A House of Open Arms is a beautiful vacation villa and cottage on the peninsula of Fortsburg in Coral Bay, St. John, USVI. 75% of St. John is Nat'l Park and we are located just outside of it overlooking Nat'l Park waters of Hurricane Hole, East End and beyond to Norman Island in the British Virgin Islands. We have solar water power and we are on the grid so we have air conditioning too! 180 degree white water views wrap around this delightful one bedroom villa and charming one bedroom cottage. The villa is 1000 square feet and has 1 bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom, veranda and pool. The cottage is 650 square feet and has a wrap around porch, outdoor cooking area, front entryway, bedroom and an inside bathroom with an outdoor shower. Both areas are separate and very private. The cottage is down the hill from the villa about 40 steps. While the cottage will only hold 2 people, the villa can accomodate small children easily. The property is owned and managed by Catherine Perry a local potter and watercolor artist. She is available for local knowledge, helping plan excursions, restaurant recommendations or any need you may have. House of Open Arms is located on a breathtakingly green, private hillside with constant, cool ocean breezes. Come relax in peaceful elegance and see how well you can live while staying in balance with the world around you!
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We recently spent a week at House of Open Arms and we can not say enough fantastic things about Catherine and the cottage! The location in Coral Bay allows you to get away from the tourist heavy side of the island leaving you with peaceful evenings (really anytime of day) and a chance to hit many of the best hikes before they get crowded. Catherine has created a wonderful home away from home and providing a functional kitchenette allows you to cook some meals at home which can save a lot on pricy meals at many restaurants on the island.
Catherine picked us up at the ferry and helped us get to our car rental location and the grocery store to stock up on basics and she cooked our first meal which was one of our favorite meals all week and was the best way to end a long travel day. She is available if you need her and provides great local recommendations from hikes to snorkel spots and best eats on the island.
Highly recommend House of Open Arms!
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I just came back from 6 magical days in the villa at A House of Open Arms. It was, without question, the most wonderful place we have ever stayed. Catherine is a superb host. She has thought of everything. From the welcome dinner, to the coffee and granola, to the furnishings and special touches throughout the villa, we felt pampered and fully and completely on vacation from minute one.
The views are breathtaking. I spent many happy hours on the verandah just gazing at the scenery. My absolute favorite thing was waking up every morning to the sounds of the ocean and the birds. It was so peaceful. We both spent more time in the pool than we thought we would - it was very relaxing at the end of a beach day to just float around.
The villa is equipped with everything you need — and then some. The bed was very comfortable, with super soft sheets and great pillows. The bathroom was well stocked with plenty of towels and toiletries. I loved the shower — it’s huge! We ate in most nights and having the grill and the well stocked kitchen made it very easy.
Staying in Coral Bay was a great decision. We went to a couple of the local restaurants and shops and were very happy to be far away from the bustle of Cruz Bay. Word to the wise: the driving is a bit of an adventure. We rented a Jeep and appreciated having the 4-wheel drive for the road to the villa. St John’s roads are kind of like a giant go-cart track, but the reward at the end of the journey was well worth it.
We will be back.
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My boyfriend and I wanted a peaceful, mostly people free getaway. Catherine’s villa with a private pool couldn’t have been a more perfect choice. Our flight was a bit delayed so the extra hospitality of her to meet you at the ferry and take you to both your Jeep rental And grocery store before showing the way to her lovely home is much appreciated! The drive to the location has a bumpy/steep section at the end but in our opinion this adds to the stay- more privacy/ security etc. Home was more than needed with enough coffee and granola for our stay, a full kitchen, living room and bathroom. Bedroom has AC that was perfect for a good nights sleep(extra warm when pregnant!). We LOVED the pool and enjoyed that day and night. Plenty of good food options nearby and a short drive back to the livelier part of the island in Cruz Bay. We can’t wait to return!
