4 large bedrooms/4 full bathrooms. Pool/Beautiful Ocean views/hot tub. Cruz Bay!

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Entire home

Hart Bay as seen from the deck of Meritage.

Drone aerial view of Meritage Great House.

View from the pool deck looking at wrap around covered decks.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

4 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 10260.1 sq m

Popular amenities

Parking available
Dryer
Washer
Barbecue grill
Air conditioning

Explore the area

St. John, VI

Great Cruz Bay
‪16 min walk‬
Cruz Bay Beach
‪7 min drive‬
Trunk Bay
‪19 min drive‬
West End (TOV-West End Seaplane Base)

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

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.

Property manager

Linda Cathell

Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

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Ocean view
Pool
Kitchen
Washer

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 21

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Smoking is allowed on the outside covered decks

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

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

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 waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Virgin Islands National Park and Cruz Bay Beach. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

St. John, VI

What's nearby

Chocolate Hole - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
Great Cruz Bay - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
Cruz Bay Beach - 7 min drive - 3.2 km
Virgin Islands National Park - 7 min drive - 3.3 km
Trunk Bay - 19 min drive - 7.7 km

Getting around

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
‪Beach Bar - ‬7 min drive
‪Lovango Rum Bar - ‬7 min drive
‪The Windmill Bar - ‬9 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.

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.

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 10-minute walk of Hart Bay and Chocolate Hole Beach. Virgin Islands National Park is 1.7 mi (2.7 km) away.

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Gwen W.

4 Mar 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful stay

Beautiful home with 4 spacious bedrooms and bathrooms and a lovely little pool overlooking hart bay! Our favorite was the screened in porch upstairs

Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Debra M.

5 Feb 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great gathering opportunities

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.

Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael H.

27 Dec 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Time Together

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.

Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Whitney A.

27 Nov 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Caribbean heaven

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!!

Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carla R.

6 Nov 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

St. John Friends

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.

Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey C.

29 July 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quiet Oasis

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.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Katherine C.

7 June 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Kate

A beautiful spot!

Stayed 5 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kathy C.

1 June 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

25/75

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.

Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Martha R.

22 Mar 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A great week

We had a lovely time in the house, on the porches and in the pool. Great place.

Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sara C.

20 Feb 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Exceptional

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!!

Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susan F., Sandown NH

26 Nov 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family vacation

Everything you need !

Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jerry B., Palm Beach Gardens, FL

10 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Reunion!

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…

Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Charity D.

24 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

St John 2023

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!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Steven M., Durham, CA

20 May 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lots of Room and Fun

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.

Stayed 6 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karen D.

23 Apr 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The Perfect Vacation Home

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

Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nancy P.

27 Feb 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Meritage House

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!

Stayed 14 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jacque P., USA

27 Nov 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise with home comforts

Absolutely stunning views, wonderful space to spend time together and also have quiet areas. Easy access to Cruz Bay and just so much more than we could have even imagined.

Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2022

8/10 Good

Danise B.

16 Aug 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Meritage in August

Once we got over the very steep roads to get to the home, we were able to settle in for a week of visiting St. John. We were unaware that the roads and downtown were challenging to drive and park here. In fact, it made a difference for where we went to dinner and shopped due to unavailability of parking but the locations we did stop at were great. Nice that everywhere we went were “open air” locations. But for the Meritage Great House, there were many pluses from the air conditioned bedrooms, stocked kitchen, and patio space to hang out. In fact, most of our afternoons were spent on the patio (bring bug spray) since the great room space was unusable. It was just so hot, even with windows open, especially when we cooked in. They really should consider an a/c unit in that great space for comfort. The pool was nice to relax in at the end of the day but we couldn’t get the temperature controlled on the hot tub. It didn’t matter much since the heat was prohibitive anyway. Bedrooms and beds very comfortable and use of laundry equipment was very welcomed. Lots of towels and beach chairs provided with an ice chest but be sure to rent snorkel gear in town. The master bath downstairs was great with the outdoor shower but be aware that this meant the bathroom was not air conditioned and was very hot to use. We realize it was August, but it was uncomfortable. Also, the upstairs bedroom had an issue with mosquitoes that we couldn’t fix. Overall, a positive experience with a very nice home base for our stay. The sunsets weren’t as lovely as on islands such as Maui, but the views were very nice. A very nice home away from home for our family of 6.

Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jason C.

2 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Majestic Views

This property is fabulous. As the bedrooms as separate from the living space you have full privacy! Also bar fridge is awesome and a pool literally looking off a cliff with ocean views.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

14 June 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, communication

Disliked: Check-in

Meritage

This was a good house for our group and reminded me of an old boardwalk hotel with lots of levels and decks. All rooms were ensuite and private so it worked nicely for 4 couples. The pool was very popular with the group. There is no air conditioning on the main level which made preparing meals in the kitchen unpleasant but we spent most of our time on the decks. I would suggest updating the provisions, there were 3 blenders and only one worked but the pitcher was cracked. The check in process was difficult.

Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Marisa P., Lincolnville Maine

2 May 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful and comfortable villa in a great location

The house was lovely! We were two families with a total of 5 kids and everyone was happy. The house was well equipped, each bedroom was private, and there was a variety of common spaces for people to hang together or have quiet time. The pool was great and the location in Chocolate Hole was close to the markets, Cruz Bay, and north side beaches. Would definitely stay again!

Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2022

8/10 Good

Lorri K.

15 Dec 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Meritage House

Very nice house. Love that the bedrooms are located away from the common area - kitchen/living room. Pool was very relaxing. Saw many a beautiful sunset from the pool deck.

Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kristina C.

24 Oct 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

50th Birthdsy Adventure

10 amazing women ventured to the island together to enjoy the beautiful views, beaches, and the company of good friends. The location was excellent, close to Cruz Bay for activities, meals out, and the grocery store. The house was prefect for 8 and added on the cottage for the 10 of us; any more would not have worked. Rooms, spaces, and pool were excellent and as pictured in the write-up. Only negative was no A/C in living room - after a long day on the beach it was too warm to relax in there and would have loved to share drinks and card games there. It worked well for the mornings but cooking in there heated things further. But that was the only drawback, otherwise the house and storage had everything and more than needed for a truly pleasurable week.

Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Michelle H., Grand Rapids, Michigan

14 Aug 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect for Families or Friend Groups!

We loved this house! Chris the owner and Abby the property manager are both great to work with. This is one of those homes which provides both great gathering spaces and the ability for each couple or family to have privacy as well. No A/C in the main house, only the bedrooms, so that was a bit limiting to our older members. Kitchen is well equipped and stocked, the pool area is perfect for lounging. Our family really loved staying here.

Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Rosemarie B.

22 July 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect vacation getaway!

This home was the perfect getaway, close to town, close to the magnificent beaches, every bit as lovely as photos and more!!! Very much enjoyed our stay, and would highly recommend!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

About the host

Hosted by Linda Cathell

Hello,
Our names are Linda & Randall and we are the new owners of Meritage Great House and Meritage Cottage.
St. John captivated us during our very first visit. It truly is a beautiful island. We currently live in Florida, with the hopes of one day living full time on the island of St. John.
My husband Randall is originally from Maryland, but since leaving there in 1990, he has lived in many places, including Europe and the Caribbean. I am originally from England, although I have lived in Florida for the past 20 years now. We both enjoy everything the island has to offer, Scuba diving, snorkeling, the picture perfect beaches, delicious restaurants, and the overall relaxed island lifestyle.
We hope you enjoy your stay at our home. We take the time to add small details in hope that when you stay you truly feel like it's your own home.

warmest of wishes,

Linda & Randall

Feel free to email us with any questions at:
MeritageOnStJohn@gmail.com

Linda & Randall
P.O Box 226.
Terra Ceia, FL 34250

Cell: 941-432-0353 (text or call)

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

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4 large bedrooms/4 full bathrooms. Pool/Beautiful Ocean views/hot tub. Cruz Bay!

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Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

Bedroom 4

Master bedroom

4 bathrooms

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Bathroom 4

Master bath

Spaces

About this property