Lion's Gate Getaway- Lush Setting. Check for seasonal discounts
Lions Gate Getaway is a private studio apartment in a lush, tropical setting, humming birds share your 270 degree view of St. John, Tortola and Red Hook Harbor. In just a few minutes you can walk into Red Hook for shopping, dinner, drinks and night life or catch the ferries to St. John and the BVI.
The spacious porch is a perfect way to enjoy your first cup of coffee or to sit back in the evening and watch the colors change over the islands with a cool beverage in your hand as the breeze passes by.
My husband Chris and I have lived on St. Thomas for over 20 years. He came to dive, I came to sail. We met and discovered we both had a love of the water and the Caribbean life style. Chris built this house on the top of the hill, and now we have expanded it to accommodate guests in our apartment that captures the Caribbean life style. We look forward to helping you enjoy your vacation in any way we can. Just ask for local tips on restaurants and activities.
Keywords: Studio Apartment
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Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
About the area
Red Hook
Located in St. Thomas, this apartment is near the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Sapphire Beach and Coki Point Beach. Jet skiing, kayaking and scuba diving offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with ecotours nearby.
St. Thomas (SPB-St. Thomas Seaplane Base) - 12 min drive
Restaurants
Kween Vee Smoothies - 9 min walk
The Tap & Still - 6 min walk
Tarpon’s Table - 8 min walk
Sapphire Beach Bar - 4 min drive
Sunset Grille @ Secret Harbour Beach Resort - 20 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Lion's Gate Getaway- Lush Setting. Check for seasonal discounts pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total).
What time is check-in at Lion's Gate Getaway- Lush Setting. Check for seasonal discounts?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Lion's Gate Getaway- Lush Setting. Check for seasonal discounts?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Lion's Gate Getaway- Lush Setting. Check for seasonal discounts located?
Situated by the sea, this apartment building is within 1 mi (2 km) of American Yacht Harbor and Sapphire Beach. Vessup Bay and Cabes Point are also within 1 mile (2 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.Learn moreOpens in a new window
Everything was as expected and the view as beautiful as we had hoped. Maxine and Chris were wonderful and we took a major liking to Louie as did he to my spouse. Location is fantastic. Quiet. Walk to stores / caost / ferry. Overall very happy with our stay.
Awesome location, authentic vibes, very friendly and accommodating host. Walk down the hill and go to many of the bars/restaurant that line the water. I walked down the hill to get breakfast and coffee many times during my stay. Just be prepared for the uphill walk on the way back! Red hook is an excellent location to stay as many great attractions are near by.
Great patio setting overlooking Red Hook. We could see a lot of the bay area, which made it a great setting for coffee, tea, or cocktail. Could see the comings and goings of the ferry's going over to St. John’s. Easy drive to lots of beaches. Our favorite was Lindquist. Max and Chris were super nice and helpful. Lots of water toys for our enjoyment.
Max was wonderfully communicative and very helpful during our whole stay. I would recommend to anyone looking for a getaway in Redhook to this property.
Mackenzie G.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
10/10 Excellent
WILLIAM
11 Dec 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The view was incredible. The lush tropical foliage and atmosphere was magical. Maxine, Chris and Louie are very sweet people. The gorgeous property had everything we needed inside and out. Including the adventure of the driveway. Would definitely stay again.
The little apartment on the side of the hill was just perfect for us. The drive is steep and a little scary but worth it. The parking was a little stressful. There’s not much room to turn around but we made it lol. If you get the chance talk with the owner he’s a delight. Overall we really enjoyed our getaway and would definitely return.
We enjoyed our time at Lion's Gate and the property had all the necessities. The hill is a bit of a challenge the first time up, but after that we did fine both driving and walking it. Location to Red Hook and the ferries is excellent, but with that you may also get noise from the late-night revelers below. We did have to close the windows due to that and then one night of rain. We ate on the terrace watching the harbor activity and enjoying the breeze. A new mattress/box spring may be in order and if they could figure out a way to have a hot tub/jacuzzi with those views, it would add another level of terrific. Chris and Max are good hosts; they communicated, were accommodating and from our interactions seem pretty easy-going. We would stay again.
We loved our time at Lions Gate! Its quiet and peaceful and had just what we needed. We didnt expect beach chairs, beach towels (we brought our own), and a cooler, but and they all came in handy! Max and Chris were great hosts and we look forward to staying again in the future.
Me and my fiancé (now husband) came to st. Thomas to get married. We stayed 10 days at Max and Chris' place. It was absolutely beautiful! The apartment was clean and stocked with anything we needed, besides our groceries. And the charm of the place was better than any fancy resort on the island. Just right up the hill from Red Hook. So grocery store, gas station, restaurants, shops, all within minutes from us. It is a steep hill to get up to the property, and a small vehicle is best for pulling all the way up in the driveway. There is also parking available right outside of the gate. Max and Chris were wonderful hosts. Just a text or call away if we needed anything. And their dog Louie was our buddy throughout our stay. All in all, was an beautiful place to stay with an amazing view. And we can't wait to come back!
A quiet and restful retreat, ideal for a stay in Red Hook.
Maxine and Chris were generous and considerate hosts; the apartment was well appointed; and the views from the covered porch exceptional—well worth the steep walk up the hill.
We plan to return next year, and absolutely recommend the whole experience to others.
