usvi-on-line
Service charge by villa mangmnt?
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California Girl
So are you saying then that you didn't read your contract before you signed it? With CV the 5% was disclosed on the contract and I didn't have to agree to it. I could have torn up the contract and not sent my deposit.ihochman wrote: But even as a person who has rented before, I wasn't aware of the 5% additional till after it was booked. Another person in my group booked it and he wasn't aware of the situation.
You're right, I should have read the contract beforehand but I assumed
all the agencies followed the same process: 8% hotel tax and that would be all. Catered To, one of the more high end companies, had more style than to charge an unwarranted 5%. Listen, I was wrong not to read the contract
It made an ass out of me and pissed me off but CV was cheesy to charge money for something they didn't do. I know I could go somewhere else but that's not the point. I've learned my lesson and I hope others have as well.
all the agencies followed the same process: 8% hotel tax and that would be all. Catered To, one of the more high end companies, had more style than to charge an unwarranted 5%. Listen, I was wrong not to read the contract
It made an ass out of me and pissed me off but CV was cheesy to charge money for something they didn't do. I know I could go somewhere else but that's not the point. I've learned my lesson and I hope others have as well.
This thread seems to be getting mighty ugly. 
IMHO we are each entitled to express our own opinion without being chastised for what we believe or the way we feel. It doesn't seem to me as if anyone is trying to change minds here....simply putting forth our individual experiences.
IMHO we are each entitled to express our own opinion without being chastised for what we believe or the way we feel. It doesn't seem to me as if anyone is trying to change minds here....simply putting forth our individual experiences.
It takes both the sun and the rain to make a beautiful rainbow. --Unknown
I agree that we are all just trying to share experiences and info so that others can make better informed decisions.
My problem really isn't with the 5%, its with paying a 5% "service" charge and not getting decent service. I don't care if I get a welcome basket, but I do like to get more for more.
Honestly, if one of the villas I really wanted was only rented by an agency with an extra fee I'd figure out how much money it was and determine if it is worth it to me.
Everyone has different preferences and I really didn't intend to dog CV, they weren't horrible.
I am a bit biased toward Destination St. John, mainly because I really have a lot of questions and they are SO nice about humoring me with my quirky needs. Try asking the staff in Portland, ME about the villas on St. John and you tell me how much info you can get.
Also, Lori could not have been kinder to me when we needed to cancel our trip and didn't know when we'd be able to rebook. I have a feeling that if I were dealing with many of the other agencies my deposit would have been gone. It was absolutely within their rights as I did sign the contract and hadn't gotten the travel insurance as advised. However, it was extremely nice gesture in the midst of many worries. That one act by them has earned my loyalty.
My problem really isn't with the 5%, its with paying a 5% "service" charge and not getting decent service. I don't care if I get a welcome basket, but I do like to get more for more.
Honestly, if one of the villas I really wanted was only rented by an agency with an extra fee I'd figure out how much money it was and determine if it is worth it to me.
Everyone has different preferences and I really didn't intend to dog CV, they weren't horrible.
I am a bit biased toward Destination St. John, mainly because I really have a lot of questions and they are SO nice about humoring me with my quirky needs. Try asking the staff in Portland, ME about the villas on St. John and you tell me how much info you can get.
Also, Lori could not have been kinder to me when we needed to cancel our trip and didn't know when we'd be able to rebook. I have a feeling that if I were dealing with many of the other agencies my deposit would have been gone. It was absolutely within their rights as I did sign the contract and hadn't gotten the travel insurance as advised. However, it was extremely nice gesture in the midst of many worries. That one act by them has earned my loyalty.
No harm done and it was a rousing debate! 
I appreciate knowing about the Service Charge. People are always asking about the rental firms. It is good to know that we should mention this and they can verify it on their contract.
I like the welcome basket. VIVA did a nice one with wine, water, grapes, cheese and crackers...and fresh flowers.
This might have changed, so don't hold me to it.
I just really like VIVA - period. And, of course, McLaughlin Anderson. I've not tired DSJ, but I just spoke with the owner of CaliCaribe and he told me that they're now with DSJ, so I might be trying them soon - if I can book CaliCaribe again. Love that villa!
I like the welcome basket. VIVA did a nice one with wine, water, grapes, cheese and crackers...and fresh flowers.
This might have changed, so don't hold me to it.
I just really like VIVA - period. And, of course, McLaughlin Anderson. I've not tired DSJ, but I just spoke with the owner of CaliCaribe and he told me that they're now with DSJ, so I might be trying them soon - if I can book CaliCaribe again. Love that villa!
Bluwater
I had NO IDEA this would be such a contoversial issue.
My original post was merely lamenting the fact that certain management companies advertise one rate, when in actuality the rate is slightly more due to the service charge.
The house I was looking into renting seemed "too cheap"; however, once the fee is tacked on it is more in line with what I would consider normal.
BTW, I was not referring to CV, but rather GCG. I am not sure if they do welcome baskets. I can however, comment that beside DSJ, Carefree, and St John Properties all do welcome baskets. Each time, I was pleasantly surprised and now kinda just think of it as the norm.
My original post was merely lamenting the fact that certain management companies advertise one rate, when in actuality the rate is slightly more due to the service charge.
The house I was looking into renting seemed "too cheap"; however, once the fee is tacked on it is more in line with what I would consider normal.
BTW, I was not referring to CV, but rather GCG. I am not sure if they do welcome baskets. I can however, comment that beside DSJ, Carefree, and St John Properties all do welcome baskets. Each time, I was pleasantly surprised and now kinda just think of it as the norm.
