Thank you for a lovely stay! The place is so stylish and comfortable! The host has thought of everything: beach chairs, coolers, spices. Everything we needed! And the house is so charming. I especially loved the shower!! We will be back!
My husband and I loved our short stay at this adorable cottage. The property was spotless and adorned with mementos from the ownerâs travels. We had everything we needed to enjoy our day trips to the beaches. I was concerned about the lack of AC but we were very comfortable. The road to the property is very rough. We successfully navigated it out and back 3 times, but the road needs work. I canât fault the owner for the road, but it is a concern.
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!!!
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 âhome.â Once we said hello he toddled off. Heâd just come up to say hello!
Judy was there when we needed her but mostly busy with what she had going on, so it wasnât intrusive at all having her below us.
Despite my husbandâs 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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
Judithâs cottage was the perfect place to stay in St. Johnâs. 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!
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.
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.
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.
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 Bay
Cons:
* 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.
What a gem! Judy is such a wonderful host. I visited with my husband and two toddlers and the house had everything we needed. From the views to the carefully curated decor from Judyâs travels - it was a dream. We hope to come back soon!
The description and pictures of catch and keep are so very true. This was a wonderful place to stay. Everything we needed was at our fingertips. The natural flowing breeze was all we needed to cool off... lack of air conditioning is not an issue and not needed. Will be going back for sure!!!
Judy was an excellent host and made sure that we were comfortable during our stay at her place. She was waiting for us at an intersection to guide us to the cottage when our flight arrived late after dark. The cottage has all the facilities and is kid-friendly. Well ventilated with amazing porch. It is located at the quite place of the island in safe neighbourhood. Some portions of the road to the highway is dirt road and steep and needs a 4WD high-suspension vehicle such as Jeep Wrangler on these roads. Definitely recommended if planning to stay in Coral Bay area.
Cottage is clean nicely kept, but not quite as advertised. The info indicates air conditioning and dishwasher. Neither exist. Air conditioning wax not needed, but should be removed from the info. Owner gives excellent service.
It was clean, well stocked, cooled by breezes (no A/C needed at all!), lovely location . Lots of birds to watch, beautiful vistas, quiet, peaceful, no traffic or construction nearby. A complete rest and comfortable unwind spot yet handy to everything in Coral Bay, and only 8 miles from Cruz Bay.... but who needed it! This cottage had so many comforts it was hard to leave. It is eco-conscious, delightful in a more simple, old-fashioned way, but cost less than roughing it in an 'eco-campground". Go figure!
This was our second time to visit St John USVI. Judith's Catch n Keep cottage was the perfect place for us to enjoy this wonderful island. Beautifully cooled by the trade winds day and night (A/C not needed here), lovely porch for relaxing, kitchen with full size fridge/freezer so we could cook, comfy bed, lots of books to read, info about the island, unique shower and good size bathroom, beach chairs, freezer packs and outside BBQ etc And Judith and her trusty sidekick Ferguson there when you need them and otherwise unobtrusive. Assuming you have rented a jeep (and you pretty well must if you're staying in Coral Bay) then the road shouldn't deter you. Wouldn't advise arriving after sunset if you can avoid it though!
We had a great time.
We did not spend much time in the rental, but we certainly enjoyed relaxing on the patio in the morning hours. We enjoyed the morning bird watching while we had coffee and breakfast.
The unit was very clean and had all the amenities we needed.
We rented a cheep and that made it so much easier to explore the island. We also rented a dingy boat in Cruz bay and had a blast exploring many of the beaches.
Judith provided detailed instructions on how to get to the rental, which was very useful. After the second day we were pros at negotiating the road to her home. It is unpaved in some sections, and with a jeep it was easy to get to her home.
I would certainly recommend this rental to anyone wanting to stay on the east end.
As always, we loved our visit to St John! This was our first stay at the Catch & Keep Cottage. We found the cottage and the owner, Judy Kane, wonderful! Judy is easy to work with and very thoughtful....her little dog is a sweetie as well! The cottage is very uniquely decorated and we found it very charming. Not sure about in the summer months, but, in February/March, no air conditioning is needed...the mountain breezes are more than enough, especially with the open-air concept offered by the cottage. No hesitation in recommending this cottage...!