Listed by Sarah Pennywitt, Smith College

Link below is to our VRBO listing.  Please contact me directly if interested in renting!



Cay Syrah is a newly constructed, 6-bedroom (5 kings, 1 bunk), 5.5 bath villa with 5,000 square feet of airconditioned indoor space on three floors.  Cay Syrah also has 1,200 square feet of covered outdoor space, 800 square feet of sunny pool deck with outdoor kitchen, and a surprise 800 square foot roof top sun/stargazing deck. Located on the west side of St John, Cay Syrah is a short 3-minute drive to Cruz Bay, and boasts amazing views of Pillsbury Sound and sunsets over St Thomas.

Cay Syrah is perfect for a multi-generational family vacation as it is a handicap accessible house with a grand, and gracious ramp connecting the top two levels. The Villa was designed to accommodate the mobility challenged and features accessible bathrooms with easy entry no-curb showers that also have seats, grab bars, and both a fixed head and hand-held shower. Function and beauty coexist in this villa!  While not fully ADA compliant, very few villas (if any) on St. John can compare with Cay Syrah’s accessibility. Please ask about the equipment we have available should you need it while renting.

The air-conditioned top level of Cay Syrah includes an open floor plan with great room, dining room chef’s kitchen and one of the en-suite bedrooms.  A full 12-foot-wide pocketing, sliding door system bring indoor and outdoor living together with separate comfortable seating and dining areas on the covered outdoor deck.  The chef’s kitchen features custom mahogany cabinets, granite counter tops, a separate full-sized refrigerator and full-sized freezer, a double oven and 5 burner gas cook-top, and 2 full-sized dishwashers. The kitchen island is topped with a beautiful onyx slab. We have visited St John at least annually for over 20 years now and enjoy hosting dinner parties with friends. This house is designed for just such fun and has accommodated several small weddings and other festive celebrations. Such events require prior approval.

The rooftop Sun/Star Deck is a hit with every guest. Accessed from the main level balcony, the huge, finished deck measures nearly 20’ x 40’ and is equipped with chaise lounge chairs. Safety first! We increased the railing height to 4 feet to make even the most height-adverse guest comfortable.

The lower level of the house, the garden apartment, is not handicap accessible. Access to this level is by exterior stairs either from the driveway or the pool deck. The garden level apartment has one king bedroom, one small bunk bedroom, a great room with multiple sofas, full kitchen, dining room and one bathroom. The furnishings and finish are identical to the level of the top two floors. It’s a great place for any guests seeking a bit more privacy.

More than one guest has commented that our Tiki Hut bar rivals the best commercial huts on island. The large, covered wood framed and multi-level wood floored hut has multiple places to “park” and relax with your favorite beverage. A fixed poured concrete bar has 4+ barstools and there are other conversation areas with tables and Adirondack chairs. Dimmable lighting makes the hut glow at night, and 2 ceilings fans keep it comfortably cool.