Retreat at Dreekets Bay, Haulover Bay, East End St. John

Description from the manager

Perfect privacy and the sweeping drama of magnificent ocean views from every room of this villa harmonize with The Retreat's natural setting. Perched hillside just 110 feet above the live coral reefs, white sands and soothing surf sounds of pristine Dreekets Bay on St. John's unspoiled east end, The Retreat is sequestered behind an electronic gate.

The landscaped entry courtyard, set with a pergola, lap pool, hot tub and a terrace for sunning and relaxation, welcomes its privileged guests into an aura of tranquil serenity and beauty swept by cooling tradewinds. Its three pavilions, washed with cool green hues, are all on one level and s...ited to overlook one of the most stunning ocean views in the Caribbean - a sparkling, long-distance panorama of Sir Francis Drake Channel with the verdant island of Tortola beyond.

Two equal, air-conditioned Euro-king bedroom/bath suites flank either side of the main pavilion, and both offer a loft with extra-long double beds (accessed by wooden pull-down ladders). The baths feature romantic outdoor showers, from which the spectacular views can be enjoyed in complete privacy. This lovely hideaway is finished with rich slate tiles, handcrafted mahogany cabinetry, and accent pieces from Guatemala, Indonesia, Burma and Thailand. The sofa in the living area can be converted into a comfortable queen bed or two single beds, with your advance request. The well-equipped kitchen in the main pavilion offers ocean vistas. Each pavilion features a unique and convenient choice of roll-down electronic screening or glass-paneled doors which cover the entire front of each pavilion - they roll down at the touch of a button - or leave them in their up positions and enjoy the view from the balconies outside and the drama and complete openness of The Retreat. There are seasonal papaya, passion fruit, banana, lemon and lime trees in the garden for you to pick and enjoy. Outside one bedroom pavilion is a slate-lined outdoor beach shower and a wooden staircase which leads to a trail zigzagging down to Haulover Bay.

Frommer's Guide deems Haulover Bay one of the best snorkeling destinations on St. John (locals say it's THE best), and on a lucky day you might spot dolphins frolicking, or a sea turtle. A few feet down this shoreline from the trail, a lovely crescent of a white sand and rock beach curves around crystal-clear waters - stunning beauty and solitude await you. The Retreat offers the ideal combination of elegant luxury and relaxing seclusion, and will refresh your spirit with its aura of natural harmony and peace...a very special place.

Children over 7 are permitted. Maid service once per week, if staying 14 nights or more.

NOTE: Additional charges for over 4 occupants.

St. John is the smallest of the U.S. Virgin Islands. It features beautiful white sand beaches, turquoise waters, colorful coral and tropical fish, and green velvet hills. Two thirds of the island is the Virgin Islands National Park so the gorgeous beaches and forests will remain untouched and be accessible to everyone. Tour the national park by jeep or safari bus or hike the trails led by a park ranger. St. John is a peaceful, uncommercialized paradise yet still offers every facility and amenity that a resort has to offer. There is lots to do whether it be on land or in the water.

Check-In: 3:00 PM

Check-Out: 11:00 AMRead more

Additional Location Information

What Past Guests Are Saying

• aukrista1
  Atlanta, GA

  Honeymoon in Paradise

  Left on 01/15/2013 for a stay in October 2012
  
  

  My husband and I stayed at The Retreat for 5 nights on our honeymoon in October 2012. It is a place that cannot be understood through a description; you really just have to experience it. The Retreat is the most relaxing, tranquil place I can imagine where one can truly escape the world.
  
  Upon arrival on St. John, the island house manager met us at the ferry dock. She drove us to the grocery store, and would have taken us to rent a car had that been our plan. She then took us to the house, gave us a tour, and showed us all the amenities. She was very helpful in terms of recommending places to go on the island and transportation tips and readily available via phone the entire duration of our stay.
  
  Upon seeing the house, it at first seemed more “rustic” than we would be comfortable with. However, we very quickly fell in love with it and can’t wait to go back.
  
  The Retreat is located on the east end of St. John and very private. When I say private, I mean:
  a) When you walk outside in the morning, you hear nothing but absolute silence -- and the sound of the waves crashing below. I can’t emphasize how quiet it was there. So wonderful!
  b) You may see 5 vehicles drive by the house on any given day
  c) If you wanted to strip down naked and walk about the premises, you could do so without a care in the world (not saying we did that ;) )
  
  That is not to say you are nowhere near civilization – but the immediate area surrounding the house is incredibly private, in a small neighborhood (off one of the main island roads) with very little street traffic.
  
  The view from the back of the house (including living room, kitchen, and bedrooms) is breathtaking. You have a clear view of Tortola across Dreekets Bay. The view on a sunny day really does look just like the pictures. The water is so incredibly blue and clear.
  
  You will feel “one with nature” at The Retreat. There is nature all around you. Pelicans, lizards, hermit crabs, even bats! The landscaping is lovely, with palm trees and beautiful flowers. Not to mention the incredible view of the water, and the surrounding woods/trees and picturesque sunsets!
  
  The layout of the property is nicely spread out, with 2 separate bedroom/bathroom houses, and a 3rd, larger building including the kitchen & living room area. The kitchen is fully stocked with dishware and cookware. We cooked most of our meals at the house.
  
  The Retreat has many wonderfully unique amenities:
  1. The 40-foot lap pool. We spent lots of time in the pool. It was quite hot & humid while we were there, so the pool was always a welcome relief from morning till night.
  2. The shower is an outdoor shower – spectacular! Even when you take a shower, you will feel one with nature. The shower has an open view of trees directly above you, and a view of Dreekets Bay right in front of you. What a great idea!!
  3. Each building has glass garage doors that function as huge windows, with an optional screen that you can have up or down at any time. The screens were helpful in late afternoon when the mosquitos were the worst. During the day for the most part, we kept the living room totally open air. At night we would put just the screens down and blast the Sirius radio. No need to worry about waking up the neighbors, you don’t have any nearby!
  4. The best snorkeling you will find is just below the house, in Dreekets Bay. Snorkling gear is provided at the house. It’s just a short trek from the house, down through the woods to the water. We saw beautiful coral, fish, and sea turtles. Some of the coral looked as though it had been there for hundreds of years. Amazing!!
  
  One note about cell phone usage: Reception is limited at The Retreat. Making it that much more enjoyable! :-) A landline phone was available to use at the house.
  
  We did not rent a car on the island, and took taxis everywhere. (We chose to do this as we were not comfortable with the idea of driving on the left side of the road.) There were a couple of taxi drivers we met who we came to use on a regular basis as they were more than willing to drive out to get us. It is about a 35 minute drive from The Retreat to Cruz Bay. Taxi rides were about $40 for a one-way trip. In a way, taking taxi’s was more fun than driving ourselves, as it was more like a safari ride in the back of the taxi truck!
  
  We highly recommend The Retreat for a vacation getaway. We thoroughly enjoyed our honeymoon here, and look forward to returning one day soon!

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