Estate Rendezvous and Ditlef is Caribbean perfection
Life ticks along at a different pace on Saint John, the smallest of the US Virgin Islands. No flights arrive here, nor is there room for docking cruise ships. With more than half of the land occupied by national park, it's also managed to stay clear of any rapid resort development. There's little more you need than a rum punch, a little blackened mahi mahi straight off a smoky drum barbeque and a private little spot on a stretch of golden sand beach. That's exactly what's waiting for you when you bag yourself an Estate Rendezvous and Ditlef vacation rental.
Rum plantations at Estate Rendezvous and Ditlef
This land of buccaneers and salty sea dogs left some fascinating gems, pretty thoughtful of them considering plundering was their day job. If you're got a rental car, drive up to the Annaberg Sugar Plantation, where you can step back to the late 18th century when sugar and rum played a vital role in the island's economy. If you're lucky, you may even be able to catch a demonstration. From one plantation to another, the Elaine Ione Sprauve Library & Museum is packed with historic photographs and artifacts which help to paint a picture of life here centuries ago.
Paddle boarding at Estate Rendezvous and Ditlef
With your worries of daily life left back at home, along with your cellphone, how to tear yourself away from the beach is going to be your biggest problem here. If you can overcome it, you'll be rewarded with some awesome outdoor adventures. From your Estate Rendezvous and Ditlef vacation rental, you can hire paddleboards, the newest way to explore the bays and coves in Saint John. Alternatively, you could swap out your flip-flops for walking shoes and hike up through the forested national park, or jump into the turquoise waters with a mask to see what you can find.
Basking iguanas at Estate Rendezvous and Ditlef
If you're up in the national park, listen out for the squawks of parrots and other exotic birdlife. If you're down at the beach at the right time, you can see iguanas basking on the rocks and turtles hauling themselves up onto the sand to lay in their nests. Later in the year, you may even catch a glimpse of the hatchlings making their perilous journey back down to the sea. Talking of sea, the waters around Saint John are a treasure trove for wildlife enthusiasts. Expect everything from dolphins and humpback whales to barracuda and Atlantic blue marlin.
Transportation to and around Estate Rendezvous and Ditlef
The nearest airport is in Cyril E. King Airport (STT), located 13.2 mi (21.2 km) from the city center. If you're unable to find a flight that fits your schedule, you could also fly into St. Thomas (SPB-St. Thomas Seaplane Base), which is 11.1 mi (17.9 km) away.