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Motivated Sellers: Three Bedroom Pool Home Overlooking Rendezvous Bay

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Ballena Blue is back on the market at no fault of the sellers. The property had been under contract for over a month, but unfortunately the buyers were unable to close due to personal reasons. Therefore, this fantastic property is now available for sale, once again!

Ballena Blue is a three bedroom, three bathroom villa that overlooks the sparkling turquoise waters of Rendezvous Bay. This villa features two main level bedrooms, plus an additional, private bedroom and bathroom on the lower level. And to round it out, it has a pool with one of my favorite views on St. John – Rendezvous Bay.

Main Entryway
Living Space
Kitchen
Primary Main Level Bedroom
Pool with a View!

The main villa is surrounded by a spacious sun deck, while there is a brand-new shaded cabana area just steps away beside the pool. Ballena Blue has ample outdoor living and dining spaces to ensure that its next owner – and numerous vacation rental guests – enjoy its amazing south shore views.

Expansive Outdoor Deck
Picture Yourself Lounging Here…
The Pool & Cabana Area are Brand New
Ample Dining & Seating Space
Brand New Furniture Too!

The lower level has an additional bedroom that area that is accessed via an exterior stairway, giving those guests ample privacy.

 

Lower Level Bedroom & Bathroom

Ballena Blue has had numerous recent improvements including:

  • Major driveway and road repairs
  • Added generator
  • New walkway, knee wall, pathway lights, and pathway planters
  • Built pool, pool deck, and staircase to house deck
  • New deck railings, upper and lower
  • Resurfaced both upper and lower decks and re-sealed lower bedroom roof
  • New deck and pool furniture
  • Updated all three bathrooms
  • Updated lower bedroom and installed new AC
  • Updated kitchen; new countertops, stove, refrigerator, and dishwasher, and painted cabinets
  • New furniture, mattresses, and furnishings throughout the house
  • Major landscaping
  • New internal doors, kitchen door, and a new sliding door in owner’s bathroom
  • New solar panel for hot water heater
  • Added water filtration system
  • Re-sealed drinking water cisterns and cut a second access hatch.
  • Added grey water cisterns and irrigation

Ballena Blue is listed for $1,595,000. The owners are extremely motivated, so all reasonable offers will be considered. If you are interested, please contact me, Jenn Manes, at jenn@explorestj.com, or via text/call at 203-376-3786. I am a licensed realtor with 340 Real Estate.

Click here to view the full listing and to see additional images. 

St. John Real Estate
St. John property for sale 
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St. John vacation rental

And the Best Beach of the World is… No Surprise to Us!

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Trunk Bay

Beach.com just named the best beach in the world, and the winner comes as absolutely no surprise to many of us. The winner is our very own Trunk Bay.

“Few beaches came close to Trunk Bay’s final score,” the article naming Trunk the world best stated. “It is truly the best beach in the world. In our analysis, it is among the most widely expert-recommended, holds one of the best average Google ratings and has some of the bluest waters in the world. Our experts give Trunk Bay top marks for beauty, water quality and an all-around perfect experience. While the best time to visit is between April and June, our study found the weather is optimal for beach conditions 10 months a year.”

Credit: Beaches.com

Again, no surprise here! But come on, the best IN THE WORLD? ?! That’s pretty incredible!

Not only is Trunk Bay beautiful, but it is also convenient. It is located just under 15 minutes from Cruz Bay, making it an easy trip for people staying on island and also those coming from St. Thomas for the day. Taxis regularly go to Trunk Bay, and the fare is only $9 per person, per way. Parking is very limited, so I recommend taking a taxi when visiting Trunk Bay.

Trunk Bay has a ton of great amenities too. They have showers and restrooms, which are open daily until 4 p.m. There is food and beverage available for purchase. There is even a full, sit-down bar! You can also rent chairs, snorkel gear and life jackets. All you have to do is bring yourself, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen and some money. 🙂

Want to take a bit of Trunk Bay home with you? I just put my Trunk Bay puzzle for sale again! The cost is $45, and that includes shipping. You can purchase it securely at www.explorestj.com/puzzle. 

Click to purchase.

The Terrace Restaurant is Likely Closing For Good

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The Terrace opened in 2012 across the street from Cruz Bay harbor.

Well folks, this is a sad, yet bittersweet story to share. The Terrace restaurant – one of my absolute favorite restaurants – is likely closing for good. We will all know for certain later this year.

Erica and Robin Miner – the owners of The Terrace restaurant – listed the property for sale last week. And as no surprise to anyone, it went under contract less than two days later. The Terrace business itself was not included in the listing; it was solely a real estate purchase. The asking price was $5 million.