This place seemed more "authentic" than the other resort-style properties we looked at, and we're so glad we went with it! The view was wonderful and Maxine and Chris were great hosts with local insights. It was great to be walking distance to Red Hook, but keep in mind the road leading there is very steep, so would only consider it truly "walkable" if you're fairly athletic.
Words cannot express how beautiful the veiws, and the room/property is. It was wonderful to be so close to town and have the privacy of being tucked away.
Chris and Maxine are wonderful hosts. They are so welcoming and giving us some great ideas to adventure around. I would definitely come back in the future.
jaime M.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023
10/10 Excellent
Charles
13 Oct 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Max was great and the area was in a nice location. The driveway is a bit daunting at first, but not bad once you acclimate. The mosquitoes and other biting bugs were rough, but that’s just the Island in October. Amazing views.
Beautiful Apartment with overlook of Redhook and Saint Johns. Very appealing decorations/plants. Steep/narrow road to location from Red Hook. Just take your time, stay left and you can make it there safely and it's worth it. Affordable, good wifi and comfortable accommodations. Flowers and chocolates for my wife for anniversary were some of the best I've ever had arranged by locations for our yearly trip! May do again, but we do like to have variety of places we go, we'll see... Thanks Max and Chris!
Max and Chris are awesome hosts. The property has the best views in Red Hook. I loved everything about it. It was clean, spacious, and even came with a dog! Louie hung out on the porch with us while we ate breakfast in the morning. It was perfect. I would stay again. The climb up isn't for the weak, though. Get your quads ready for it. But, the view is worth it.
Great location and view. First drive up and down the driveway was nerve-racking, but you get used to it. Some mosquitoes that loved the area post-showers, but nothing some repellent can’t fix. The shower was really cool with the stone finish and plants. I even saw a baby lizard! Definitely recommend if you prefer scenic views, waking up to the sound of nature, and a lot of privacy.
Maxine and Chris were very hospitable. They picked us up down the hill and dropped us off. They also let us checked in early. The view from their place was amazing!! We can’t get enough of it. The studio was well equipped and had everything you need for your stay. We would definitely come back if they would have us again.
Thank you so much for having us.
Pacha&Russell
Overall this VRBO was OK. The room was nice and had most of what you need to spend a week in USVI. However, a couple of downsides to this property. 1) It is up a VERY steep hill that will take about 10 minutes to walk down and 15-20 minutes to walk up. A taxi will cost about $15-20 to take you up the hill to the property. 2) Power (electricity) is a major problem in USVI and you will loose power about once each day. Sometimes it is for a few minutes and sometimes it is for hours. The property does havea generator, but they turn that off about 10:00 PM. If you do not have power, it will get very warm in the room with no AC.
The hosts are very nice and helpful.
Overall, this property was exactly what we look for. Max and Chris were the perfect hosts.
Safety and comfort are two of our concerns and both
were met perfectly. The location in Red Hook was
walkable to downtown and the Ferry. It is walkable
but up a steep hill and that may be a concern if
you do not rent a car. We did not have a car and as
two older individuals, it was not a problem for
us. Ate on the terrace every day, nice evening breeze, never used AC, beautiful views of harbor and St John. All basic needs provided, and more.
Thank you Max and Chris
My husband and I stayed in Red Hook with plans to ferry to St John and hike/beach during the day. This place was a short, less than 10 minute walk to the ferry, which was great because we went the week without a car!
Maxine was so understanding and flexible throughout our entire booking process as we had a hiccup with our dates when booking. She was friendly and helpful whenever we spoke with her, but also gave us our space so we felt like we had the property all to ourselves (besides frequent visits from Lou, the dog, which we LOVED and looked forward to!!)
When I say I was obsessed with everything about this cute little rental, it was my favorite part of our trip! The balcony is to die for, the interior so sweetly decorated, you feel like you are a local living on the island with an amazing view. The kitchen had whatever we needed to make a dinner or two.
Overall, we can’t wait to come back!! Thank you both for an amazing stay :)
julia n.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023
About the host
Hosted by Maxine Lavitt
Chris and I met in St. Thomas. He came to dive and I to sail. Chris had dive boats and I had a day sail boat and business. Couldn't have had a more perfect spot for diving and sailing. We have both retired but still love it that we are lucky enough to live here.
Why they chose this property
Red Hook is on the East End of St Thomas. The breeze comes from the East keeping us cool all year long. We are right above Red Hook the little town. There are restaurants, bars a market and the Ferries for St John depart right at the bottom of the hill.
What makes this property unique
From Lion’s Gate you can stroll down to Red Hook for dinner or to go shopping, or make a quick trip to the grocery store. It is all so close but when you are up here it seems a million miles away.
There are three beaches nearby, two are about 5 minutes by car, Secret Harbor is a hotel so there is a restaurant for drinks and lunch and palm trees for shade. The other beach is my favorite, Lindguist. they have picnic tables and life guards there. The apartment has beach chairs and beach towels for you to use.
All the ferries to ST. John, Tortola and Virgin Gorda depart from Red Hook, you can see them coming and going from the porch.
I always recommend renting a car as it is a great way to explore the whole island and you can even put the car on the ferry to St. John and experience the beauty of the National Park with all its beaches and trails. If you don’t want to rent a car we are just a short walk into Red Hook but it is up a big hill on the way home. There are safari busses at the bottom of the hill. They only go in one direction, clockwise, around the island. But a taxi will take you where ever you want to go.
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests