Cruzan Classic - a Tropical Retreat on St. Croix’s tranquil South Shore

Hosts Barbara and Mike were always available to answer questions or to see to our needs. Mike was at the rental house when we arrived, showing us around and explaining how things worked. Every room was clean and appealing, with comfortable furniture and beds. The kitchen was especially well stocked and incredibly organized, which was a treat for the cooks in our group. Except for some street noise (which, if an issue for anyone, was easily blocked by closing windows), the location was serene and peaceful, with the air of an art park, given the placement of Mike's metal sculptures. Adjoining the property is a farm, so sometimes the goats came to visit and we could hear horses and a rooster in the far distance. The view of the water in the distance made relaxing on the gallery/porch especially nice. Our hosts discouraged us from walking the path to the beach (that advice may change in future), but we did drive the short 5 minutes to Hay Penny Beach, which was lovely and the opposite of crowded.

The host was right, this location was easy to get to almost anywhere on the island. The host also was very helpful in recommending places to go, to eat and activities that were happening only that week while we were there. The house was spacious, well equipped, clean and we felt like we were on our own retreat while there, but could be in town or to go most any locatios in minutes if we wanted to be around people and sights. The host provided information, maps, etc. at the house to look through at our leisure too.

My family had the most amazing experiences in St Croix with this beautiful home being the best home-base we could ask for. We along with our boys (12 and 15) love nature and are always on the go. This home's central location allowed us easy access to all parts of the island while being a secluded oasis. The house itself was spotlessly clean and well appointed. With three full bathrooms, plus an outside shower, three bedrooms, an open living room/kitchen, and 6 acres of property there was plenty of space to move about. Each morning, we were up with the sun to enjoy the sunrise from the porch. There is no better way to greet the day! Every day we took the .75 mile hike at least once to the pristine and stunningly beautiful beach. The sea here has a soft sandy bottom without rocks or urchins and is perfect to play and relax in. It was rare to even see another person at this beach. Paradise! The water and ice inside the home is triple filtered and we found it excellent for drinking with no need for bottled water. The home was well-cooled by tropical breezes as well as ceiling fans. There were a couple of pedestal fans also available if needed. We each only brought a backpack for clothes and were able to do laundry here and used the clothesline to dry them (there is an available dryer if needed). We found all of the kitchen items in excellent condition and everything we could have wanted or needed there was available. Wonderful!

Our family stayed in St. Croix for a week and we loved staying at this home! It was an authentic Caribbean experience and the location was amazing. Barbara, the host was extremely accommodating, and was easy to contact with quick responses. She gave great recommendations on how to navigate the island, where to eat, and what to do. We would definitely stay here again!

Green pastures, deep blue seas with breaking swells, and a big blue sky. Occasional big ships sailing slowly by. Kingbirds playing and chattering. The only other sound, sheep bleating in the distance. You can hear cars on the road 50 yards behind the house but it’s easy to disregard. I’m telling you, if you’re not careful you’ll forget about touring, visiting, experiencing st Croix and only wish to sit hypnotized by the peacefulness. The house is fine, well maintained with a nicely stocked pantry. Everything works, especially notable since the owner has manufactured many of the metal features— door stops, towel racks, countertops and the massive front gate. Nice grounds including a secret path to the beach. Even with the unmatched privacy it’s mid-island location makes it easy to get anywhere especially stores, trash disposal and beaches. We would definitely stay here again!

The Diamond House was AMAZING! If you’re looking for a place a bit outside of the touristy resort areas - this may the place for you! Centrally located -it was easy to get to downtown Christiansted, Fredricksted, Carambola or even the east side of the island. The location is quiet, relaxing and serene. The views from this house are wonderful and the private path down to the nearby beach was convenient and opens to a beautiful and nearly unused section of beach front. It almost feels like your own private beach! If you are looking for the perfect spot away from the noise and party atmosphere of the touristy areas - this is definitely a place worth checking out. The hosts Barb and Mike were amazing to work with! Their knowledge of the island, the people, customs and places to see and eat at were invaluable! Getting a more local opinion is a great way to find the hidden gems on the island. They are super friendly, accommodating and actually live nearby in case you need any assistance. Great experience! I highly recommend!

Our family trip to St Croix was wonderful this tropical retreat was outstanding! We did extensive research into booking a large home that could accommodate my family (wife and two older teens) as well as extended family who would be spending the holidays with us. We wanted a place with enough space where we could have space when needed and also primary gathering areas to enjoy each other’s company. This home and property were perfect. We wanted to enjoy the island but also have an oasis away from the hustle and bustle. The home was perfectly located for us with short drives (10-20 min) into Frederiksted and Christiansted. Additionally, the home is located just a short 10 min drive from the primary shopping center area which made it very convenient to purchase groceries and other items. The home itself is in wonderful condition and provides the quintessential Caribbean experience! The pictures of the back porch overlooking an open farm landscape with the sea in the background simply do not do justice to how wonderful your own private sanctuary will be! We spent both sunrises and sunsets on the porch and very much hope one day to return! The hosts (Mike & Barbara) are fantastic people and very pleasant to work with. Everything works in the home and we did not want for anything regarding kitchen, bathroom, or facilities while we were there. This is a remarkable property on a must-visit Caribbean island! Thank you for sharing your home with us!

Words will not come close to describing how much I loved staying at Barbara and Mike's gorgeous Cruzian home. This place is lovely with comfortable furniture and decor, and an expansive kitchen equipped with everything you need to serve all of the meals. We cooked or grilled most of our meals daily. The star of the property is the large porch which expands the entire length of the home overlooking the peaceful neighboring pastures and the Caribbean sea about a half mile away. The secret beach (Watch Ho - a quick walk through the pasture) was visited almost daily, sometimes twice daily, by our group, and felt like your own private beach since it was so remote. We absolutely loved the location of the home-you are really tucked away in a very quiet part of the island, and with your own beautiful view and beach, however it is super close to everything we wanted to check out. We never drove more than 30 minutes in either direction. Frederiksted was 30 minutes west, the east end is 30 minutes east-we even visited Point Udall, farthest east on the island, for sunrise one morning. Going to town aka Christiansted was maybe 12 minutes away, though we may have spend just as much time looking for parking as getting there! The nearest grocery store is about 5-7 minutes down the road, and probably had a better selection and prices than my local grocery store back home. You must have your own rental car if you want to explore the island, which of course you do! Driving on the left was not a problem for us and even navigating the narrow streets in town or the twisty windy roads on the northwest side of the island did not prove an issue. This island is a very, very special place and I felt it almost immediately upon arrive. Our very first night on island I knew for sure I needed to come back and would most definitely rent the Walsh house again given the chance. Barbara and Mike are lovely folks and took time out of their life get to know us a little in addition to offering their gorgeous home for rent. They are really emblematic of the Cruzian way of life and encouraged me to learn about and explore the island. Many many thanks to the Walshes. I can't wait to plan my next trip.

This was the perfect retreat , beautiful interior , great kitchen and the best view on the porch for evening pina coladas ! Barbara is the nicest host , everything was so easy -we will definitely return soon !

We extremely enjoyed our stay! This was the first time we had used VRBO and were uncertain how this would work. Barbara and Mike were great hosts who sent us personal directions to help us and met us at the house. They walked us through everything and even gave some great trip ideas. The house was better than the pictures in the listing, which were amazing to begin with! The property was amazing and waking up in the mornings and having coffee on the porch and watching the water was ideal for relaxing. The house came equipped with everything you would need, even beach chairs and towels. We were 30min from anywhere on the island, and only 15 min from Christensted. We would highly recommend this house to anyone looking for a quiet stay in St Croix.