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Established in 1949, Cottages by the Sea is a family owned and operated, beachfront, boutique hotel, located just south of the town of Frederiksted on the island of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. Our goal is to provide our guests with a quiet, friendly, relaxed, truly authentic Caribbean beach vacation.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Bay View
Mid-range
Languages Spoken
English
Location
127A Smithfield Rd, Frederiksted 00840-3677 St. Croix
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Cottages By The Sea is lauded for its cozy, inviting atmosphere and tasteful decor, with many guests finding it to be a fantastic value for a seaside escape. Its prime location is celebrated for breathtaking sunsets and easy access to local attractions.
The cleanliness and unique charm of the rooms receive high marks, as does the attentive and friendly service from staff. Reviewers also rave about the amenities, such as excellent snorkeling and complimentary bikes, which enhance the stay at this beachfront gem.
Location
Beachfront
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Affordable
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Well-appointed
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We visited in early March2020, the water was slightly cool and the air temperature was perfect (75-78). A+ rating all around. Excellent reception and tour of the property and even a small welcome gift that was much appreciated. The property is gorgeous and well described and represented on the website. (no hidden surprises or misrepresentations as we have sometimes encountered at various island lodgings). We stayed in Commodore with our college 'kids' who are 6+ feet and they fit well on the bunks and they even added in an extra twin in case we needed it. The king bed is amazing comfortable. We used lots of sunscreen but bugs were not an issue at all this time of year. A nice breeze flows through the property. We are early 50s and might have been the youngest couple there at the time. Many had been 'wintering' on the island and we so enjoyed talking with the older folks.
Being exhausted after three flights, a rental car and 14 hours of travel, we were hoping to find some excellent food nearby. Smoke STX is down the street - smoked meats and a beer, perfect. Everywhere we ate was fresh and tasty: Louie & Nachos, Rum Runners, Rhythms at Rainbow Beach and Lost Dog Cafe (excellent pizza).
A lovely Sunset every evening, bikes to ride, floats, snorkel gear and even extra sunscreen. Choose any room, they all look great.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Cottages are on a great beach on the west end of St. Croix. It's quiet and relaxing. If you want to party, stay in Christiansted. The staff were friendly and helpful. Nice room and property. We loved sitting on the beach every evening, watching the sun go down. Frederiksted is a quick drive, walk or bike ride down the road. They have bikes you can borrow. The room has everything you need to cook meals, should you choose to do so. We went to the store and bought stuff for breakfast, but other then that, we ate out. I'm not a fan of cooking while on vacation. They have the fluffiest bath towels and also supply beach towels. Our bed was extremely comfortable. There are games, books and beach items to borrow. I can go on and on about the positives of the cottages.
The 2 reasons I have for not giving a 5 rating (I'd actually rate the Cottages a 4.5) are: 1) The room we stayed in could use a little love. The larger then necessary holes in the wall for wiring, were unsightly. Plus just about anything metal in the bathroom was rusting or corroded. It's a beach front property, I get these things will happen. Having said that, I know they've been doing some updating, so I'm sure they'll be taking care of these types of issues. 2) For the most part the room was very clean, it's the lack of attention to detail that I noticed. The panel edges on the inside of the bathroom door, where noticeably dusty. I realize this isn't something that would be done once a week, but once every month or two. The back half of the top of the fridge probably hadn't been dusted in several weeks, but the front half was dusted more recent. I could see the swipe mark halfway back. I don't generally check the top of refrigerators when I stay somewhere, but it's a short fridge and I'm tall. I couldn't help but notice. And lastly, I know this is a beach front property and mold is going to show up in the shower, but please use some bleach occasionally. It will get rid of it in no time.
I hate to even bring up the few negatives, when the positives outweigh them, but I do think it's the details that truly make a place stand out.
We had a wonderful stay and highly recommend the Cottages for a nice, relaxing place to stay.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Best views would be beach front rooms, but any room would be a good one.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
We stayed in the Caravelle cottage and it was exactly like the pictures inside. They had dishwashing soap, ice cube trays, shampoo/conditioners, and bar soap provided as well as towels/beach towels. It’s a regular Mr Coffee pot with filters provided. We brought half gallon water bottles to refill instead of buying plastic water bottles. The water was all lukewarm, not cold, because it was around 90 outside, but it tastes fine right out of the tap. We kept a full jug in the fridge for cold drinking water. There is a full sized fridge and freezer and a smaller than normal stove and oven that we just used for reheating leftovers. The bed was a tempurpedic and was extremely comfortable with an abundance of pillows. Every morning I woke up to the beautiful tourquoise sea right out of the window. There was nothing at all missed at the cottages as far as comfort, accommodation, or attention to detail. It was spotlessly clean with housekeeping to bring fresh towels on request. The beach lounges were in great condition and never crowded.
