Couples Retreat, Sweeping VIEWS, Kayaks Await at the Beach! Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025

Q: Is Couples Retreat, Sweeping VIEWS, Kayaks Await at the Beach! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet.

Q: Where is Couples Retreat, Sweeping VIEWS, Kayaks Await at the Beach! located?

Located in Estate Freemans Ground, this villa is 0.6 mi (1 km) from Johnson Bay and 1.9 mi (3.1 km) from Virgin Islands National Park. Emmaus Moravian Church and Hurricane Hole are also within 3 miles (5 km).

10/10 Excellent

Mary M.

14 June 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Needed vacation - perfect place

Great rental! Views were incredible! The villa was spotless and nice and cool after being in the sun all day! Our hosts, Terri and Tracy were always just a call away! Great relaxing week!

Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Brie M.

24 June 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Honeymooners

Our stay at the Sunrise Suite was amazing. The studio is set up perfectly and has the best views of the East End of the island. We enjoyed going to the beach and snorkeling all week! Will definitely be back 😊

Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Brian N.

25 Nov 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved our stay at Joy of Life

Great rental. It was clean, had everything we needed and the view sent it over the top. Peaceful and quiet, which is the way we like it. The owners and hosts responded quickly with any questions we had and sent a video showing us around before we got there. Loved starting out the day watching the sunrise out on the balcony. St John was beautiful and we will be going back as soon as we can. We would recommend staying here to our friends and family.

Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Somer G.

3 May 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful setting with incredible views!

Our stay at Karen and Jeff's Villa was just what we needed. The space was very comfortable, and the views were amazing, as promised. The bed was comfortable and the kitchen had what we needed to eat in. The road to the house was steep and took some adjusting to, but we adapted quickly and appreciated the quiet and privacy. Karen and Jeff were very helpful and welcoming, and we hope to visit again in the future!

Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2022

8/10 Good

Andrew J.

11 Mar 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, location

Disliked: Check-in, communication

The owner was bossier than my ex wife, but at least I got ordered around in a tropical setting!

There were many great things about St John USVI, however: 1. You will absolutely need a 4 wheel drive vehicle. The grade leading to the Villa is about 40%. 2. You need to bring enough stuff to wear for the entire trip... no washer/dryer. 3. You'll need to eat out most meals unless you like doing dishes on vacation... no dishwasher. 4. If you were hoping to use the recliner in the pictures... well think again. 5. If you're from a big city on the East Coast with NYC type values, threaten to leave a poor review and management will genuflect to your every demand. 6. The place is pet friendly, singular. Quiet, non eating, non drinking, probably non- breathing pets would be most welcome. 7. Rent a boat every day. I'll rent a boat next time and sleep on it too. 8. Despite all this, the trip was just fine, a B+... there is a huge amount of effort that went into the Villa to make it what it is. Bring a really good noise cancelling headset to drown out the whine.

Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Caroline B.

13 Apr 2017

Better Than Pictures

Amazing stay at the Joy of Life Villa Sunrise Sweet.Everything was perfect..We stayed for six nights and had an amazing time.Karen and Jeff are lovely hosts.We joined them the first day at Hansen Beach with the other locals. We kayaked there and snorkeled which was pretty incredible.At the house, we never heard the people staying on the top floor. It is super private. I loved that everything was so clean and even the bedding, pillows, towels, etc. were so luxurious. All of the furniture is super nice. I loved the option of having an outdoor or indoor shower.The wind was always blowing therefore there were no bugs when sitting outside and and the breeze kept it super cool inside.There is AC that works super quickly and quietly if needed.Everything was provided for us- we just showed up. We did take the recommendation to get the Starfish Market coupon(save 15%) from the airport and shop before getting to the house. We saved a lot of money that way. I also brought coffee, bags, nut butter, snack foods, etc with us which helped cut cost. There were plenty of spices, olive oil, jelly, peanut butter, etc at the house which also made things easier. Ill be 100% honest and say that we picked the house for the view I wanted to stay in Coral Bay vs.Cruz Bay. Its a great location. There are great restaurants and small supermarkets close by. ( Pickles in Paradise, Miss Lucys and Calabash Market are all close) I feel like Jeff and Karen go out of their way to be hospitable. From the emails before we left to answering any questions while we were there. The driveway can be a little intimidating at first but by the second day we had so much fun going up and down the hills. Its an adventure but worth it for the view! Biggest tip that my friend gave me was that if it is buggy, windy or even raining on one side of the island- it may be fine on the other side. So one day at Trunk Bay it was windy and cloudy- and we packed up and went to Salt Pond which was PERFECT, no wind, and sunny. People are all so kind. Listen to their stories and their recommendations. Making coffee and breakfast at home made it easy to get out the door by 8 every morning. We were often the first ones at any of the beaches.Top things we did while there- sunrise every morning, Swam with turtles-Maho, Francis and Salt Pond, loved Trunk Bay and Lameshure, fancy sunset dinner at ZoZo's in Cruz Bay,offshore fishing with Double Header sports fishing w. Tyler - caught fish to have dinner/share!

Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2017

10/10 Excellent

Bert O., Zionsville, IN. USA

23 Apr 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic place to stay on St John

Karen and Jeff are wonderful hosts. The villa was clean, well-appointed, and actually nicer than it looked in the photos online. They were always available for questions, friendly, and very helpful. Couldn’t have asked for a nicer place to spend a week.

Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Donald r.

5 Jan 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome place

This place is great. The owners were very friendly and helpful in anyway you could ask for. We would love to come back .

Stayed 10 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Lauren B.

17 Aug 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Honeymoon

My husband and I stayed here for our honeymoon and couldn't be happier with our choice! The view was absolutely gorgeous! We loved our stay here and loved St. John. The check in process was so easy and Tracy even drove to meet us so we could follow him up the driveway the first time. Renting a jeep is a must! The house had everything we needed. We loved having coffee on the balcony every morning admiring the beautiful view. It really was such a wonderful stay and we truly had the best honeymoon!

Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2021

6/10 Okay

Amy T., Englewood, Ohio

28 July 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, communication

Beautiful View but less than desirable stay

First, let me say that we believe that the description of getting to the villa was not disclosed properly in the advertisement. Yes! YOU WILL NEED A 4-WHEEL DRIVE to get up one of the most dangerous roads we've ever encountered. It is a white knuckle adventure every time you leave the villa praying that on the one lane stretch of the road you didn't encounter another driver. If this happens and you are on certain areas of the road you are in dire straights! There isn't any margin for error and as you gun the engine to get up the last part of the hill you just pray that someone isn't going to come down at the same time! It was to stressful and based on the drive up alone we would not rent the villa again. Had we known in advance the degree of difficulty we wouldn't have chosen the villa. Second, please do not rent Karen's Rav-4 as we did. When I say we had to gun it/medal to the floor each time to barely make it over the crest of the hill I am not exaggerating! The brakes rub and the engine light was on!! Not what you want to see! You will need a strong reliable Jeep! Also, it is a $100 a day and a $100 pick up fee. NOT WORTH IT as the car was bordering on Junk and we had no confidence in it's ability to make it up the hill each time. Not what you want on vacation. Third, the villa was nice but not high-end. There are some rules they do not disclose before booking. Such as, not flushing the commode after #1 and never flushing toilet paper even after #2. You have to put it in the trash and take out daily to avoid any smells. You also have to turn off the A/C when you leave which makes it very uncomfortable when you return. The beach equipment listed for your use such as the snorkeling gear was broken and does not work and the glass bottom kayak was moldy and dirty. Not a good experience. We actually opted to rent our on kayaks on Hansen Bay which was soooo much nicer. Lastly, if this is your first time to St. John please be aware that this is a very impoverished place. The beaches are stunning but the inland is very depressing and

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Genny N., Dallas

13 July 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gorgeous views

Perfect rental for two in Coral Bay. Super clean, updated, had everything you need for the beach. So quiet and peaceful here. We loved it. Owners were very helpful via text.

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ernie V., Minneapolis

3 July 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A week in paradise

One of the best things about St John is the people you meet along the way. The views from the villa are amazing, and the furniture is comfortable and clean. It's a phenominal villa ... but what truly set this experience apart for us was working with Karen and Jeff and the folks they have looking after the property while they were gone - Terri and Tracy. All 4 were absolutely fantastic to work with. Communication was STELLAR here. Karen went above and beyond helping us figure out a car situation ... and Tracy and Terri took excellent care of us during the week. We enjoyed our stay here very much. Beautiful St John, fantastic villa and absolutely wonderful people. CHEERS

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mark L.

