Guests declare Great Expectations the best villa on St John

Trip Advisor review:

— Diane| Atlanta, GA

Kristin and Chuck have thought of every need for a vacation of a livetime Nine couples from TN, MI, Ma, FL,& VT just returned from a week together at Great Expectations to celebrate Steve and Carrie's 10th anniversary. (They stayed at G. E. for their wedding.) We enjoyed St. John - the restaurants, beaches, happy hours, etc. - BUT the best times were had in the great room and pool area at the villa. Several nights we chose to stay in and use the gourmet kitchen and grill area. We can not think of one suggestion to improve this perfect paradise and are planning for a return trip in early 2014!

— Paula Florida and Massachusetts

— Mario| Brighton, Michigan

A Great Family Get-Together!

We had a great time. The villa was top notch and very kid friendly. St. John is a very beautiful place with lots to do and see. We had a great time snorkling, scuba diving and hiking to all the interesting ruins.  The grandkids loved the pool and beach. The beaches were fantastic. Our favorite was Francis; we usually had it to ourselves, although ocassionally someone else would show up.

Last but not least; Coby deserves a special thanks for being a great guy. He went out of his way to bring "Piggy", a very special stuffed pink pig, to the dock as we were catching the ferry back to St. Thomas. He made a 2 year old little girl very happy!!!

— Kinsey Georgia

— Chris| Atlanta, GA

Amazing! There were 8 of us on this return visit to Great Expectations and though this place has always been a wonderful getaway, the renovations to the Great Room definitely added to our experience. The views from both sides of the house were, as always, breathtaking, and in addition to being able to see both amazing sunrises and sunsets, we were treated to 2 full rainbows during our week. We can't wait to return. [this was the 4th time she has stayed at Great Expectations]

— Sue| Charleston, SC

Great Expectations, the best villa on St. John! If you normally stay at the westin with other families on your vacation (as we do, you may consider treating yourself to Great Expectations. They have taken an incredible location (Great views of ocean and harbor), and created a mini resort, where they provide everything you could think of, to make your stay a dream vacation. You go to bed with a perfect temperature trade winds blowing thru your room, as the sun sets off your back deck. You get awoken to that same incredible breeze, lift your head slightly, to the sun coming up over the ocean. Due to the incredible thought out amenities and view, the group of 14 actually saved money, as we decide against hitting the restaurants, and made dinner after beach one of the most enjoyable parts (kids played in pool and tennis court as we cooked on the barbeque). Perfectly situated, it is a 2 minute drive to the food store and cruz bay, but you feel like your on an island. One of the best parts, is due to the design, you get the separation of having your own rooms and space (key if u have little kids), but still get the pleasure of sharing the day together, like you are in your own home.

— Greg| Marblehead, MA

Perfect Vacation!

Great Expectations was a perfect place for our family to vacation this winter and in so many ways exceeded our expectations. The location was perfect, a few minutes from Cruz Bay, a quiet and very private retreat. The bedrooms were very spacious and comfortable and set away from the living room/kitchen area so the early birds didn't have to worry about waking up the others, and those who retired early were not disturbed by the night owls. There were many lush flowering plants and shady trees with welcoming pools, hammocks and lounges to enjoy. To be able to see both the spectacular sunrises and sunsets over Hart Bay and Chocolate Hole was definitely a unique bonus. We all agreed that a week was not long enough to fit in all that we wanted to do and see and find enough time to relax and unwind and enjoy this beautiful villa.

— Barbara & John NJ

Our private getaway was perfection in paradise and the view was phenomenal!  

— Mick and Beth H.| Santa Monica, CA

Our stay at Great Expectations was wonderful! We had two families including several children with us, and it accommodated our group perfectly. We enjoyed beautiful scenery with a very island-like ambiance throughout the property. We have stayed there twice now, and expect to return in the future. I would recommend it to anyone!

— Lyndon

Our stay at Great Expectations was wonderful! We had two families including several children with us, and it accommodated our group perfectly. We enjoyed beautiful scenery with a very island-like ambiance throughout the property. We have stayed there twice now, and expect to return in the future. I would recommend it to anyone!

— Lyndon

Hi!  We had an awesome vacation and your villa was the perfect place for us to stay (we loved it)!  My nephew loved the "bachelor pad" with his own fridge.  Actually, the weather was really pretty good -it only rained a few times on St John and wasn't a problem when it did.  We played tennis 4 days!  All of your recommendations were spot on - we used Christie's, Mathayom, Courtesy Car Rental, the taxi service in St John and Dream Weaver sailboat (and got discounts at all of them).  Captain Jini and her first mate did an awesome job with the sailing and snorkeling - my 71 year old Dad had trouble when he got in the water and they worked with him and got him back in the water snorkeling which ended up being a highlight for him.