Patr
~~Longing to be back on St. John~~
~~Longing to be back on St. John~~
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Kentuckygirl
- Posts: 1903
- Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:17 am
- Location: Kentucky
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St. John Lover
- Posts: 245
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 5:14 pm
- Location: Chicago
Hubby and I have spent the last 17 years vacationing in St. John (yes, we definitely got 'bitten' by the St. John bug--even after visiting other islands, the South Pacific, Europe, etc).
In those years, we have experienced Caribbean Villas & Resorts, Great Caribbean Getaways (neither of which we would EVER rent through again due not only to the 5% extra service charge for absolutely no other extra service provided but also the condition of the villas/condos we rented through them and their lack of customer service), Carefree Getaways, Where-to-Stay, Book-It-VI, Online Vacations, Viva, Catered To as well as VRBO & A1 Vacations (the last 2 are rentals made directly through the owners). All of the last listed 8 were absolutely totally wonderful experiences.
How do I define wonderful experience?: Friendly, knowledgeable staff, great before/during/& afer booking service. Very responsive to inquiries, questions, problems that arose, and knowing us post renting!! Really can't say enough about any of our experiences with all of them. They knew their rentals, were honest about them, villas ended up being better even than the websites portrayed, service was very good, friendly, responsive to any needs, knew us upon our return. Really great.
Finally, a word about the welcome baskets. Since we've booked a few of our favorite villas multiple times, we've gotten to know a couple of the owners. The welcome baskets are actually provided (read "paid for") by the owners, much to one owner's chagrin when they discovered that the little accompanying card said "compliments of
management company". Hmmm. So, if your villa (or condo) has a welcome basket, please realize that it's presence and/or quality is from the owner, not anyone else). Personally, we love them as our travel day is incredibly long to get to 'our paradise' and a cold beverage & snack upon arrival--often after grocery stores are closed--is MUCH appreciated.
Hope this helps,
SJL
In those years, we have experienced Caribbean Villas & Resorts, Great Caribbean Getaways (neither of which we would EVER rent through again due not only to the 5% extra service charge for absolutely no other extra service provided but also the condition of the villas/condos we rented through them and their lack of customer service), Carefree Getaways, Where-to-Stay, Book-It-VI, Online Vacations, Viva, Catered To as well as VRBO & A1 Vacations (the last 2 are rentals made directly through the owners). All of the last listed 8 were absolutely totally wonderful experiences.
How do I define wonderful experience?: Friendly, knowledgeable staff, great before/during/& afer booking service. Very responsive to inquiries, questions, problems that arose, and knowing us post renting!! Really can't say enough about any of our experiences with all of them. They knew their rentals, were honest about them, villas ended up being better even than the websites portrayed, service was very good, friendly, responsive to any needs, knew us upon our return. Really great.
Finally, a word about the welcome baskets. Since we've booked a few of our favorite villas multiple times, we've gotten to know a couple of the owners. The welcome baskets are actually provided (read "paid for") by the owners, much to one owner's chagrin when they discovered that the little accompanying card said "compliments of
management company". Hmmm. So, if your villa (or condo) has a welcome basket, please realize that it's presence and/or quality is from the owner, not anyone else). Personally, we love them as our travel day is incredibly long to get to 'our paradise' and a cold beverage & snack upon arrival--often after grocery stores are closed--is MUCH appreciated.
Hope this helps,
SJL
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Randy in MD
- Posts: 395
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:04 am
- Location: Shady Side, MD
Property Management Companies
I've found this thread extremely interesting as my wife and I took the plunge and started the building process on St. John about a year ago, with the intention of offering our home as a rental property, until and if we're ever able to get to the point of being able to spend much more of our time there... Everything will finally be done by early summer, and after going through this long and very personal process, it's going to be a bit tramatic turning over our home to strangers who may or may not treat our dream home in the same manner that we would. So for us, the choice of a property management company was extremely important: We wanted someone who would take great care of our home, and also someone who would represent us in the best possible way. We want to read good things about our villa on the forum - not bad things. We're really going to take it personally if someone doesn't enjoy their stay there. We spoke to every company that marketed villas in the Coral Bay area - some don't - and compared the services they could offer us as the owners, and just as importantly, the services they could offer our guests. We really felt that by offering a positive impression and memory to our guests, we might find that they would treat our villa with some of the same care that we're putting into it. There really is a difference in management companies and as we signed the contract about a month ago it pleases me to see nothing but positive comments about them in this thread. So much of one's lasting impressions about things are based on appearances and perceptions. I think a service charge hidden in the fine print of a rental contract forms a bad impression. Sure, the total cost of the villa may not turn out to be more than that of a place without the service charge - but it just looks bad - and I think it's the wrong way to treat visitors who are spending an awful lot of money to take, in many cases, the dream vacation of a lifetime. Anyway, that's just the way we see it, and it's one of the factors that went into our decision. One more thing and I'll stop blabbering... St. John Lover is right; the welcome basket is up to the owner. There's a clause in our contract that covers that, and it's a set cost to us for every guest that comes to our villa. To us it was a no brainer - we think it's a nice touch and a great way to say "Welcome to our Home" to everyone that arrives at our doorstep.
for kygirl - Bookit VI
Hi kygirl-
We have used Bookit-vi and were extremely pleased with their service. Bill Dove actually met us at the foot of the ferry gangplank (not sure if that is still allowed) and helped us cart our luggage to his truck. Bill also gave us his personal cell number for emergencies, should we need it, which fortunately we did not. Bookit responds immediately if you have a maintenance issue. It was all good!
Nancy
We have used Bookit-vi and were extremely pleased with their service. Bill Dove actually met us at the foot of the ferry gangplank (not sure if that is still allowed) and helped us cart our luggage to his truck. Bill also gave us his personal cell number for emergencies, should we need it, which fortunately we did not. Bookit responds immediately if you have a maintenance issue. It was all good!
Nancy