9 June 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lived up to expectations

Our time at Sunrise Sweet was the highlight of our trip. It was all that we imagined it would be. The outstanding view, with the seclusion made our stay very calm and peaceful. The villa was comfortable and clean. We would highly recommend it.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Bernard N., Greensburg, PA, USA

5 Mar 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best views on St John from a great apartment!

Modern, clean, and very comfortable for two people. The views of the East End of St John, plus the British Virgin Islands around the Sir Francis Drake Passage are quite stunning and we were up for the sunrise every morning, and loved to sit on the balcony late afternoon and early evening with a drink, and just enjoy the view. Karen and Jeff have done a great job too with the utilities, with solar power and a full bank of batteries (and a generator just in case) so you never have to deal with power cuts. They collect rainwater which is multiple stage filtered, including UV, and it tastes great so no need to buy bottled water or ice. You never hear your neighbors., or any noise from the road way down below. The drive up and down the hill is intimidating at first to people not used to it, but the steep parts are all concrete so no problem for a Jeep or AWD SUV. It was nice to use Karen and Jeff's canoes at Hansen Beach. Overall we thoroughly recommend Sunrise Sweet at Joy of Life Villa.

Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Peter A.

15 Feb 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay. My wife described it as our aerie!

Wonderful location. Clean, private with spectacular view and cool breezes throughout the afternoon and evening. This is a very special location on St. John's island. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and recommend this location very highly. I doubt you will find better lodging on the island.

10/10 Excellent

Donald B M., Southampton, MA USA

18 Dec 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Heavenly

What a wonderful 10 days in St John. First let me say that Karen and Jeff are THE BEST!!! Very involved in getting you to the house properly and going through all the various items, they have written instructions for everything so you can't go wrong trying to watch Netflix or making your way to the kayaks at Hansen Bay. First the studio where we stayed was sparkling clean and really nicely fitted out. The king size bed is really comfortable an I'm very picky of this due to back issues. Plus the studio is huge and also has an outdoor shower. This was our third trip to St John and I have to say it was the best, primarily because of where we stayed. Karen and Jeff are so friendly and informative. The studio is very private and due to the manner of construction, solid concrete, you never really here another sound from the unit above. On top of that it is also very private. Karen and Jeff provide everything you need for the beach...chairs, cooler, beach umbrella...it was just so easy to have fun. We had a jeep...IMO you can't do w/o one on St John because there are beaches you won't be able to get to (Little Lamashur). Having the kayaks at Hansen Bay was also a big plus. Everyone on that beach likes to hang out at the Taco Boat (Lime Out) anchored off shore and many times the rental kayaks at Hansen are all taken...Karen and Jeff have several kayaks securely locked up there, so you don't have to worry about that. We will definitely be repeat offenders!!!

Stayed 10 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Karen V.

5 July 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

5 stars in every way!

Don’t hesitate to book! We are already planning our next stay. Wonderful hosts, view and quality property. Quiet and peaceful.

Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne T., Utah

9 Apr 2019

Sweet suite in paradise

Run! Don’t walk! Book this & you won’t be disappointed! Gorgeous views, extremely accomodating hosts & amenities abound! Personal favorites were the outdoor shower, glass bottom kayak & paddleboards available for use at Hansen Beach. They came in very handy to go to the floating taco bar Lime Out off that beach. Only complaint was that our stay was too short. We will definitely be back! Thank you so much!!!

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

JULIE H., Lebanon PA

19 Mar 2019

PERFECT

Sunrise Sweet is simply perfect! The pictures on VRBO are inviting and the villa is just as pictured and more. The view from all windows and patio is breath taking, at every hour of the day. Location is great - very close drive to all the excellent beaches, close to casual restaurants with good food/service to stop at on way to or back from beaches, quiet in the evenings (we didn't even turn on the TV or use AC), beautiful sunrises each morning, lovely gardens, and the driveway to the villa is a thrill ride - yes, a 4-W jeep is a necessity for the driveway, but also highly recommended for the roads on the island. The villa was very clean, so comfortable, so very well furnished and equipped with everything you could need - we only did AM coffee there, but certainly if you wanted to cook meals, everything was provided. Outside shower was very nice after beach days. Beach chairs and cooler were used daily - we enjoy snorkeling and hiking so we were out early most days and in late. We did spend a day at Hansen Bay Beach where the kayak and paddleboards are located - but turned out to be a lazy day of snorkeling and hanging on the beach and we ended up not using them after all - but they were easily available. Karen and Jeff were excellent hosts - made sure we had everything we needed at the villa and gave lots of great directions, instructions, and tips for beaches, restaurants, and navigating the island. St John is simply beautiful and relaxing, and we were so lucky to have chosen the most perfect and beautiful suite on the island to stay. Best vacation ever! Thank you Karen and Jeff!

Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Barbara S.

10 Feb 2019

A little bit of heaven at the Sunrise Sweet/Joy of Life Villa.

