Has anyone rented this cottage? It looks wonderful (and pricey)- is it worth the cost? Can anyone recommend who we should rent it through/from? Thanks so much for the input!

Any agency listing it would probably be fine. The nearly legendary Gibneys have been on the island for decades. They were landlord and then neighbors to Robert Oppenheimer when he fled to St. John for 20+ years to contemplate the enormity of his work. The Gibneys still own the cottages and live near by. The cottages are right on Gibney Beach right around the corner from Hawksnest and is one of the nicest beaches anywhere. It is gorgeous. It is a bit pricey but if you were staying at Caneel Bay with hundreds of other people, you'd end up paying about the same for one room.

Hi. I have considered this cottage for our vacation as well. Just haven't done it though. Not sure why. We usually stay at Caneel. Love the convenience, but not happy about all the people (esp. kids) at Christmas time when we go. Please let me know if you rent this Gibney Cottage and how it was for you. I have driven by it and the area-gorgeous. [email protected]

Linda, -will do.

We have also wanted to rent this place for years but also went with a villa with all of the amentities. I think we are ready to give that up for solitude!

I, too, am interested in Gibney cottage, so here's another person urging you to please report when you return. The thing I'm concerned about is that I have the feeling it's not going to be very private. I.e. isn't there some kind of community center right there? Don't lots of people use that beach?

Further down the beach is the old Oppenheimer house which has been converted to a community center of sorts. It's available for rent (I think at a nominal fee) to locals for small events. It is not constantly in use, although, you will have folks come and go to the beach during any given day. But it is still pretty quiet for the most part. No beach (with exception of Trunk Bay when cruise ships are in) on St. John is really ever that crowded. Gibney's Beach is really a "local's" beach and not something on the tourist maps. If you want real seclusion, I would suggest that you rent a cottage/villa on Newfound Bay in the east end. Those places are equally gorgeous, extremely quiet and probably cost less too.

WWW.DESTINATIONSTJOHN.COM gibney beach is one of my favorites/the cottages are lovely..if you can afford it and don't care about a pool, go for it.!!! the setting is what you image a caribbbean beach/home should be !!

Thanks to everyone for your responses. We went ahead and booked the beach cottage for next May and are very excited (and glad we have time to save up!). I will definitely post a review when i return!

Crowisland...you'll not regret it. as i said it's what you'd imagine a caribbean cottage should be!! this is a lovely cottage and a beautiful beach.you'll love every day and won't want to go home !!! have the best time,of course you will...i've never had a bad day on St John !