Top 10% of guest reviews in this areaTop 10% of guest reviews in this area
4 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 10
Popular amenities
Porch or veranda
Private pool
Kitchenette
Barbecue
Air-conditioning
Internet access
Rooms & beds
4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)
Bedroom 2
1 King Bed
Bedroom 3
1 King Bed
Bedroom 4
1 King Bed
Master bedroom
1 King Bed
4 bathrooms
Bathroom 2
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 3
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 4
Toilet · Shower only
Master bath
Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area
About this property
4 large bedrooms/4 full bathrooms. Pool/Beautiful Ocean views/hot tub. Cruz Bay!
Featured on HGTV’s ‘Caribbean Life’, Meritage Great House has everything you need to experience paradise. Meritage Great House is situated on a scenic hillside of the very desirable location of Chocolate Hole, Cruz Bay. Just a short four-minute drive from the ferry dock and downtown Cruz Bay where you can find the best restaurants and shopping on the island. The house overlooks the Caribbean Ocean which allows you to relax poolside and listen to the surf roll in from Hart Bay Beach which is just a short five-minute car ride down from the house. Meritage Great House has 4 large, air-conditioned bedrooms each with their own private ensuite bathroom. The 4th bedroom can be either set-up with a king size bed or 2 twin beds, The house has three levels, with bedrooms on each level, allowing for privacy. The living area and kitchen are on the top deck, fully air conditioned. You can also enjoy the gentle breeze from the Caribbean Ocean. The fully equipped kitchen with Italian granite countertops is a great place to create a feast. Or you may simply want to grill out and enjoy your BBQ by the pool. Relax on the sundeck around the private pool and wrap around covered decks on two levels, many different gathering places for your group, and secluded places for privacy. Lay in the hammock sipping your favorite cocktail while you watch a dramatic Caribbean sunset. From the decks, you can see in the distance the islands of St. Croix and St. Thomas which make the perfect spot for morning coffee and pictures with friends & family.
We look forward to hearing from you. Linda & Randall 🌴🍹🍸
If you need additional space, we also rent out Meritage Cottage separately. listing#35289 Please check our complete details at meritagestjohn. com
Meritage’ is a term created to describe high quality wines made from noble grapes using traditional blending techniques and methods. Meritage wines are red or white wines crafted solely from specific "noble" Bordeaux grape varieties and are considered to be the very best wines of the vintage.
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Smoking or vaping is not allowed in the house.
Failure to comply will result in a $500 fine.
Thank You
Important information
You need to know
Property # 204713
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
About the area
St. John
Located in St. John, this villa is on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Virgin Islands National Park and Cruz Bay Beach. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with horse riding and hiking/biking trails.
St. Thomas (SPB-St. Thomas Seaplane Base) - 61 min drive
Restaurants
Woody's Seafood Saloon - 7 min drive
Cruz Bay Landing - 7 min drive
The Longboard - 7 min drive
Greengo’s - 7 min drive
Morgan's Mango - 7 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Does 4 large bedrooms/4 full bathrooms. Pool/Beautiful Ocean views/hot tub. Cruz Bay! have a pool?
Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.
How much does it cost to stay at 4 large bedrooms/4 full bathrooms. Pool/Beautiful Ocean views/hot tub. Cruz Bay!?
As of 3 June 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at 4 large bedrooms/4 full bathrooms. Pool/Beautiful Ocean views/hot tub. Cruz Bay! on 7 June 2026 start from NZ$1,380, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is 4 large bedrooms/4 full bathrooms. Pool/Beautiful Ocean views/hot tub. Cruz Bay! pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at 4 large bedrooms/4 full bathrooms. Pool/Beautiful Ocean views/hot tub. Cruz Bay!?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at 4 large bedrooms/4 full bathrooms. Pool/Beautiful Ocean views/hot tub. Cruz Bay!?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at 4 large bedrooms/4 full bathrooms. Pool/Beautiful Ocean views/hot tub. Cruz Bay!?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is 4 large bedrooms/4 full bathrooms. Pool/Beautiful Ocean views/hot tub. Cruz Bay! located?
This family-friendly St. John villa is located on the waterfront, within a 15-minute walk of Chocolate Hole Beach and Chocolate Hole. Virgin Islands National Park is 1.7 mi (2.7 km) away.
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Loved the view. Liked the convenience of being close to Cruz Bay and on the way to the many beaches we visited. The beach chairs were used every day of our vacation.
We loved our stay at Meritage Great House. Amazing views, fun wildlife like Iguanas in the trees and the pool was perfect. The bedrooms are good size with comfortable mattresses. The kitchen has everything you need and the open concept worked well with our family. We were grateful for the AC at night but otherwise didn't really use them. The location is great - outside of the Cruz Bay buzz but close enough to enjoy Cruz Bay if you so desire.
