PERFECT! This place is pure tropic magic!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I am beyond impressed with this magical property. Everything went beyond what we expected. The place was spacious, comfortable, clean, and with spectacular views all around. We stayed here with a group of 15 and everyone absolutely loved it. The owners were very helpful with any questions/concerns about booking, and Patti (property manager) was super sweet and helpful during our stay. Highly recommend this place!!!

Perfect island getaway with sunrise and sunset views

What a special place! Yes, it's great to have a pool, a hot tub, and a tennis court, but what's really fantastic is the setting and the layout of the property. You can watch the sun come up over one bay and watch it go down over another. There are cross breezes in every room, and the bedrooms are in separate buildings from the great room, so when you're ready to let the Caribbean breezes lull you into blissful sleep, you can escape to your own private hideaway. And the main building is a great place to gather, make meals together in the well-stocked kitchen, and hang out during the evening or on the rare rainy afternoon with books, games, or a movie. The only downside is that we had to leave.

Wonderful family vacation

Ten of us enjoyed an amazing vacation together. The house is big enough so that everyone has their own space yet intimate enough to feel like home. Kitchen is well equipped and we ate most meals at home. Jeep rental is a must therefore we missed walking down to town but the house was so nice we didn't want to leave it at night. Good luck with catching the amazing sunset...the clouds got in our way, but still spectacular.

Perfection in paradise

Our private getaway was perfection in paradise and the view was phenomenal! On a ridge between Chocolate Hole and Hart Bay, we got to see amazing vistas.  In the morning the sun rises over Hart Bay as I enjoyed my morning coffee to the sound of birds and waves. Ah!  During the day we explored the island and went to the various beaches.  As we snorkeled, we saw and octopus, squid, turtles and all kinds of fishes in the reefs.  On the way back to the villa, we shopped in Cruz Bay at Mongoose Junction and Starfish market.  We'd shower and get nice and tidy to watch the sunset over Chocolate Hole with rum cocktails.  The Great Room's kitchen had everything we needed to cook at the villa, when we didn't eat out in Cruz Bay.  There is a lot of room at Great Expectations, so much that when we wanted to be alone from the rest of the family, we could go to our room and sit on our private patio.  We didn't want to leave!  Thank you Kristin and Chuck, your villa truly is the best on St. John!

Wounded Warriors relax

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.

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]

Repeat 2 week Visit

This is the second year that we spend two fantastic weeks at Great Expectations with family and friends. As fantastic as our experience was last year, it was enhanced by the addition of the new property manager, Coby, who was incredibly responsive and proactive. Upgrades to the TV, the refrigerator, the dishwasher, storage containers, and beach chairs demonstrate that Chuck and Kristin care about their property and making sure that their guests are well taken care of. We have been vacationing in the Virgin Islands since 2000 and have rented 5 other properties on St. John and on Tortola (and stayed at the Westin). While the others were very nice -- and at least one of them much pricier -- none compares with the overall quality and value of Great Expectations. We would definitely stay there again and recommend it to anyone who wants a relaxed, yet quality, island vacation. - 10 friends (and family) who have been vacationing together forever.

Three vacationing families

Three vacationing families for the past ten years...first trip to St. John and Great Expectations; 14 in total - kids ranging from 5 to almost 20. The setup of the house was great...the [chaise lounge] chairs are outrageous (are they sold stateside?)...how wonderful this place really is...a fully-equipped kitchen, multiple card decks, videos, beautiful gardens, sunsets, sunrises

Our very own Caribbean compound

My wife and I took 3 other couples to stay at Great Expectations in March of 2014 and felt like royalty in our very own St. John mansion. The eight of us stayed on the villa's main side (with 4 matching bedrooms, each with their own outdoor shower) and spent mornings sharing coffee, breakfast and stories in the great room. Most days we drove rented Jeeps to the beach and ended up at happy hour, followed by either dinner in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay or we ended back at the villa grilling some fresh fish while watching the sunset. All 8 of us could not have had a better vacation and especially loved the various pool areas, hot tubs and hammocks where we could be together or alone, depending on the mood.

3 Families

We are 3 families who vacation somewhere different each summer...what was great: the tennis court, our kids loved the pool...the outdoor showers were really neat...

9 couples

The owners have thought of every need for a vacation of a lifetime. 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!

Perfect Villa with 10 of us

We have been going to St. John since 1996 and have always had a large group (20 or more). This time we have 10 and Great Expectations was a perfect villa to rent. It was so great to having the group in one villa. It was nice to have the bedrooms off to the sides away from the Great Room. You weren't bothered in the morning if someone wanted to be in the Great Room or kitchen or even by the pool. The views are breathtaking and there was always a nice breeze in the bedroom. The club room was perfect for our single person that wanted privacy. The location from town is perfect and also puts you closer to Coral Bay. In conclusion, if you have a group (and if it is mixed with adults and children), I would definitely recommend this house. The guest house (which we used last minute) was also nice. Great house for a great rental price!

Everyone congregated at this villa...

We got married on island of St. John and we and our friends/family stayed here and a few other villas on the island. Everyone congregated at this villa b/c it was the nicest. Good balance of view, breeze, good stereo, decoration, private and shared space. Loved the outdoor showers!! The pool is nice and the kids all loved it. You'll need a car to get to the beach but we didn't mind. The house managers are great - very well organized and considerate