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Garden by the Sea is St. John’s only “True “ Bed and Breakfast. A quaint Caribbean style home with gingerbread trim , Garden by the sea is nestled in lush gardens of Gannip, coconut and banana trees with dancing birds, iguanas, and peacocks. We are located in Estate Contant and Enighed – a neighborhood just a short walk to downtown Cruz Bay and a quick stroll from Frank Bay Beach. We offer three private rooms ,each with its own personality , all with individual air-conditioning and private bathrooms . Our beautiful outdoor living room is for all to enjoy whether reading a book, listening to music or just relaxing with a sunset cocktail. Every morning, wake up to a full hot homemade breakfast served on our tropical Terrace, surrounded by nature . Once your belly is full, head off for a day full of adventure. We supply beach bags, chairs , snorkel equipment ,and towels along with coolers and Insulated water bottles for your convenience. After a long day of sun and fun, relax on the deck and watch the sunset over St. Thomas. Retire to your suite and enjoy a good nights sleep in our cozy beds . Make Garden by the Sea your carribean home away from home! We can’t wait to meet you!
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Set in an idyllic location, Garden by the Sea B&B delights guests with its blend of comprehensive amenities and serene atmosphere. Many revel in the convenience of nearby nature spots and the ease of town and beach access.
The cleanliness of the spacious, uniquely adorned rooms with outdoor showers is frequently celebrated, as is the warm service that includes thoughtful touches like beach gear. The value-added Honors Bar and Jeep Rental services are often described as the cherry on top of a memorable stay.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Bargain
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Comprehensive
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Our stay at Garden by the Sea was nothing short of spectacular. This was the absolute perfect place to stay for a romantic getaway. The hosts, Eileen and John were incredibly kind, hospitable, yet down to earth, providing exceptional service throughout our entire stay. The room was incredibly clean, bed was super comfortable, sheets were so soft. I could not believe how well I slept every single night! Eileen was more than willing to save our breakfast in the fridge for us in case we wanted to sleep in past 8 when she serves them. John makes the best coffee, which is ready by 7:30 (he even prepped it for us when we wanted to leave earlier one day!) Though they were around in the morning and offered great conversation and recommendations, we still felt solitude on the deck much of the time, especially for the SPECTACULAR sunset that made it back for almost every night. We rented the Jeep offered on site and it made things so easy for us. We chose to walk from the ferry with our carry on luggage when we first arrived and it was about a 10 min walk. There are some big hills in the area but it’s surprising how quick you get around, even by foot. You may even see the neighborhood peacock on your way, which we saw everyday, along with chickens and roosters. We even had a giant iguana watch us from a tree while we ate breakfast! We were given a ride back to the ferry upon our return which was so nice. Downtown is super close and offers plenty of dinner/bar options for a fun night scene, but still found the evenings to be quiet in our room. Overall, we had a fantastic time in St John, much in part to choosing to stay here. With many amenities like beach chairs, towels, snorkeling gear, coolers, beach bag, etc and an “honor” bar on site as well as bug spray and sun screen, you don’t have to worry about the little things when you get here. Just come and be ready to enjoy yourself!
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
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Service
Trip 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.
Response from Eileen Cullen, Owner at Garden by the Sea B&B
Responded 6 Jan 2024
Angela…. Thank you so much for taking time to reviews us in such a positive light. I too, feel the Garden by the sea is a special place. It’s location is serene yet so close to town, the best of both worlds! And , in the winter , we have on of the best sunset views on the island, which I’m glad you took advantage of! Thanks again for choosing Garden by the sea and we hope to see you again in the future!
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Eileen and John do a great job managing this B&B, making you feel like family sharing their very nice breakfasts. Full of friendly useful info about the places and people on the island. (Eileen is great at talking story.)
Common space is very comfy to hang out in with a full kitchen at your disposal and a shelf in the fridge for each unit to use. No TV anywhere (didn't miss it!) but good WiFi. Fiona and Cooper, the resident spaniels, were friendly greeters every morning. Beach chairs, umbrella, towels, and snorkel stuff all available, even an assortment of sunscreens and bug sprays.
