. We certainly did!

Stepping into the house felt like we stepped back in time. Switches were labeled by the label makers from the ‘80s. The smoke detector was chirping for a new battery, the stove didn’t work and the only clock in the house didn’t work. The management company very kindly took care of these things. Who needs a clock anyway? The listing indicated cable TV but there was no service, only dvds that were 20 years old. Not that we came here to watch TV, but there were rainy mornings and evenings where service would have been nice. A blu-ray dvd player with a wireless LAN was delivered a week too late. Blinds in one bedroom couldn’t roll because strings were broken/incorrectly repaired. Some venetian blinds were broken. A hole in a bedroom screen was plugged with a tissue, and another screen was falling out. Composting toilets were a non-issue, however, there’s a slight odor. It would be classier having a fitted cloth toilet seat cover rather than adjusting the bath towel each time. A towel rack’s coming out of the wall, there are missing and loose tiles in one of the showers. One shower head has little water coming out of it, so the hand held is the only option. The shower walls have dirt/cobwebs, rusted nail heads and missing ceiling tiles. Many of the walls have water stains (Irma & Maria). The grill’s auto ignite does not work, which one needs to figure out and then learn how to start since the owner’s informational binder does not address. There were three more times that the stove did not work preventing us from using it and requiring calls to management company. The kitchen has the essentials of very average quality. It’s stated that the owner “recently completed an extensive electric system upgrade with all new, state-of-the-art equipment…”. This needs to be clarified as simultaneous use of a toaster, coffee pot and microwave popped the breaker. Many tiles around the pool and laundry area are loose and uneven, and some missing. The washing machine worked once and wouldn’t the second time, another call to the management company. We didn’t even try the gas dryer. The retaining wall at the top of the driveway has stones falling out on to the driveway. Given the angle of the driveway and lack of visibility turning into it makes this simply unsafe and unwelcoming. If a house has feelings, this house is sad and feels neglected. In it’s heyday I’m sure Satinwood was elegant, but it is now old and tired, and not given the love/maintenance it needs.

The villa sits at the top of the hill overlooking Coral Bay and the VBI. Each bedroom has its own porch, and there is another large one off the living area. The kitchen is well stocked with dishes, glasses, utensils, pots and pans- everything you might need. The beds are very comfortable, as are the chairs and couches in the living room. The only slight negative is the toilets. The toilet sits on a large kind of tube where the waste goes down to be composted. It was somewhat offputting for me, but not for the rest of our group. All in all our stay was fantastic.