Next door the restaurant was convenient, I recommend the Mahi balls! I had them as an entree with coconut rice and needed a to-go box it was so plentiful. I’m currently craving the dipping sauce. Over and over again we were shocked to get more than we paid for. I know all these places are small businesses owned by regular people who dared to dream so I was happy to support them and wasn’t at all disappointed in the service or quality. I was just enjoying the scenery.
But as they say, the best things in life are free. I recommend bringing your own snorkel gear because the sea life is out of this world! We spent a lot of time snorkeling at the reef right in front of our “home” which was absolutely amazing. I mean, literally walk out the door into the sea, look down, and there it is. I saw marine life up close that I’ve only ever seen before in pictures/nature shows. Yes, we saw sea turtles! It is very close to downtown Fredricksted and snorkeling off the pier was the most colorful and magical corals I saw during this trip. Also please note: there have only been 4 shark attacks at St Croix in the past 100 years! You have nothing to worry about diving around the pier or on the reefs.
I loved our location because on the Christiansted side of the island the wind was higher and the sea was rough. It was exhausting to snorkel over there fighting the current and the waves. But we were well compensated for our efforts. We plan on coming back soon and recommending this venue to anyone that needs a break from the craziness in America. It was so nice to slow down, live in the moment, and just be happy.
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Came here to celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary and stayed in the Cruzan cottage, which may well be the best one due to the lovely view from its own private porch. We enjoyed having coffee, cocktails, playing cards, and just relaxing on that porch with the gorgeous view of the beach and sea. You could also hear the waves crashing against the shore while sleeping at night in the cottage. Priceless if you’re into that kind of thing! Carmen was our housekeeper and took wonderful care of us. We can easily see why so many of their guests are repeat customers year after year. This place has all the comforts of home in the cottages plus bikes to use, snorkel gear (left by previous guests), swim noodles and inflatables as well as a bocce game, assorted board games, and a little library! They have a washer and dryer for use for a couple $ worth of quarters each and most charmingly- a couple of sweet kitties (Fred and Coco) that walk around and visit from time to time. The beach is beautiful, with a perfect area to walk in and hard sand on the bottom. You can snorkel right off the beach too! They have lounges w umbrellas and two new gas grills that are available and included in the pricing. At night the whole place is lined with colorful Christmas lights, giving it the most charming and festive feel. There is a sense of community among the guests as well which makes it easy to get to know people. The cottage itself was updated and had a nice island feel to it. This was the most relaxing vacation I’ve ever had and it is certainly an idyllic setting. If you can get in here-book it!
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Date of stay: March 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cottages has been owned and operated by the same family for several generations. Owner and staff were very friendly and attentive. We stayed in the Coconut cottage which had a great view of the sea. It was close enough to the water that you could hit it with a rock. Don't be deceived by the exterior of the cottages; the brutal Caribbean sun takes its toll. The interiors have been updated, tastefully appointed, and ours was very modern.
We had a late flight and arrived around midnight. As previously arranged, the night watchman met us and showed us to our room. The air conditioner was on when we arrived and there was bottled water and homemade banana nut bread in the refrigerator which was greatly appreciated.
We are scuba divers and this was a great place for us to stay and was close to the dive operation we used in Frederiksted (see separate review). The best review we can give is that we will return to the Cottages!
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Date of stay: November 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:Review the property map on the website as there are excellent photos of each cottage
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How lucky were we to find such a wonderful place as Cottages. A small, quiet and peaceful slice of PARADISE! On our first visit we met several people that had been visiting Cottages every year for decades and we plan to do the same, visit Cottages every year for years to come! The staff is Wonderful! Friendly, helpful etc. We have stayed in 4 different cottages on our trips all of which are uniquely decorated, clean and comfortable. The beach is just steps away and never crowded, even at full capacity or on a cruise ship day. Overall St. Croix is a hidden paradise where we have felt safe traveling the island day or night. Excellent restaurants, beautiful small beaches peppered around the island, great diving and snorkeling especially at the pier and Buck Island which is a national monument.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Just got home from a 6 day stay at cottages by the sea. Unbelievably beautiful and already can’t wait to go back. My husband planned this trip as my 50th birthday gift and I am so pleased that I turned 50 right on this gorgeous beach.