Terrace room on upper level offered better privacy when we didn't feel like hanging out in the common area, and had perfect view for sunsets. Room was on the small side but clean, comfortable and more than adequate. A/C was a nice bonus, but ceiling fans would probably be enough for some people. The private balcony made up for the size. The two lower level rooms have cool open air showers and one has a sitting area. Any room would be fine with us. (One suggestion -- Add a small table and chair in the room?)
The location is at the bottom of a loooong steep hill, in a quiet area, but not too far from downtown. A shortcut along the pond and then a 10 minute walk up a hill gets you to downtown. Plenty of places to eat within 5-10 minute walk once in town. There are hills in all directions except in the downtown. You can walk from the ferry but it wouldn't be easy with luggage. We rented a car on St Thomas, took it over on the car barge, and there was easy parking in front of the B&B. (You don't *need* a car, but it affords more flexibility to get around the island in my opinion.)
Plenty or beaches and trails to explore (Salt Pond, Rams Head, East End, Haulover, and many more favorites like Honeymoon, Trunk and Cinnamon. Our favorite was quiet little Jumbie.)
Tons of choices for foodies and imbibers, from exquisite dining at the Terrace and Morgan's Mango, to fun times at the Beach Bar and Skinny Legs. Eileen can recommend lots of options for whatever you are looking for!
Highly recommended for a quieter getaway to a wonderful island!
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Date of stay: January 2021
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:All great! Terrace has privacy and sunset view, Garden and Ginger have open cool open air shower!
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.
Response from Eileen Cullen, Owner at Garden by the Sea B&B
Responded 25 Jan 2021
Sooo glad you enjoyed you stay with us! I know You guys are well traveled , so your review is a great compliment! Enjoy the rest of this years travels and all your exciting family events! Thanks for choosing Garden by the sea and we hope to see you again!
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A Gem !!! Everything was perfect! Its my 3RD time visiting and it was as great as the first and second time ! Just leaving and im already planning dates to return! Eileen makes a fantastic breakfeast all from scratch! Eileen and John are great host .They are very helpful with planning out your day to making reservations at fantastic restaurants.They respond very quickly to anything you need to make your vaction really good.My favorite part of their B&B are the rock wall showers in your room with tropical plants around them! It gives you an outdoor feel with all being in door !Also another favorite is relaxing late afternoon in the common area ,while watching all the birds from the bird sancuary( surrounded around the B&B ) come by and nestle in the trees.Location is perfect ! Right in Cruz bay .Close enough to walk to town and located in a quiet area of Cruz Bay to relax.Don't miss out staying here while enjoy the beautiful island of St.John.
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Date of stay: March 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.
Response from Gardenbythesea, Owner at Garden by the Sea B&B
Responded 9 Apr 2020
Renee.... thank you for taking the time out to write an awesome review. We love when people “ get” St.John and love Garden by the Sea, and come back often... and you GET it!!! Can’t wait to see you this summer for your yearly “ mother /daughter” trip !!
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Exceptional location and exceptional hosts! The B&B is located a mere 5 minute walk to all the downtown action. This is important as parking downtown is difficult and expensive. After a long day of snorkeling and hiking it was wonderful bringing our Jeep back to the B&B (free parking) and just walking into town for dinner. One day we never even used our Jeep as we walked to the National Park visitor center (located downtown) and then used trails behind the visitor center to reach a couple different beaches.
Another plus is the B&B is located a very short drive/walk between the people and car ferry docks so it's perfect whether you arrive with or without a vehicle. We rented our Jeep in St. Thomas and used the car ferry barge but there were lots of Jeep rental locations on St. John so that option is just as good.
Each morning around 8am John and Eileen cooked us a fantastic breakfast. Best coffee and milk on the island! We loved chatting with them and the other guests. We learned all about the best beaches and hiking trails and restaurants. The best B&B hosts we have ever encountered. Super nice and down to earth.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Location
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.
Response from Gardenbythesea, Owner at Garden by the Sea B&B
Responded 20 Jan 2020
AndrewP... thank you for your incredible review! Our proximity to town really is a bonus for sure. We love when our guests get chat over breakfast, it’s so fun getting to know everyone! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay with us and I hope to see you again soon!!