Erica and Robin Miner

The Terrace’s last night of the season is this Friday, July 31st. The real estate closing is scheduled for this fall.

“It’s very bittersweet for us,” Erica Minor told me Tuesday morning. “We have loved serving STJ for the last 14 years there. But I’m also not done cooking here by any means. I’ll likely be popping up places and offering some private chef services later next season after some time off.”

I don’t know about all of you, but I am thrilled to know Erica plans to continue cheffing on island.

Commercial real estate rarely lists for sale on St. John, let alone in Cruz Bay. Since July 2016, only four commercial properties sold on St. John, per the MLS.

  • The parcel where the former Shipwreck Landing restaurant was located sold for $825,000 in 2021.
  • The parcel where the former Pickles in Paradise restaurant was located sold for $999,000 in 2019.
  • The commercial building across the street from Skinny Legs sold for $1,150,000 in 2021.
  • The commercial building where St. John Provisions is located sold for $1,400,000 in 2017.
  • Wharfside Village – the section from the Beach Bar to La Tapa – sold for $2,970,000 in April 2016. (This is not listed on the MLS, but it is listed on the deed recorder’s site.)

The Terrace parcel is zoned R-4, which is residential medium density. The existing stone and masonry building can be expanded up to three stories, according to the listing. It is not certain what the new owners plan to do with the space.

If you are looking to purchase a business or property in St. John, I would love to help! I am a licensed realtor with 340 Real Estate Co. here in St. John. Please contact me at jenn@explorestj.com or via phone/text at 203-376-3786 for more information. 

 

 

New Direct Flight to STT!

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Flying over Water Island near the STT airport

Great news Nashville friends! A direct flight straight to St. Thomas is coming next year!

Southwest Airlines announced that it plans to add a direct flight between Nashville and St. Thomas beginning on Saturday, March 19th. The flight will leave Nashville at 10:25 a.m. and will arrive in St. Thomas at 4:30 p.m. The plane will quickly turnaround and will leave St. Thomas at 5:10 p.m. and will land at 7:45 p.m.

(The reason for the flight time discrepancy is due to the time change. The US Virgin Islands does not observe daylight savings time.)

As of this morning, the cheapest seat for that date is about $950. That’s a pretty big chuck of change. Let’s hope that price drops in the future.

Southwest began flying to St. Thomas earlier this year with direct flights from Baltimore and Tampa.

Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with me!

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour

See the island of St. John with a longtime resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Click Here to Email Me with Questions.

Click Here for Real-Time Availability & to Instant Book. 

Temporary St. John Ferry Schedule Changes

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Low season is right around the corner. Due to the expected drop of visitors, the ferry schedule is set to be altered. The following changes will be in effect from Sunday, July 26th through Saturday, October 31st.

Red Hook/Cruz Bay Route

The 6:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m., and 8:30 a.m. ferry from Red Hook to Cruz Bay will no longer run. Instead, the ferry will leave Red Hook at 6 a.m., 7 a.m., and 8 a.m.

There will no longer be a 9 p.m. or an 11 p.m. ferry from Red Hook to Cruz Bay. The last ferry will still leave Red Hook at 11:30 p.m.

On the flip side, there will not be a 10 p.m. ferry that leaves Cruz Bay for Red Hook. The last ferry will still leave Cruz Bay at 11 p.m.

Charlotte Amalie/Cruz Bay Route

The route between Charlotte Amalie and Cruz Bay will also be affected during this time period. The Charlotte Amalie to Cruz Bay ferry will only leave at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. during this period. The Cruz Bay to Charlotte Amalie ferry will only leave at 8:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. The last two ferries for each route will not run during this time period.

Crown Bay/Cruz Bay Route 

It does not appear that this route will have any changes; however it is recommended that you purchase your tickets in advance.

Again, these changes will be in effect from Sunday, July 26th through Saturday, October 31st.

The temporary changes are highlighted in blue.

Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with me!

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour

See the island of St. John with a longtime resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Click Here to Email Me with Questions.

Click Here for Real-Time Availability & to Instant Book. 

**Explore STJ Island Tours will be closed from July 28th through September 8th.*

The 2026 St. John Seasonal Closing List

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Updated July 17, 2026

We’ve got most of the closings now. This list can change at anytime, so please check back often. Also, businesses may alter dates. I will continue to do my best to provide you all with the most up-to-date and accurate information.