We do hope to stay at your Villa again in the future.

My camera takes panoramic shots so I've attached a few of them of the villa and the views from the villa. Sorry for the size of the files - I hope that is OK. Thanks for the wonderful vacation house!

— Nancy | Black Mountain, NC

"We have been coming to St. John for 10 years... Great Expectations is undoubtedly our favorite villa that we have stayed in. The location, seeing the sun rise and set - have been exceptional. My special place is the Hart Bay side - breezes, the way the sun hits [the water]. The Great Room is wonderful. Kristin and Chuck have thought of everything... Beautiful! We enjoyed! We will be back!"

— Maureen C.| Easton, Connecticut

Our Stay at Great Expectations was great. We had 5 different families with a total of 15 people. Kids ages ranged from 13-21...the tennis court/basketball court are a big plus when you have to keep kids entertained.

The layout of the villa works perfectly if you are traveling with a group. Bedrooms allow you to have your own space with your own private balcony area while the main room and pool area are perfect when you all want to be together.

The only reason I did not rate the location as 5 star is because I prefer a bit more isolation from neighbors; you are in a residential area so houses are close and lots of them. That being said we heard very little noise all week and the landscaping around the houses provide privacy...I'm from the country...I prefer my neighbors a couple of miles away:). It was very convenient to town so that was a plus.

I would recommend this villa to anyone and would stay again if traveling with a large group.

— Tammy Pennsylvania

"Great Expectations meets and exceeds it's name"

This was our third trip to St. John. I like this little island more than anyplace I've ever visited. Half of the natives ignore you and the other half treat you like family. I haven't visited during the busy season, but this time of year it is wonderful and easy to get around . We had 13 people in our group and never had any trouble with dinner reservations or anything else except parking. That wasn,t a problem either after we found a pay lot around the corner from St John Spice. It's pretty entertaining watching them park lots of cars in such a small space. Great guys work there. Great Expectations- Wonderful. We had a 4 yr old with us and he took the small triangular pool as his own soon after we arrived. While the pools appear small in the pictures they were big enough. You wouldn't think you would need a hot tub in the heat but with the breeze at night it got used alot. The villa had more pool toys than you could ever use, as well as tennis rackets, basketballs and noodles and chairs and coolers for the beach.We ended up eating most of our meals out,but the kitchen had everything you would need to cook anything. We chose Great Expectations because we wanted to be together,but the way the villa is set up you have plenty of room to get away for a while. I hope I'm leaving the impression that we had a wonderful time,in a wonderful villa on a wonderful island. Wonderful!!!

— Tamara and John K Kansas

Our vacation was wonderful!  Great Expectations was perfect for our group of friends and family!  Everyone had such a great time and loved the villa!  I can't believe how perfect everything went - weather, travel, the group of people staying together!  Joe and I got married on the Thursday that week on Trunk Bay and it went great!  The wedding and the entire trip was everything we had hoped for!  Other than that we did a lot of snorkelling, hanging out on the beach, and relaxing at the villa.
 
Everyone kept commenting on how great the villa was.  The layout worked perfect with our group since we had a good mix of early risers and late night people.  No one got in each other's way and everyone had their own space.  I am so thankful we found your place, it was perfect!  We would love to stay there again in the future!
 

— Tracy Indiana

The Villa was just perfect for the group of wounded warriors from Walter Reed Army Medical, we were able to accommodate everyone very comfortably.  The views are spectacular and the great room and pool area is a great central meeting area.  After a full day of diving the guys we were able to relax and enjoy every moment !!

The support of the entire community of St John for our wounded warriors is outstanding and Great Expectations exceeded everyone's expectations. We hope to have this opportunity again and make it a yearly event for SUDS.  Thank you so very much for your generosity for without it SUDS could not continue to support our men and women who have given do much to our country.

— Carla for the Soldiers Undertaking Disables Scuba ( SUDS) Group

"Great Expectations met all of mine!"

— Danell, Rob & Natalie G. Delaware

"Fabulous home with every amenity...thoughtful layout & careful attention to detail...unsurpassed privacy... the breathtaking views & exquisite breezes...Our 5th trip to St. John has been our best ever...We are already looking forward to coming back same time next year!"