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We have been coming to St. John and Garden By the Sea yearly since 2013, It is always like coming home. Our hosts, Eileen and John Cullen, make sure everything is perfect, while we have stayed in all three of their rooms, this time, like our first visit. we were in the Wild Ginger Room, which has an outdoor shower. Showering “outside”, yet in privacy is a special treat. Our room was tastefully decorated in a Caribbean theme, comfortable sleeping with air conditioning. Breakfast is served outside, on the veranda, with good conversation between guests and Eileen, who has many hilarious stories. If she can’t get you laughing, nobody can. The view from the veranda is wonderful. There is a beautiful common room, open to the veranda, excellent for relaxing with a drink. After breakfast, we go off to a day of sightseeing, swimming and snorkeling, to return in the evening to get cleaned up and head into Cruz Bay. The walk to town for drinks, music and dinner is scenic and fun, through a “jungle trail” past a pond, Coconut Coast Art Studio (make sure to visit, especially the champagne reception), Frank Bay, and into Cruz Bay. You will not be disappointed by the variety of excellent dining, live music, and of course rum! Let me tell you, the reason Dawn and I keep coming back is because Eileen and John make you feel like you have come back to stay with old friends. And being dog lovers, theirs keep us from missing our own dogs too much. We love this place! -Dawn & Jim W.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Upper room has the best view, the two lower rooms have awesome outdoor showers.
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.
Response from Gardenbythesea, Owner at Garden by the Sea B&B
Responded 8 Apr 2020
Dawn & Jim... we love that you feel like you’re visiting with friends, cause you are! Our guests are very special to us. It starts off as business but by the end of a stay , it’s saying goodbye to friends.. . We love seeing you guys and can’t wait to see you next year for another 8 tough...???
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We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Garden by the Sea. John and Eileen were exceptionally friendly and helpful hosts, and Eileen's breakfasts were outstanding. We really liked the common area with both inside and terrace seating; we used the communal kitchen to keep snacks and prepared foods on hand and mix drinks (the local Cruzan rum is inexpensive and quite nice). The location is very good; we chose not to rent a car, and the location is within easy walking distance to St. John's restaurants and the Dolphin grocery store; Honeymoon Beach via the Lind Point trail is a 30-45 minute walk.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
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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.
Response from Gardenbythesea, Owner at Garden by the Sea B&B
Responded 18 Jan 2020
MathTeacher07... thank you for taking time out to review your stay with us.. we are so glad you enjoyed Garden by the Sea and all the things that make us special... we hope to see you again !
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There is so much to say! First of all, the hosts, Eileen, John, Cooper and Fiona, were friendly, fun to hang out with, and so helpful and knowledgeable about the island. Beach chairs and snorkeling gear were available for us for the week. Eileen told us to leave the stuff in our Jeep for the week which was great because we did not have to lug chairs back and forth and we did not have to spend extra money to rent the stuff. Our room was beautiful with a little porch that had a nice of the view of the bay. The main sitting area was an open air shaded area. There was a fridge and sink are for our use and a courtesy bar if you wanted to hang out and have a drink or soda. Breakfasts were delicious and filling. The other guests were friendly and it was fun chatting with them. The place was located among palm trees and other vegetation making it feel secluded and private yet it was walking distance to town along a dirt pathway through the woods. At the end of the pathway was a perfect spot to see a sunset. From there it is a short walk to town. The town had lots of restaurants and bars with live music playing everywhere A short walk past town was Mongoose junction. Another quaint little area with shops and restaurants. There was so much to do between the beaches, snorkeling, and hiking. We also booked a sunset cruise and a day cruise out to Virgin Gorda. This was our first trip there and i can't wait to go back! Thank you Eileen and John for an incredible vacation!
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Date of stay: February 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Response from Gardenbythesea, Owner at Garden by the Sea B&B
Responded 8 Apr 2020
Kathleen ... it was so great to have guests from our hometown! We love sharing our new home and sharing all that St.John has to offer. We are so glad you enjoyed your visit to Garden by the sea and hope you will come back again ! See you soon ( either here or In Npt)
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Garden by the Sea, wow, just wow. My wife and I just spent a week here. We stayed in the wild ginger room. The room was great, big enough for 2 of us, fully air conditioned, and has a pretty cool outdoor shower. The common open air dinning/kitchen area was beautiful. That’s where we sit every morning and have coffee with countless local birds, “dancing” little lizards, and huge iguanas would stare us down from the trees. Oh, and not to mention the two coolest breakfast companions on the island, Cooper and Fiona, the owner’s dogs. Speaking of the owners. For me, this is what sets Garden by the Sea apart from other area B&Bs. Eileen and John are like your long lost family members that have been biting at your heels to get together with you. They truly made us feel like family, to me this was best part.
