9 Reviews of Property 314592 in Chocolate Hole, Virgin Islands

The five of us (Mom & Dad, two grown children, one with boyfriend) found Poi Pu's layout ideal. In fact, we're considering using the layout as we build a lake cottage back in the states. Wide open, spacious, and very comfortable. It lives larger than its sq ft. The view of Chocolate Hole is lovely from the deck and the French doors. Since our last trip to STJ, a condo community has been built and abandoned along the CH shore, but it wasn't obstructive. In fact, we were glad it's been foreclosed, as it was absolutely quiet. We spent most of our days snorkeling and swimming - exploring more of the east end this visit - and at the end of wonderful long hot vigorous days stood in the cooling pool with drinks (plastic glasses only!) perched on the retaining wall. Poi Pu has all the amenities we needed - we cooked a couple of complicated meals and found enough kitchen tools to work with. Eating on the porch was divine and the orientation (south and east) kept the late afternoon sun off as we sat to dinner. The restaurants, bars, and grocery stores of town are a five minute drive. The south side main road to center line was just a couple of minutes in the other direction - steep, but you'll get used to it and enjoy avoiding the hassle of driving through town. Great location reasonable price, and a really lovely cottage. We'll be back next time we stay on this end of the island.

We had a wonderful week at Poi Pu! The house was accurately described in the listing and the photos did reflect the house's appearance. There was plenty of room for our group. The location was great...off the beaten path a bit but a very short drive to downtown Cruz Bay and some lovely beaches. But you will likely have a rental Jeep like we did and then the entire island is yours to explore. The owners were happy to answer my questions prior to and after booking. Once on-island, the property management company was also very accommodating and attentive. On the whole, the house was clean and well maintained. We did have one housekeeping issue that we immediately called about and it was resolved to the best of their ability that same day. Sadly, it rendered the oven unsanitary and unusable for the remainder of our stay. (We could use the oven top, however.) It was something that required further attention after we left. Provided that happened, I would feel comfortable recommending this property to a friend or relative. Not the owner's fault, but rather the people who are in charge of cleaning the house.

All of the beaches are fabulous and do get out and explore as many as you can, because they have such unique characteristics. Snorkeling sights and conditions vary as well. If you have kids, Big Maho is a great place for your first snorkle because it has a gradual progression to deep water unlike many others that drop off but a few feet from shore. It is also protected from the wind and provides calm waters. You will see rays and turtles at Maho. Bathrooms too!

Trunk Bay has a great snorkeling opportunity, but it is the busiest beach and very crowded. Amenities abound, though.

There are only 3 parking spaces, but do try and get to Gibney beach if you're looking for privacy. You'll be hard-pressed to find it on a map but it is located just east of Hawksnest and is marked by an iron gate.

Make the hike to Waterlemon and take a drive out to Saltpond! Chocolate Hole is great for hunting for seaglass and small shells, but that's it. People bring their dogs there too.

Eat at Rhumb Lines in Cruz Bay. (You should make a reservation.)

So many great sights, food, shopping and places to explore. The locals are very friendly. We will return :)

Excellent!!! We loved PoiPu. Jackie was so pleasant to deal with. It is a very easy to drive to town. The breeze was superb through out the whole villa. We did not cook there so I cannot comment on the kitchen supplies. The mornings were glorious on the deck and perfect for star gazing at night. The shower was a real treat. It is huge. The WiFi connection was very good in the villa and on the deck. The pool looked very refreshing but we are beach people so we didn't use it. I have rented many villas on St. John and I think this was the best price I have paid for a villa that size. I would rent PoiPu again. The deck is very private because of the landscaping. Thanks again Jackie.

Pros: convenient location, view is very good, rooms as described, clean, excellent property management (Cimarron), owner willing to work with our schedule.

Con: some kitchen items need updating (cutting board, knives, utensils)

Overall, an excellent experience; we'll have warm feelings about POI PU for a long time. . .

We enjoyed our stay at Poi Pu. It is a relaxing spot that is a very short drive to Cruz Bay. The house is comfortable and well appointed. It has a very open design and several doors can allow for it to be quite breezy.

Poi Pu offers everything one needs or wants on vacation. Comfortable - open aired -huge deck overlooking Chocolate Hole and the Carribean. St John is gorgeous and very hilly...if staying in a villa it is best to have a car so you can really experience the island. The location is 2 minute drive to Cruz Bay making Poi Pu incredibly convenient for everything. We have stayed here many many times over the past 10 years when our kids were young and now that they are in there late teens and early 20"s they love coming back to Poi Pu!! Best value on the island.

Convenient to groceries, restaurants, and shopping. Possible to stay here without a car but we recommend renting a car to drive to the best beaches on the north shore and visit other parts of the island. While not the most up-to-date it was a great escape from winter. Great value with everything we needed. The great openess and views were fantastic. January temperatures were perfect all week long. Warm days and cool breezy nights. Never tempted to use the air conditioning but glad it was available if needed. Landscaping was beautiful and the personal touches with the Poi Pu plaque and light sconces were impressive.

Felt like home almost immediately. Great for a family or up to three couples who get along well and want to spend time together. Large space both inside and out but not set up as a place for private retreats within the villa. Very private setting without neighbors looking in though sound from neighbors and road was surprisingly loud a few times. Overall very peaceful and quiet.

Unfortunately we did not spend as much time in the villa as we would have liked. There is so much to see and experience on St. John that the time just flew by. Beaches, snorkeling, and hiking are the best highlights. Taking it easy and just enjoying a leisurely drive is also a great option. We were warned to stay off the beaches at sunrise and sunset because of the nasty biting sand flies. Absolutely the best advice. We enjoyed dinner at sunset either in town or on the deck instead and it made for a great end to the day.

Poi Pu is a lovely place that we will remember fondly and hope to visit again some day. The description and photos accurately represented the property. We were pleasantly surprised by some features that exceeded our expectations.