Call Janet (773) 724-0109 or
Angela (207) 323-4754
Call Janet (773) 724-0109
St John Sunrise
Caribbean Summer Vacations and St. John Summer Vacations are AMAZING, especially at one of our Luxury Villa Rentals. The sea is warm and wonderful. Fewer crowds. Beaches & fun things to do. We are Mooncottages | St. John USVI Caribbean Luxury Villa Rentals & NO booking fees. NO security deposit billed. SAVE up to 22% on our site. Singles, Couples, Families, Weddings. Click any photo below and see for yourself! Or just cruise around our Lovely Website with Virtual Tours and more.
Teahouse Treehouse St John VI
Mooncottage Pool and View
Nothing better than going out for a swim or a hike in the Virgin Islands National Park. And seeing a turtle, rays, and amazing fish of all kinds. And in the right season, you can see whales.
Sea Turtle St John VI
After Hurricane Irma in 2017 we were one of the first Luxury Villas up and running again. And so the Department of Tourism took this amazing little promotional video. Still Nice.
Mooncottages Luxury Villas Still Nice
Driving in your little jeep up and down hills is half the fun! Everywhere you look you’ll see something that will take your breath away.
Anniversaries in St John are Magical. So are honeymoons and vacations. Occasionally we like to repost feedback from our guests…
“We traveled to St. John for the first time to celebrate our 5-year anniversary. We had the pleasure of staying at the remarkable Teahouse Treehouse. The views from the house were so breathtaking that we never wanted to venture away for very long. However, St. John itself is a truly magical place. We snorkeled over some of the most beautiful coral in the world, swam alongside sea turtles off the pristine beaches, and spotted an abundance of other marine life during our scuba dives. We plan to come back next year and stay at Mooncottage!”
St John vacation rentals owners’ and guests’ favorite gardener…meet the irrepressible Josephine Roller!
Josephine’s vision is both philanthropic and environmentally correct. The Ball Field by the Moravian Church in Coral Bay has been the staging area for stuff that needed to be disposed. An ongoing movement, Josephine said she is willing to compost it all and give it out to neighbors.
Josephine helped with landscaping 20 years ago at Mooncottage. She knows everything when it comes to plants. She has a PHD in Agriculture and once ran the Dept of Agriculture facility here in Coral Bay. She’s enigmatic and energetic the proprietor of the only Organic Farm on St John.
Josephine’s Greens are famous here on St John and St Thomas and are carried by most all of the grocery stores, but you can always stop by their working farm to pick up eatables like amazingly spicy arugula, micro mix, spinach, tomatoes when in season, herbs, papaya, etc. … and beautiful plants and orchids for the garden.
We villa owners know Josephine very well, with her BIG laugh and BIG smile. Her store in the valley in Coral Bay was pretty badly beat up in Hurricane Irma … but they gradually rebuilt and are doing a great job. Stop in and see her!
Take a ride over to Mumbo Jumbo in Coral Bay. It’s in the same complex as Skinny’s restaurant where the famous burgers are are served. Vanessa runs Mumbo Jumbo in Coral Bay with great beach wear, spices, souvenirs, flip flops and the best of vibes on the planet.
Mumbo Jumbo has something fun and reasonable to please the kids or family in between going to the beaches. We’ll write up something about Skinny’s another time, the venerable hamburger joint often with music on random evenings. Always fun to mix the two events–eating and shopping!
When it comes to woodwork for St John Villa Rentals – Stephan Scholz is in a class by himself. Look how he man-handles these massive timbers into place with only block and tackle out of the 16th century.
Master woodworker from Germany and resident of St John, Stephan is responsible for nearly all of the spectacular woodwork you will enjoy at both Mooncottage & Teahouse Treehouse. Including our custom beds and the unique outdoor (under roof) kitchen at the Teahouse Treehouse. All built from Teak.
Stephan says, “If I don’t build it to last 100 years, it isn’t worth the wood.” We agree.
After completing Mooncottage, in 2007 we discussed a vision for the Teahouse Treehouse. Japanese-inspired small cottage that used Stephan’s engineering skills to withstand the rigors of our Caribbean weather without hardly a nail or screw – “post and beam” constructed entirely. It’s amazing for all of you architectural lovers.
