usvi-on-line
villa "it's about time" ajax mt
-
Teresa_Rae
- Posts: 2053
- Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:44 pm
- Location: Downstate IL
I inquired about Casa Bueno last week. $250 a night for 4 people is a great price but even though there will only be 2 of us the owner wouldn’t budge on the price so unfortunately it’s off my list. There are great deals to be had out there.
I'm copying and pasting this from my still-being-written trip report:
We rented the villa “It’s About Time” on Ajax Peak for 10 days…we’ve been back for 3 weeks. The villa is about 1 minute from the smoothie stand. We got a great deal on the place by renting directly with one of the owners. She was very easy to work with and responsive to emails. She let me send a package and it was waiting at our villa when we got there. The villa is owned by an older lady and her daughter and son-in-law live with her and help her run the rental villa which is just down the hill from their house.
That said, unfortunately we were not very impressed with the place. It was fine but I think it comes across better in the pictures than it is in reality. It seems dated and kind of dingy but supposedly it is only a few years old. The kitchen is nice though. The pool was cold and so full of bugs all the time that we never used it. Even though we kept the windows shut, I was eaten alive by noseeums the second night and in general the place was pretty buggy. We bought some bug bombs at Chelsea that helped somewhat with the bug situation. Of the 7 houses we’ve rented on STJ I’ve only had noseeums eat me alive while in bed at one other place. So in other houses, some of them old, as long as I’ve kept the windows shut the noseeums were not a problem.
The rugs in the bathroom were filthy and looked like they were rarely if ever washed and there were multiple small blood stains on the sheets in the master bedroom. The upstairs phone was broken. It couldn’t be dialed because the key pad was busted. The owner called me on it once and she had to speak loudly and repeat herself for me to hear her. The downstairs phone was dial-able, but if you wanted to use it you had to yell and the person could only sometimes hear you. Our cell phones only picked up a signal on occasion near the pool, so if we had had an emergency there’s a good chance we would have been SOL.
The property has a gate to keep out the donkeys. The owners requested that we close it at night but that it was fine to leave open during the day. One late afternoon a nice donkey family (mom, dad, and baby) were visiting so I excitedly went for my camera to document the event. Before I could get out there to take pictures one of the owners was in our yard yelling at the donkeys. He was like 10 feet from the front door, which was a very large slider, so there I was with my camera in hand with a man ranting and raving at the poor donkeys right in front of me. Kind of uncomfortable. And it doesn’t make you feel like you have much privacy when the owner gets that involved with your stay.
Then we had an issue with the air conditioner in the master bedroom. It worked fine but it was dripping a lot of water. We told the owners about it and they told us that someone would be by to check it that day, so we made the house presentable (you know, no underwear left out, etc). Then the next day without telling us they came back and let themselves into the house while we were gone. We wished they would have let us know they were coming, and again we didn’t feel like we had much privacy.
The house is not terrible but we would not stay there again. It is only a few years old but it doesn’t give you the impression of a new place. It’s more like an older place that is getting run-down and needs better upkeep.
I'm copying and pasting this from my still-being-written trip report:
We rented the villa “It’s About Time” on Ajax Peak for 10 days…we’ve been back for 3 weeks. The villa is about 1 minute from the smoothie stand. We got a great deal on the place by renting directly with one of the owners. She was very easy to work with and responsive to emails. She let me send a package and it was waiting at our villa when we got there. The villa is owned by an older lady and her daughter and son-in-law live with her and help her run the rental villa which is just down the hill from their house.
That said, unfortunately we were not very impressed with the place. It was fine but I think it comes across better in the pictures than it is in reality. It seems dated and kind of dingy but supposedly it is only a few years old. The kitchen is nice though. The pool was cold and so full of bugs all the time that we never used it. Even though we kept the windows shut, I was eaten alive by noseeums the second night and in general the place was pretty buggy. We bought some bug bombs at Chelsea that helped somewhat with the bug situation. Of the 7 houses we’ve rented on STJ I’ve only had noseeums eat me alive while in bed at one other place. So in other houses, some of them old, as long as I’ve kept the windows shut the noseeums were not a problem.
The rugs in the bathroom were filthy and looked like they were rarely if ever washed and there were multiple small blood stains on the sheets in the master bedroom. The upstairs phone was broken. It couldn’t be dialed because the key pad was busted. The owner called me on it once and she had to speak loudly and repeat herself for me to hear her. The downstairs phone was dial-able, but if you wanted to use it you had to yell and the person could only sometimes hear you. Our cell phones only picked up a signal on occasion near the pool, so if we had had an emergency there’s a good chance we would have been SOL.
The property has a gate to keep out the donkeys. The owners requested that we close it at night but that it was fine to leave open during the day. One late afternoon a nice donkey family (mom, dad, and baby) were visiting so I excitedly went for my camera to document the event. Before I could get out there to take pictures one of the owners was in our yard yelling at the donkeys. He was like 10 feet from the front door, which was a very large slider, so there I was with my camera in hand with a man ranting and raving at the poor donkeys right in front of me. Kind of uncomfortable. And it doesn’t make you feel like you have much privacy when the owner gets that involved with your stay.
