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Caneel Trailside or Gatehouse at Peter Bay January 10
Caneel Trailside or Gatehouse at Peter Bay January 10
Hi, Short-term lurker here. Decided to treat my wife to a St. John trip in January. She's had her eye on the island for a while now. We have our airline tickets for January 10th, staying a week and are looking at villas. I like Caneel Trailside for access to the hiking trail and pool. She likes the Gatehouse at Peter Bay for the access to the beach there and proximity to the North Shore. All opinins/suggestions welcome. Both villas get good reviews from what I've read.
Also need suggestions for a car rental company. I know I need to move on this. Wondering if anybody has any ideas which company to contact first?
Also need suggestions for a car rental company. I know I need to move on this. Wondering if anybody has any ideas which company to contact first?
Hello,
PB Gatehouse is at the top of the lower PB development, right up at the North Shore Road. You are looking at a rather long hike, or else bringing your jeep down the road, to access Peter Bay Beach from there. I have snorkeled over to Peter Bay from Little Cinnamon and I truly think that would be easier than the walk down from PB gatehouse. That said, PB gatehouse has some beautiful views.
For rental cars, I have had great experiences with both St. John Car Rental and Penns. Penns is a little more expensive but they have a huge lot you can park in. Parking is really tough in Cruz Bay. When we rent from St. John Car Rental, we use Slim Man's lot, which is $10/day. Both Penns and STJCR have websites that you can check prices on. You'll need to phone or fax to reserve.
PB Gatehouse is at the top of the lower PB development, right up at the North Shore Road. You are looking at a rather long hike, or else bringing your jeep down the road, to access Peter Bay Beach from there. I have snorkeled over to Peter Bay from Little Cinnamon and I truly think that would be easier than the walk down from PB gatehouse. That said, PB gatehouse has some beautiful views.
For rental cars, I have had great experiences with both St. John Car Rental and Penns. Penns is a little more expensive but they have a huge lot you can park in. Parking is really tough in Cruz Bay. When we rent from St. John Car Rental, we use Slim Man's lot, which is $10/day. Both Penns and STJCR have websites that you can check prices on. You'll need to phone or fax to reserve.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
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msgcolleen
- Posts: 1497
- Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2006 8:33 am
- Location: Allen, Texas
We have stayed at the Gatehouse and loved it because there was not another couple staying above us so we had total privacy! The view is killer but if I had to do it again and had renters above or below me, I would choose something else.
Like Liamsaunt mentioned, the walk down to Peter Bay beach is too far and the walk back up would not be pleasant.
Caneel Trailside is much bigger and not too far away from the North shore beaches. I've heard nothing but great things about this villa.
Jump on that car rental fast! The villa management co. can help you with that.
Good Luck
Like Liamsaunt mentioned, the walk down to Peter Bay beach is too far and the walk back up would not be pleasant.
Caneel Trailside is much bigger and not too far away from the North shore beaches. I've heard nothing but great things about this villa.
Jump on that car rental fast! The villa management co. can help you with that.
Good Luck
I've got 2 tickets to paradise~Pack your bags we'll leave tonight!
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Peter Bay Gatehouse is in a great location and has a killer view. Haven't stayed there but we stayed next door at Coco de Mer. Its just not really an easy walk to the beach (actually, the walk to the beach is OK, its the walk back up the hill that is an issue). But its an extremely short drive (2 minutes) to Peter Bay Beach, Trunk Bay or Cinnamon Bay.
---Jim
We stayed further down the road, more towards the beach at Peter Bay and our walk back was killer. I can't imagine going from the beach to the Gatehouse on foot.
There is a small (very small) pull off area at the beach access trailhead. During our stay, we saw a vehicle parked there once in a while and more than once, someone was yelling about people not being allowed to park there.
I don't know what the deal is but there seems to be some issues with using it as a parking spot for beach-going.
