Over the years, we have learned the basic things that people always want to know: about St. Croix, about Longford Hideaway, about getting to St. Croix inexpensively.

If you think of something that is unanswered on this page, please email us, or call (340)773-2386 and we will do our best to answer your question!

about visiting St. Croix

• Where is St. Croix? How big is the island?
• Do I need a passport or visa to visit St. Croix?
• What is the weather like?
• When is the best time of year to visit?
• What activities are there on St. Croix?
• Could you send us a map of the island and a list of places to see and things to do?
• Where is Longford located on St. Croix?
• Can I use US dollars in St. Croix?

about Longford Hideaway

• How many rental units does Longford have?
• How large are the accommodations?
• Does the cottage have a... refrigerator? phone? air conditioner? safe?
• What are the views from the cottage?
• How close is Longford Hideaway to the beach?
• Is it a nice beach? Is the beach private?
• What kind of ranch is Longford?

  
  ...rental rates and policies

• Is this the high (busy) or low (slow) season - what will the rate be?
• What is the reservation/cancellation policy?
• Do you take credit cards?
• Do you have special rates for longer rentals?
• Can I go fishing? What about boat rentals?
• Can I bring my kids to Longford Hideaway?
• Can I bring pets to St. Croix?

about travel arrangements

• Do you work with travel agents?
• Can you arrange for a car to pick us up at the airport?
• How do I get around on the island? Is it possible to walk to town?
• We are honeymooners!
• We are triathletes!

Where is St. Croix? How big is the island?

St. Croix is the largest and easternmost of the three United States territories collectively known as the U. S. Virgin Islands. Located within the Caribbean chain of islands, St. Croix is approximately 100 miles south-east of San Juan, Puerto Rico and 1,100 miles east south-east of Miami, Florida. Shuttle planes run from St. Croix to sister island St. Thomas hourly, and the flight takes about 20 minutes.

St. Croix is only 84 square miles- 28 miles long and 7 miles wide at its widest (so everything is relatively "near"!) and encompasses an incredibly large range of climates, from cactus covered desert conditions at the far east end to a lush rainforest along the west coast of the island with mango and other fruit trees growing wild.

St. Croix enjoys a relatively low population of 60,000, with only two major towns and a lot of rural farm areas. It is a much quieter and quainter island than bustling St. Thomas.

Where is Longford located on St. Croix?

(How far from the beach and the rest of civilization, restaurants, fishing charters, diving, etc. are you located? What geographical features are you near? Mountains, waterfalls, rain forest, etc...? Are you near town and/or restaurants or more isolated?)

The Cottage is located at Longford on the Southshore of St. Croix, about 1/4 of the island's length from the easternmost tip.

The beach is a short walk from the cottage, town is a ten-minute drive from Longford, and everything on the island is less than an hour's drive from everything else! We are in a more natural, rural section of St. Croix but you will find that every civilized convenience is easily accessible by car.

Can I use U. S. dollars on St. Croix?

Yes you can. We are a U. S. territory. Our official language is English and our official currency is the U. S. dollar.

How many rental units does Longford have?

(Am I correct in assuming that this is a rental cottage and not a hotel? Is this the only such cottage you operate?)

You are very correct in assuming that. We only operate one rental cottage. There will be no vacationers other than yourself at Longford.

Longford St. Croix is our home, where we have lived and run a cattle ranch for nearly thirty years. Longford Hideaway is a small(450 sq. ft.), cozy cottage that sits apart from the main greathouse on an old estate. The cottage is like an extension of our own home in that we keep it very clean, and we built and furnished it to be a comfortable and cheerful place for family and guests alike. We love to cook, so the cottage has a wonderful full size kitchen with pretty tile counters. We love the views around our house of the grassy pastures, the sea and the South shore's rounded hills, so we built a shaded deck above the cottage beside the pool to enjoy this.

Although we have flower beds and fruit trees at Longford, you will not find the overwatered- emerald green lawns and perfectly paved sidewalks of a big Marriot resort here. We are a working cattle ranch and farm, not a commercial tourist attraction. Vacationing at Longford is not like staying at a hotel chain. Of course you'll have privacy, clean linens and all the basic necessities during your stay, but it's a more personal and unique experience, like staying at the house of a friend.

How large are the accommodations?

Our only offering is a one bedroom very private and cozy cottage, comfortably appointed to sleep two to four. The cottage is set up like a railroad apartment. In the bedroom there's a twin-size bed and a queen-size bed. In the living room there's a queen-size pull-out sofa. Sliding doors provide privacy between the bedroom and living room. Open to the living room is the dining area and kitchen. The kitchen is complete with microwave, full size fridge, coffemaker, toaster, oven, and dishes, pots, utensils, etc. The bathroom, off the front entryway, has a shower and full bath, linens, and hot water.

