Beach Estate - Island Stone Caribbean Beach Side Villa
Designed by famous local architect Glen Speer and now transformed by famous artist Donald Schnell, known for his comfortable artistic villas with style. Come and see the artist's touch added to this tropical garden paradise. An eight person fine Italian marble stone table and Italian stone tile & statuettes coupled with local island stonework create a unique European & Caribbean atmosphere. The Great Cruz Bay location (see our maps page) offers convenience to shopping, groceries, restaurants and National Park beaches, yet the villa offers unique privacy with the surrounding tropical trees and fauna.
The Beach Estate's pool overlooks Great Cruz Bay and the blue Caribbean Sea of Pillsbury Sound. Deep & luxurious, the pool area is augmented by sconces from the Donald Schnell Studio and edged with Italian marble stone and is just steps away from the property's sandy beach. Island stone planters nurture blooming hibiscus, bougainvillea & other tropical flowers. Snorkeling along the point reveals a variety of fish and an occasional lobster or sea turtle while local White Herons frequent the shoreline.
The "Four Seasons" Italian statues watch over the island stone hot tub and pool area. Italian planters with native island palms and colorful bougainvillea surround you in this peaceful & private island retreat.
The island's spectacular sunsets, views of the blue Caribbean Sea and the night time lights of St. Thomas are all visible from the spacious decks perched on the hill overlooking the tropical gardens and the beach. Island stone pathways weave steps through the garden, home of the endangered species Iguana (harmless fruit & flower eaters), to the sandy beach area. The Beach Estate's pool area offers an additional space for wedding events and other celebration gatherings
Now with five, King master bedroom suites each with a private bath, the villa is perfect for a honeymoon or anniversary couple, five couples or a family with older children. Every bedroom has a an extension phone and satellite television. Two of the bedrooms, and the secondary living space downstairs, have an additional twin bed. (Please be sure the Beach Estate's Caribbean open air design is appropriate for your children's age and family's configuration). The newly completed fourth master bedroom suite & bathroom features sconces from our studio along with island stone & brick accents with Italian travertine floor tile and counter tops.
An eight person fine Italian marble stone table looks down on the private sandy beach area and blossoming bougainvillea.
The upstairs open & breezy living area provides a traditional Caribbean atmosphere and is complemented by the enclosed, secondary living space downstairs. Both offer CD player & access to satellite television.
By night the Estate is magically lit by the handcrafted sconces created by the Donald Schnell Studio. The pool beckons guests to a midnight swim under the stars & the beach area offers an enchanting view of the twinkling night time lights of St. Thomas.
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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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
We should mention
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property
About the area
St. John
Located in St. John, this villa is on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Virgin Islands National Park and Cruz Bay Beach. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking, snorkelling and parasailing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails.
St. Thomas (SPB-St. Thomas Seaplane Base) - 61 min drive
Restaurants
High Tide Bar & Seafood Grill - 7 min drive
Cruz Bay Landing - 7 min drive
Woody's Seafood Saloon - 7 min drive
Beach Bar - 7 min drive
The Longboard - 7 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Does Beach Estate - Island Stone Caribbean Beach Side Villa have a pool?
Yes, this property has a pool.
How much does it cost to stay at Beach Estate - Island Stone Caribbean Beach Side Villa?
As of 1 April 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Beach Estate - Island Stone Caribbean Beach Side Villa on 30 April 2026 start from NZ$2,470, 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 Beach Estate - Island Stone Caribbean Beach Side Villa pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Beach Estate - Island Stone Caribbean Beach Side Villa?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Beach Estate - Island Stone Caribbean Beach Side Villa?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Beach Estate - Island Stone Caribbean Beach Side Villa?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Beach Estate - Island Stone Caribbean Beach Side Villa located?
Situated on the beach, this villa is steps from Great Cruz Bay and 1.8 mi (2.9 km) from Virgin Islands National Park. Chocolate Hole and Chocolate Hole Beach are also within 1 mile (2 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
This is a beautiful property with beach access. The owner was very helpful as well as the staff at Artistic Villas. We had a wonderful stay and hope to visit again in the future.
Our group had a great time staying at Donald’s villa. It was fully stocked with everything we could need and was also very spacious and clean. Great location to get to Cruz Bay and the beaches. Thank you!
Wonderful villa in the best location!
Lovely owner that could not have been more helpful!!!
Beautiful bedrooms and bathrooms!
Everyone enjoyed the pool and private beach!
Already booked for next year with this wonderful owner!
We had a wonderful stay ! The house and grounds beautiful! We were a little disappointed that the hot tub was not working They tried to fix it but couldn’t Donald and Debbie were very gracious and paid for one of our dinners! All in all great vacation!
Our family of eleven thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Beach Estate. The artistic flair of the house really added to our experience. We loved the views, and that we were able to walk right out into the water from the house. Having a private beach was amazing. The house is roomy and had plenty of amenities, like beach towels, and reef safe sunblock. Our hosts were very responsive and a delight.
We had an amazing time staying at the Beach Estate. We had a family of 9 and with 5 master suites we felt we had our own private space. We have traveled a lot over the years and the whole family agreed this was the most amazing experience we have had. We explored so many amazing beaches and loved them all but if you are up for a light walk you have to get over to Leinster Bay the snorkeling is amazing! We definitely plan to return again very soon. Thank you Donald for all of your tips and taking care of all of our needs!
This was the perfect house for our large family. We loved the quirky details and the fact that it reminded us of a castle. The house provided us with everything that we needed including beach chairs. The rooms were spacious and had air conditioning and everyone had their own bed! No couches or pullouts necessary. A big thank you to Donald! He made us feel so welcome and taught my husband to saber a champagne bottle! Hope to stay again in the future!