— Steve & Beth D. New York

"I couldn't believe how well stocked the home was - even down to the beach towels & laundry detergent. I've never seen such a well-stocked kitchen at any of the homes we've rented...how often do you see games, puzzles & books for your use?"

— Linda

"Sisters - daughters - nieces (12 women on the loose)"

"We had a fantastic trip to St. John and Great Expectations was spectacular. This was my fourth stay at the property and each time is better than the last...there were so many upgrades the best of which was all the new appliances!!! We enjoyed the amazing views, the pools, and the shared living space. The private bedrooms made the stay most enjoyable as everyone had the ability to go to their own space if needed. The care taker Coby, was wonderful. He came at our beck and call, he was professional, and great at his job. We loved the location - it was close to town and a short ride to all the beaches. We will be back for a fifth trip. We love Great Expectations!"

— Patty

"Wonderful!"

Great Expectations was great! First and foremost is the space. Good kitchen, great room, bedrooms and bathrooms. The most used space was under the retractable awning on the pool deck and of course, the pool. We snorkeled at different beaches every day (usually 2 different ones each day) but our favorite was coming back "home" and relaxing in the pool. The kitchen was very well stocked with any utensil, dish, pot, or spice you would need. Previous guests were kind enough to leave "condiments" which saved us some money at the grocery store. Coby, the property manager, could not have been better! He was attentive to everything we asked of him. And his restaurant and shopping recommendations were spot-on! We arrived on a Saturday and it was raining. It has been raining for 2 weeks which is very unusual. We didn't actually see the sun until Thursday, but still got sunburn through the rain clouds and luckily, it wasn't bad enough to keep us from the beaches. We only had 6 in our party so the villa was plenty big. And it would be great for a much larger party too. We never used the basketball/tennis court but it can be a definite plus for those who play! Chuck and Kristin send out a detailed letter before you trip which came in very handy... from car rental to possible excursions. The views are great, but we noticed that the foliage was very overgrown (because of all the recent rain?) that it was hard to sit on the different patios/decks and see the water on either side. You needed to be standing up. By the way, the flowers and plants are beautiful. So many different flowers!

[note: our great landscapers took this comment to heart, sat in the chairs to see if they could see the water, and trimmed the landscaping back to ensure the views from the chairs were as great as when standing! Thanks Sue for the comment]

— Sue Ohio

We had a wonderful time swimming, snorkeling, watching beautiful sunrises and sunsets. The location of the villa is perfect. The owners provided everything we needed - the kitchen was completely stocked with all the utensils you would need, gas grills, washing machine/dryer, water sports equipment, beach towels, tennis rackets and balls, etc., etc. They thought of everything! This was our second stay at Great Expectations and I would certainly recommend it.

— Claudette Georgia

Best vacation of our lives - hands down!

40th anniversary celebration with our kids and grandkids, ages 1-62. Great Expectations was the perfect setting for everyone. The villa was extremely family friendly and well-equipped, and Coby, the property manager, was an outstanding source of information about the villa and beyond. Cooked in most nights. Beautiful, open kitchen--a couple of notes: the large double refrigerators are great, but the doors are not safe places for bottles of wine (& the pretty tile floor is unforgiving when they crash!) Also- we found that the sticker-shock at the grocery store (yes, food is very expensive there) can be lessened if the adult children cook for Mom and Dad. :) Amazing place; we'll be back!

— Mary Jo Wisconsin

Best Family Vacation ever!

My husband and I honeymooned in St. John 5 years ago. We loved it so much that we brought our families back with us.
When we started our search for places to stay, we were a little discouraged because the prices were sky high at the hotels and it was difficult to find a villa that could accomodate our large group (14 adults). Thanks to Great Expectations, we were able to do just that. Chuck was very helpful with answering all of our questions before we booked and after hearing from him, we knew that this was going to be the perfect place for us!

When we arrived, we were very happy to see that the place we were staying was exactly as the website described. The view is one of the first things that you notice upon arrival. It was such a beautiful sight, we knew we weren't going to be disappointed with the rest of the villa.

My husband and I were the last to arrive so when we got there, everyone was already enjoying the pool and some cocktails. The setup of the main house with the pool right outside was awesome. It made it so we could do everything in that one area.

My husband and I stayed in the owners apartment and we were very happy with that, however, we spent most of our time at the main house with our families.