Eileen’s breakfasts are well executed and quite delicious. Johns coffee is on point. They have a common fridge for your provisions and beverages. Moreover, they have everything you need for the beach: snorkel gear, chairs, coolers, blanket, and even an elusive beach umbrella (shade is a must on the beach). Just rent a jeep, pack it up, and you’re off to a day full of adventure. There is a “take a penny, leave a penny”of sunscreen and bug spray, a library of books all related to St John and related island activities, and an honor bar for a drink any time you want one. The walk to town is about 5 minutes and a well maintained path provides a short cut.
We really felt like we were part of Eileen and John’s family. Their dedication to making your stay with them enjoyable, fun, relaxing and memorable shows in every meal, conversation and all the attention to keeping Garden by the Sea the place that it is. We loved St John, the quintessential Caribbean beach town of Cruz Bay, but we were in awe of Garden by the Sea and how Eileen, John, Cooper and Fiona made our vacation amazing. We will definitely be back!!
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Rent a jeep. Make diner reservations well in advance. You can not put on enough sunscreen. ...
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.
Response from Eileen Cullen, Owner at Garden by the Sea B&B
Responded 2 Jun 2021
Kevin.. thank you for your stellar review! We loved your enthusiasm about all the cool experiences you had daily! We really did enjoy you guys and look forward to having some drinks with you next time you come... which hopefully will be soon.
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Being my first trip to St. John USVI, could not have asked for a more perfect place to stay! Eileen and John have left no stone unturned when it comes to providing the best of accommodations for their guests. Our suite was comfortable, air conditioned, and spotless. Although the location of the B&B seems secluded from the outside world, you're actually within walking distance from the beach, Cruz Bay, all the restaurants and shops. When it comes time to head to the beach...no need to worry because the B&B provides coolers, snorkel gear, chairs, and beach bags! To further compliment waking up each morning to the ocean breeze was having a coffee cup waiting to be filled with freshly brewed coffee along with a gourmet homemade breakfast...Eileen's egg benedict is OFF THE CHART and a bit famous among island locals! Eileen and John's recommendations are not to be overlooked as they know exactly what they're talking about when it comes to dining and excursions. Eileen and John, thank you for treating us like family and making our stay one of the best experiences ever!
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Date of stay: November 2020
Value
Location
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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.
Response from Eileen Cullen, Owner at Garden by the Sea B&B
Responded 22 Nov 2020
Awwww... we’re so happy you enjoy our little slice of heaven! Looking forward to your return!
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My boyfriend and I just got back from Saint John and we feel beyond lucky to have stayed with Eileen and John. This B&B is in the perfect location, close to Cruz Bay but secluded enough so you feel like you are in paradise. From the moment we were greeted, Eileen couldn’t have been sweeter or more accommodating. Breakfast each morning was absolutely delicious and the advice on restaurants, beaches and bars was super helpful and informative. Unfortunately, my boyfriend experienced some medical issues but Eileen and John took care of us and looked after us like we were family, they made sure we were safe, comfortable and taken care of which we are both eternally grateful for. If you are visiting the USVI, make sure to book this place… you will not be disappointed!
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Date of stay: August 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.
Response from Eileen Cullen, Owner at Garden by the Sea B&B
Responded 10 Aug 2021
Colleen… thank you for your kind words! We are just so grateful everything worked out for you guys.. it was a bit scary for sure! We are so glad you enjoyed Garden by the sea and beautiful St.John! We hope to see you again and if not here maybe on Fire Island😎
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Hello Kim... sorry for the tardy responce...
We are walking distance to the ferry/ town..
We’re new owners. The old owners closed every sept, and after what went on this past sept, we may close as well, still up in the air!
You can call us at
340-779-4731 or email us
We hope to see you soon!
There are more places to choose from in the Cruz Bay area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
garden by the sea hotel cruz bay, garden by the sea bed and breakfast
LOCATION
CaribbeanU.S. Virgin IslandsSt. JohnCruz Bay
NUMBER OF ROOMS
3
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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