If you’re a curious explorer who craves the tranquility of nature with a side of comfort, look no further.
Nestled in the subtropical rainforest on serene St. Croix, our guest cottage is an inspired sanctuary, a one-of-a-kind expression of the road less traveled. Completely renovated in 2024, we offer an ideal mix of amenities, access, and natural seclusion. Up a private road from the island's best beaches, along a wildlife sanctuary, and on the magnificent grounds of iconic Estate Mt. Washington (cheesy fun fact: our place was featured on The Bachelor, season 17), this guest cottage will make for a memorable island experience.
Our family lives and works on the 14-acre historic property, a former sugar plantation, open to visitors for quiet exploration during daylight hours. We are diligently beautifying the grounds, propagating and reforesting the land with valued fruit, medicinal and hardwood trees and plants, building a meditation labyrinth, clearing walking trails and making art. Our mission is to grow Estate Mt. Washington into a model for creativity, food, energy, ecology, tourism sustainability and resiliency.
You will feel refreshed and invigorated here, whether you want to explore the historic ruins, relax in the avocado orchard under the shade of the towering 300 yr old saman tree, or stay on the cottage deck, listening to the beloved wind chime or the birds.
We are also around to help make sure your stay on St. Croix is wonderful. We can provide personalized recommendations with the best island food, adventures, snorkeling/diving, watersports, fishing/lobstering, and more touristy stuff. If you need guidance before you arrive, we are here to help.
A few parting thoughts...
Our goal is to underpromise and overdeliver. If you’re looking for air conditioning, cable TV, or a spot to rage all night, our cottage is not for you.
Our cottage is less than a mile from the most beautiful, calm and quiet beaches on the island. Some of the best snorkeling and diving spots are in our neighborhood and several water sport rental shops are nearby.
Walking to the West end beaches from our place is a great experience and a nice bit of exercise. But for just about everything else you will want to do on the island, it’s a practical necessity to rent a car. Also, most of the island roads are navigable in any vehicle, but jeeps and trucks will make the travel more manageable.
It's important to mention that, along with all of the natural beauty, our subtropical rainforest is home to mostly harmless critters like iguanas, deer, bats, bugs, and an occasional snake. For those of you who get excited about that, we hope you enjoy the experience. If those creatures aren't your cup of tea, this might not be the place (for you).
We have three dogs who roam the property (mostly on leash), so you will likely get to meet them and may occasionally hear them. While we are highly conscientious about barking, our dogs do bark at wildlife and an occasional ring of the beautiful bell tower.
So, in sum, if you're up for an eclectic mix of nature, imagination, history, community and comfort that represents the true spirit of St. Croix, we look forward to hosting you.
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Amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
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80 degrees plus Year Round, 5 mins to beaches and Frederiksted Town
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No commercial photography or video on the property without prior written permission from the homeowners.
We love and welcome children, but the 14-acre grounds are not the place for young children to wander and play unsupervised.
Important information
You need to know
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
About the area
Frederiksted
Located in Frederiksted, this cottage is in a rural area and by the sea. Carambola Golf Club and Carambola Golf Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Sandy Point and Salt River Bay National Historical Park. Travelling with kids? Consider Estate Mount Washington L-Abyrinth and Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and hiking.
Estate Mount Washington L-Abyrinth - 1 min walk - 0.2 km
Sprat Hall Beach - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
Rainbow Beach - 4 min drive - 1.6 km
Cane Bay - 28 min drive - 19.9 km
Sugar Beach - 32 min drive - 26.1 km
Getting around
Christiansted (STX-Henry E. Rohlsen) - 26 min drive
Restaurants
Louie & Nacho’s - 14 min drive
Armstrong Homemade Ice Cream - 16 min drive
Lost Dog Pub - 14 min drive
Cruzan Rum Distillery - 21 min drive
Rhythms At Rainbow Beach - 8 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is This Must Be the Place pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at This Must Be the Place?
As of 25 April 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at This Must Be the Place on 19 December 2025 start from NZ$555, 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.
How much is parking at This Must Be the Place?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at This Must Be the Place?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at This Must Be the Place?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is This Must Be the Place located?
This family-friendly Frederiksted cottage is located by the sea, within 1 mi (2 km) of Estate Mount Washington L-Abyrinth and Rainbow Beach. Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts and Sprat Hall Beach are also within 3 miles (5 km).
About the host
Hosted by Courtney Loveman
We moved to St. Croix from Colorado (mountain to ocean) 4 years ago, when the last of our three children left for college. When we left Colorado, we knew we were interested in moving to an island, but were undecided about which one. Then we found the online listing for what is now our home on St. Croix. We booked a flight and came straight to Mt. Washington from the airport to check it out. Never looked back.
Why they chose this property
Within the USVI, St. Croix has a powerful energy that sets it apart from St. Thomas and St. John. And within the island itself, the West side has a special spirit. Why we love the West... The water on this part of the island is generally the calmest and bluest. The beaches are quiet. The community is diverse and friendly. People know each other. There are no "tourists." Visitors who enjoy the West tend to prefer "living like locals" when they travel. Downtown is small and low-key, with a few good restaurants and an epic waterfront. The Frederiksted Pier is a great place to walk and an even better place to snorkel/dive.
What makes this property unique
Ask many locals and they will tell you. Estate Mt. Washington holds special meaning on the island. There are very few plantation ruins on island that are open to the public, so locals and visitors alike are drawn here to better understand the dark history of the island and to appreciate the work that has been done (and continues) to heal the land and give it new life.