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Author: Jenn Manes

Island News: Holidays, Winds, Openings & More

Jenn Manes
Coral Bay harbor

Hello everyone, and happy Wednesday night! I apologize that I have been absent for a few days. I caught a nasty little cold, and I was down for the count for a few days. But I’m back now and feeling better than ever, despite having a raspy voice still. 🙂

Ok, so I thought I would share a quick little island update with all of you. I know that many of you of deep in holiday planning, and so are we! That seems to be affecting the island, as it has been nice and quiet the past week or so. We are expecting the crowds to arrive right after Christmas, because that’s when everyone’s calendars really start to pick up!

For those of you who are planning to book an island tour with me this winter, please reserve your date sooner than later. January is almost fully booked, and February and March are really starting to fill in. It’s never too early to book. Just send me a quick email at jenn@explorestj.com to do so. You can also get more information on my island tours at www.explorestj.com/tour.

Everything is now open on St. John. ZoZo’s reopened earlier this month, and Lovango Resort + Beach Club opened over the weekend. Lovango is not technically on St. John, but they’re a neighbor – a good one at that – so I always like to include them. They are typically the last two to open for season.

The Christmas winds are definitely here. It’s normal for the winds to pick up around Christmas time, and that’s currently happening. Hawksnest was rather wavy today, and Cinnamon had some decent waves too. Maho was nice and calm though, as was Francis Bay.

There’s a lot more happening on island, like a great new spot to eat, a new breakfast option, and much more. I’ll have info on all of that and more soon. In the meantime, have a fantastic evening!

New Brunch Option in Coral Bay

Jenn Manes

How does this sound? Brunch, water views and breezes. Yes, please!

Our friends over at Surf Club Cantina just launched a new brunch option, and I have to say, it looks really good! Brunch is now being served every Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Surf Club Cantina is located across from Coral bay harbor. It’s a cute little open air spot that always has incredible breezes and views. It is located in the Isola Shoppes complex, which also includes Sharky’s, Jolly Dog, Zemi and 340 Real Estate.

The menu includes everything from a traditional bacon, egg and cheese sandwich to local favorites like Johnny Cakes. Check it out:

Want to know exactly where Surf Club Cantina is located? Click here to check out Explore STJ’s Restaurant Map.

Happy brunching!

The Cruz Bay Cruise Ships are Here!

Jenn Manes
Dec. 13, 2024

‘Tis the season friends!

I was driving into Cruz Bay this morning when I saw a decent-sized cruise ship anchored off of Cruz Bay. I opened up my Marine Traffic app and realized it’s the Azamara Onward. Before you start to stress about cruise ships invading St. John, this one only carries 684 passengers. It’s not one of this monster cruise ships that dock over in St. Thomas, thankfully.

Having cruise ships visit St. John is nothing new. It happens every winter. Smaller cruise lines like the Azamara, SeaDream and the Ritz Carlton, for example, often anchor off of Cruz Bay. They transport their passengers to shore using a smaller vessel, and they are usually on their way to their next destination around sunset.

Today’s visit is the third or fourth time a cruise ship has visited St. John this year. I saw the first one back on November 23rd. Unfortunately VINow’s cruise ship schedule hasn’t been including St. John visits this season, so we really don’t know they’re coming until they are actually here. Fingers crossed that changes soon.

For those of you who are not on St. John today, you can see this ship on Coconut Coast’s and Sunset Ridge’s webcams. Click here to see those and numerous other webcams on Explore STJ’s webcam page. 

Coconut Coast Studio’s webcam
Sunset Ridge’s webcam

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 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 Book Now. 

Price Reduction: Turnkey, One-Bedroom Cottage with Views

Jenn Manes

For those of you who are looking for an adorable, one bedroom cottage, look no further because I recently listed a super cute one!

Island Cottage is a beautiful and well-maintained home that has views of Coral Bay harbor, including colorful morning sunrises. This cottage is perfect for couples, although it can easily be expanded to add another bedroom or even a second living pod. Island Cottage is very private, as it is tucked into a lush hillside.

Island Cottage is located near the bottom of Route 108 in Coral Bay. No super scary steep roads here! For those of you who like to walk places, you can easily walk down the paved hill to Johnny Lime, Surf Club Cantina, Sharky’s, Jolly Dog and Zemi. Island Cottage features a flat parking pad with room to accommodate two vehicles.

You access the home through a new, goat-proof gate (island life!) and down a set of newly painted stairs complete with deck lighting. From there you will pass a nicely-sized shaded seating area behind the home before you walk out to a large, wraparound deck. A brand new hot tub was just installed, as well as a brand new grill and hightop table and chairs. There are breezes galore on the deck in addition to beautiful water and hillside views.

Inside the home feels spacious and airy. Island Cottage features a traditional hip roof, so the interior ceiling is simply stunning. There is a large bedroom with king-sized bed that opens up to a smaller section of the outdoor deck. The bathroom with large outdoor shower is accessed from the bedroom.

This is a frame home with masonry foundation. It currently has wind insurance, which can likely convey, meaning you can apply to get a traditional mortgage on this property. There are two 5,000-gallon cisterns onsite in addition to a large laundry room. The home also has a UV filtration system which makes the water drinkable. And lastly, Island Cottage sustained minimal damage from the 2017 hurricanes. This home is well-built and is truly a must-see!

Island Cottage is now listed for $699,950. The owner is motivated, so please make an offer! Island Cottage is listed with me, Jenn Manes. I am a licensed agent at 340 Real Estate Co.. Please email me at jenn@explorestj.com or call/text at 203-376-3786 to learn more. I am happy to answer any questions you may have. Financials are available upon request. All confirmed rental reservations must be honored.

