Family Villa Experts Needed

[tralei714]

Much pressure to pick out a villa for 9 of us going to St. John in April. 6 Adults and 3 children 3,6,11.
Cruz Bay/Coral Bay?...Further away/bigger house? It has all been put into my hands to decide. Your help is much appreciated. We have it narrowes down to 4 choices.
Estate Fortsberg
http://estatefortsberg.com/

Wild Jasmine
http://www.ourrentalparadise.com/st-john-4br.php

Jazz Villa
http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/jazz/index.html

In Love
http://www.villasinstjohn.com/villa-listing/inn-love

[byado18]

We have stayed at Jazz Villa and LOVED it! Great pool and patio area off kitchen for easy in and out for food and beverages, and good sunset view! NOt too difficult a driveway with adequate parking space.

3 Bedrooms connected in main house (each has it's own Bath) ---2 on main floor an done down a flight of steps.......and one with outside entrance on lower level.

Stayed there twice and would again if the configuration works!

PM if you have any specific questions!

[wonderlost]

Starlit Escape is great for families and big groups. PM me if you want more information

[chicagoans]

Estate Fortsberg's site says max 8 people, but maybe they'll make an exception with kids. I love that they have a floorplan on their site (all villa sites should!) It looks like the bedrooms are on opposite sides of the villa on 2 floors. I don't know what your plans are for where the kids sleep, but I'd want to have young kids in rooms with interior access, with at least one room for adults that the kids can get to using interior access, just in case they need something. Jazz Villa's description sounds good because it has an interior staircase leading to the downstairs bedrooms.

I would ask the management companies for a floor plan for the villas you're looking at. Then you can figure out where everyone would sleep and where you adults can hang out after the kids go to bed. For example, I wouldn't want the 3 or 6 y.o. by himself in a lower level room by the pool if all the adults are hanging out upstairs. And if a child (esp. the 3 yo) wakes up in the middle of the night, how far does he have to go to find mom and dad?

Good luck with your search!

[islandjo2010]

Hi tralei714,
I have not been to STJ yet so I am not a villa expert, but I just wanted to let you know that while searching for our family villa I learned that there is construction going on around Chocolate Hole. That is something you may want to ask about.
Hope you have a great trip and have fun planning!
Jo

[tralei714]

Thank you for the feedback We have crossed off Estate Fortsberg's due to the bedrooms (don't want to worry on vacay)
We have is narrowed down to Jazz Villa and Inn Love.
Any feedback again is appriciated.

[RickG]

We liked Jazz Villa and it has a great layout with sunset views and the pool on the same level as the kitchen. Three of the bedrooms are connected to the main house with one very large room down some stairs with a day bed as well when we were there.

The only downside was the one room that was downstairs that you had to access by the pool stairs. The water tended to pool by the door. The folks in that room felt rather off on their own.

Cheers, RickG

[tralei714]

Do you know the construction situation near Jazz. Also, how is the parking, we will have 3 jeeps.

[byado18]

parking should be OK,,,large slightly steep drive way with a place a the top where more than 1 jeep could part and the other could be behind them without any problem....maybe a bit of rearranging depending on who came in last and who needs to leave first...but certainly enough space.

The Pond Bay construction is down the hill and didn't bother us 2 years ago.......maybe someone who's been there more recently can weigh in!