St. Thomas Villas by

Talk about exclusive: secluded between Trunk and Cinnamon Bay, Delfina is one of St John’s only villas to offer private North Shore beach access. Part of a gated enclave, it’s also just a short swim from the Peter Bay reef, where snorkellers can regularly encounter sea turtles and manta rays.

You’ll want to spend time gawping at the Caribbean Sea. Delfina’s elegant crescent-shaped pool affords tremendous views as far as the distant British Virgin Islands, as do the chaise longues and shaded wet bar – handy for poolside cocktails – around its deck. Other outdoor spaces include a hot tub, a barbecue terrace and the grassy garden whose palm trees suspend a hammock.

The air-conditioned, multi-level interior is massive – over 11,000 square feet. One whole floor is devoted to entertainment courtesy of a 50-inch flatscreen TV, board games, DVDs, darts, an Xbox, a pinball machine and a pool table. Elsewhere is a small office and a stone-and-granite kitchen good enough for premium chefs. Sliding doors lead to a wraparound balcony, and wicker-chair dining and seating areas rippled by trade winds.

Arranged across the various floors, the five huge ensuite rooms are decorated with the same colourful West Indian hues. Each has a private, sea-facing balcony, a TV and a coffeemaker, and a pair of them boast romantic four-poster beds. This typifies Delfina’s flexibility: it suits families, friends, honeymooners and small corporate retreats alike.