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Villa for 8 adults 6 kids? Oceana Feedback?
Villa for 8 adults 6 kids? Oceana Feedback?
Thought I posted this earlier today, but don't see it now and am trying again....
We are looking to travel next July.
4 adult couples, 3 of which have 2 kids each (youngest will be 18mos, oldest almost 7). 4 of the adults and the 2 oldest kids have visited before.
Villa budget $7,000 for a week.
Must have pool, ample living space for spreading out, be safe for little ones, washer and dryer.
Considerations:
Closer to Cruz Bay than Coral (but maybe as far east as Smoothie Stand?) for all the little trips into town I'm sure we'll be making.
AC in at least bedrooms probably a good idea.
Layout such that little ones' rooms are adjoining to or closely connected to parents' rooms (not in separate pods or up and down exterior stairs for example).
Oceana is high on the list right now, so welcome feedback if anyone has any.
Thanks in advance,
We are looking to travel next July.
4 adult couples, 3 of which have 2 kids each (youngest will be 18mos, oldest almost 7). 4 of the adults and the 2 oldest kids have visited before.
Villa budget $7,000 for a week.
Must have pool, ample living space for spreading out, be safe for little ones, washer and dryer.
Considerations:
Closer to Cruz Bay than Coral (but maybe as far east as Smoothie Stand?) for all the little trips into town I'm sure we'll be making.
AC in at least bedrooms probably a good idea.
Layout such that little ones' rooms are adjoining to or closely connected to parents' rooms (not in separate pods or up and down exterior stairs for example).
Oceana is high on the list right now, so welcome feedback if anyone has any.
Thanks in advance,
Jennifer
I was there too, with Sea-nile and the SOTB. I think the layout is very suitable for 4 adult couples + kids.
I thought the view was great, but I'm not a sunset junkie
Agree about the pool. It's nice but small and not very kid friendly. Considering that one of the ladies fell in the pool, it might be an issue with the kids. You would have to watch them.
Maggy
I thought the view was great, but I'm not a sunset junkie
Agree about the pool. It's nice but small and not very kid friendly. Considering that one of the ladies fell in the pool, it might be an issue with the kids. You would have to watch them.
Maggy
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cypressgirl
- Posts: 2178
- Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 2:42 pm
- Location: houston
I was on the SOTB trip when we stayed at Oceana. It's a great villa, with lots of space, but I'd never let an 18 month old out of my sight. I'm sure you could get a portable bed for the little one to keep in the parents room. Some of the downstairs bedrooms are really isolated, and I'm not sure I'd want my teen that far from me. Of course I don't trust them as far as I can throw them, especially if there are more than 2. But that's just me. Better safe than sorry. It is a great house, and as safe as any, I assume.
Also one of the SOTBs in Oceana.
The downstairs has 1 very large BR and 2 smaller ones. I believe the 2 smaller ones had an adjoining door and shared a bath. You could potentially have some of the older kids share these rooms with a set of parents in the larger room; plenty of room for a porta crib for the baby in the larger bedroom. The downstairs is accessed by outside steps and can be fully locked.
The other 3 BRs were upstairs at pool level - no gate or anything around the pool. I don't think any of the upstairs bedrooms had inside access, so I'm not sure you would want to have kids alone in any of those rooms.
Other than the small pool, the outside space was great, as was the living/dining areas and kitchen. The Driveway was large enough for 3 cars to be parked and not blocked.
The downstairs has 1 very large BR and 2 smaller ones. I believe the 2 smaller ones had an adjoining door and shared a bath. You could potentially have some of the older kids share these rooms with a set of parents in the larger room; plenty of room for a porta crib for the baby in the larger bedroom. The downstairs is accessed by outside steps and can be fully locked.
The other 3 BRs were upstairs at pool level - no gate or anything around the pool. I don't think any of the upstairs bedrooms had inside access, so I'm not sure you would want to have kids alone in any of those rooms.
Other than the small pool, the outside space was great, as was the living/dining areas and kitchen. The Driveway was large enough for 3 cars to be parked and not blocked.
janet
Stayed at Vistaero in with 6 adults, 6 little kids. It worked for our group. It has five bedrooms, three of which have queen sleep sofas as well as a king or queen bed, so for some of the families, they could put the little kids in the room with them. The down side was that each bedroom opened out to the deck areas, so if you didn't have your kids in the room with you, they would be in another bedroom that you could get to only by going outside first. We brought down wireless door alarms that went off if the doors were opened, as well as some baby monitors to hear between the rooms.
The villa was great for our group -- wonderful view, easy access to Cruz Bay (two switchbacks on paved driveway, but they were ok), huge pool, and very large public spaces (great room, decks) that easily accomodated our group -- we never felt crowded.
Since our stay there has been at least one review highlighting some maintenance issues, so if you consider it, ask about current condition. When we were there, everything was working and clean. There were some minor things (e.g. sticky screen door), which I think are common to any house in the Caribbean that's over a few years old. Good A/C units in all bedrooms.
Also, take a look at Ristaba. That has four bedrooms together, all under one roof, with two more bedrooms in a separate cottage.
FYI, Destination St. John doesn't charge for kids under 6 -- so ask the companies about their pricing for children. When you bring 4, that can make a big difference.
The villa was great for our group -- wonderful view, easy access to Cruz Bay (two switchbacks on paved driveway, but they were ok), huge pool, and very large public spaces (great room, decks) that easily accomodated our group -- we never felt crowded.
Since our stay there has been at least one review highlighting some maintenance issues, so if you consider it, ask about current condition. When we were there, everything was working and clean. There were some minor things (e.g. sticky screen door), which I think are common to any house in the Caribbean that's over a few years old. Good A/C units in all bedrooms.
Also, take a look at Ristaba. That has four bedrooms together, all under one roof, with two more bedrooms in a separate cottage.
FYI, Destination St. John doesn't charge for kids under 6 -- so ask the companies about their pricing for children. When you bring 4, that can make a big difference.
You can also do a search for threads on villas suitable for little kids. I know there was one where I listed all the villas I'd identified with adjoining bedroom setups. Some others from the list that I can remember were Rendezvous, Crystal Seaview, Avalon, Ambiance (loft bedroom with 4 beds), Tesori, Eden's Whim, Luna Vista.