The Loft at Cliffside Retreat was completely rebuilt in 2019 after Hurricanes Irma and Maria destroyed the original structure. The owner loving rebuilt her childhood home for her family to enjoy for generations to come. From the pink Saltillo tiles and dark mahogany furniture, to the conch shells and the local artwork, as much of what Irma and Maria left behind was salvaged to be used in the rebuild. This home tells the story of generational love that you can feel from the moment you step inside the front door.
Arriving at The Loft is like pulling into port, and this port is in the ideal location to enjoy the best of St. Thomas island life. You truly can’t get any closer to the water without being in it or on it. Located on the beautiful Northside of St. Thomas, The Loft is also in a central location to explore everything St. Thomas has to offer!
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The Space
• As you arrive at the Loft, you walk into the open living space with a full kitchen, living room, and incredible covered balcony with views of Hull Bay, Inner & Outer Brass, and the west end of St. Thomas. On clear days you can see Puerto Rico in the distance.
• Walk through the living room and to the left, just before the bedroom, is the updated bathroom with walk in shower.
• Step out of the bathroom and on the left is the partially enclosed bedroom with a comfortable queen bed. There is AC in the bedroom but it is not fully enclosed. So if you need a really cool sleeping environment, this home might not be right for you.
• Just off the primary bedroom you will find a patio with a small outdoor dining table.
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Squarely in the middle of Northside St. Thomas, The Loft at Cliffside overlooks the old fishing hamlet of Hull Bay. This is the quiet part of St. Thomas, a place where locals live, a place to drop anchor and rest and recover. You are close to:
Beaches
• Hull Bay Beach - a three-minute drive or a twenty-minute adventurous walk from the Loft. Find snorkeling in the summer and surf in the winter. It stays fairly empty even on cruise ship days.
• Famous Magen’s Bay - less than fifteen minutes by car
• There is a secret bay nearby with the ruins of an old sugar mill. Look hard and you might find it.
Restaurants
• The Shack at Hull Bay – 3 minute drive for fish tacos, burgers, and magaritas. They host cash BINGO on Tuesdays, live music on Thursdays, and kid-friendly movie nights on Fridays. Check their socials for the monthly schedule.
• Fish Bar – 5-minute drive, fresh seafood and cocktails in a modern setting.
• Sib’s on the Mountain – 8-minute drive, casual local favorite with hearty portions and island charm.
• Brook's Bar - 13 minutes away, cash only, very casual and great for trying deliciuos local food.
• Northside Grind - 13 minutes
Groceries
• Moe’s Northside Market – 8 minutes away, great for last-minute items (a bit pricier for full hauls).
• Cost U Less – 16 minutes away, larger grocery trips are best here
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Important things to note...
• The Loft Cliffside Retreat is a stunning waterfront house with shared outdoor rental space between two units, the upper Loft and the lower Studio. While both units offer plenty of privacy, please know that the outside of the house and parking area are shared spaces. This means you might cross paths with other guests staying in the lower unit.
• There is only AC in the bedroom, which isn't completely closed off from the main living space. This means getting the temp of the room really cold will be impossible. Ice box sleepers should be aware!
• The peninsula road to reach the loft is a little rough and narrow. Drive slow, live slow, and we recommend renting an all-wheel drive vehicle. Taxis will not drive to this location, and they are not permitted on this property at any time, so a rental vehicle is a must when you stay at this home. This is also the best way to explore St. Thomas!
● Facing the sunset means that this location can get warm in the evenings. We encourage spending afternoons at the beach. If you’re sensitive to heat, avoid booking the months of July through October.
● Large ocean swells are common from November until March but can happen anytime. Many report they’ve never slept better than to the roar of the waves crashing on the rocks, but those who need silence, please beware.
● There is nothing standard about the layout of this house, it feels more like a ship. Please be aware that there are stairs inside and outside of this home that you will use daily when staying here. We allow kids and infants but please understand this property does have quite a few stairs on the interior and exterior. Your kids will need to be comfortable navigating them safely.
● There is ongoing construction in this neighborhood and directly adjacent to Cliffside Retreat. There is the potential to hear construction noise during business hours.
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Island Life...
● Tropical critters, like lizards and crabs, have a way of finding themselves indoors. They don’t bite or sting, so make friends and usher them back outside
● Power outages are a fact of life. Solar energy charges batteries that help, but they sometimes run out. While it rarely happens, this means we can not guarantee power or wifi at any time during your stay. It also means that turning off the AC before leaving for the day is crucial to extend battery life in case an outage occurs while you’re gone.
The Loft at Cliffside Retreat is for those who feel inspired by the elements. It is for the type of people who might charter a sailboat, go backpacking, or rent a treehouse for a vacation. If this sounds like you, pull into port and drop anchor!
