usvi-on-line
Need some Villa input please
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cool breeze
- Posts: 275
- Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:34 pm
- Location: N.H
check out www.sapphirebreeze.com stayed there last October and will be returning this October place is beautiful. 
good luck with your search
CB
good luck with your search
CB
Sapphire Breeze has been picked as our latest favorite! I emailed the rental agency with a few questions. I searched here on the forum for info on it, and found many to describe the road there as "challenging". I've seen a Jeep-Cam video of Jacob's Ladder, and remember driving on it, but I don't remember the road out that way being really bad. What did you think of it? I don't mind hilly, and winding turns (as long as there's no chance of tipping over), but I'm wondering if I would have to sedate my Mom everyday twice a day before we head out or head "home".cool breeze wrote:check out www.sapphirebreeze.com stayed there last October and will be returning this October place is beautiful.
good luck with your search
CB
How were the views? Great sunsets? The website also mentions that it has some snorkel gear (I think), beach chairs etc. What did you think about that stuff?
I would love to hear about the place (and the road)! If we had to choose one today, it would most likely be the one that we picked. Thanks!
"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea." -Isak Dinesen
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St. John Lover
- Posts: 245
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 5:14 pm
- Location: Chicago
Sapphire Breeze has been picked as our latest favorite!...I searched here on the forum for info on it, and found many to describe the road there as "challenging". I've seen a Jeep-Cam video of Jacob's Ladder, and remember driving on it, but I don't remember the road out that way being really bad.
How were the views? Great sunsets? The website also mentions that it has some snorkel gear (I think), beach chairs etc. What did you think about that stuff?
Hi Cass,
BTW, I love your Dinesen quote! I planned a trip for an 11-member family vacation last year (August). 9 of us stayed at Sapphire Breeze and 2 stayed at Perelandra. It worked out really well for us.
I have no idea why someone would describe the road there as challenging. I've stayed at many different villas and condos on St. John over the years and really the road to Sapphire was very non-difficult. It's quite close to anywhere you'd want to go (restaurants, grocery stores, beaches, gas station, everything). You turn right at the top of Jacob's Ladder (not 1/2 as bad as the corkscrew between Trunk & Cinnamon) and continue up the hill/mountain to the ridge and then the road (fully paved until this time) becomes unpaved for a very short distance until the paved driveway entrance to Sapphire. The only difficulty I could imagine is if the past guests visited shortly after there was a lot of rain, perhaps the rain washed out some of the unpaved approach? But any 4WD should easily handle that (which you need on STJ anyway) and the unpaved part is a VERY short section of road and, if I remember right, pretty level. The driveway itself is paved but goes fairly steeply downward to the house. The only slight difficulty we had was we had 3 rented cars and if you were the last one in, you'd have to back UP the steep driveway (I did it once but DH did it thereafter). Actually, it's location is pretty neat also because if you continue down the unpaved road (past Sapphire), it becomes paved again shortly thereafter and you can just follow it out to where it exits by Pastory Gardens (a couple minutes and you're on Centerline Road! which can be very convenient depending upon where you're going).
There was a lot of snorkel gear, beach toys, beach chairs etc when we were there. We used and enjoy them but, personally, I never use anybody else's mask & snorkel than my own.
Some bedroom info that might help you make a decision (depending upon how your family members are configured, i.e. ages etc): BR1 has a/c & is connected to the great room through it's bathroom that's shared with the GR; BR2 (also main floor) also has a/c, pretty identical layout to BR1 but only accessible through exterior door by outside lounging area; BR3 is on the lower floor (which is quite cool because it has it's own large outside bar/lounging area and a window viewing into the lower part of the pool that lets you watch people swimming or in our case diving down to make funny faces etc at us
. The BR itself is really like a very roomy little apartment (has it's own fridge, sink, cabinet area; it's own sitting area, and a king bed if I remember right--all open to each other but quite spacious). BR4 is a loft BR accessed via a spiral iron staircase from the GR. It didn't have a/c when we were there and would have been quite warm to sleep in during August (uses the bathroom connected to GR & BR1). We only used it as a play area for the kids. GR didn't have a/c but we were never really uncomfortable cooking or watching TV (though really we didn't watch TV much, basically we sat around the pool or big outside table in the evening chatting and just enjoying the hot tub, pool, and mostly, each other's company.
Hope this helps...
How were the views? Great sunsets? The website also mentions that it has some snorkel gear (I think), beach chairs etc. What did you think about that stuff?
Hi Cass,
BTW, I love your Dinesen quote! I planned a trip for an 11-member family vacation last year (August). 9 of us stayed at Sapphire Breeze and 2 stayed at Perelandra. It worked out really well for us.
I have no idea why someone would describe the road there as challenging. I've stayed at many different villas and condos on St. John over the years and really the road to Sapphire was very non-difficult. It's quite close to anywhere you'd want to go (restaurants, grocery stores, beaches, gas station, everything). You turn right at the top of Jacob's Ladder (not 1/2 as bad as the corkscrew between Trunk & Cinnamon) and continue up the hill/mountain to the ridge and then the road (fully paved until this time) becomes unpaved for a very short distance until the paved driveway entrance to Sapphire. The only difficulty I could imagine is if the past guests visited shortly after there was a lot of rain, perhaps the rain washed out some of the unpaved approach? But any 4WD should easily handle that (which you need on STJ anyway) and the unpaved part is a VERY short section of road and, if I remember right, pretty level. The driveway itself is paved but goes fairly steeply downward to the house. The only slight difficulty we had was we had 3 rented cars and if you were the last one in, you'd have to back UP the steep driveway (I did it once but DH did it thereafter). Actually, it's location is pretty neat also because if you continue down the unpaved road (past Sapphire), it becomes paved again shortly thereafter and you can just follow it out to where it exits by Pastory Gardens (a couple minutes and you're on Centerline Road! which can be very convenient depending upon where you're going).
There was a lot of snorkel gear, beach toys, beach chairs etc when we were there. We used and enjoy them but, personally, I never use anybody else's mask & snorkel than my own.
Some bedroom info that might help you make a decision (depending upon how your family members are configured, i.e. ages etc): BR1 has a/c & is connected to the great room through it's bathroom that's shared with the GR; BR2 (also main floor) also has a/c, pretty identical layout to BR1 but only accessible through exterior door by outside lounging area; BR3 is on the lower floor (which is quite cool because it has it's own large outside bar/lounging area and a window viewing into the lower part of the pool that lets you watch people swimming or in our case diving down to make funny faces etc at us
. The BR itself is really like a very roomy little apartment (has it's own fridge, sink, cabinet area; it's own sitting area, and a king bed if I remember right--all open to each other but quite spacious). BR4 is a loft BR accessed via a spiral iron staircase from the GR. It didn't have a/c when we were there and would have been quite warm to sleep in during August (uses the bathroom connected to GR & BR1). We only used it as a play area for the kids. GR didn't have a/c but we were never really uncomfortable cooking or watching TV (though really we didn't watch TV much, basically we sat around the pool or big outside table in the evening chatting and just enjoying the hot tub, pool, and mostly, each other's company.Hope this helps...
Thanks ST. John Lover!
This does sound perfect for my group. We will only be a group of 5, but 3 of us need our own rooms. My brother and his wife will share of course, and they would probably take the little apartment. I would take the loft, air isn't that big of a deal to me.
Glad to hear about the road not being so bad. I'll have to watch the video again of the Jeep Cam, as it pointed out the driveway to Perelendra (I think).
I'm with you on the snorkel, but some of my family were going to rent once we get there.
Thank you for the input, This one is definitely a favorite of everyone (except for one in the group).