Built alongside the cottage and elevated is a pool 9' x 18', 6' deep throughout, with a surrounding sun deck, lounge chairs and a shaded table area for outside meals. The view from the deck is of beautiful pastures, rolling hills and the Caribbean Sea in the background. There's also a barbeque grill on the wraparound front deck of the cottage, for any cook-out urges you may have! All in all it's a relaxing place. If you want seclusion and tranquility, this is it.

Is the cottage large enough for two couples?

There is room for up to five adults. We wouldn't say the cottage is huge, so unless you're good friends you might be a little too cozy!

How far of a walk is it to the closest beach?

Our private beach is a very pleasant ten-fifteen minute walk from the cottage along a private trail that meanders through a pasture. The beach is accessible only to a few local residents, mostly snorkelers and fishermen.

You can definitely swim and snorkel there! Snorkelling at our beach we have seen many beautiful fish, sea turtles, lobsters, octopus, starfish, seahorses... There are beautiful sunrises and sunsets to photograph along our south-facing beach, and lovely seagrape and mangrove trees.

Ha'Penny Beach, just 3 minutes up SouthShore Road by car, is also quite lovely for relaxing and swimming, with a more "postcard-like" mile-long stretch of white sand and palm trees.

Can I go fishing? What about boat rentals?

Bring your tackle! You can line fish right off our beach. Our beach is very popular for bonefish and permit fishing (permit is a type of fish!) amongst people and pelicans alike. We've also caught jacks, red snappers, grunts, barracuda, moray eels, wahoo and a variety of other Caribbean reef fish.

Let us know in advance if you would like a guide for fishing - we have a fishing guide living on the premises. Luca is an experienced permit guide, and the price is $120 for three hours of permit fishing, or night fishing on the flats at the edge of the reef.

We have two kayaks for rent, a one-seater and a two-seater. We will drop off and pick up guests and kayak equipment at nearby Great Pond Bay (which has excellent snorkelling!) for a half day, $75 for the two seater and $50 for the single kayak.

Charter boats can take you further out beyond the reefs to catch big game fish. There are also charter sailing tours to snorkelling and scuba diving spots, and daytrips to Buck Island.

What activities are there on St. Croix?

Our small Island offers:

• many beautiful beaches with lots of great snorkeling
• historical points of interest
• guided nature hikes and bike tours
• duty-free port shopping
• Buck Island National Park Monument
• watersports- scuba diving, windsurfing, sailing, fishing charters, etc.
• golf and tennis
• horseback riding- lessons and trail and beach rides
• fine dining in various price ranges
• fun nightlife- live reggae bands, dance clubs, taverns

I'm looking for a honeymoon getaway.

To date we've had three honeymoon couples stay at Longford. The last pair that honeymooned here spent two very happy weeks. They rented a car but they barely used it since they spent most of their time swimming in the pool or walking around the cottage, either to the beach or the hills.

There would only be two of us renting the cottage. So does that mean there would be no other people around? 

You will most likely only encounter the owners, Chicco and Valeria Gasperi, while at Longford. The cottage is near a tiny cluster of houses in the middle of a cattle ranch. The ranch hands and other farm workers are not often near the greathouse, and the ranch itself is in a very undeveloped section of the South Shore. There are no tourists at Longford so it's easy to enjoy the quiet and the surrounding hills and pastures.

How private is the private beach?

It's protected by locked fences, and accessible only to a few local residents, mostly fishermen. You'll almost never encounter people on our beach, except occasionally at dusk when someone is line fishing.

We would have the pool all to ourselves?

The pool will be for your exclusive use during your stay at the cottage.

How secluded is the cottage?

The cottage is very private. It is set back from the main greathouse and has a shaded porch and some trees growing around for more privacy. The bedroom windows face flowering shrubs and fruit trees, and a scenic pasture to the east with beautiful sunrises.

We are triathletes!

Welcome to St. Croix, home of “the BEAST!!” Our cottage is situated in prime training land. It’s prime because we’re in one of the most rural sections of St. Croix. The paved road along the farm is not a main thoroughfare. Traffic is sporadic, with short spurts of activity around 8am and 5pm. Three dirt roads/trails immediately adjacent to Longford also have a very low traffic index. Trails leading to the beach, through the pastures and to hill tops are mostly untravelled except by our placid Senepol cattle.

Serious athletes will also appreciate the full-size kitchen in the cottage which can help you to stick to special training diets, as opposed to the unpredictability of eating out. So pack your pasta!