The main house was great. The kitchen was very updated and well stocked. There was an area to watch tv and a dinner table that could fit 8. Our only problem with the tv area was that the tv wasn't working well. Although nobody missed watching it, the diehard Patriots fans were a little upset to be missing the 1st preseason game! We had an ipad so we kept them updated though.

The bedrooms were all very nice and spacious. My parents room had a problem with the aC but Coby took care of it right away!Coby and Chuck were very accomodating to all our needs throughout our whole experience.

In all, GE was more than amazing. I would highly recommend this villa to large groups (I actually alreay have!) and I definitly hope to return!

— Kim Massachusetts

Brought the whole family (14) here to St John to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary. Visited many beaches, the ones on the North Shore including Cinnamon Bay. We had stayed there in the 70's and 80's. We also visited Maho Bay and Francis Bay (great!). We drove over to the East End beaches and took an Eco Kayak and snorkeling tour from Haulover. We also went down to Laneshur Bay - tough drive but BEAUTIFUL beach. Our trip on Bad Kitty to the BVI was really, really good.  The Baths were breathtaking! Cruz Bay shopping and restaurants are always fun.  This villa has EVERYTHING you could want or need and Coby is so helpful. What a wonderful place to celebrate with a large family. Perfect sunrises and amazing sunsets. 

— Bill H. North Carolina

Perfect! 8 grandkins, 3 kids & spouces + grandma & grandpa. Had a blast! Spend some riot-laughing moments playing games & having some super meals in the Great Room and hit a number of beaches. You put a lot of thought and care into this great place and it was just wonderful for all of us.  I don't think there was even one kid argument the whole trip - very unusual - but they just had a blast. We have some friends who were waiting for our return & report to consider family trips of their own and I give it an A+ - thanks much!

— Fritz Wisconsin

Exquisite home in perfect setting with great amenities
We loved our stay at Great Expectations! The location and views were spectacular, rooms lovely and great room, with breezes and views of the sea in two directions, was the center of our family vacation. So much was provided for us, including pool and beach equipment, terrific kitchen equipment, and a very helpful house manager. Our grandaughter couldn't wait to get into the pool each day before we went on to one of the island's gorgeous beaches. We would visit again in a minute!

— Ellen L| New York, NY

An utter and complete dream of a vacation

We adored Great Expectations. From the rooms to the fabulous concierge service, the trip was a dream. Our group of 9 included a 9-month old, a 3 year old and 7 adults - everyone was entirely satisfied. Great Expectations provided the space for family enjoyment as well as private time. My parents planned the trip to celebrate their 40th anniversary with all of their kids and grandchildren. They were able to share the occasion with all of us, but also felt that Great Expectations allowed everyone to do as they pleased and have their own space. St. John was incredibly beautiful and allowed everyone opportunities to enjoy the activities they wanted to explore. We did some activities, such as beach trips, meals and shopping, together but we were all able to roam the island as we pleased. Coby, the fantastic manager at Great Expectations, could not have been more helpful. He made sure our arrival on island was smooth, our car rentals were easy and even helped us learn about the island in order to choose our activities. Our fridge was stocked with necesseties upon arrival and Coby spent time with us to educate us about what we might want to do during our stay. Chuck and Kristen have made Great Expectations a phenomenal getaway - it feels like your home for your stay and could not be more enjoyable. There are 2 wonderful saltwater pools and one small saltwater childrens pool. Everyone had a wonderful time enjoying the views from the pool and our kids loved all the pool toys. Our 3 couples, 1 20-something and 2 children all felt comfortable throughout the property and the island. The guidebooks and handmade information binders at the house were incredibly helpful in making choices about where to go and what to do. I would recommend Great Expectations for any couple, family or group looking for a place where everyone can enjoy themselves alone or as a group. The property really focuses on making anyone comfortable.

[Note: The water in all the pools is fresh water, not saltwater. Special NaCl (purified household salt) is added to the water in the pools periodically instead of chlorine; we have special filter systems for the pools which electronically remove the "Na" from the "NaCl" leaving just enough "Cl" to keep the water in the pools fresh, soft and clean without any salt taste or having to use harsh chemicals.]

— Pam S| Baltimore, MD

Our Great Expectations were wildly surpassed!

