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Do any of you StJ experts still stay at the resorts?
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HawkeyeChick
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:59 am
Do any of you StJ experts still stay at the resorts?
The more I read this forum (and others) the more it seems experienced STJers choose villas over the resorts. This of course has me thinking! We're planning to stay at Caneel Bay (in the cheapy rooms so we could stay longer!) in June. Is villa living that much better?
Frankly, I don't want to cook which is the one reason I vetoed a villa. Now I'm rethinking....
Frankly, I don't want to cook which is the one reason I vetoed a villa. Now I'm rethinking....
last year was our first time and we combined Caneel with a villa. I enjoyed both experiences but both my husband and I agreed that we would not have wanted to be on the resort for the entire time.
You don't HAVE to cook in a villa. We did but really easy things that were a pleasure to do considering the atmosphere.
You don't HAVE to cook in a villa. We did but really easy things that were a pleasure to do considering the atmosphere.
I dont think I would ever stay at one of the resorts after the villa experience. I'd even take a lower end villa over a stay in the poshest room at the westin or caneel.
Renting a cottage or house just gives me the feeling of truly LIVING in STJ for a little while. I love the ability to spread out and feel at home in someone else's home.
Plus, often a villa is less expensive than the resorts. When we stayed at Ambiance, quite a luxury villa (Not Peter Bay but NICE), with 2 other couples it worked out to less than $200 a night (off season). We had the entire house, private kitchen, private pool, etc. I just prefer it!
Renting a cottage or house just gives me the feeling of truly LIVING in STJ for a little while. I love the ability to spread out and feel at home in someone else's home.
Plus, often a villa is less expensive than the resorts. When we stayed at Ambiance, quite a luxury villa (Not Peter Bay but NICE), with 2 other couples it worked out to less than $200 a night (off season). We had the entire house, private kitchen, private pool, etc. I just prefer it!
Honestly, a villa is the way to go. As flip flop said the cost fo the resorts come out to more than you would pay for a villa (usually).
However, if you're a first timer and are unsure of your way around. Staying at Caneel or Westin might not be a bad choice at least until you get comfortable.
But I would never stay anywhere but my own villa (with or without friends
I just like having my own pool,. kitchen etc. makes it feel like home!
However, if you're a first timer and are unsure of your way around. Staying at Caneel or Westin might not be a bad choice at least until you get comfortable.
But I would never stay anywhere but my own villa (with or without friends
I just like having my own pool,. kitchen etc. makes it feel like home!
*Another fine scatterbrained production
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HawkeyeChick
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:59 am
Have stayed at the Westin twice, a villa in Coral bay once and this trip Gallows Point. This time it will be just my husband and myself and to came down to money..Westin is still up over $400 per night on Hotwire..we were able to secure a unit at Gallows for $289..Although there is a kitchen I am really looking forward to being within walking distance of Cruz Bay..and I have no plans on cooking..
I just set my budget and start looking. For hubby and me for just ourselves for a week -- my budget was $2,500. I select based upon location and amenities. Often it's a bigger place than we really need since the smaller places are often within the same price range as the bigger ones. Cna't remember any specifics right now but most palces we looked at were 4 bedrooms and ranged from 1800 - 2500 for the week. The two bedroom places were pretty close to that smae price.
My advice, decide what matetrs to you most: privacy and independence or a resport feel with other people sharing the same amenities.
As my buddy Flip Flop always says: It doesn't hurt to look!
My advice, decide what matetrs to you most: privacy and independence or a resport feel with other people sharing the same amenities.
As my buddy Flip Flop always says: It doesn't hurt to look!
*Another fine scatterbrained production
We stayed at the Westin our very first time in St. John some 9 years ago. Since then we will only do a villa. We have stayed at several different villa's over the years when we were traveling with others but we have always stayed at the same place when it's just me and my hubby ~ Meritage Cottage. It's located above Chocolate Hole, right past the Westin so it's a great location to get into town. It's a cottage - 2 rooms - 1 large room which includes king bed, living area and kitchen and the second room is the bathroom. It has a beauful view, hot tub (no pool though), and all the regular stuff like beach chairs, grill, etc. We love the seclusion and decor. It's our little home away from home! Hope this helps.
Even if the house is 4 bedrooms sometimes it is more affordable than the resorts. Still there are LOTS of smaller 1-2 bedroom options. Our house for this trip is 4 bedrooms (3 adults and 2 kiddos are going) and still works out to around $300/night for the entire house!HawkeyeChick wrote:So are there villas around for 2 people? I looked into the option when we first started planning our trip. The only problem was that most villas were meant for more than one couple or family.
John and I like to mix things up--start with a couple of nights at Caneel or Secret Harbour, spend a couple of weeks in a villa then end with a couple of nights at Caneel or Secret Harbour. This year we are doing Gallows-villa-Caneel. It's probably too much moving around for most people, but we like it.
Hawkeye Chick, the villa prices vary based on how many people actually stay in the house, not by the number of bedrooms that it has. Don't discard a place based solely on its size.
Hawkeye Chick, the villa prices vary based on how many people actually stay in the house, not by the number of bedrooms that it has. Don't discard a place based solely on its size.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
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lpowmacback
- Posts: 517
- Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2006 3:33 pm
- Location: Jersey Shore
I am certainly not an "experienced St. Johner" - as we have only been there for one week (2005) and then on one day stops (while on a cruise, and once while staying on St. Thomas). BUT, I do have an opinion 
We stayed - and are again staying at Gallows which is kind of like a combination of a villa and a resort - what I view as the best of both worlds.