Peter Bay was noisy, much more so than other area of the island we experienced. Road noise was common day and night as was grounds maintenance (leaf blowers going non stop) and construction.
Like other posters said, the views are wonderful and the quick access to the NS beaches is great.
I have Caneel Trailside on my wish list for future trips but I am so lazy when it comes to getting to the beach and town, I would probably pick the Gatehouse. My mom picked up hiking trails in the area of Peter Bay but I can't remember which ones.
If a pool is important to your wife, you might want to check into the orientation of the pool to the sun as twice in winter (once in Jan, once end Feb.) our villa pools were too cold to use. Just mentioning it as she might be unpleasantly surprised if she is expecting 80+ degree pool water.
There is a small (very small) pull off area at the beach access trailhead. During our stay, we saw a vehicle parked there once in a while and more than once, someone was yelling about people not being allowed to park there.
I don't know what the deal is but there seems to be some issues with using it as a parking spot for beach-going.
Peter Bay was noisy, much more so than other area of the island we experienced. Road noise was common day and night as was grounds maintenance (leaf blowers going non stop) and construction.
Like other posters said, the views are wonderful and the quick access to the NS beaches is great.
I have Caneel Trailside on my wish list for future trips but I am so lazy when it comes to getting to the beach and town, I would probably pick the Gatehouse. My mom picked up hiking trails in the area of Peter Bay but I can't remember which ones.
If a pool is important to your wife, you might want to check into the orientation of the pool to the sun as twice in winter (once in Jan, once end Feb.) our villa pools were too cold to use. Just mentioning it as she might be unpleasantly surprised if she is expecting 80+ degree pool water.
Wow! I can't believe the pool water in those tiny villa pools would be too cold to swim in. My wife is a wuss when it comes to water temps. Will the ocean be warm enough to swim in in January? Do you need a jacket at night? I think Peter Bay's out as we don't want to trek back from the beach and I don't need someone yelling at me if we park in the parking spot. It also sounds too noisy and I don't think the Caneel Trailside Cottage is too far from town or the Northshore. We rented a jeep from St. John car rental.
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smilesfromMN
- Posts: 141
- Joined: Mon Jan 01, 2007 10:19 am
- Location: MN
Hi. We were there in Jan 07 and I was concerned about the water (sea, not pool) temps as well. We (husband, myself, sons 2 & 5) all had rashguards that we wore about 50% of the time (for sun protection and warmth). There was a slight chill to the water when first entering, but it wasn't cold by any means. If the sun was shining brightly it was perfectly pleasant without the rashguards, if it was cloudy or breezy we were glad we had them for a little additional insulation.
Have a great vacation!
Have a great vacation!
The female half of our travelling friend couple is a complete wuss about water temps.
For reference, she needs her pool at home to be at least 85 degrees during a heat wave before she thinks it is tolerable. She gets in the water at the beach when we are on STJ with no complaints.
The pool temps will greatly depend on location.
We stayed in Maria Bluff area in Feb 2007 and the pool was so warm, we swam at night and first thing in the morning. At that particular house, the pool got full sun all day.
Facing the North Shore, we couldn't/didn't use the pools twice, once in the end of Jan and the other in end of Feb. The houses got sun but not enough to warm the water to a comfortable level.
While I haven't stayed on the ridge, I have heard comments that pools in the Catherineburg area are also rather cold in the winter months.
For reference, she needs her pool at home to be at least 85 degrees during a heat wave before she thinks it is tolerable. She gets in the water at the beach when we are on STJ with no complaints.
The pool temps will greatly depend on location.
We stayed in Maria Bluff area in Feb 2007 and the pool was so warm, we swam at night and first thing in the morning. At that particular house, the pool got full sun all day.
Facing the North Shore, we couldn't/didn't use the pools twice, once in the end of Jan and the other in end of Feb. The houses got sun but not enough to warm the water to a comfortable level.
While I haven't stayed on the ridge, I have heard comments that pools in the Catherineburg area are also rather cold in the winter months.