Review: Caneel Trailside Cottage
We said a couple of months ago that we would get into this house so we could report first hand. We have. It’s sweet.
First off, we really had no idea where this place was. Turns out, its location is incredibly convenient. Just past Pastory Gardens and the Compass Rose restaurant just outside of Cruz Bay, making Caneel Trailside Cottage every bit as convenient to town as close in South Shore villas.
The villa itself is very comfortable and perfect for two couples. 2 bedrooms are on opposite sides of the great room, and all open to a big, covered front balcony with great Caribbean Sea views to the South.
The pool is in the back of the villa, in a big, sunny garden. Brand new construction means everything is top notch, clean and working. (Believe us, that last part is a big deal.)
Maybe the best thing about this villa? The Caneel Hill Trail is right there. A short path cuts into the National Park trail, which is well-maintained and goes downhill to the North Shore beaches (we didn‘t do that hike), or uphill to the Caneel Hill Observation area. It took no more than 10 minutes to hike it, and WOW! You’re on the top of the world here. Get tired of the sunset from the villa? Pack a snack and watch it from up here. Just head back down before it gets too dark.
A very nice villa indeed. We hope to have the chance to bring you video of it soon.
October 7th, 2007 08:18
Ahhhh. A moment of zen. Very cool guys.
October 7th, 2007 09:53
WOW………that seems like a really cool place to stay.
October 7th, 2007 12:07
My husband, teenage daughter, one of her friends, and I were there in July, and it is very nice. The owner and his agent were great to deal with and very helpful. The drive into Cruz Bay is only a few minutes and the north shore beaches are maybe a 5 to 10 minute drive at most. We would definately stay there again. Brings back great memories, and I am looking forward to the video, too. I wish I were there now having a Cruzan and punch.
October 7th, 2007 15:07
BTW - We stayed at Caneel Trailside Cottage, took a trip with John Brandi, and there’s an article on The Tap Room in Caribbean Travel & Life that I received yesterday. “What are the odds of that?”, I ask myself. Seems like it’s pretty clear to me that we need to made some definate plans to return real soon.
(I love this site, but it’s killing me!)
October 7th, 2007 21:47
I’ve been thinking about this villa. Thanks for the coverage, sounds like one to put on my list.
Cheers, RickG
October 8th, 2007 12:37
I’ve been in contact with the owner and the villa looks awesome. But, I think I lost to the group. why I allow democracy in vacation planning is way beyond me. They’re worried the foliage is too close to the pool and will bring too many bugs.
Help?
October 8th, 2007 14:30
Rob - When we were there in July, we saw very few bugs. I don’t recall that being a problem at the villa at all. I had heard the misquitos could be a big problem on STJ, but I never saw one. I did come prepared with repellent, just in case. Good luck.
March 18th, 2008 09:35
We recently spent 10 days on STJ at Caneel Trailside Cottage, our first visit to STJ. It was everything we had hoped for - a beautiful home, wonderful weather and gorgeous beaches. The house was perfect for 2 couples; it had identical spacious bedroom/baths on each side of the house for good privacy. Both bedrooms had windows/doors facing the large balcony. We spent a lot of time on the balcony enjoying the Natl Forest which wrapped around on one side and the ocean views. We enjoyed the many birds who came to the balcony for the plants and bird feeders; insects were not a problem because of the great breezes and fans on the balcony. We never had to use the air conditioning in the bedrooms because of the many windows giving great ventilation. The kitchen had everything we needed to prepare meals and the spacious living area was comfortable. We especially appreciated the washer/dryer facilities. The owner provided a generous welcome basket and bottle of island rum and the guest book gave us many good tips from other visitors for places to eat and see . The pool was a favorite place to relax and cool down after visiting STJ numerous beaches. Beach chairs and towels were provided. Working with the owner (Joe) was easy; we appreciated the personal contact vs a rental company. The on-island manager helped us immensely when our rental car fell through and answered our many questions cheerfully. We highly recommend Caneel Trailside Cottage for a stay on STJ.