Catherine was the best host we have ever experienced. She made us feel so welcome and comfortable prior to and during our trip. She messaged us information about how to get to the island, what to expect, where to rent a car, etc. when we arrived in St. John she met us at the ferry and even cooked us a wonderful dinner! She gave us tips on where to go and when. The cottage and the view was beyond my wildest expectations. Everyone should stay with Catherine.

Beautiful property with amazing views in Coral Bay. This was our first time to St. John and we really appreciated the quiet of this part of the island. We spent hours on the porch being amazed by the view, even when it was raining, and we loved watching the birds get so excited when we put fresh nectar in their feeder. We spent our days hiking, snorkeling and swimming and couldn’t wait to get home to get cleaned up in the beautiful outdoor shower, enjoy a cocktail on the porch then either head out to dinner or cook on the grill at the cottage. The rental process was very easy, the property was just as advertised and Catherine was always accessible by text or phone call if we needed anything. We would 100% recommend this rental property especially if you’re looking for peace and quiet! As a reminder, there is no TV at the cottage but the WiFi worked wonderfully.

My husband and I stayed in the beautiful cottage. The view from the room and porch is stunning. It was so relaxing to spend time sitting outside listening to the peaceful sounds of waves crashing below and the birds singing. The refreshing breeze blowing on our faces as we fell asleep was heavily. Catherine is a wonderful host offering recommendations for our stay and also cooked a delicious welcome dinner. The cottage has everything we needed and more.

Catherine’s place was absolutely perfect. More beautiful than the pictures! My husband and I can’t wait to go back.

This was my 2nd stay at the cottage and I am already planning my next trip! Aside from St. John being the perfect paradise, Catherine’s property is the perfect place to stay. Quiet, secluded, private off Coral Bay with the most amazing sunset view to wake up to every morning. Bed is comfortable, I never need the AC bc the breeze is just perfect. The cottage is bright, airy, clean, cozy and perfect for a couple or solo traveler. Enough kitchen amenities to do some small cooking or to store and reheat leftovers. Internet is great if you need to keep in touch with home or work remote. And if you chose to just spend a day home and not venturing out, you can enjoy the sun and breeze right from the patio! Catherine is very welcoming and accommodating- she goes above and beyond for her quests and is very friendly and happy to make friends but also very respectful of your privacy so if you’re not interested in socializing, you won’t feel intruded on at all. The cottage sits well below the villa and her place so it’s very private for those who are used to that like me! Her cooking is amazing, enjoy the welcome meal and while I haven’t tried yet, I’ve heard her breakfast is also wonderful. She is also a knowledgeable snorkel guide should you decide to do that as well. The only potential down side for some would be the “off road” drive up the road and the amount of steps to get down to the cottage. I personally don’t mind, I actually love it, but that’s the only thing I could think of that would potentially be a deal breaker for someone, if you don’t want to rent a 4WD vehicle or have physical limitations that would make large amounts of steps difficult. But honestly, it’s a nice brisk walk to start my day and the road is fun! And how else can you get that cliff view!? Can’t wait to come back for a third time, you won’t regret booking this special place!

This was the best home to stay in for our anniversary! My husband & I got away from the kids for the week so we decided to travel somewhere remote for our anniversary and we choose right! We loved having to rent a jeep and driving through all the mountains and seeing different ruins , we beach hoped the entire area and had most of them to ourselves! We swam with so many sea turtles & some sting ray's in the area , she even has some local mountain goats that play by the beach , tree frogs everywhere & iguanas in the area watching the crabs run down the hill when we were cooking outside was hilarious , it's a nature lover's paradise. The outside shower was my favorite part with that view we will deffinetley never forget it this trip will be hard to top , Catherine made us the best salmon we ever had honestly. She was so welcoming and helpful and has mostly everything you need at the home we even left shirts and she didn't hesitate to send them home to us , we lost weight during this trip it's more affordable to eat organic and the local cuisine is fantastic , you have to explore the trails in the area so you walk up and down hills alot and swim so much of course ! The locals were so fun and nice and educated us so much about their island ! This is deffinetley a trip for an active couple we had a blast ! My only complaint would be the bed was firm for my liking but everyone has different likes and that wouldn't stop me from giving her property a 5 star rating ! The property was clean and well taken care of & so much to do in the area and see , We deffinetley did this trip the right way I could go on and on about it we will be back! This was definitely the escape my husband and I needed .

Our children found this place and paid for a 10 day vacation. A beautiful setting overlooking Coral Bay with gorgeous sun rises and a wonderful breeze. We would highly recommend this piece of paradise in the tropics for anyone looking for a place to relax, and the hostess was most gracious.

The cottage was not only as lovely and as described in the listing, but even better! There are no worlds to describe what I saw and felt when I woke up each morning- the space was clean, cozy and comfortable, the views were breathtaking and the amenities perfect. It’s very spacious for a studio space (I could stretch, do yoga and dance in the large space between the bed and sofa!) and has everything you need for a week of adventure and/or relaxation. Catherine was lovely- she was there for anything I needed but not at all intrusive. It was nice being left on my own but also knowing I had someone available should I need advice or help. The dinner she made me on my first night was outstanding and we went on an amazing snorkeling adventure! The location was perfect for me- quiet and away from Cruz, but close to Coral Bay and even the drive to the other side of the island is only 25min. There is SO much light and breeze in the cottage, I had the blinds and windows open the whole time! But there are blinds and curtains on all windows if you need it dark to sleep, and the AC if you need the windows closed. Very easy to get comfortable whatever your needs. I slept so well! The kitchen is modest but perfect- I was able to cook a couple of nights, and it was so charming to do my dishes outside in the sun! Now back at home, I miss walking out to the sink barefoot to do my dishes. The outdoor shower was also amazing. Every night I showered under the stars, and my indoor shower at home now seem so boring. There is a small steep hill and lots of steps to get to and from your parking spot to the cottage, but for me, this was a bonus, not a con. I could see that being an issue for some, but I think most people know that this is common on St. John with the homes built into the hills like this, and it’s what’s gets you the amazing view and experience- part of the charm and adventure! The steps are safe, well-maintained and well-lit at night, so no issue as far as I’m concerned. Honestly, no complaints, I wouldn’t change a thing, everything was 200% as great as I thought it would be. I’m already brainstorming some trips back to St. John and am torn over wanting exploring new places or just coming back to this special perfect cottage! Catherine really has built a special place for herself and her guests, and I hope you all have the amazing experience that I did!

We had an excellent time! The cottage is a perfect, peaceful getaway! The accommodations were comfortable and clean. Catherine was a great host, very attentive and knowledgeable about the island. The arrival dinner was excellent and a very welcomed touch to our travel day.

House of Open Arms cottage deserves five stars plus! We could not have asked for a better vacation spot or host for our week long St. John vacation rental! The cottage is more amazing than the pictures show,, beautiful views, private and everything you could possibly need available to you. Catherine is the most caring host, she spares nothing when it comes to taking care of her guests!! We had the opportunity to have Catherine cook 2 meals for us, she provided the two best meals we ate while in St. John! We hope to be back soon and definitely would choose cottage of open arms!