We stayed in calabash and it was perfect for us. The air conditioning was great in the room and the little kitchen had everything that we needed to make breakfast every morning. Dish soap and trash bags are provided as well as plenty of towels… Even beach towels. There is a hairdryer, and iron and ironing board and a safe for valuables. We had a king bed in our room and it was extremely comfortable which was a pleasant surprise. Plenty of pillows. Our little porch was perfect for morning coffee and even eating breakfast outside. It was a dream… Absolutely perfect and I would not choose to stay anywhere else.
There is one washer and dryer and it cost two dollars to wash and two dollars to dry. The washer and dryer stayed busy so you kind of have to watch close if you want a turn. The beach side Café next-door is a great option for a few meals if you don’t want to venture out after a long day on the beach. There are plenty of bicycles available to use and also a basket full of sunscreen and lotion that people have left behind. We did borrow some of those.
There are multiple sets of beach chairs out on the sand. We had no trouble finding empty ones to sit in.
There is amazing snorkeling right in front of the complex. Crystal clear water and beautiful fish and other sea life to be seen just steps into the water. There are a few large rocks but water shoes are not necessary because mostly it is soft white sand.
Best vacation ever.
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Check a bag and bring snacks and food and sunscreen from home. Things are very expensive on the...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The room was perfect for me and my friend, we loved not having to share a bed but still able to share a room! The location is perfect and I am pretty sure Cottages by the Sea sits on the best beach in St. Croix. We went to a few, but really there was no reason to leave the property except to check out the Landing at Cane Bay for some Pain Killers of course! We also loved the full kitchen so we were able to cook some of our meals. In the calm waters on the property we were able to float in the clear water and see beautiful fish without even dipping our heads in with googles! The staff was so kind and accommodating. I can't think of a single bad thing to say!
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Date of stay: November 2021
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:I booked my room through my Chase Sapphire credit card points.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was my first trip to St. Croix, and my cousin and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Cottages. We stayed in the Coral cottage which was about 10 feet to the beach. Everyone was very nice and friendly, the rooms were cleaned almost daily, and the front staff, especially Sandi, went above and beyond to help answer our questions and be accommodating. I would definitely come back and stay at the Cottages again.
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Date of stay: January 2021
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:pick a room overlooking the beach. you won't regret it.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We really enjoyed staying here. We had the Compass Rose cottage right on the beach. The staff was very sweet and extremely helpful. I HIGHLY recommend renting a car if you stay here (I did not) as there is not anywhere close to get groceries and the one restaurant next door gets booked up quickly (be sure to get reservations). However, they did recommend a great taxi service to take us to Christensted and they have bikes for you use. I enjoyed riding them into town to the little corner store to pick some stuff up for my cottage.
The downside to this place is that it is pretty loud as it has jalousie windows (slatted storm windows) which allowed not only me to hear everyone outside, but they could hear me also. I felt like I had to keep it down so that I didn't bother anyone.
One other thing to keep in mind is that even though the porch is private for you, there are a lot of people that walk by it to access the beach. I am a very friendly person and love to meet new people, so that didn't bother me at all.
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Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Around $35 for taxi from the airport. Kinda expensive. No market but a few good places to eat and ride a bike. Pollys is great and just a 15 minute bike ride.
It is. A 15-20 minutes walk, but you can also use the bikes that are provided for free by Cottages by the Sea. And you're advised not to walk - or bike - after dark.
Everyone we have dealt with is amazingly helpful. Their website provides a great deal of information. The contact information is listed there. I cannot put the link here, but search in google and they are easy to find. It would be a beautiful place for a wedding.
There are more places to choose from in the Frederiksted area.
PRICE RANGE
C$229 - C$388 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
cottages by the sea hotel frederiksted
LOCATION
CaribbeanU.S. Virgin IslandsSt. CroixFrederiksted
NUMBER OF ROOMS
27
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Cottages By The Sea - UPDATED 2024 Prices, Reviews & Photos
Frequently Asked Questions about Cottages By The Sea
Which popular attractions are close to Cottages By The Sea?
Nearby attractions include Rhythms at Rainbow Beach (3.2 km), St. George Village Botanical Garden (6.2 km), and Sandy Point Beach And National Wildlife Refuge (2.7 km).
Are there any historical sites close to Cottages By The Sea?
Many travellers enjoy visiting St. George Village Botanical Garden (6.2 km), Estate Mount Washington Plantation (1.9 km), and Hams Bluff Lighthouse (7.7 km).