We felt very at home while staying in this studio villa. Every detail has been thought of to make guests comfortable. It is a very large studio with a complete kitchen, nice furnishings, nice bathroom and a screened in porch. An extra bonus is the outside shower. There is an indoor shower also. We often watched the sunrise from the comfort of the king size bed, what a treat. The television with the Netflix subscription and the many movies stocked in the villa is also a nice extra. We were amazed by the views from the large deck every single day and the sunrises were often spectacular. We always ate breakfast on the deck and enjoyed the warm breeze and the view. The location on Coral Bay could not be better. It is minutes from all the fun and good food restaurants. It is also an easy drive over to the North Shore Beaches. We spent a good amount of time on the east end and enjoyed the beach at Hansen Bay. The villa owners keep kayaks and paddle boards there for their renters. The woman who owns the land at that beach charges just a few dollar for parking, no need to arrive early to get a spot. She provides chairs and loungers under the shade of beautiful old trees, plus interesting conversation if you are so inclined. We really appreciated the quality beach chairs and cooler and noodles for floating, made beach time so enjoyable. We were invited to join Karen and Jeff, the villa owners, at their weekly beach BBQ, with friends, and had a wonderful day. Karen and Jeff answered all our questions and gave us tips about things to do while on the island and Karen provides provisioning services if you would like some basics in the villa when you arrive. We found that to be very helpful after a long travel day. We highly recommend this villa and hope to return to enjoy it all again.

10/10 Excellent

Shirley S., Myrtle Beach USA

12 Jan 2019

Outstanding hosts, impeccably clean property, every amenity, georgious view, heavenly experience!

We have traveled all over the world occupying VRBO properties, this one far exceeded our highest expectations! Honestly, the owners could not do any better to serve our needs. We never rent a studio, often we will rent a two or three bedroom property for the two of us just because we want it all! This is advertised as a studio, which it is, BUT, it is large, boasts stunning views, you see the sunrise every morning and the stars at night will send you off to beautiful dreams. The hosts provide all kinds of water sport activity toys, we enjoy paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkeling, beach combing, photography and peace and quiet. It’s all here folks, look no further. The hosts are gracious, even though they occupy the property up about 50 steps, you never know they are there. We found them to be as caring as they care for this home. We left the property knowing it will be one of our desires to return OFTEN! Thank you for sharing your lovely home with travelers. As prior VRBO home owners we know how difficult it is to keep up an island property and they take care so well. Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to enjoy the “Joy of Life”. We look forward to sharing our experience with our friends and recommending your property to many! Happy new year! We wish you a beautiful life!

Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

Judy G.

27 Dec 2018

Sunrise sweet is a magical place

Sunrise Sweet is a comfortable, tastefully decorated, light and airy space overlooking Coral Bay towards Tortola, with a daily spectacular view of the sunrise, and nightly viewing of the constellations and Milky Way. My husband and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary at the Sunrise Sweet and we already look forward to returning. Karen and Jeff take a lot of pride in their property and were always happy to answer questions or give advice about adventures on the Island. They made themselves invisible, but could always be found. We had a tire that needed air and Jeff went out of his way to fill it for us in the rain! Thanks again Jeff! The villa was clean and neat and full of natural light. There is air conditioning but we were happy sleeping with the windows open and the trade wind breezes airing the room. We particularly appreciated the comfortable king size bed. We arrived in the evening and drove our jeep to Coral Bay. Karen met us in the center of Coral Bay and led us to the property which we really appreciated. Snorkeling gear and beach chairs and towels and noodles and coolers were provided and we used them everyday. It was a wonderful vacation and the Sunrise Sweet is a magical spot.

Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

marcy h.

4 Mar 2018

A Special Place

Hosts Karen and Jeff have justified pride in their beautiful property high above Coral Bay, which reflects their complementary design and construction talents. Taken together with their warm hospitality, their shared knowledge of the island, and the absolutely astonishing view from the villa, our ten day stay did not seem long enough! We look forward to our return visit!

Stayed 10 nights in Feb 2018

10/10 Excellent

Ellen V.

27 Feb 2018

Best View Ever

My husband and I recently enjoyed a week's stay at Sunrise Sweet, on the Coral Bay side of St John. It's the perfect place for 2, with a fantastic view of the east end and the BVIs. The owner has furnished the suite thoughtfully, and I think it is the best outfitted of all the villas we have ever rented. It also has the absolute most comfy king sized bed I've ever experienced. We wil return!!

Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2018

10/10 Excellent

Kurt V.

3 Feb 2018

Excellent view, great for a couple

We loved our stay here. The view was worth the price! We have been staying at Villas in STJ for the last 12 years. The kitchen had everything you need to prepare meals, great chairs for the beach and comfortable Studio. Prompt responses in any questions we had. Great directions. We drove up in the dark and found it without missing a turn. Thanks for the great stay! Kurt and Becki

Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2018

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