 

Skip the Ferry & Take this Water Taxi to St. John!

Jenn Manes


Hello everyone, and happy Tuesday! I get a lot of emails asking about the quickest way to get to St. John. Well, today, I am excited to tell you about a new-to-me water taxi that can get you to St. John not only quickly, but efficiently!

Water Taxi Services

Relentless and Tenacity are ready to transfer you from St. Thomas to St. John. They’re available for private day charters too!

SeaHorse Land & Water Taxi provides transfers from the moment you exit the airport until you get to your hotel, condo or villa on St. John. They can help you save time, so you can get your feet in the sand that much quicker! Airport pickup to having your feet on St. John will take under an hour. How fantastic is that??!!

SeaHorse Water Taxi is the highest-rated water taxi in the US Virgin Islands with more than 200 five-star reviews. It has also been named the best water taxi in the USVI by LuxLife for the past three years in a row. They can take one passenger or over 100, and everything in between. Their biggest transfer was 130 people. Now that’s impressive! They even offer water taxi services to the British Virgin Islands where they will take care of everything, including customs. They like to make the process swift and easy, which is music to my ears.

Rates for SeaHorse’s land and water taxi starts at $527 for up to four people. That includes private transfer from the airport and over to your accommodation or car rental on St. John. Click here to learn more and to book.

Boat Charters in the USVI & BVI

This could be you!

SeaHorse also offer day charters in both the US Virgin Island and British Virgin Islands. Their two boats – named Relentless and Tenacity – are each a Grady White 330 Express. They chose to use this style of boat for its “kitchen table” factor, as they call it.

“Most day trip boats have some seating in the front and some in back, separating your party. With our boats, all the seating in the middle and stern of the boat, it is more like the kitchen table where the family gathers round to be together,” owner Kenny Anderson recently told me.

“The boats are also wider and they have a variety of different seating options, so everyone will find their perfect spot,” Kenny continued. “The half covered boat set up is also great for kids or adults after a long day in the sun, so they can grab some shade. We have a ‘Mi Casa es tu Casa’ approach to hospitality.”

Both Relentless and Tenacity have covered seating, plus a bathroom onboard. They also provide a cooler for guests filled with beer, water, soda and hard seltzers.

“Want an entire beach to yourself for a few hours? Let’s go find one,” Kenny said. “Our captains have experience from four to 20 years. Have you been there, done that already? Our captains can definitely show you something new.”

Kenny said sometimes a captain will find fresh coconuts for guests, for example. They crack it open to share fresh coconut milk with guests. It’s that personalized service that SeaHorse prides itself on.

SeaHorse can bring you to fun spots like Jost Van Dyke, The Baths, Lime Out, Pizza Pi, and more. What does your dream private day trip look like? Not quite sure? Looking for something custom, off the beaten path and unique? Get some ideas from SeaHorse Water Taxi’s Virgin Islands Day Trip Planning.

For those of you who are planning a trip to St. John, be sure to check out Seahorse Water Taxi. Click here to visit their website. 

 

Introducing Sunset Dream, St. John’s Newest Vacation Condo

Jenn Manes
I love a good pool with a view!

As many of you know, I became a licensed realtor earlier this year. I announced this exciting new venture in May, and one of the first people to contact me was Greg Ellis.

Greg and Pam Ellis have been visiting St. John for more than 15 years. They love the island like many of you do, and they dreamed of owning their own place here. Greg told me that he and Pam planned to visit in July, and he asked me to show them one specific property – a one-bedroom condo at Sunset Ridge.

Greg and Pam Ellis were two of my first real estate clients. They purchased their first home on St. John last month.
We were excited to check out the new units for sale at Sunset Ridge when we first met back in July.

Sunset Ridge is a condo community located above Cruz Bay. It’s a less than 10-minute drive to Cruz Bay (1.4 miles to be exact), and the views are absolutely incredible. Sunset Ridge has always been an interval property, but two newer buildings have recently been completely are were listed for sale. Greg and Pam had their eyes on one of the two one-bedroom units that were available. One of the best features of Sunset Ridge is its large pool that has incredible views of Cruz Bay, Pillsbury Sound, St. Thomas and beyond. The sunsets up there are second to none.

The shared pool has panoramic views of St. Thomas, the Caribbean Sea and beyond.
There’s a reason they call it Sunset Ridge!

Greg and Pam looked at the property in July, made an offer a few months later and closed just before Thanksgiving. I am excited to let you all know that their new home – Sunset Dream – is St. John’s newest vacation condo.

Sunset Dream is a spacious, one-bedroom with southerly views of the Caribbean Sea. Sunset Dream has a king-sized bed, brand new furnishings, appliances and decor, and you can be some of the first people to check it out! It even has a washer and dryer, so there is less packing for you to do! It has a sweet balcony area too, where you can enjoy beautiful views and sunsets, and perhaps even a late afternoon cocktail while sitting at the brand new hightop bar.

Doesn’t it look great??!!

There is also a large, shared patio outside of Sunset Dream where you have even more space to enjoy the view. Sunset Dream comes with everything you need for the perfect beach day, including chairs and coolers. It also has its own parking spot.

Rates for Sunset Dream start at $375 a night and vary based on season.

Interested? Want to know more? Check out Sunset Dream’s website at www.dreamstj.com.

Congrats Greg and Pam! I am so happy for you both!

If you would like to purchase a property on St. John like Greg and Pam, I would absolutely love to help you. Please contact me at jenn@explorestj.com to learn more. I am also happy to help you list a property you currently own. I am a licensed realtor with 340 Real Estate Co.