Rara Avis - Priced Right, Pool, Amazing Views!

Property grounds
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Pool
Terrace/patio
Property grounds
8.9 / 10.0
Outstanding(21 Ratings)

Villa in Cruz Bay

8 guests · 4 bedrooms · 4 baths

Reasons to book

Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Top-tier experienceOne of the higher cost properties in the area
Includes essentialsPool, Kitchen or Kitchenette, Internet / Wifi and more

About this villa rental

DESCRIPTION: Rara Avis consists of three distinct buildings - a 2-level stone great house, plus a master bedroom cabana on the left (east) and another on the right (west) side of the great house. You park above the great house and descend a stone stairway into a sheltered garden courtyard on the leeward side of the great house. The upper level of the great house contains the great room with the living, dining, and kitchen areas, plus a half bath and a laundry room. In the great room, you will find native stonework, exposed beam cathedral ceilings, terra cotta tiled floors, bamboo furniture, and native artwork. On the south side of the great house is a 450 sq/ft tiled sun deck where the views are magnificent. Two sets of exterior stairs lead down to the two bedrooms, shared bath, and deck on the lower level of the great house. The pool and its sun deck are in a garden setting in front of the west cabana. In addition to the pool's sun deck, there are four other private sun decks, including two off the great house and one off each cabana. Courtyards, gardens, and walkways connect the three buildings and the pool.

LOCATION: Rara Avis is located on an oversized lot in the southwest corner of Hart Bay, which is 1/4 mile east of Great Cruz Bay, on the south coast of St. John. The setting gives this villa an excellent degree of privacy and tranquility. Rara Avis is one of the last villas on a private drive, so there is no vehicle traffic or noise; you will only hear the music of small waves breaking on the beach below you. It is blessedly peaceful and quiet, yet only a few minutes drive away from the restaurants, shopping, and nightlife of Cruz Bay. Rara Avis is genuinely a place where you are indulged with the basic elements of Caribbean life - sun, sea, moonlit sky, lush vegetation and the trade winds. The house faces southeast, and the sun shines on your decks from early morning to late afternoon. The beautiful 180-degree view sweeps from north to south and takes in most of the south coast of St John, much of which is unspoiled National Park.

LIVING & DINING: The living and dining rooms have been artistically finished to look like the interior of a centuries-old Spanish or Italian villa. They are furnished with a combination of antiques and designer furniture that blends comfort with function—from either room screened sliding glass doors open to warm breezes, a spacious deck, and sweeping views of the South Shore National Park. A 32" cable, flat-screen TV, stereo, and wireless internet are provided. Dine inside at the stately mahogany table, seating 6 - 8, or outside on the sheltered garden patio.

KITCHEN: The complete kitchen includes a 4-burner stove and oven, refrigerator/freezer, dishwasher, microwave, blender, drip coffee maker, toaster, and a fine selection of dinnerware, cookware, and serverware. There is also a gas barbeque grill in the courtyard.

BEDROOMS: The two-bedroom cabanas (1 king & 1 queen) are spacious (370 sq/ft), offering excellent privacy, lovely views, and an intimate setting. Each cabana includes a tiled bath and a private deck or patio that is perfect for morning coffee and other quiet moments. The two guest bedrooms (twins that convert to a king) are located on the great house's lower level and offer romantic ocean views. The lower level guest bedrooms share a bath, and a 1/2 bath is located off the kitchen in the great house.

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Parking
Laundry
Dishwasher
TV

Map of Cruz Bay

$$$$
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Ratings and reviews

8.9 / 10.0
Outstanding(21 Ratings)
Summary of reviews
Amazing views, convenient location, breezy atmosphere, helpful staff, and beautiful property with thoughtful amenities make this an ideal place for a relaxing stay.
From real guest reviews summarized by AI
10.0 / 10.0
Aug 2024
Perfect stay! Came with my parents and my 5 teenagers….plenty of space for everyone to have privacy and not be on top of each other. Great gathering places to all come together. The best view you could imagine. Open air living spaces was a dream. The pool though small was perfect for a nighttime dip under the moonlight. Oh and the location!!!!!!!! …..drove all over the island and this home is perfectly located. All 8 of us loved this home and stay!
6.0 / 10.0
Jul 2024
The view is as advertised and is spectacular. However, the property needs a lot of upgrades and cleaning. Screens are very dirty and need to be cleaned. Dishwasher, oven and dryer do not work well. There is no air conditioning which is a problem. The furniture is run down. It seems like it's been quite awhile since the Owner has inspected their property. Even the decorations on the wall are rusted. We will not book at this location again. The Property Management company, Caribbean Villas was great to work with though. We ended up moving our last 2 days to the Westin and had a very enjoyable time there.
8.0 / 10.0
May 2023
We had a great time and moved the lay out of the house. View and breeze was marvelous. I would like to make 2 comments if constructive feedback…the house was dirty. Obvious places had not been dusted and mopped in some time. It would also be nice if there were enough beach towels for all of us. Overall a lovely stay! Thank you
8.0 / 10.0
Feb 2023
secluded, quiet, just the wave sounds of the ocean bay
10.0 / 10.0
Jan 2023
What a beautiful piece of property! We were skeptical about not having an air conditioner but the trade winds and the open doors/windows made for the perfect sleeping weather. Check in process was a a breeze as well. We had a younger adult flying in on a separate flight and on a routine call from The property manager, she offered to meet my young adult and help her find the way to the property! THAT is going above and beyond. Luckily, all the flights landed around the same planned time and we didn’t have to go to plan b. The ground at Rara Visa are lush, mature and absolutely beautiful. We met 2 iguana friends on property as well. A small hike down the waters edge was nice- rocky but it was a nice adventure. The property was conveniently located close to the grocery store, downtown, and other beaches. If we come back to St John’s - we will stay here again!
8.0 / 10.0
Aug 2022
Amazing views and a short drive to town. We liked that there were two structures separate from the main house for use as bedrooms. Air conditioning in the bedrooms would be a welcomed addition. The breeze was lovely, but we stayed during an unusually warm week. Highly recommend!
6.0 / 10.0
Jul 2022
Rara Avis
Rara Avis
I would not recommend staying here during the rainy season. The rain blew in on us while we were sleeping in the bungalow. Had to reserve another villa for our stay. Property is beautiful and if you are used to not having AC then you would probably be good. I live in the south and I am used to ac so we couldn’t sleep. House has everything you need for the week. If we hadn’t gotten wet while sleeping we may have stayed the whole week. It did rain a lot during the week we were there. Beautiful views.
10.0 / 10.0
Jul 2022
Staying for a friend’s wedding on St John
Staying for a friend’s wedding on St John
Very peaceful and easy to get to from Cruz bay. As advertised and a wonderful place for a group to stay

FAQs

How much does this villa cost compared to others in Cruz Bay?

The average price for a rental in Cruz Bay is $851 per night. This rental is $186 above the average.

Is parking included with this villa?

Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Rara Avis - Priced Right, Pool, Amazing Views!. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.

Is there a pool at this villa?

Yes, a swimming pool is available for use at Rara Avis - Priced Right, Pool, Amazing Views!. Enjoy the water!

Is Rara Avis - Priced Right, Pool, Amazing Views! pet friendly?

Unfortunately, this villa is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"

What amenities are available at Rara Avis - Priced Right, Pool, Amazing Views!?

We found 7 amenities for this rental. This includes pool, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, parking, and laundry.

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