Royal Palm Cottage

An 18th-Century Sugar Plantation Cottage On St. Croix

This petite vacation home rental in the Virgin Islands sits 250 feet above the pristine shoreline of St. Croix with spectacular views of the azure blue sea and the Salt River Bay National Historic Park. Set within several acres of a former 18th-century sugar plantation, you are greeted with the waves breaking on the reef and the soft breezes from the sea.

Designed in the airy plantation style, the one-room cottage is an idyllic island escape for two that you'll covet for its privacy, its quiet luxuries, and most of all its enviable location. Just 300 sq ft of interior space, the independent cottage has high ceilings that give it a roomy feel, with a built-in kitchenette and bar for preparing light meals or cocktails to enjoy in the garden terrace overlooking the views. A private oasis, it's still just a short drive to the many restaurants, shops, and beaches of Christiansted and a short jaunt to the island's interiors.

AROUND

Among the verdant Caribbean archipelago of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix, the largest and most remote in the chain, stands alone for its stunning marine sites and homegrown culture that offers the most enduring flavors and picture of the history of the islands. The main harbor of Christiansted and King's Wharf on the northeast shore is the island's flashpoint in history where the colonial sugar trade initiated the island's prosperity and to this day is the main hub, with a promenade of restaurants, bars, and shops.

The western town of Frederiksted is the quieter counterpart and includes a Victorian-era center and a colorful waterfront of arts and crafts vendors, reggae rhythms, and tastes of the rum factories that churn out the sweet brew. The island's interiors are a maze of mountains and rainforests, while the perimeters are comprised of fertile coastal plains nicknamed the ‘Garden of the Antilles’ for the productive sugarcane plantations. Don't miss snorkeling among the spectacular underwater sea gardens and coral reefs of nearby Buck Island Reef National Monument where you'll be surrounded by a dazzling array of marine life.

LOCATION

St. Croix, Virgin Islands. Nearest airport: Christiansted Harbor Seaplane Base with connecting domestic flights from Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Peak season is from December to March and April to June, with mild temperatures and very little rainfall.