We arrived in St John on the 14th of March and checked in around 6pm. The power went out around 10pm and we got full power on Tuesday.The place is beautiful and we would have enjoyed it so much more if we had AC,electricity and running water.The owners are very nice and they need to get a generator.as their house was not that much cheaper than the ones that have one.
We loved being in a house that had a good sized living area for everyone and yet separate spaces as well as all the bedrooms were separate and had separate bathrooms attached. Great for couples traveling together and families. Our kids loved the pool and all the iguanas in the trees. Only negative was it would have been nice to have a half bath off the main living area so you didn’t have to go all the way downstairs to a bedroom to use the bathroom.
Perfect! The property was great for 4 couples. Places for together time and also private time. The house was close to Cruz Bay and everything we needed.
Everyone was extremely accommodating to our sudden change in travel plans and felt very welcomed. The view was amazing, the location was great, and the property was beautiful and well-kept!
Blythe F.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 23 June 2021
Blythe,
So glad we were able to accommodate your family to help you out with your last min. plans. Hope you can plan to stay longer next time.
Chris & Abby
There are 3 great outdoor, including screened porch, for our group of 8. Loved the ability to relax together, or if necessary find a spot for quiet time. The indoor is also spacious enough for our group, but when in St. Johns who wants to be indoors!Property manager and owners were very helpful and available.
Our 25/75 celebration with family on St. John was awesome! Staying at Meritage helped make our time together relaxing. The views are spectacular from the 3 decks. Abby is wonderful and makes sure your stay is comfortable.
Loved everything about this property, great location, beautiful views. Close enough to get to everything without feeling like you were in the middle of everything, all the rooms were clean and everything was perfect, check in was a breeze. The property manager was very attentive. 5 stars all the way around, would not hesitate to book again in the future!!!
Jonathan M.
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 26 February 2021
Great group for any host to have. Watch out for your local fish, Jonathan is quit the angler. Nice Snapper you hauled in there, hope it was delicious. Please come back and bring the kids next time so you can stay longer.
Chris & Abby
Great place. It was fun watching the iguanas and the sun sets. We all had a great time and Abby was great in meeting us at the car barge.
We did not encounter any major problems with the rental.
We would stay again.
The Meritage Great House was excellent. The view was spectacular. The common areas were fantastic for family time. The bedrooms were each equipped with their own bathroom and adjustable air-conditioning unit. The cottage was well equipped with chairs for the beach and snorkeling equipment. The soak pool was wonderful. Abigail was extremely helpful during the check-in and checkout process and assisting us in arrangements getting to St. John. We would definitely stay there again.
I have three brothers, we get together every year for a week. Meritage was perfect because we 4 each had a beautiful, comfortable bedroom and en suite bath. We loved the view of chocolate Hole with the amazing sunsets. The layout and privacy is absolutely exquisite. We will plan to be back here next time…
Meritage House is perfect for those wanting a wonderful island experience. Its private yet close to beaches , town and grocery stores. Our group loved the outdoor space…screened porches and pool. We especially liked the privacy of the bedrooms. The photos on VRBO are true representations of how Meritage is decorated and set up. Linda and Randall were wonderful to deal with. Our group DEFINITELY recommends Meritage house for your stay in St John
We stayed at Meritage for a week in July. Aside from the amazing views it offers, it’s convenient to the Starfish Marketplace for shopping, 10 minutes to Cruz Bay, and close enough to the beaches, especially Hawk’s Nest. The host provides plenty of linens, soaps and shampoos, laundry facilities and detergent, and beach equipment. Large home with plenty of space to spread out and enjoy time together or apart. We will be back.
This cottage is spacious, comfortable, and clean. It's a quick ride to town and has plenty of room for everyone. During our stay, there were 3 couples and 2 'kids' in the house and another couple in the cottage and there was plenty of room for all of us in the house hanging out, getting ready to go out to town or the beaches; outdoor room was great too, plenty of space for everyone when grilling or hanging out by the pool. Awesome place!
We loved our stay at Meritage- the house was clean, rooms comfortable, and the house was so close to Cruz Bay(not walking distance, but close with jeeps!). It was easy to communicate, and ask questions when needed.
The only Downside we found was that there is a hot tub advertised, but not hot tub at the house. The dryers did not work well, we had to hang most things up after washing them.
Overall we loved out stay!!
Whitney A.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 27 November 2024
Hi Whitney,
We are glad that you loved your stay. ☺️
We have 2 dryers, one needs a new belt, and will be getting that this Friday. The other dryer seems to be working fine. Perhaps it had to do with one of the settings on the machine.
