Estate Zootenvaal - St. John, USVI

Tucked all the way out on the road to St. John's East End, Estate Zootenvaal is perfect for folks who want to get away from it all. Four one- and two-bedroom cozy cottages sit at water's edge and on a small hill across the road, creating a great getaway for families or couples who don't want to be spoon fed the island's delights.

You definitely need a rental car for a stay here. While the public bus ends its route about an eight-minute walk down the road, you won't be able to enjoy poking about the islands nooks and crannies if you don't have a car.

Located a two-minute drive from the island's small hamlet of Coral Bay, a stay at Estate Zootenvaal takes you back to an era before tourists arrived by the millions every year. It's a quiet place, where you might spend your days resting on the porch or patio chaises with a good book, strolling the paved road to inspect the carefully-tended gardens filled with indigenous plants, or taking a ride to watch spectacular views unfold.

A small beach opens the door to glorious Hurricane Hole and its acres of excellent snorkeling and swimming. While a stay at Estate Zootenvaal, which is the old island name
for this neighborhood, puts peace and quiet at the top of the agenda, a quick hop in the car puts you at several restaurants. Stop in at Skinny Legs Bar and Restaurant for great burgers and a visit with the locals who long ago dropped out from the stresses of mainland America. A little
further down the road will take you to Serafina Bistro, an open-air Italian place with delicious food.

The cottages are modest, but well kept with stone floors, comfortable furniture that varies by cottage and ceiling fans. Think summer cottage rather than cookie cutter design such as you'll find in most condominiums. The cottages do not have televisions and phones, which makes Estate Zootenvaal a real getaway. Each has a kitchen that comes complete with all the amenities of home including fine china, wine goblets and linen napkins.