Teahouse Treehouse … link to photos. The sliding Shoji screens adapt to any weather condition quickly and half of the house opens to the splendor of Caribbean Sea for your enjoyment.
Educated as an engineer in Germany, Stephan Scholz apprenticed with one of the finest cabinet makers in Germany and learned his trade very well. St. John resident for many years he has a long waiting list of customers who want anything from cabinetry to custom woodwork to furniture to homes.
Stephan Scholz is Mooncottages favorite master woodworker.
On your next stay at Mooncottages St John Villa Rentals, stop literally down the hill to pick up what you need at the Calabash Boom Market. The suave and kind Ali runs this very well stocked and clean family business with his wife Maria. Often they have local fish right out of the ocean from our local fisherman. But always a little of everything is available. Fresh sausage, steaks and chicken for the grill. Did I mention how well this Deli in Coral Bay was maintained and stocked? They are just the nicest people … and SO close to Mooncottages, just right down the hill.
This store is right on the way into Coral Bay and is a life-saver for locals as well as St John Vacation Rentals guests. Mustafa is the eloquent and articulate owner of Coral Bay’s venerable and extensively stocked grocery store since 2001 – Love City Market. When storms hit in September, he donated perishable goods to the community. When his generator power was finally back, they were providing sustainable goods to the community at all hours.
Now, that the clouds have cleared and our St John Villa Rentals are up and running and better than ever, guest and locals alike love … Love City Market. Open “early to very late” – 6:30AM – 9:30PM.
Mustafa is a very nice man but a very serious businessman and cares about his establishment. His son also works at the store “dawn to very late” with other employees tirelessly. Tremendous people. When you come to Coral Bay on your St John villa vacation, please stop at Love City Market and say Hi … and buy stuff. He’s been local resident on St John with family and friends since 1992 and is here to stay. When all else fails, these guys are usually open and always friendly with fresh produce, an extensive wine and liquor collection and anything else you might want.
In our everyday stressful lives, it’s hard to find time to connect with those we love most. Sometimes a romantic vacation is all you might need to reconnect with your lover. If you do decide to take that romantic trip, there’s a few things that you can do to reconnect with your partner in a deep way. Below, you’ll find our ideas.
Go On Dates With Your Partner
Vacation is a great time to go with your partner to dinner dates as well as boating and beach adventures. Hanging out on vacation in the Caribbean is a great time to “date” your partner again.
Find Time For Sleep
Sleeping helps you to recharge and refresh your mind. You’ll feel happier and be in a better mood once you sleep. Vacation getaways in the Caribbean can help you to catch up on your sleep! You’ll be in a relaxed state and able to get more quality rest.
Take Time To Connect Emotionally
Being on vacation with your lover can help you to have the privacy and intimate time that you need to share your thoughts and feelings with your partner. Sometimes just having simple conversations with your partner helps you to reconnect in a new and deep way.
Renting a romantic vacation villa in St. John can be the perfect way to accomplish all of the above. We promise you’ll be able to reconnect with your lover in a deeper way.
Whether splashing in the pools at our Mooncottages Luxury Caribbean Villas or enjoying unlimited activities in the ocean, people come for the water. One of the major attraction for people visiting the Virgin Islands, is surely the water. But if you’re a person who doesn’t know how to swim, aquatic enticements sink fast. There are endless amazing beaches both large and small, shallow and challenging to enjoy. I mean just look at this inviting shot below. It just draws you into it’s watery warmth. And, there is nothing more erotic than swimming alone on a deserted beach with the one you love.
Francis Bay : Coral Bay, St. John
Although there are endless things to do in the Virgin Islands that don’t require getting wet, being able to swim greatly expands your recreation options. Therefore, why not learn to swim … and learn it well enough so that, by the time you arrive you’re ready for the water? Swimming lessons are available in almost every town or city, at community pools and fitness centers. Plan your lessons as far in advance of your trip as possible, so you have plenty of time to learn and practice. If you have fears or phobias about swimming, consider hiring an experienced private instructor. A pre-screening will help determine if his or her teaching style suits your comfort level. For those fearful of the water, patience is a swimming instructor’s most important attribute.
Think of all of the great reasons to learn to swim:
Health. Swimming offers a very effective workout. It utilizes and tones the major muscle groups, burns calories, and can be beneficial for people of any age or weight.
Self Confidence. It feels good to develop any new skill, but swimming enhances your capacity for survival. Knowing you could take care of yourself enables you to feel safer in the water as well as aboard a boat of any size.
Safety. Knowing how to swim is a life skill that could one day save your life or the lives of others.
Fun. Once you learn to swim you can explore snorkeling, scuba diving, waterskiing, and swimming with dolphins, or take full advantage of your local water park.
Romance. You can slip outside to join your partner for a spontaneous, moonlit, midnight swim at your private romantic luxury caribbean villa. (We saved the best for last!)
Come swim with us at any of our incredible Mooncottages Luxury Caribbean Villas selected exclusively for couples.
Rum and Coke View
OK … yes, believe it or not this is really one of the spectacular ST John Villas views where you can sit back and and enjoy the spectacular Coral Reefs of the Virgin Islands. Right from your Plantation Chair here in front of you is Hurricane Hole – a Federally protected area and part of the Virgin Islands Coral Bay National Monument. Think about it, Mount Rushmore underwater right in front of you as National Parks go.
And, believe me, sitting still and sipping something cold is always an option worth considering. My advice to people coming to the Virgin Islands and to one of our romantic ST John villas the first time is not to “over plan.” Get here first. Relax, the first day. Look around. Smell the atmosphere up here in this pristine area of Coral Bay. Move slowly. Listen to the wind and sea. But, most of all, realize that the best place to visit might very well be the place you are sitting.
But now, after a little while at one of our ST John Villas, your natural instinct to explore will gradually take over the urge to be like a Caribbean couch potato enjoying the incredible ST John vistas from any of our villas. So, after you’ve had enough of the beauty up here in ST John 500 feet above the water, it’s time to go down below a few feet into the water. If you look to the right of this photo just to the right of the post, there is a low spot in the island chain. That is Haulover on the East End of ST John and one of the best snorkeling spots around. On the side closest to you (the right side of the road when you get there) is less challenging snorkeling. Follow the coast either way and enjoy! But, on the Tortola side of this low area where ships used to be actually “Hauled over” from one side to the other, is Haulover North. This more challenging area is great for snorkeling in deeper water. Be sure you go out on a calm day to explore, earlier in the morning is usually better. Slip and swim and dive above and through the myriad of living coral animals below you and see large schools of fish everywhere. Be sure not to miss taking a deep breath and diving down to explore the quite cool below and feel like a fish.
All in all, there, the Virgin Islands has more than 372 miles of coral reefs. And, some of the best you’ll find right here on ST John. Most all of our villas have all the snorkel equipment you need to enjoy the coral reefs below. Yet the reefs are greatly in need of our protection. You can play a key role in preserving these fragile natural treasures, by following these essential guidelines:
Practice safe and responsible diving and snorkeling. Do not touch the reef or anchor your boat on the reef. If you go boating near a coral reef, use mooring buoy systems when they are available. Contact with the coral will damage the delicate coral animals, and anchoring on the reef can kill it, so look for sandy bottom or use moorings if available.
Don’t touch! Keep your fins, gear, and hands away from the coral, as this contact can hurt you and will damage the delicate coral animals. Stay off the bottom because stirred-up sediment can settle on coral and smother it.
Dispose of your trash properly. Don’t leave fishing any kind of litter that pollutes the water and can harm the reef and the fish. If you see trash left by other people, pick it up.
Report dumping or other illegal activities. Environmental enforcement cannot be everywhere, and your involvement can make a big difference.
Don’t start a live rock aquarium. Although this living rock is still harvested legally in some places, its collection is devastating to the reef organisms’ habitat here.
Never feed marine life. Fish feeding has been shown to alter the natural community structure of the reef. Allow the fishes to eat their natural food.
Support conservation organizations. Many of them have coral reef programs, and your much-needed monetary support will make a big difference. A good starting point is The Nature Conservancy.
Thank you for your mindful support of the Virgin Islands’ coral reefs.