Great Expectations exceeded our wildest hopes! Our group of four families delighted in every moment of our week there. The accommodations were excellent! Around every corner was a breath-taking view, lush and fragrant flowers, and another inviting perch to take a moment and delight in the surroundings. It was truly magnificent and each member of our party smiled from the moment they rose to the time they settled in for the evening in the very comfortable beds! The villa is brilliantly designed, as there are wonderful places to come together, while there are many lovely spots to chill out away from everyone! We played tennis, basketball, swam, did yoga on the tennis courts and had a blast going for walks around Chocolate Hole, meandering up steep hills to beautiful vistas! Everything was perfect and the gentleman that met us upon our arrival facilitated us in finding fresh local fish brought in by local fisherman! He was sincere in his promise to help us in any and every way we might require and made our visit even more perfect with his kindnesses. To quote Dickens, "Great Expectations", which I had to reread upon our return from our brilliantly fabulous week in St. John:  "The sky was blue, the larks were soaring high over the green. I thought all the countryside more beautiful and peaceful by far than I had ever known it to be yet. Many pleasant pictures of the life that I would lead there, and of the change for the better that would come over my character when I had a guiding spirit at my side whose simple faith and clear home-wisdom I had proved, beguiled my way. They awakened a tender emotion in me; for my heart was softened by my return, and such a change had come to pass..."

We'll dream of coming back and will be treasuring and cherishing the memories made at the beautiful villa! Thank you!

— Joanne| Marblehead, MA

Paradise Found!

January 2012 was our second stay with friends at Great Expectations. Kristin and Chuck have created the perfect complement to St John's beauty and warmth. The accommodations are gracious, well thought out, and equipped to meet all the needs of an island holiday. I travel a good deal and see all kinds of efforts at creating gracious surroundings. Great Expectations is a home run...

— Rod| Bethesda, MD

Great Expectations exceeds expectations!

Great Expectations is about as perfect as I can imagine! Sunrise and sunset views every day! Beautifully maintained, gorgeous views everywhere you look, amenities for every age (where else could you find a portable beach cabana for a baby?) , lovely decorating, amazing landscaping. We took our kids and grandkids (4 family units) and the design of the villa enables everyone to interact, but also have private time. Thanks so much to the owners and to the property manager for making a great time exceed expectations!

— Audrey| Rockville , MD

EVEN BETTER THAN EXPECTED!  

I'm leery of vacation spots and rentals that seem to be too good to be true when viewed online, but for Great Expectations I can say true!!! We had a group of 14, ages 5 to 84, but the layout of Great Expectations made it never seem bigger that 5 or 6. The kitchen was great and the provided cooking utensils where excellent, especially for a rental. The fact that they provide all the little things that you wished you had, or would have to go out and buy at other locations was a real plus. The coolers, beach bags, cooler bags, kids beach toys, and the great beach chairs, just take away any hassles that can tinge a vacation. It's been a month since we were there and everybody is still talking about different aspects of our stay. My sister still pines about the view from her outdoor shower. I will never forget the beautiful sunrises that were framed perfectly from the bed in the owner's suite. We had a few very minor issues, and I mention them only to show I'm not just a Pollyanna. The outdoor grill became possessed, and hissed and spewed flame a few times, but Coby was right there and fixed it right away. We had some ants, but when folks spill fruit juice and drinks and don't clean it up (Miles and Collin we know)...what do you expect. My father's only complaint was about the TV in the little room under the master suites. He could only get a Spanish station...why he needed a TV we can't figure out. That is truly as tough as it got for us. The only way this could have gotten better would have been if we could have just walked out the door onto Trunk or Cinnamon Bay beach (and if you have been to St John, you know that doesn't exist)...but then we would have had to give up the privacy and unexpected quiet and peace that Great Expectations provides. 

— DocRocVirginia

Great Expectations has every convenience and was the perfect place!

Great Expectations is designed for maximum enjoyment and comfort. It is situated to observe sunrise and sunset views and capture constant trade winds that are so refreshing. There are outdoor hammocks and chairs in and out of the sun and around the pool and hot tub. The great room is perfect for gatherings (a large dining table and a very nice TV) and the bedrooms allow privacy with the outdoor showers being a real treat. We really appreciated all the extras available when heading out to the beach... towels, chairs, coolers, ice machine, and loads of interesting reading materials about the beaches and St. John in general. The staff was excellent! I would highly recommend this compound for any large group.

— Tim | Grand Rapids , MI

E-mailed to us during her stay at Great Expectations:

Wow this place is paradise!  This vacation is definitely a memory that my family and I will never forget.  We love the house, it is so beautiful and the grounds are gorgeous.  Coby has been the best! He has been extremely helpful and very kind.Thank you so much!

— Nikki Arizona

As posted on Trip Advisor rated 5 *s

— Nikki Arizona