Sugar Bay House St. Croix

Live the sweet life in an elegant hilltop villa that links St. Croix’s intriguing past with today's most luxurious lifestyles.

This charming West Indian home features a 40-foot private pool and overlooks the sea with a stunning view of the Salt River Bay where Columbus arrived with his fleet in 1493.

Enter through double gates of solid mahogany to a spacious outdoor gallery surrounding the custom-shaped pool. Here, catch up on your reading in a colonial planter's chair under the shade of palm trees, or stretch out on one of three cushioned lounge chairs and enjoy the sun or the stars.

A breezy gazebo is perfect for lunch in a bathing suit, complete with a handy grill and speakers for background music. And at cocktail time, Harry's Bar is irresistible—it's your own private poolside pub with a gleaming mahogany bar and four barstools.

From the pool area, Harry's Bar leads into a magnificent Danish yellow great room and dining area with a spectacular window wall facing the Caribbean. The entertainment center is complete with DVD/VCR, iPod docking station, satellite television, and even satellite radio. Ahead is a crisp white kitchen with all the culinary gear you might need.

The villa's bedrooms all face the pool through French doors and are decorated in subtle tropical hues with tasteful classic West Indian-style furnishings. All four have private baths and air conditioning to use if you wish, though island trade winds will provide natural cooling.

Running the length of the pool are three bedrooms. Two have twin beds that can be converted to kings, the first in spun-sugar pink with a shower/tub bath and the second in powder blue with Wedgwood accents. The third bedroom, with its soft mango glow and palm theme accessories, houses a king-size four poster bed.

At the end of the pool, steps lead up to the fourth bedroom's pavilion with pale lime green walls, a queen-sized four poster bed, and tester canopy overhead. This spacious suite has its own wet bar with refrigerator, and another set of French doors to a patio.

Rooms feature high beamed ceilings, traditionally employed in island residences for centuries and throughout the house are finely-crafted mahogany furnishings inspired by the plantation era, including hand-made local tiles in Danish yellow. Look closely and you'll see inlaid accents carved from authentic ballast brick brought to the island on 19th century sailing ships that carried sugar and rum back to Europe.

From the great room or the pool area, watch sailors come and go on the great bay below. If you are a Scuba diver or would enjoy learning, everything you'll need is available at the marina's dive center.

Your villa is ideally located at the center of the island's north shore, an easy drive to either of the island's two colonial towns, Christiansted or Frederiksted, for shopping, sightseeing, and fine dining. And just minutes away is Cane Bay, a spot favored by locals for its diving, snorkeling, and beachfront restaurants.

Whether you choose water sports or exploration to fill your days, you'll find Sugar Bay House to be an ideal base.