CANEEL TRAILSIDE COTTAGE

My girlfriend and I visited St John recently for the 2nd time. The Caneel Trailside Cottage was just as described. It had a great view of the southern side of the island and bays and on a clear day you could see St. Croix.The cottage had great privacy and quick access to the Caneel trail right out the back grounds. Although we were only 1 couple the cottage would be perfect for 2 couples with identical master suites. The great room was well laid out with spectacular views and the room decor was excellent. The cottage had airconditioning but was never needed with the constant cooling breezes from atop the hillside. The pool area was also well laid out and was perfect for cooling off after returning from the beaches. The grounds outside were nice with many plants and trees to help provide shade and privacy. The cottage was well situated to get to town and all it's restaurants. It also was easy to get to all of the great beaches that St John has.
We did have an issue for 1 day when the cottage cisterns ran out of water. We contacted the property manager who quickly responded to our issue and had it resolved the next day. The only other issue was the television which on certain days we could get only 1 or 2 channels. It could be due to the island cable system??? Overall we had a great time and enjoyed the cottage very much. I would have given it 5 stars except for those 2 minor things. My girlfriend and I are looking forward to going back to St. John and will strongly consider booking the cottage again. It's a great place!!

This was our second stay at Caneel Trailside, the last in November 2009. Found it by luck just checking different sources and following up where I could. It all paid off. This house is perfect for two couples. Two identical, air conditioned mastersuites w/ baths on either side of the common area which incudes a nice sized kitchen, dining and living areas. The full porch on the southside has a view all the way to St. Croix, 40+ miles away. The house sits high on a hill, only 2 miles up Centerline Road from Cruz Bay. A great, and convenient location for getting to and from Cruz Bay, and everthing else at that end of the island. The house is relatively new, and the owner, Martha, seems to take great pride in keeping it up and providing every amentity possible to make your stay as perfect as it can be. Just check out her website (www.caneeltrailside.com) for very accurate pictures, interior and exterior, and a lisitng of all the house has to offer (Though not what we needed, the house also is set up well for a couple and children, a king bed breaking into two twins). And, if that were not enough, there is a beautiful pool right outside the door that was the perfect way to conclude a day having visited beaches around the island. Every morning we had our breakfast on the veranda, watching the sun come over the mountain top, and preparing our day's activities. It was truly an effort to get up and leave the house for the day. For the adventurous, the Caneel Trail (goes from Cruz Bay to Caneel Bay) is only 100 feet out the back door, and only 1/4 mile up the trail is a most spectacular viewing station which provides a 270 degree view of everything (St. Thomas, British Virgin islands, and west end of St. John), the perfect photo opt.

There may be better rental houses on the island, but we have found what we wanted, are secure in knowing what efforts the owner will go to for us to have a perfect stay, and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone (as long as their stay does not interfere with my next visit). Enjoy.