What are the views from the cottage?

Longford is an old estate surrounded by what used to be cultivated fields. Presently the fields are used to graze cattle. The estate is on a flat plane of land that slowly rises up from the shore line for about 3 miles until it reaches a line of rolling hills.

Besides the Estate buildings, all in a 3 acre area, there are no other buildings. This means that view from the cottage and its pool deck is quiet, beautiful nature. All you'll see is stretches of grass interrupted by an occasional tree. To one side you'll see undeveloped hills and on the other side is the sea. We're a short walk to the sea and on most nights you can hear the waves on the reef.

How do I get around on the island? Is it possible to walk to town?

From the cottage there is no need of a car to access our beach and the hikes around, but you will need a car or a bike to get to the stores, the restaurants and fast food places. There is public transportation on the island, but it does not service the secluded route where we are.

The closest Market/Grocery is about 7 minutes by car. Christiansted is the closest town to Longford and is about ten minutes over the hills by car. The entire island of St. Croix is 84 square miles, making the most distant points less than an hour’s leisurely drive away.

We suggest renting a car for trips into town and for exploring our Island. You could also consider bike rentals. Rental cars are available from the airport as well as in town. Reserve a week in advance. Here are some phone numbers you can call for rates; of course every company has different policies; most have unlimited mileage.

Budget Rent-A-Car	(800)472-3325 (809)778-9636
Thrifty Car Rental	(809)773-7200 fax (809)773-7202
Midwest Auto Rentals**	(809)772-0438
Olympic-Ace Rent-A-Car**	(800)344-5776 fax (809)773-6870
Avis Rent-A-Car	(800)331-1084
Hertz	(800)654-3001 (800)654-2280
Caribbean Jeep & Rent-A-Car of St.Croix	(809)773-7227
Centerline Car Rental	(809)778-0450

**Mention "St. Croix This Week" Ad on direct reservation for 10% off*

For a week's economy rental in the low season you'll probably pay somewhere between $200 and $230 but the prices fluctuate with demand.

Can I bring my kids to Longford?

St. Croix is a wonderful vacation spot for a family, and we think the farm at Longford is particularly fun for kids since they'll get an up-close look at our big red cows, our dogs, chickens, and the other animals around the ranch. St. Croix in general has lots for kids to do. There are horseback riding lessons on the beach in Frederiksted, and scuba and sailing lessons available on the island, too, both for kids and their parents. There are environmental hikes and kayak tours. One of our favorite family activities is a chartered picnic sailing day to Buck Island National Monument, a tiny deserted island off the North Shore of St. Croix which features a scenic hiking trail and an underwater snorkeling trail with lots of beautiful coral and fish.

Can I bring my pets to St. Croix?

We ask that you leave your pets at home. We don't allow pets in the cottage, and it is difficult to bring animals into and out of the US Virgin Islands due to airline regulations. However, if you like, we have plenty of little furry darlings on the farm who can't wait to make your acquaintance!

When is the best time of year to visit St. Croix?

During the high season, December 15th through Easter, the weather is at its most pleasantly coolest. The air is very clear so colors appear brighter, and, because of the holidays and the highest peak of tourism, more activities, including music festivals, cultural fairs and art shows, are planned throughout St. Croix. For example, New Year's is a terrific time to visit St. Croix as we have Carnival, Jump-Ups and parades during the holiday season.

During the low season months of summer, temperatures are 10 degrees warmer on average, and colors are slightly subdued by the atmospheric phenomenon of Sahara dust brought in by the winds- however, sea activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling are at their peak with calm, warm waters. Special events and activities are also planned throughout the summer, but on a lesser scale.

The quietest times on St. Croix are during the low season, from mid-April through December 14th, but since our very private cottage is the only rental on our property and our beach has very limited access to the public, you won't notice much difference. Longford is always a very peaceful place and is virtually unaffected by the yearly ebb and flow of tourists!

What is the weather like on St. Croix?

In the winter months(December through March), you'll experience balmy temperatures in the high 70's and mid 80's. It's nice and breezy, which keeps the mosquitos to a minimum.

In the summer months(June through September), the weather is slightly hotter and the seas are calmer.

Generally speaking, we have gorgeous blue skies and gentle breezes with excellent cloud watching. If it rains, it's usually a quick squall that passes within half an hour.

Late summer/early fall is hurricane season. Longford Hideaway has weathered many of them through the years. It is quite an experience, which we found enlightening and humbling but never threatening to our physical safety. We did prepare for each occurrence with sense and respect, without taking unnecessary risks.

Do you work with travel agents?