Gallows affords some amenities, like that of a resort, that are very important to me: DAILY MAID SERVICE to make my bathrooms shiny & fresh every day, give me clean fresh towels whenever I need them, vacuum up my sandy rooms, make my bed, etc. Unlike a resort, and more like a villa, it has more space than a typical resort room. It also has a very nice kitcen. While we dine out for all dinners and most breakfasts (we snack for lunches while vacationing) it is a very nice convenience to have. I'm sure lots of people utilize the kitchen way more than we do. Other little perks that a resort doesn't generally provide are beach chairs & cooler for daily trips to the beach.
I know the villa lovers must love that quiet, more secluded ambiance that comes with their choice- but I would not. I really love seeing other vacationers and chatting with them. I love going down to the pool and seeing some familiar faces & comparing notes about adventures, restaurants, etc. (kind of like this message board - but face to face)
I also LOVE being able to walk into Cruz Bay (which is easy from Gallows) - most villas are not close enough. I love that there is a restaurant right there if I don't feel like schlepping anyplace. It's especially nice when first arriving in the late afternoon, getting settled in your condo - then just walking over to the restaurant on site.
The bottom line is knowing yourself and what you love about YOUR vacations - from your past - and what you really think you will love - maybe trying something new.
I think if I were traveling with a group of people - and not only with my husband & son (and this time nephew too) - I might like to try a villa... so I will never say never
You really can't go wrong with any choice you make while on St. John!!!!
ENJOY!!
We stayed - and are again staying at Gallows which is kind of like a combination of a villa and a resort - what I view as the best of both worlds.
Gallows affords some amenities, like that of a resort, that are very important to me: DAILY MAID SERVICE to make my bathrooms shiny & fresh every day, give me clean fresh towels whenever I need them, vacuum up my sandy rooms, make my bed, etc. Unlike a resort, and more like a villa, it has more space than a typical resort room. It also has a very nice kitcen. While we dine out for all dinners and most breakfasts (we snack for lunches while vacationing) it is a very nice convenience to have. I'm sure lots of people utilize the kitchen way more than we do. Other little perks that a resort doesn't generally provide are beach chairs & cooler for daily trips to the beach.
I know the villa lovers must love that quiet, more secluded ambiance that comes with their choice- but I would not. I really love seeing other vacationers and chatting with them. I love going down to the pool and seeing some familiar faces & comparing notes about adventures, restaurants, etc. (kind of like this message board - but face to face)
I also LOVE being able to walk into Cruz Bay (which is easy from Gallows) - most villas are not close enough. I love that there is a restaurant right there if I don't feel like schlepping anyplace. It's especially nice when first arriving in the late afternoon, getting settled in your condo - then just walking over to the restaurant on site.
The bottom line is knowing yourself and what you love about YOUR vacations - from your past - and what you really think you will love - maybe trying something new.
I think if I were traveling with a group of people - and not only with my husband & son (and this time nephew too) - I might like to try a villa... so I will never say never
You really can't go wrong with any choice you make while on St. John!!!!
ENJOY!!
Peace,
Lisa
Lisa
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chicagoans
- Posts: 1586
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:51 pm
- Location: IL
Hawkeye Chick:
Take a look at some of the villa sites; I love looking at what's available (although it can be a time sink!) For example, Carefree Getaways has a link for one-bedroom villas, and there are many 2 bedroom villa options available from a number of different rental sites. (Destination St. John; Windspree; etc.)
There are some villa options where you can rent a guest cottage or apartment that's near a main house. (Blue Aweigh and Wood Rose come to mind.) Others, like Estate Zootenvaal, have 1 and 2 bedroom cottages that are part of a group of buildings.
You can even find affordable villas very close to the water. I found a couple on VRBO and on the sites mentioned above. (I think Paper Moon was one of the smaller, more affordable villas that's still near the water. Villa Mollo has 3 bedrooms, but is affordable and right on the water.)
Disclaimer: I haven't stayed at any of these yet! In fact, I haven't even been to STJ yet (first trip will be in Dec.) However, I've spent a ridiculous amount of time looking at villas...
Have fun!
Take a look at some of the villa sites; I love looking at what's available (although it can be a time sink!) For example, Carefree Getaways has a link for one-bedroom villas, and there are many 2 bedroom villa options available from a number of different rental sites. (Destination St. John; Windspree; etc.)
There are some villa options where you can rent a guest cottage or apartment that's near a main house. (Blue Aweigh and Wood Rose come to mind.) Others, like Estate Zootenvaal, have 1 and 2 bedroom cottages that are part of a group of buildings.
You can even find affordable villas very close to the water. I found a couple on VRBO and on the sites mentioned above. (I think Paper Moon was one of the smaller, more affordable villas that's still near the water. Villa Mollo has 3 bedrooms, but is affordable and right on the water.)
Disclaimer: I haven't stayed at any of these yet! In fact, I haven't even been to STJ yet (first trip will be in Dec.) However, I've spent a ridiculous amount of time looking at villas...
Have fun!
One of the great things about STJ is there is an accomodation to fit every desire.
We have done an equal number of Caneel and villa trips. Because of the way our family operates, Caneel is a much more enjoyable vacation for me because I can lay on the beach all day and not worry about life (food, keeping house, etc.)
The ability to spread out and to invite family along has kept us at a villa for the past couple trips.
We have done an equal number of Caneel and villa trips. Because of the way our family operates, Caneel is a much more enjoyable vacation for me because I can lay on the beach all day and not worry about life (food, keeping house, etc.)
The ability to spread out and to invite family along has kept us at a villa for the past couple trips.
