VI Friendship Villa

This beautifully-rendered oasis of 'the good life,' built in 2008, has been wowing lucky guests who spend their sun-kissed vacation at unique VI Friendship Villa. All the key elements of a superb vacation villa are right here: six equally-sized, air-conditioned queen bedroom/bath suites with individual private balconies, a sand bulkhead 'beach,' pool and hot tub, a stunning waterfront location right over silvery ocean waves, and an expansive view of Great Cruz Bay dotted with yachts riding at anchor and The Westin Resort's strand of white sand beach across the Bay.

VI Friendship Villa is a sleek, harmonious meld of contemporary design featuring banks of windows which invite the glorious outside right in, natural stone accents, a superb floor plan providing excellent privacy for all guests and lots of space for everyone, and bonuses such as a well-equipped home office, an air-conditioned and fully-equipped exercise room with satellite TV which looks out on the sparkling Bay on three sides, plus a large air-conditioned game room for everyone's enjoyment featuring a ping-pong table, a pool table, game tables, and right outside via sliding french doors, a bulkhead beach: an area spread with white sand and set with chaise lounges for basking in the sun by day and a fire brazier for convivial evenings of cocktails and storytelling by night. VI Friendship Villa integrates clean, modern architecture with a nautical flair expressed in railings inside and out of stylish stainless steel yacht rigging which frame the blue expanses of the sea, and cool travertine floors throughout. This spacious villa is dramatically sited cliffside above the ocean, inviting in fresh breezes off the ocean and lulling surf sounds.

Commanding the home's top level is the air-conditioned and well-equipped exercise room. This pavilion is glassed in on three sides for spectacular views, and has a patio right outside which overlooks the ocean, a perfect spot for taking a breather and admiring the view between workout sets. Stairs lead from the exercise room down to VI Friendship's bi-level main floor. A granite-countered kitchen and a pantry separates the two east and west wings of the villa; each wing offers two equally-sized queen bedroom/bath suites, each of which features air-conditioning, a 32-inch flat-screen satellite TV, coffeemaker, individually-controlled speakers from the main sound system, and a private balcony with a sea view. The east wing offers both the soothing blue suite and the crisp blue-and-white suite. The west wing's two suites are done in sage and the other in white and gold. Just beyond the kitchen area are a convenient powder room and the spacious office alcove equipped with a computer with DSL, Wi-Fi and an all-in-one printer/scanner/fax, and which looks out to the bay. Four steps down from the kitchen is the dining area with a large oversized trestle dining table capable of seating ten people and an adjoining granite counter with 4 stools facing the beautiful island panorama; both are perfect for casual dining, and the adjoining living room area is equipped with a 46-inch TV, DVD player and a Bose Surround Sound system which sends music to speakers in all rooms and the outside areas.

Oversized glass-paneled doors fold to one side and lead out to the heart of VI Friendship Villa - the infinity-edged pool, built-in hot tub, a sunning area with chaise lounges and umbrellas, and off to one side, a 6-foot round exterior dining table shaded by an umbrella and flanked by a large stainless steel gas grill with rotisserie, a big commercial blender for tropical libations, a wet bar and a commercial ice maker - essentials for a relaxed vacation for a large group of family or friends! A short staircase descends from the pool and sun deck area to the bulkhead sand beach area flanked by palm trees.

This lower level, also accessible via an interior staircase from the main level, offers two more queen bedroom/bath suites. Situated on opposite sides of this level for excellent privacy, both of these suites boast air-conditioning, TV, coffeemaker and a private balcony. Also on this level are a laundry room and the spacious, air-conditioned game room with a pool table, ping pong, game tables, a 46-inch flat-screen TV - something for everyone - and a handy half bath.

VI Friendship Villa offers over 10,000 square feet of beautifully-designed vacation space furnished with flair and comfort, with all its very polished details enhancing this home's light and airy aura and unique character. Please be sure to book your family and friends early for your sun-filled and restful seaside adventure at VI Friendship Villa.

St. John is known for its beaches and a large collection of luxury villas dotting verdant mountainsides. From St. Thomas, you can take the ferry to this smaller and laid-back sister U.S. Virgin Island of St. John... an island 20-40 minutes away in time but light years away in ambience. This popular Caribbean island has only two major hotels, but offers hundreds of St. John luxury villas and vacation properties, from basic rental cottages and condominiums, to super-luxurious villa estates. BeautifulPlaces has a wonderful portfolio of luxury St. John villas - be sure to book yours early, as this is one of the most sought-after vacation destinations in the Caribbean. Spend some time poking around the many interesting and artsy shops that line the streets of Cruz Bay, St. John's main hub. Don't miss shopping in Wharfside Village and Mongoose Junction, St. John's beautiful island-style malls, plus many other varied shops and galleries. Cruz Bay can be lively at night too, offering some excellent restaurants and watering holes from casual to very upscale, and live music and dancing.

Take a drive via scenic roads out to Coral Bay, a small village where you'll enjoy funky bars, a few quaint shops and horseback riding. You can continue eastward to St. John's pristine east end for its spectacular views and crystal-clear waters: Coral Bay, Hansen Bay and Privateer Bay beyond play host to incredible sunrises and unspoiled nature. And of course, on St. John, watersports abound: SCUBA diving, snorkeling, sailing, power boating, beach lounging and swimming. 5,000 acres of St. John are designated as Virgin Islands National Park (courtesy of the late philanthropist Laurence Rockefeller).

National Park lands occupy a full three-fifths of this 9-by-5-mile Caribbean island, keeping it relatively tranquil and pristine. With over 20 hiking trails, miles of fabulous beaches, and with easy access to the British Virgin Islands via ferry, St. John is the ideal place for vacationers seeking the fable and aura of seafaring explorers, pirates and undersea life. Explore the stunning National Park beaches of Hawksnest Bay, Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay and Maho Bay and their sugar-white sands and clear, shimmering blue waters before retiring to your villa for the night.

The Virgin Islands National Park's Rangers offer hikes, seashore walks, historic, cultural and snorkeling tours, bird watching and informal evening lectures to visitors. Leaving the town area means ascending high into St. John's hills; Bordeaux Mountain offers a cool bird's-eye view of the British Virgins Islands, plus a portion of the famous Reef Bay Trail, to the Reef Bay Estate Great House. There are other historical monuments to explore, including the Windberg Estate, the Frederikdal ruins, and the restored Annaberg Plantation (a National Park site). For a very small island, St. John offers lots of action-packed, fun days and nights for the young at heart. But should you want to sit quietly by your villa's private pool and simply relax with your loved ones, this is also the perfect place to be. St. John (the island) and St. John's vacation villas truly have it all.

BRING PROOF of YOUR CITIZENSHIP Everyone departing St. John, even Americans, are now required by U.S. Immigration to show either a passport or a certified copy of a birth certificate accompanied by a photo ID - please don't forget these for the whole family!

Please note that The Virgin Islands Smoke-Free Act has been passed by the U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature, which bans smoking less than 20 feet from many spaces, including enclosed public places, enclosed places of employment, outdoor service or waiting lines and outdoor bus stations and public transportation platforms. Smoking also is prohibited within 20 feet of any of those locations. Keep this in mind as you enjoy your stay in the U.S. Virgin Islands!