Bookmark this list –> www.explorestj.com/closings

Explore STJ Island Tours: Closed July 28th through September 8th

  • Banana Deck: Closing August 16th; Reopening November 1st
  • Beach Bar: Closed September 14 through September 27th
  • Cafe Roma: Closed September 29th through November 2nd-ish
  • Cap’s Place: Staying Open
  • Cinnamon Bay Campground & Raintree Cafe: Closed September & October; Food truck will remain open
  • Coco Jim’s Staying open
  • Colombo’s: Permanently closed. (Drifter’s is now in its place.)
  • Cool Desires: Will close mid-September through mid-October
  • Dave & Jerry’s: Closed permanently
  • Dazey’s Bayhouse: Closed September 22nd through October 15th; Will only be open for mornings starting the last week of July
  • De’ Coal Pot: Staying open, but with reduced hours. Will be open Monday through Saturday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Closed on Sundays for off season.
  • Downtown Sips: Staying open
  • Drink: August 7th is its last night, and they plan to hold their annual Drink the Bar Dry party; Reopening on Halloween
  • Drifter’s (former Colombo’s location): Staying open
  • Giovanni Gelato and Coffee Shop: Will be closed from August 4th; Reopening on September 29th
  • Heading East: Staying Open
  • Hercules Pate: Staying open
  • Hillside Terrace: Staying Open
  • High Tide: They will be closed September 21-27. Reopening September 28th.
  • Inn at Tamarind Court: Hotel will remain open; The restaurant will close for breakfast September 1st and will reopen for breakfast September 22nd. The restaurant will be closed for dinner for the month of September.
  • Johnny Lime: Will close August 9th for a few days. They plan to reopen with a special summer menu that includes pizza, salads and more.
  • Karma: Staying open
  • La Tapa: Closed September through mid-October
  • Lime Inn: Last Day is August 14th; First Day Open is October 11th
  • Lime Out: Last Day is August 14th; First Day Open is October 11th
  • Little Olive: Closing early September; Reopening late October
  • Lovango Resort + Beach Club: Closed; Reopening in December
  • Lovango Rum Bar: Closing September 8th through September 22nd
  • Love City BBQ: Staying open
  • Love City Tacos: Will be closed September 13th through September 20th for repairs, maintenance, and a seasonal break.
  • Maho Crossroads: Staying Open
  • MidWay Bar & Grill: Staying open
  • Miss Lucy’s: Closed; Did not reopen for lunch or dinner this season; Thursday Night Open Mic will return this fall. Date TBD.
  • Morgan’s Mango: Last day open is August 30th; Reopening October 8th
  • Nella’s: Staying open
  • North Shore Deli: Will likely close the last two weeks of September
  • Ocean 362: Closed for the month of September; Reopening in October
  • Our Market Smoothies: Staying open
  • P&P’s: Always call ahead
  • Paulie’s Luncheonette: Staying open
  • Ronnie’s Pizza: Closing August 7th; Reopening date TBD (probably September-ish)
  • Sam & Jack’s: Closing the month of September; Reopening October 1st
  • Shaibu’s: closed starting August 8th; Reopening TBD (probably mid to late September)
  • Shambles: Will be closed September 1st through September 14th; Reopening September 15th
  • Sharky’s By the Water: Closed permanently
  • Skinny Legs: Closing August 8th; Reopening on Halloween
  • Soggy Dollar Bar: Closing August 26th; Reopening October 7th
  • Sosa’s Food Truck: Staying Open
  • St. John Back Bar: Staying Open with Limited Hours in August & September
  • St. John Provisions: Closing dates TBD
  • St. John Scoops: Staying Open
  • St. John Speakeasy: Closed August 1st through September 30th
  • Surf Club Cantina: Closing the week of September 20th
  • Sun Dog Cafe: Staying Open
  • Tap & Still: Closing two to three weeks starting August 17th
  • The Grub with Chef Tad: Staying open. Hours are Monday through Friday 7:30am to 3pm
  • The Longboard: Staying Open
  • The Parrot Club: Staying open
  • The Tap Room
  • The Terrace: Last day is July 31st; Reopening in October. Exact date TBD
  • The Upstairs Bar: Staying Open
  • The Windmill Bar: Staying Open
  • Trunk Bay: Staying open
  • Uncle Joe’s BBQ: Staying open
  • VI Wine Shop: Will be offering small plates Monday through Friday through the end of August; September TBD
  • Woody’s: Undecided
  • ZoZo’s: Closed until December

I contacted the following business and am waiting to hear back.

  • 1864 The Restaurant
  • Bajo el Sol
  • Blind Donkey
  • Cruz Bay Landing
  • Extra Virgin Bistro
  • Flavorful Delights
  • Greengo’s
  • Mooie’s
  • The Island Refinery STJ

Please check back for updates. 

If you are a restaurant owner or manager, and you would like to update your listing, please email jenn@explorestj.com.

Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with me!

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour

See the island of St. John with a longtime resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Click Here to Email Me with Questions.

Click Here for Real-Time Availability & to Instant Book. 

**Explore STJ Island Tours will be closed from July 28th through September 8th.*