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Date of stay: September 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Spectacular as alway! We love House of Open Arms and the innkeeper Catherine! From the welcome meal, to the recommendations for snorkeling, hiking and restaurant recommendations - you can’t beat her knowledge of the island. We also took advantage of her offerings of two additional meals and a personalized snorkel trip with her. All exceptional in every way, not to mention the beautiful sunrise every morning with the most gorgeous view- we came 6 years ago and hope to be back sooner this time! If you seek the quiet side of the island this is the place for you!
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Date of stay: August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Just returned from a week long stay at House of Open Arms Cottage. Celebrating our 34th anniversary could not have been in a more perfect location. The views from the cottage showcase the beauty of St. John. The cottage offers everything you need and more. Catherine, the innkeeper for the cottage provides so many extra personal touches, pick up at the Cruz Bay dock, shopping bags ready for you to fill at your first visit to the market, delicious homemade granola, french press coffee, a welcome meal and the best advice on the most beautiful places to snorkel. We were also able to enjoy a four course anniversary meal, Catherine, is an amazing cook! We will remember our stay at House of Open Arms cottage for years to come and hope to make it back very soon.
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Date of stay: October 2020
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I booked the villa at the House of Open Arms for a week for our 20 year wedding anniversary. It was just as all the reviews had said - nothing short of magical. The host/villa owner, Catherine, is an island gem. She is kind and warm-hearted and truly cares to make her guests happy. She answered all our questions on the front end, greeted us when we arrived, and made sure we were comfortable the entire trip. Her breakfasts and 4 course dinners were the best meals we had on the island. Eating on the gorgeous veranda in the mornings and evenings was a highlight. The views are of Coral Bay, the east end of the island and the vast ocean with islands in the distance. We were able to sleep with all the doors and windows open and sea breezes flowed through all night. We also booked her snorkel tour which was incredible. We went to a secluded beach and spent 2 hours swimming around the reefs viewing colorful fish, coral, lobster, and even an octopus. Catherine was available to give us recommendations and they never disappointed (restaurants, hikes, beaches). We love adventure and the different hikes and snorkel areas she recommended were some of the best we have ever been to. The villa has a lovely bedroom, living room, full kitchen, and full bathroom. There is a private pool and large veranda with plenty of seating to watch the sunrise. Catherine provides coffee and homemade granola for breakfast and a welcome dinner. For all our meals we chose the fish option which was Salmon, Grouper, Mahi, and shrimp. There is absolutely nothing I would have changed about our trip and I believe Catherine and the House of Open Arms was the reason. We cannot wait to go back! If you want a quiet, private, gorgeous place to stay, look no further. Thank you Catherine!
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Date of stay: May 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
House of Open Arms is a wonderfully relaxing, beautiful place to stay on the magical island of St. John. The views from the porches are simply amazing, with sunrise the star of the show. The Villa is attractively decorated, including pottery lighting, made by the Innkeeper, providing a wonderful atmosphere. The kitchen includes everything you would need to make meals yourself, but I would suggest ordering a couple of Catherine’s delicious dinners and breakfast. They were some of the best meals I’ve ever had! Seriously!! The Villa also contains games, puzzles, and many books for your added convenience. In addition to the incredible Villa itself, Catherine Perry, the kind and caring Innkeeper, is another treasure found at House of Open Arms. She clearly welcomes her visitors and cares about making their stays memorable, providing recommendations, if desired, of places to visit. My husband and I were very happy with our decision to take advantage of her snorkeling trips and were so excited to see an octopus for the first time! We are already looking forward to our next visit to House of Open Arms, which I hope will become an annual trip. Yes! We absolutely loved our 9 day stay – just wish it wouldn’t have flown by so quickly!! Highly recommend House of Open Arms!
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Date of stay: January 2022
Value
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Service
Room Tip:Villa review, but I'm confident the Cottage is also amazing.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
House of Open Arms is an ideal location for relaxation. We enjoyed the quiet, the relative isolation, the comfortable, peaceful atmosphere. The Cottage is perfect for two, sufficient kitchen facilities for those evenings in. Close enough to the town's markets and restaurants. The hostess made us feel welcome and cared for. Everything was super clean and nicely decorated. We spent many hours on the deck overlooking the bay. Such a variety of books to read. Watching the birds and wildlife. We appreciated the wifi so that we could stay in touch with family, and I was able to get daily yoga classes on zoom, just like at home. What a paradise! Thank you Catherine for a very special holiday.