We have not advertised a hot tub at the house for 2 years now. We have a hot tub at our guest cottage, maybe you were thinking about that one.
Thanks again for taking such great care of the house. We would love to host you again in the near future. 🌴
Our stay in this place was amazing! The owner, Linda and property manager Abigail were hands down the best we’ve ever worked with. It down poured the first two days we were there right before our wedding ceremony and they were both willing to do whatever it took to make sure we had a beautiful day. Weather ended up turning out beautiful, but they went above and beyond prior to our trip and our whole stay. we will definitely stay there again. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home!!
We loved our stay at Meritage House on St. John. The location was very convenient to Cruz Bay. The beds were comfortable, the kitchen was well-stocked and the pool was refreshing. Unfortunately there is no longer a hot tub so that amenity should be removed from the website. The manager was very quick to respond when we contacted her a few times. Our grandson especially enjoyed the iguanas that reside in the trees beside the pool! I would love to return some day!
Nancy P.
Stayed 14 nights in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 28 February 2023
Hi Nancy,
Thank you for the kind words, Meritage Great House really is a wonderful home. We are glad you loved your stay as much as we do when we visit.
We inherited the hot tub from the previous owner, unfortunately it was constantly having issues with heating and based on guests feedback it was not being utilized. We couldn’t justify the electricity consumption for something that wasn’t being used, so based on all the above, we decided to have it removed.
Abby truly is wonderful; we are so fortunate that she is there for our guests. Having someone that was born and raised on the island is a great advantage for our guests. Abby will assist with you with anything while you are on the island.
It brought a smile to my face imagining your grandson getting such a kick out of watching the iguanas in the trees, we love watching them also.
We would love to have you come stay with us again. Just let me know the dates and I will be glad to hold them for you. If you decide to bring more people on the next trip, consider renting the cottage at the same time. You will then have 5 big bedrooms to fill and the cottage does have a hot tub on it’s own private porch.
Thank you for taking such great care of Meritage Great House. You are always welcome back!
Stay in touch!
Linda & Randall 🌴
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Maggie O.
27 January 2016
Beautiful home with great views
This house was way more than we expected when we arrived. The pictures don't do it justice. There is so many levels so even with a full house of guests almost every bedroom is on its own level. The pool was amazing looking over chocolate hole and the mountains and best sunsets. We didn't want to leave the house, we could have stayed at the house our entire trip instead of venturing out to see other areas, it's simply gorgeous. We will definitely stay at Meritage every time we visit St John!!
Maggie O.
Response from VrboOwner on 6 March 2020
Maggie,
Thanks for your review. I had the same feeling when I first saw this house and the fantastic views, so I bought it !! Glad your family enjoyed staying at Meritage Great House and look forward to your quick return.
Chris Rosbrook
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Ed G.
25 July 2016
Perfect!
1st vacation to the Caribbean. Meritage Great House was perfect for my family of 6. Each of the 4 air-conditioned bedrooms have their own bathrooms. My 2 daughters (17 & 18) each had their own bedroom while my 2 boys (12 & 15) shared a room (the room was set up with two twin beds). My wife and I in the other. The house would be great for 4 couples as well. Everyone has their own private space or congregate on the pool level or kitchen/living/dining room level. Enjoying a cup of coffee on the deck overlooking Hart Bay was a great way to begin each day. Great pool & hot tub with awesome views with many iguanas & hermit crabs very close by. House is close to town, but isolated enough to escape to quietly enjoy each other. Sinbad & Chris are awesome. We'll be back. -The Gallaghers from NY's Mid-Hudson Valley.
Ed G.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2016
Response from VrboOwner on 6 March 2020
Thanks Ed for the great review. Were so glad to know that Meritage Great House worked out so well for your family. I know it was your first family vacation to the Caribbean, but we hope you'll be back many times to St.John.
Regards,
Chris & Sinbad
About the host
Hosted by Linda Cathell
Feel free to email us with any questions at: MeritageOnStJohn@gmail.com
Why they chose this property
Meritage is where we have taken time to add the warmth and charm that sets us apart from other rental homes. This home has a true Caribbean feeling in every aspect of the design and lay out of the property from the lush tropical gardens to the views overlooking Hart Bay and neighboring Islands. Looking west you are sure to watch the most magnificent sunsets each evening which will leave you breathless.
What makes this property unique
Meritage is located in the Chocolate Hole area of St.John only a few minutes drive to the village of Cruz Bay where where you can find restaurants, bars, shopping and night life all within a few blocks. This is a quiet, peaceful and safe neighborhood to relax in.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests