A Week on St. Croix's East End

People come to St. Croix to slow down, and the East End is where that happens fastest. Here's how a week tends to go for guests at The Cerulean — loose on purpose, because half the point of a private villa is not having a schedule.

Day one — arrive and do nothing

Fly into Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX), pick up a rental car, and drive out to the East End. By the time you're through the gate there's a charcuterie board waiting. Unpack, get in the pool, and let the first sunset happen from the deck. Don't plan anything else.

Day two — the beach out front

The villa's own beach steps down from the pool deck into calm, reef-protected water. Bring water shoes for the entry and a mask — the snorkeling starts a few feet out. This is the day you realize you don't have to drive anywhere.

Day three — Jack and Isaac Bay

Drive five minutes to the trailhead near Point Udall and walk in to Jack and Isaac Bay, two protected beaches inside a 300-acre nature preserve. There's no road, no snack bar, no crowd — just sand and clear water. Pack your own water and shade.

Day four — Christiansted

Head into town, about fifteen minutes away. Walk the boardwalk, look up at the yellow walls of Fort Christiansvaern, and have a long lunch by the harbor. Christiansted is where most of the island's restaurants and shops are.

Day five — on the water

Book a day sail or a snorkel trip — Buck Island's reef is the island's most famous, and the concierge can arrange a charter. Or stay home and do a second beach day; nobody's judging.

Day six — golf, or not

The Reef Golf Course is a nine-hole round in the hills over Teague Bay, close to the villa and easy to walk. Prefer the pool? The pool wins a lot of these mornings.

Day seven — sunrise, then home

The villa faces east, so save the last morning for coffee on the veranda while the sun comes up over the water. Then it's a short drive back to the airport — no passport needed on the way home, since you never left the United States.