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
House of Open Arms is magical. The views from the cottage are magical. The banana-keets feeding on the sugar in the morning gives the whole island experience. You will want to wake up to see the sunrise on this porch. Catherine is a gem and gave me the potter's experience there. I have some ceramics experience and she helped me thrown on her wheel and gave me tips on how to shape my vase. I made a fun souvenir that I will never forget or throw away. At the end of the trip, we were fast friends. I can also vouch that Catherine is a quiet hostess and will absolutely give you space. Her dinners and breakfasts were superb and had flare from the island, coconut encrusted mahi was served on our night we arrived. She kindly asked for any towels to be laundered. The pool is amazing too! The views will just have you laying in the pool soaking in the sun and sights. We love this place and will be back soon.
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Date of stay: April 2022
Value
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Service
Room Tip:Beautiful view, be ready to get a work out walking the steps
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Where do I start... Catherine has truly created a heavenly home in Coral Bay! The villa and cottage are just as pictured! We stayed for 5 nights in the villa and our friends were in the cottage. Both create the perfect amount of privacy and space. We loved waking up to the gorgeous view every morning, making our French press coffee, and feeding the birds. We made breakfast every morning in our beautiful full kitchen and spent a lot of time on the veranda soaking in the stunning views. The AC works great in the bedroom for warmer nights, but we enjoyed the fresh ocean breeze and left the windows open most of the time. Both the villa and cottage were very clean and well taken care of. Catherine works hard and truly enjoys being a host! The welcome dinner was fantastic, but wait until you add on one of Catherine's 4 course meals! She is an amazing cook! Her dinner was so appreciated after spending the whole day on a boat and coming home tired after a day in the sun. Catherine's restaurant recommendations were spot on. The pool... Always sparkling clean and so inviting after coming back from the beach!! We will be back!!! Have been to several Caribbean islands and Hawaii. This is our favorite trip! We enjoyed the privacy of the house hill side. Felt like we were living like a true local. The driving is a bit of an adventure, but we enjoyed driving around in our Jeep! Definitely part of the experience. Just on Catherine's road you will see deer and donkey all over. So much fun! Thank you Catherine! We will be back ❤️
Some amazing things that we did and highly recommend: Skinny Legs was close and fun Lovango for a romantic dinner Windmill bar for the sunset- amazing! Ram's Head hike- definitely need to be in shape to complete, but amazing views Salty Daze for boat day Lime Out amazing tacos on the water. Need to be dropped off by boat Enjoy!!
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Keri - Thank you so much for writing and thank you for your lovely compliment about A House of Open Arms! St. John is a more mountainous Island than St. Croix for example so many of our homes are built on the sides of these hills. House of Open Arms is no exception to this. It is why I recommend 4W drive to my guests who visit. The upside is spectacular 180 degree views, the downside is that there are stairs and a driveway that is on the steeper side of what people in the states may be used to. I believe that with your concerns, you can still have a fabulous time visiting St. John. Staying in a facility that will make your time here easier would be a strong consideration. I believe that the Westin would be a good answer to meet your needs. It is a lovely property and large enough to accommodate your special requirements.. My lovely niece needs a wheelchair to navigate and when she visits, she stays at the Westin. I wish you success in this adventure you are contemplating!
Hello! It is true that there are no TV's. It was a decision I made when building this place to encourage people to step away from their ordinary life and experience one another and the beautiful world that surrounds them here,. I do have internet so there is opportunity for people to watch Netflicks and stay connected if necessary. Mostly people love the rebuilding time this sanctuary offers them! They spend their time, talking, reading, playing games, in the pool or going to Skinny Legs if they want to watch football!
Warmly,
Catherine
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ALSO KNOWN AS
a house of open arms hotel st. john
LOCATION
CaribbeanU.S. Virgin IslandsSt. John
NUMBER OF ROOMS
2
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