This does sound perfect for my group. We will only be a group of 5, but 3 of us need our own rooms. My brother and his wife will share of course, and they would probably take the little apartment. I would take the loft, air isn't that big of a deal to me.
Glad to hear about the road not being so bad. I'll have to watch the video again of the Jeep Cam, as it pointed out the driveway to Perelendra (I think).
I'm with you on the snorkel, but some of my family were going to rent once we get there.
Thank you for the input, This one is definitely a favorite of everyone (except for one in the group).
"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea." -Isak Dinesen
you mentioned that views and sunsets are important to you. I remember KYGirl posted photos from her stay at La Jolla Caribe and I think she went in May or close to it. I searched this site and found it!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... 4f94f58f7b
Copy and paste this into yoiur browser.
...I think I spend way too much time on this forum...
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... 4f94f58f7b
Copy and paste this into yoiur browser.
...I think I spend way too much time on this forum...
Thanks for posting the link! That is a great view, and fabulous photos of the sunrise and sunset. I was looking at villas in that area, but wasn't sure about the sunset views. Sadly, that particular villa doesn't have a pool, and we are really trying to keep that in mind as well.steve wrote:you mentioned that views and sunsets are important to you. I remember KYGirl posted photos from her stay at La Jolla Caribe and I think she went in May or close to it. I searched this site and found it!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... 4f94f58f7b
Copy and paste this into yoiur browser.
...I think I spend way too much time on this forum...
"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea." -Isak Dinesen
4 bedroom villa
Here's a villa for you to consider: SOUL ISLAND
We stayed here in Feb; brand new villa with fabulous sunset views, 4 airconditioned bedrooms, each with their own bath, hot tub, great pool. It's listed at $3900 for your size party, but because it's new, you might be able to get a discount. We did! Listing agent is Carefree Getaways. Location of villa is Gifft Hill!
We stayed here in Feb; brand new villa with fabulous sunset views, 4 airconditioned bedrooms, each with their own bath, hot tub, great pool. It's listed at $3900 for your size party, but because it's new, you might be able to get a discount. We did! Listing agent is Carefree Getaways. Location of villa is Gifft Hill!
Re: 4 bedroom villa
I just looked at this one this morning! $3900 is just a tad high, I did like it though and added it to my dozens of others that are bookmarked. Did you ask for your discount, or did they offer it to you? I always feel funny about asking for discounts.dannyboy wrote:Here's a villa for you to consider: SOUL ISLAND
We stayed here in Feb; brand new villa with fabulous sunset views, 4 airconditioned bedrooms, each with their own bath, hot tub, great pool. It's listed at $3900 for your size party, but because it's new, you might be able to get a discount. We did! Listing agent is Carefree Getaways. Location of villa is Gifft Hill!
"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea." -Isak Dinesen
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cool breeze
- Posts: 275
- Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:34 pm
- Location: N.H
cass, When we first rented, our greeter took us up Jacobs ladder and I too was very concerned about navigating that way, so as I was commenting to the greeter on how I wasn't crazy about that way in to the villa she told me about another way in via Pastory gardens. After walking that section which is to go right when leaving the villa and as St John Lover stated a short section of unpaved road but not bad at all. I had instant relief actually one of the better paved areas on the whole island. I would not even consider using the jacobs ladder entrance. Views from the fabulously designed patio area are fantastic, sunrises are better than the sunsets even though you almost get the best of both worlds the sunsets are too the far right of the patio, great views of the cruise ships and local boat traffic. best of luck and have a fantastic voyage! One other thing owners of the villa give you 2 cool t-shirts depicting the villa.
CB
CB
Cool Breeze - thanks! I've watched the Jeep Cam video about a dozen times now. I feel pretty comfortable driving on almost any kind of road, and Jacobs Ladder looks like many of the roads in Missouri where I grew up. It is nice to know that there would be an alternative, so we wouldn't have to feed my Mom Xanex or something a couple of times a day before taking to the road!
"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea." -Isak Dinesen