Since we only have one unit to rent, we don't work with any specific travel agents; generally we rent our cottage through friends and acquaintances or through Internet inquiries.

We belong to the Caribbean Villa Owners Association, and they offer discounted airline tickets to our guests. You can get a free airline quote from them after checking with us for available dates (call us at (340)773-2386 or email us).

Do you make package arrangements for air, recreation, etc.?
What does the average plane ticket cost?

We don't make package arrangements, since we aren't a travel agency; but we have some money-saving strategies since the Gasperi kids come home pretty often from the states.

The major carrier that flies to St. Croix is American Airlines (800-433-7300). There are often some very good sales on tickets, so call the airline for the best deal or check their website at www.AA.com.

A relatively new discount carrier that offers cheap flights (less than $200 in some cases) from major U.S. cities to San Juan is JetBlue (their website at www.jetblue.com). From San Juan, you can fly via American Eagle (a shuttle subsidiary of American Airlines) or for the more adventurous or romantically minded, take a seaplane from San Juan to St. Croix – several reliable local carriers include Cape Air (www.flycapeair.com) and Seaborne Airlines (www.seaborneairlines.com)!

If you can land a sale ticket there are some good airfares to be had, a roundtrip flight from St. Croix to New York City on American Airlines in January was just around $300. March is a very expensive month since it's college spring break time and you might encounter fares over $1000. For cheaper tickets ($500+tax round trip range), stay away from March. And of course, you will save money if you book airline tickets at least 14 days in advance.

Can you arrange for a car for us to pick up at the airport?

You can take a taxicab from the airport, but the best thing is to rent a car while you're at the airport. The ride from the airport is about twenty minutes long and it's relatively easy. We can send you a map with the highlighted route to facilitate your drive.

We recommend renting a car during your stay. Although we do not encourage it, we do offer pick up and drop off at the airport, both ways for $30. Also, if you choose not to rent, drop off in Christiansted or Sunny Isles shopping district will be available for a $10 fee.

What is the reservation/cancellation policy?

A 50% deposit is required to hold your reservation. Your deposit will be refunded if the reservation is cancelled 30 days prior to arrival, less a $25 cancellation fee.

How do you accept payment?

We can't take credit cards. Cash, money orders and personal checks are fine, of course your check must clear before your deposit holds your reservation.

Do you have special rates for longer rentals?

We offer a 10% discount to guests who reserve and stay for one month or more.

We feel that Longford Hideaway is very reasonable in price, and definitely below market prices. You'll find that you will have much more privacy (including exclusive use of your own swimming pool) than you would at a fancy, higher priced commercial hotel or resort. Comparatively speaking, Longford is a real bargain and a very unique vacation opportunity.

What do we need to bring besides our clothes and swimming suits?

Just about anything you've forgotten you can find on St. Croix. We suggest:

• A valid driver's license for car rentals
• snorkelling gear (rentals are available at dive shops if you don't have your own)
• some good sturdy hiking shoes for walking in the pastures and hills(cactus protection)
• fishing gear
• old sneakers
  (for wading out and line fishing on the reef)
• bug repellent
• beach towels
• plenty of sunblock

Do I need a passport or visa to visit St. Croix?

Since St. Croix is a U.S. territory, the requirements for entry are the same as for entry into the U.S. If you are a U.S. citizen, you do not need a passport or visa. However, U.S. airlines designate flights to the Caribbean as international and will require you to carry a government issued photo I.D. such as a valid driver’s license.

U.S. CITIZENS PLEASE NOTE: Since September 11, 2001, with the tightening of airport security and immigration checkpoints, U.S. citizens passing through customs on their way INTO the mainland U.S. from territories like the U.S. Virgin Islands have found it measurably easier to enter the U.S. with a VALID PASSPORT for identification. We recommend bringing your passport if you have one, or check with customs about preferred alternate proof of U.S. citizenship to bring for your entry into the U.S. from a U.S. territory.

Could you send us a map of the island and a list of places to see and things to do?

We would be happy to send you some more general information and a map of our Island with more ideas for recreation, and a brochure with the rates for the cottage.

St. Croix This Week is a monthly publication that contains all that you want to know before visiting our island: Places to See, Things to Do, Entertainment and Events, Historical Highlights, and more. It is a free guide (9"x12") which we will be happy to send you, along with a larger map of St. Croix and our Longford Hideaway brochure if you will cover our mailing cost of $2.00 (Regular Mail) or $3.50 (Priority Mail). Send the payment to our mailing address and don't forget to include YOUR mailing address.

The cottage brochure (includes basic information and rates) is of course a free mailing. We doubt however that you will need it if you have browsed this site in full :). Just email us with your regular Postal mailing address.