Tim R.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 July 2023
It was great having you and your family. Glad you could finally have your family vacation!
We loved our stay with our 12 family members and Donald was an excellent host! The property was so unique with all of his art and handmade lighting fixtures and the AC in each bedroom was nice and cold, and we had all the comforts of home, and the two fridges was nice for our big family. The open air living room was quite hot during the summer season but Donald brought us a few fans to try and make it more comfortable. We knew that the living room may be warm when booking but wanted to have beach access since most homes in St John do not. This was a perfect trade off! We rented cars from Donald with ease as well. Such a great vacation!
I've never stayed at a property with such care and attention given to the guests at every step of the visit. Donald, his wife, and his team supporting his properties are top notch. From making it effortless to meet us at the docks, get to our vehicles, and get in the home - to teaching me how to saber champagne, and the chaos that was our check out process. The team was great, very welcoming, addressed our every need (even including changing out a mattress for my 60 y/o mom). We all loved the property, the proximity to the town is something we've grown used to in prior properties, but the scale, individual bedrooms with their own showers, the spacious shared living space, it all was fantastic. Thank you Donald - we will be reaching out to you for our next visit!
The property was very welcoming and Islandy (made that word up) - easy access to water and town. In the evenings the house had a real castle feel with beautiful lights everywhere.
We visited this property with four other couples. The view was amazing and the house was perfect for our group. There is an open air common area and kitchen to gather, while each bedroom was a private area. The pool and hot tub were spectacular. There are many beautiful homes on the island but only a few that are beachfront. We were so glad we made the decision to choose a property with a beach. It may not be like Trunk Bay but we enjoyed rafting and the hammocks on our own little beach. I would highly recommend this beautiful home
Donald is an amazing host. Saw to every detail and made sure our stay was incredible. The location is amazing-near everything-very peaceful. Home allowed our group to gather and also was spacious enough to allow everyone to have this own space. Home is definitely older so not the most modern of amenities but the trade off for space and location is well worth it
We really enjoyed the pool and the beach. Lots of time spent in the hammocks on the sand. Highly recommend this home
Beautiful villa! Lots of room for my family of 9. Having the pool, hot tub and beach was wonderful. Swam from the sandy beach. Great snorkeling to the left at the mouth of great Cruz bay. Great location. Hammocks and lounges down by the water also a plus.
Wonderful property, great owners.
Donald and Debbie have curated a lovely oasis which served as the perfect pre Christmas retreat for our family. With a group of 12, the set up could not have been more ideal. This home is spacious and comfortable. The waterfront, private beach is perfect for snorkeling and sunbathing. You will feel as though you are in a Tuscany villa with a Caribbean vibe. Donald is accessible and knowledgable, able to answer any questions you may have. This is truly a one of a kind, hidden gem!
The property is as advertised. Immaculate. The setting was perfect. Waterfront was awesome! Each and every room had their own master bath it was private and separate from each other room. On a scale 1 to 10 it’s a 10.
I call it a home because of so many personal touches it has! Donald and Debbie go above and beyond communicating with you before you even arrive with various help they will provide for a wonderful stay!
The house is unbelievable and the pictures do not do it justice. It has many unique things about it. Having a beach front property with a pool and hot tub is the #1 reason we would stay again for sure!
The house has all the amenities you need and the views are breathtaking!
We would book this house again no question!
Don's beach estate was a nice property located at my favorite area of the island. The direct bay access was a good bonus. Don has done a great job of developing a unique property. It was fun to spend time there. The house was well-appointed, but we did hope for a little more given the price. The frig in the kitchen needs to be replaced. It did not hold the temperature well and some of our dairy spoiled as a result. In addition, the ice maker stopped working after a couple of days. There is an alternative frig outside that we used (no ice maker), however that was mainly for beverages given less convenient location. Also, there were some beach chairs provided, but less than what was needed, and most were of poor quality. Finally, we had been told kayaks would be available for use but found out right before the trip that was not the case. We rented at our own expense. There were complications getting use of them, so I would not recommend that option. It is a very nice property. It just needs a little investment to fully justify the price point.
We took our children, their spouses and grandchildren on a family trip to St. John and stayed at this beautiful estate. It was truly awesome and perfect for our family! Donald and Debbie Schnell go above and beyond to make sure that their guests enjoy their stay. They were so attentive and helpful with everything from dining recommendations and reservations to taxi and driver arrangements and just making sure that we had everything we needed. The place is beautiful, clean and in a wonderful location. There is also a private beach which is very rare. We all enjoyed the beach very much. We can’t imagine staying anywhere else in St. John and certainly hope to return soon!
This was our 7th trip to St. John and this was by far our favorite rental home. The pictures do not do it justice. The house is beautiful, the location is perfect. So close to town, dining and stores but quiet and peaceful. We loved going to visit different beaches every day and coming home to relax by the water at our own private beach. We loved seeing the boats come and go from the Westin. Swimming was great and the snorkeling was fantastic. The house was very clean and has everything you need including beach towels and chairs. Donald was the perfect host. He was always available for questions and assistance. We rented our Jeep through him. He picked us up and drove us to the house, arranged for airport transfer and our ferry back to St. Thomas. The house not having AC was never an issue for us. It was warm but there was always a breeze and plenty of ceiling fans. The bedrooms all have AC. We will definitely be returning in the future with our kids and adult friend group and will never stay anywhere else!
Michelle H.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2020
About the host
Hosted by Donald Schnell
What makes this property unique
On island owner of 30 years available to assist you.