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Lion's Gate Getaway- Lush Setting. Check for seasonal discounts

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Welcome to Lion's Gate
entrance to property
sunrise
Every Morning it looks like this
The entrance to the apartment

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
1 bathroomSleeps 2

Popular amenities

  • Barbecue grill
  • Parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor space
  • Air conditioning
  • Ocean view

Explore the area

Map
St. Thomas,, Virgin Islands
  • Sapphire Beach
    ‪16 min walk‬
  • Secret Harbour Beach
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Lindquist Beach
    ‪15 min drive‬
  • St. Thomas (SPB-St. Thomas Seaplane Base)
    ‪12 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

0 bedrooms (sleeps 2)

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining Area

About this property

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

Property manager

Maxine Lavitt
Premier Host

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available
Ocean view
Barbecue grill

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Adults only
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

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

St. Thomas is home to this apartment. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Sapphire Beach and Secret Harbour 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.
Map
St. Thomas,, Virgin Islands

What's nearby

  • Sapphire Beach - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Cowpet Bay - 5 min drive - 2.8 km
  • Secret Harbour Beach - 7 min drive - 1.9 km
  • Coki Point Beach - 11 min drive - 5.0 km
  • Lindquist Beach - 15 min drive - 2.6 km

Getting around

  • St. Thomas (SPB-St. Thomas Seaplane Base) - 12 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Sapphire Beach Bar - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Sunset Grille @ Secret Harbour Beach Resort - ‬20 min walk
  • ‪An Hour Late - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Tarpon’s Table - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Coconut Cove - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Lion's Gate Getaway- Lush Setting. Check for seasonal discounts pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

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 11:00 AM.

Where is Lion's Gate Getaway- Lush Setting. Check for seasonal discounts located?

Situated in St. Thomas, this apartment building is within 1 mi (2 km) of American Yacht Harbor, Sapphire Beach, and Secret Harbour Beach. Cabes Point and Nazareth Bay 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
Rating 10 - Excellent. 114 out of 128 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 128 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 128 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 128 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 128 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.4/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Heather M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lions Gate

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!
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2025

6/10 Okay

Oliver d.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
Disliked: Location, listing accuracy
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mr L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The Views!

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.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nancy F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely Stay Overlooking Quaint Bustling Red Hook

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.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Casey L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful Stay In the Trees

I really cannot say enough about this rental. My partner and I were greeted by Max when we arrived who drove down the hill to take us up with our bags. The view from the front porch is incredible. The rental was extremely clean and well maintained. I loved looking at all the little personal touches to the house, it really felt like a well loved home. We also got to meet her husband, Chris, who met us at the grocery store to give us a ride up the hill with our groceries for the week. They both are so kind. Max was able to give us recommendations on where to go and what to stay away from. We loved spending every sunrise sitting on the porch having coffee and breakfast and watching the town below come to life. There was a perfect morning breeze on the porch every day, we really loved being able to open the windows and enjoy the open air. The shower is incredible. Open air, beautiful plants, it was so inviting and refreshing. We stocked the fridge and were able to have many meals at the house as there were plenty of dishes and utensils for us to use. Our favorite part of breakfast was getting to hang out with Louie when he would come to say hi :) If you don't mind the hike, the walk up and down the driveway is steep - but doable. You may need to take a couple of breaks every now and then but we liked it! We felt extremely safe behind the gate and were able to get away from the noise below. We loved getting to know Max and Chris and their history and would definitely stay again!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Logan F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

10/10

Incredible experience. Maxine and Chris were amazing hosts. Perfect location. Perfect views. Would recommend to anyone.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

SavvaM

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Phenomenal views, great location, caring hosts!

Maxine and Chris are kind and caring hosts, we had an incredible time!
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Stephanie W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful views

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.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

WILLIAM

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.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

6/10 Okay

Bud B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Disliked: Location

Nice Place to Spend a Week in Red Hook

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.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mackenzie G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect little getaway

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.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ying

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

6/10 Okay

Kacee S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Interesting Stay

Max our host was great. Very informative and responsive. The good- nice place to stay for a couple. Big private patio with lush surroundings. The apartment was clean and had everything we needed including beach stuff. The interesting- the host live upstairs. We thought we were going to be totally alone however we could hear their tv and construction on their other property next door. Parking spaces is very limited so we ended up parking down the steep slippery driveway and walking in and out everyday. You can not walk to a beach from this property and due to the lush nature that has not been trimmed back you can barely see the ocean from the huge porch. You need a rental car to access this property and the beach unless you get a taxi. We paid $10 per person for a cab ride up the steep road and driveway which isn’t even a quarter mile. There is a friendly dog that lives upstairs but graced us with poop on the porch and in the driveway which we had to walk up and down in the dark at night. The host also asked us to check out an hour earlier than the listing states. Over all we enjoyed our stay but this listing should be updated- minimal ocean views, semi private stay and not beach walkable.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Charles A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful location

This place was absolutely perfect, I travel a lot and enjoyed this more than 90 percent of the places I have stayed
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christina M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place to stay

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.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Peter and Robin K., gilford,nh.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lionsgate comfort

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
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gracie T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy stay, great hosts

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.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephen T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Top Rated

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.
Stayed 9 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bill S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Red Hook/Lions Gate

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!
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Charles

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.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

jaime M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely Amazing

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.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

julia n.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The best part of our trip was the stay!!

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 :)
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mallory L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful place!

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.
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Pacha S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

One of the best places we have stayed.

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
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jessica C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great for solo travelers

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.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022

About the host

Hosted by Maxine Lavitt

Host profile image
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