A Cold Pool .....Really??

tralei714 · Post by **tralei714** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 3:28 pm

Can someone explain to me the idea of a pool say on the coral bay side "too cold to swim in". being from Michigan even Lake Michigan will warm up at the end of summer. I don't understand how when the average temp is high 70's people say they could'nt use the pool. Are the majority of these comments made by vistors from the south?

djmom · Post by **djmom** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 3:38 pm

I am not sure who said "too cold to swim in"....so I am not sure of which villa, etc...you are referring to, but we have been to pools like that, especially in November.

I would describe my experiences as "too cold to hang out in", especially in the evening when it cools off.

To jump in for a few minutes would be refreshing... a kid might be totally fine swimming in it for hours... but to just stand and float around for much longer than 15 minutes or so would not be real fun. Like you would just be more comfortable wrapping up in a towel.

It is not that it is terribly cold, just that you kind of expect it would be warmer.

I am from the south- I am slightly cold-natured too.

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 3:51 pm

Well, I am from Massachusetts, and defintely have experienced pools that I found too cool to swim in--on both sides of the island. In both cases it was more a reflection of the weather--it had been cool and rainy right before we arrived. After a few days of sun the pools were sufficiently warm.

Just try and pick a house with a pool that gets good sun and you will probably be fine.

toes in the sand · Post by **toes in the sand** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 3:59 pm

While I will regularly take a dip in water that is in the 50's(F) I would not consider it swimmable. I also do not consider water swimmable when it is 78F with an outside temp of 83F and the pool is in the shade with breezes blowing. Nice to cool off in or do laps in but not lounge in. Ambient conditions and activity levels have much to do with how comfortable water feels. I have stayed places in the carribbean where the pool water is too cool to be comfortable.

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 4:08 pm

I won't even go in the ocean from the end of November to May - too cold for me............brrrrrrr

Pia

tipsy · Post by **tipsy** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 4:14 pm

oh my. this is so cute. The ocean up here on LI doesn't warm up till August, and then the temps are 60's. Beginning of summer, temps are in low 50's. But nothing like sitting in the hot sun & jumping into cold water that takes your breath away,your toes curl and makes your skin cold instantly! So refreshing.

Pete (Mr. Marcia) · Post by **Pete (Mr. Marcia)** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 4:20 pm

We are from Wisconsin, so we know a thing or two about the cold. Yes, we stayed in one villa whose pool was too cold to enjoy. It was in Fish Bay, fairly high up the hillside. It got non-stop winds that never allowed the pool to get warm.

We actually stopped renting the villa for that reason.

lazylane · Post by **lazylane** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 4:20 pm

I think a lot of the villas in Coral Bay just don't get enough sun long enough to keep them warm. We have yet to have a pool that you can actually hang out in - maybe a quick dip!

Teresa_Rae · Post by **Teresa_Rae** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 4:20 pm

I guess it's all about perspective. My husband has relatives who have a home on Lake Michigan in Door County and I stepped in once in August and could barely take it up my ankles.

We've rented 7 villas on STJ, all with pools, and most of them were too cold for me. My husband has a higher tolerance for cold than I do and the pool at the villa this past June was too cold for him.

alw1977 · Post by **alw1977** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 4:38 pm

I have experienced cold pools on St. Martin and on St. John. It sounds bizarre, but if the pools are constantly shaded and there's been rain, yes, they can be pretty cold. Again, I suppose it's all relative. I grew up in the South and I agree that Caribbean waters in January - April are too cool for my liking, though I will get in. However, the cold pools I've experienced are much, much colder than the ocean temps during that time.

On our last visit, we rented Calicaribe in Contant Point. This villa (despite a few other issues) did get great sun and the pool was a good temperature. I was able to enjoy it all week w/o issue.

tralei714 · Post by **tralei714** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 4:48 pm

I was wondering more for the kids. I am a complete whimp myself. I hope the pool at Jazz villa is warm. It is one of the main reasons we are picking that villa.

8 villas and none warm enough to play in.? That could really change up my villa prioity order : )

djmom · Post by **djmom** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 6:59 pm

Tralei- I don't know about Jazz villa, but my kids have only complained about one pool being too cold-it was shaded during the day and it was in November-and it was pretty cool that year.

I bet your kids will be totally fine and not care a bit. They move around so much more.

nancyr84 · Post by **nancyr84** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:29 pm

This post is along the same line as mine. I wanted to know who out there rented a villa that had a warm sunny pool but only 1 person replied. Oh no maybe all the pools are cold!!! We stayed at One Particular Harbour and the pool was heated, no longer so. Mayan Sky had a somewhat warm pool. Orchid Knoll oh my could have ice skated on that one.
Nancy

michigancouple · Post by **michigancouple** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:22 pm

Tralei,

Perhaps the pools might be a little cool, due to shade and winds, but I honestly don't think you'll find the ocean to be cold while you're enjoying the beaches. And your kids won't mind the pools temps either during that time. We have been there twice in February and let me tell ya, our Lake Michigan rarely gets that warm. I would say the ocean is probably about 80-82. I'm from Muskegon

and anything in STJ is way better than the winters we both are used to.

AquaGirl · Post by **AquaGirl** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:23 pm

I find this topic very interesting. I am also surprised at the number of people who have reported cold pools over the years. The villas on Bordeaux Mtn look so nice with fabulous views, but it seems like many trip reports have said the pool is cold, so we don't rent anything there. I know it tends to be more breezy there, so perhaps that makes the pools colder?

We rented Bayview in Coral Bay one year in May and the pool was too cold, even for my husband who can take it much cooler than me. However, the weather was cool, overcast and lots of rain. It may heat up under sunny, warm conditions.

We have rented Coconuts on Gifft Hill on the Cruz Bay side twice in May. The first year we were there, the pool was like bathwater (warm, sunny weather). This year, the pool was a bit cool, but refreshing as long as it was sunny and warm. It rained many afternoons on that trip, so that may have kept it cooler. The pool gets a lot of sun during the day. I remember someone on forum had said Coconuts pool was too cold for them.

I'll be very interested to hear from others on this topic. A warm pool is one of the top criteria for villa rental.

usvi-on-line