Then we had an issue with the air conditioner in the master bedroom. It worked fine but it was dripping a lot of water. We told the owners about it and they told us that someone would be by to check it that day, so we made the house presentable (you know, no underwear left out, etc). Then the next day without telling us they came back and let themselves into the house while we were gone. We wished they would have let us know they were coming, and again we didn’t feel like we had much privacy.
The house is not terrible but we would not stay there again. It is only a few years old but it doesn’t give you the impression of a new place. It’s more like an older place that is getting run-down and needs better upkeep.
Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.
- Mark Twain
- Mark Twain
pia, didn't expect you to remember me but i remember you either from beach bar or pics from a posting of gathering at beach bar. you're a little winker like the bride who doesn't weigh 100lbs wet or dressed for snow skiing.
if we like casa b and decide to buy, i'll ask you to be the buyer's broker (or are you the listing agent?). joking (about buying) but i bet you'd be a great agent!
papabou
papabou
if we like casa b and decide to buy, i'll ask you to be the buyer's broker (or are you the listing agent?). joking (about buying) but i bet you'd be a great agent!
papabou
papabou
teresa,
thanks for the info on about time. fortunatley i have been able to confirm casa bueno for 6 nights 7/26 to 8/2. pleasant dealing with marc miller who's handling for owner. based on location that we wanted, if she's half as nice as pictured and described, she'll be a bargain at 250 nite for 4.
now for a place for the next 3/4 nites!
papabou
thanks for the info on about time. fortunatley i have been able to confirm casa bueno for 6 nights 7/26 to 8/2. pleasant dealing with marc miller who's handling for owner. based on location that we wanted, if she's half as nice as pictured and described, she'll be a bargain at 250 nite for 4.
now for a place for the next 3/4 nites!
papabou
I am reading this building blog right now but have not seen this villa - they have introductory rates that might work for you and it does look nice 
Check it out.........
Pia
http://apito-stj.com/apito_-_stj_web_site_003.htm
Check it out.........
Pia
http://apito-stj.com/apito_-_stj_web_site_003.htm
Realtor - St John Properties
-
cypressgirl
- Posts: 2178
- Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 2:42 pm
- Location: houston
I'm glad you got the 6 nights. I have a week on hold for June. It's a long way off, but time flys, and I have a Nov. trip planned. Time for another booking. I can't come home from one without the next one planned. Makes the "walk" so much easier. June and Nov. seem to be my months. Let us know how you like CB, please.papabou wrote:teresa,
thanks for the info on about time. fortunatley i have been able to confirm casa bueno for 6 nights 7/26 to 8/2. pleasant dealing with marc miller who's handling for owner. based on location that we wanted, if she's half as nice as pictured and described, she'll be a bargain at 250 nite for 4.
now for a place for the next 3/4 nites!
papabou
trip plans now complete (except rental car). going back to nautilus on maria bluff for 4 nites after move out of casa bueno. folks at private homes mighty accommodating again. no pool but will turn off heat to hot tub and use as a dip pool. old folks don't do hot tubs.
dependable has nothing available for our dates, will use budget again if i have too, but talked to amighty nice guy at discount rental car and seems to think they will work out some swaps so we can have a liberty for 10 days. will know tomorrow.
anyone have any negatives (or positives) re discount car rental? we know pros and cons of renting on stt vs stj, done rental on stt last 10 times for convenience (good match for atl flt schedules) BUT know some day we're going to have that mechanical failure on stj or miss a barge.
thanks again to all.
still papabou
dependable has nothing available for our dates, will use budget again if i have too, but talked to amighty nice guy at discount rental car and seems to think they will work out some swaps so we can have a liberty for 10 days. will know tomorrow.
anyone have any negatives (or positives) re discount car rental? we know pros and cons of renting on stt vs stj, done rental on stt last 10 times for convenience (good match for atl flt schedules) BUT know some day we're going to have that mechanical failure on stj or miss a barge.
thanks again to all.
still papabou
-
nothintolose
- Posts: 1960
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:36 pm
- Location: New Orleans, LA
Does anyone know if this rate applies for all 4 bedrooms or just for two to four people? It is a 4 bedroom house.cypressgirl wrote:This was on another thread yesterday.............
Hawaii,
CASA BUENO's price is a great value because we just went into the rental market a few weeks ago. Pia is correct 3 interior bedrooms, and lower bedroom with outside entry. At $250 per night off-season for 4 people it is currently one of the islands best values.
"Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die" - Dave Matthews Band
-
cypressgirl
- Posts: 2178
- Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 2:42 pm
- Location: houston
Papa....for our trip in May we contacted Dependable and Discount. We've used Discount before and their prices have always been really good. This time Depedable comes in with the best price.
Have you contact Discount??
I wouldn't rent from Budget before just because of 2 very bad experiences, but hey, if it works for you, go for it!
Have you contact Discount??
I wouldn't rent from Budget before just because of 2 very bad experiences, but hey, if it works for you, go for it!
"Paradise...it's a state of mine"
-
cypressgirl
- Posts: 2178
- Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 2:42 pm
- Location: houston