Longford Hideaway is a very private eco-lodging: 1 bedroom 500 sq. ft. rural cottage, with swimming pool and deck, full kitchen with open plan living and dining areas, set on the ARTfarm: a working organic Caribbean fruit, vegetable and sheep farm. (Because of the farming operations, there is a strict no-smoking and no pets policy - children are welcome!)
The friendly owners live on this historic Danish-built property – the modern pool was originally the plantation cistern! With over 40 years of living on the island, we are always ready to offer assistance and suggestions. Our location on the south shore of St. Croix makes a great base for exploring the island. Resort beaches are as close as two minutes by car, or take a mile walk, jog or 4x4 drive through pastures to our secluded two mile stretch of wild beaches. Cattle roam the nearby hills. Our south shore beaches are a snorkeler's or surfcasting fisherman's delight (permit fishing guide available). The Cottage sleeps 2-4 adults, with full kitchen, linens, pool, WIFI access, TV with local channels, ceiling fans, A/C, BBQ grill. The sister vacation rental on the property, the Longford Hideaway Greathouse, has three bedrooms and sleeps up to 6.
St. Croix, the largest of the US Virgin Islands, has a relaxed and rural vibe. Home to many artists, dancers, jazz, latin and reggae musicians, poets, farmers, and other “culture bearers”, there is a strong sense of “Crucian” identity here to be enjoyed at street festivals, parades, performances and gallery exhibitions. There are also fine dining restaurants, beautiful beaches, resorts, golf courses, rainforest hikes, scuba and snorkeling adventures, sailing, kayak and paddleboarding excursions, and many other Caribbean attractions! Driving on the left can be a challenge for the first day or so, but easily mastered. Friendly locals are always ready to help, and nothing is more than 40 minutes drive from tip to tip of the island. Weather is generally 85ºF and sunny!
Inside the Cottage you'll find local art on the walls, some by family members. Windows look out onto gardens. The kitchen includes a full-sized fridge and freezer, gas range, pots and pans, blender, toaster oven and microwave. The living area has a dining table, couch and easy chair. Closets are spacious with basic cleaning and tidying supplies as well as a cooler for the beach and other details to make your stay comfortable. The full bath includes bath and beach towels.
The bedroom has a full size and a twin bed. There is a safe in the closet. Air-conditioning is available if desired, but the bedroom is situated on the breeziest side of the house with a shaded porch outside. With the ceiling fan on, it is generally quite comfortable. At night you can hear the waves rolling in on the barrier reef of the beach to the south.
The interior of our cottage was completely repainted in summer 2014. We also recushioned the couch, and freshened up a few other furnishings. We're adding lots of new photos to our website and this listing, and are very proud of how fresh and bright the cottage is with this update!
Outside, the Longford Hideaway Cottage has mature trees, shady decks, with the pool deck a few steps up offering a peek of the sea beyond and the hills surrounding the farm. The barbecue grill with propane tank, chairs and tables, and shaded roof areas offer outdoor dining options. Tropical flowers and orchids that owner Valeria has cultivated on the trees surround the cottage. Hummingbirds and wildlife abound in the gardens. Ask the farm staff for a tour!
The Longford Hideaway property and adjoining farm use a solar power grid for electricity, grey water systems for irrigating ornamental plantings, organic growing techniques for food crops and livestock, non-toxic formulas for cleaning, a salt-chlorinator for chemical reduction in the swimming pool, fuel efficient vehicles, and waste-stream reduction practices. You can learn more about our eco-friendly efforts on our website.
Estate Longford is decidedly rustic. The plantation-era buildings are modernized but established in the mid 18th century and well-loved. Our ecologically minded philosophy means we maintain rather than replace things. We find that visitors appreciate the 'farm thrift' that allows us to share our home and way of life. If a guest finds that an amenity of the rental is no longer serviceable and lets us know immediately, we are quick to respond and remedy the situation. On a small island where nearly everything must be imported, our family has learned to minimize, to care for things and make them last. Not everything in the rental is brand new, but it will be clean, pleasant and functional or, in the case of an oversight, we will make it so!
Longford Hideaway is a unique vacation experience, and over the 20+ years we've had rental guests come, we've found that people are relaxed, happy and entranced by this quiet nature preserve of a bygone era! We look forward to your visit!